The response has been incredible...

Just needing to blog to remind myself of how wonderful the response has been to the trip around the world from teachers, mentors and family in the lives of my kids.

We've been home over 1 month and it's been full of presentations and times together to share and discuss our time away. It's been an invaluable time of sharing our experience.  Not only did my two oldest receive a credit for their volunteer work, but here's some feedback from Joseph's principal...

  

Proverbs 15:30...good news gives health to the bones!

It's just over a year post OHS for Joseph.  We just came back last night from Toronto where Joseph went through 3 tests and an exam from the LDS specialist.  

Ok so these are not pyramids but some cool urban peaks in TO...

There were some surreal moments for Joseph as he stared in the room where he recovered from this invasive surgery over one year ago.  We sat in the bench where he took his first walk last year post surgery (without screaming and with the chest tube still in).  

Graciousness and gratitude filled us as we remembered last year and thanked God that is over.  

At this point we don't have the MRI results (most likely by early next wk) but the Dr said they would of called if there was anything concerning on the images. He expects to see some great images.  According to the Dr, he sees Joseph as being on the low risk spectrum of LDS.  He suggested even that it could be possible that Joseph may never need another heart surgery.  We will up his meds, continue a life of monitoring via MRI's and pursue healthy activities for Joseph.  

The Dr said he expects he won't have to see Joseph again as we can carry on with our cardiologist in Wpg.  Given the fact that Joseph handled the biggest risk last year so well and he doesn't present any other issues, it's not necessary for us to continue to see this specialist.  

As much as I was sad to hear him say that, (we really love medical experts that are knowledgable with LDS!). Joseph and I realized, hey this is good news!  In fact we feel like it's miraculous!  

We know Joseph has a diagnosis that is what it is but even in the midst of this, this sort of news is positive, comforting and good.

So we gotta share this with you all because prayer changes lives and here's a few lives that can testify to this.  Thank-you for joining us in this whole journey.

Jehovah-Rapha...I am the LORD who heals you.  Ex 15:26

We are in Canada!

The morning began at 4:30 when I could no longer sleep!  The boys and I dressed as warmly as we could and ventured out to find breakfast and tea!  We brought Sarah breakfast in hotel!

Beautiful sunrise as Toronto slowly wakes up.  Our flight to wpg leaves later this morning!  

Tea time at McDonalds.  

We live in a great cold vast country with many warm and wonderful friends and family.  Good to be here after 80 amazing days around the world.   ☕️☕️

"Blessed be the name of the Lord now and forever.  Everywhere - from east to west- praise the name of the Lord.  For the Lord is high above the nations;  his glory is higher than the heavens.  Who can compare with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high?  He stoops to look down on heaven and earth.  He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump.  He sets them among princes;  even the princes of his own people!  "  Ps 113:2-8

PS there will be more posts as we debrief and share our experiences in our circles over these next weeks.  Thanks for being on this journey with us!  Thx for your encouraging emails and blog comments. It's amazing to have such a cheering squad!  ❤️ Jodi 

Now for the last flight home!  ✈️

Last night in Egypt

Dinner at the Viking...

First airport today...leaving Cairo after a wonderful visit 

Wpg here come a few more Labuns!

Anaphora...

A relaxing overnight in Anaphora;  a retreat centre 1 hour outside of Cairo...(except if you have our driver who didnt know where he was going and took 3 hours!).   

This place is amazing.  Beautiful architecture and landscape make for a wonderful setting.  Here they compost, farm, have animals, weave, paint, sew, provide counselling services for trauma relief and invite folks to come have a retreat.  There's community and solitude available in this oasis.  We had a lot of fun with Phyllis and Arthur...here are some pics...

(Samuel wasn't too keen on being in the photo but he's having a good laugh with Arthur and Phyllis!) 

Water buffalo 

Sheep...

Piglets...

When in life are the kids welcome to run on a roof?  Fun times today exploring this place!

My view early this morning...

Sarah and Samuel lost in their own world in the rabbit and pigeon home.  These are the memories that we hope to keep building on- our relationships.   Extended travel is costly but I doubt we will ever regret the time spent with each other.  Stories told, laughs shared...learning to be patient...the challenge now will be as the margins in life get squished with schedules, how can we maintain the depth of relationship that's developed as we've shared 1 schedule (instead of 6) with each other around the globe.  I'm up for the challenge!  This pic says it all...

Silly energy on the ride to Cairo...

Lunch with P & A...we have loved being invited into life with P & A!  So much so that all our walls have come down and P & A see us with all our crinkles.  (And they don't seem to mind). Their hospitality is off the charts and we've savoured every moment in Egypt with them.  

PS this lunch was tuna sandwhiches which means the kids have had a tuna sandwhich in Japan, Thailand, Nepal and now Egypt!  

Oh and Arthur also became the boys hair stylist!

P and A's apartment... (Notice Sarah photo bombimg the pic!)

Samuel looking philosophical...

We board our plane to Frankfurt tomorrow morning and then Toronto...home March 3rd.  Can't wait to see u family and friends!

The pyramids!

We have been amazed at the history behind the pyramids.  The fact that the moment a king began to rule, they began to plan for his death and afterlife brick by brick.  So much energy, time and resources spent on death.  

Yesterday we saw the museum which contains all the artifacts left in pryramid.  They kept everything-even the toys King Tut played with as a 9 year old boy!

The plalaces were not preserved because they were close to the Nile.  The tombs they wanted preserved so they built on the West side of the Nile.  Unbelievable that after all these years, they remain standing!!

Sitting and climbing on the Great pryramid...

Inside a burial tomb...

The Sphinx...

Our van was waiting but these two couldn't miss a chance to hang out with this camel...

An 11 year old boy walking by one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.  Pretty sure he will remember this!

A mosque...

Overlooking Cairo...

We are in Egypt!

Our day started out with Sarah joining my cousins (and our amazing hosts) Phyllis & Arthur in Arabic class.  This was a great experience for her!  While the language class was going on, the boys and I walked around Cairo.  What did we find? A 7-11 called 7-Mart...

They gave us free samples of frozen yogurt and slurpees!

Our walk...

It's a very different culture here for women and I was thankful I was walking with my two sons (and not my two daughters!) Everyone was kind that we ran into.   We can't help but notice the architecture and culture differences from Nepal to this part of the Middke East.  

Phyllis & Arrhur are amazing!  They have a calendar and schedule planned for our days.  Today we had lunch with their friends...(all Egyptian food and we loved it!). 

Then we went to "garbage village."  Can you imagine there's a place like this?  Phyllis has renamed it "recycling village" and it's where communities have formed around jobs developed from collecting and making items from garbage.  (And then selling them).  So in the morning the men collect the garbage and all afternoon the women make things.  The wonderful piece of this is the jobs and income this provides to sustain families.  The negative piece involves the health hazards these people undergo due to handling this waste.  

This whole part of the city reminds me of the song called "you make beautiful things" with the truth that God creates beauty in the midst of brokenness.  

Here are the scraps of material...

But look at what she's creating...

Then we visited inside this part of the city, the cave church.  They began blasting this in 1974 and are still working on it.  It holds thousands of people during weekly gatherings.  

Luke 19:37-40New International Version (NIV)

37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[a]

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Sunset and dinner at a park created on top of garbage.  (Kinda like garbage hill in wpg but with millions of dollars poured into it!)