Update from BHW Egypt Partnership Facilitator

Over the past few months, we have had several Zoom meetings with S and P. They are in good spirits despite the difficulties of life there under COVID. Omicron is now well established, and many people have been affected by it. People are reluctant to wear masks and so it spreads easily, especially among the people they are working with. 

Recent Events

Current Situation

Life for those who once lived in Rubbish Mountain continues to be a struggle. Many people have lost jobs in the community and so they have cut back on consumption and there is less rubbish to pick up and process. By now they should have been rehoused in their new community, but that has still not happened. There was a deadline of the end of December, then it was the end of January and just today a new edict, the end of March. And, if they are currently in a government apartment, for which they pay rent, they will not now get a new one! This is causing great anger and resentment. 

The government housing subsidy has finished but people still have to find rent money, and without work there is no way to find the required money. Landlords are constantly raising rental amounts and in addition they have to pay for water, electricity and gas. Many people are not able to pay and are being evicted and having their utilities cut off. The amount that S and P now give to those they help has had to increase. 

The cost of medicines has increased dramatically, and life has become very difficult for those with chronic illnesses like diabetes, blood pressure or hepatitis. And of course, S and P have not been able to set up their clinic again. 

People are under huge stress and there has been a big increase in mental health issues and stress related symptoms. There is an increase in domestic violence and children are not being allowed to go to school as they need to scrounge for anything that might be able to be sold. It is a very difficult time for everyone.  

Current Ministry

S and P have had to pivot in terms of how they do ministry. They are still struggling as they are not able to gather people together like in the past. This is because of COVID but also because they lost their land in the flood and the government now wants them to buy land at a hugely high price. At around US$70,000 it is simply unaffordable. 

They continue to look after approximately 40 families on a regular basis and help with emergencies as they occur. They pray with people that come to their door and seek to encourage them. The people are scattered and separated from each other. They are receiving many more requests for help than they can cope with. 

Also, because they are operating from home, there is some danger. People now know where they live and not all those who come are in genuine need of help. It is very difficult now to plan their lives. Previously, they knew that on Friday they would be at the centre with children’s ministry, community activities and visiting, the clinic would be open on certain days at certain times, and on Sunday evening they would have church, some food distribution and visiting. But now people turn up to the house at any time of the night or day. This disrupts family life for them and as they both have employment, they are often not available.  

Care of Widows

P’s mother cares for many widows apart from those who came from Rubbish Mountain. Many of these women are also very poor and they come for help as well. P’s mother doesn’t have a lot of money and she helps from her own meagre funds. She finds it increasingly difficult to help and so some of those people come to P. 

Personal Stories

They have been able to assist a number of new families. 

One man was assisted to obtain a driving licence. He has had to relocate of course, but with this shift he has not been able to continue collecting rubbish. His neighbour offered him a job driving a taxi but he had no licence or the money to get one so assisting him with that was a good way to help the whole family with five children. 

One woman came to them right at Christmas time asking for help. She was about to give birth and had sold her bed, the last piece of furniture she had, to pay for the birth. Her haemoglobin was low so she needed some blood transfusions. They helped her and she delivered a healthy girl. However, she now needs ongoing assistance. 

At Christmas, every child in the families they support was given an amount of money depending on their needs and those of the family. It was between US$20 and $30. This was so appreciated. Christmas in Egypt is celebrated on the 7th January. 

Plans for the Future

By now, BHW would have visited at least twice since the last visit there. It is important that we get back as we have not been there since the destruction of the community and the onset of COVID. S and P work so hard and remain very committed to this, it’s their life and as she said in the last conversation we had, “this is the reason we wake up in the morning and why we go to work, to share the Good News and encourage these people.” They need encouragement as they serve this very difficult, demanding community. 

As the Delta variant of COVID subsided the government decided to open schools again after being closed for more than a year. However, it was not at the beginning of the normal academic year but was in October so we sent funds early to make it possible to get the children into school. Also, a church in Scotland took up a Christmas offering and knowing that funds were coming from them to assist, we were able to get more bags and school supplies for the children starting school. Schools are now operating, but children only go two or three days a week, one week two days, the alternate week three days because of social distancing requirements. The costs of schooling and transport to school is increasing. 

Prayer and Praise Points

1) They are feeling the pressure of serving there as the needs are growing exponentially and they are operating at full capacity – actually, they are probably beyond capacity 

2) They work late, especially S. He is often not home until 9:00 pm day after day and hardly sees the children 

3) Wisdom around what ministry will look like once people shift into the new accommodation. This is all still unknown. Which of their people will move, which of them will remain? Where will they meet? Should they try to get land and how will they afford it? There are so many unanswerable questions currently. 

Comments

It has always been difficult to get photos of the work here. The people are very aggressive about cameras and now, it is even more difficult. They cannot take out a camera or phone and take a photo of a woman at the door asking for help to give birth to her baby. Or a dad who is begging for food because he cannot feed his children. We need to be aware of this. 

This partnership was due for review at the end of 2021, that was the end of the initial three year commitment. It would have been good to be there to assess how the new way of operating is going and if there needs to be changes made to the amount of funding sent etc. However, I suggest that we continue it at the current rate until we can get there and make an on-the-ground assessment. 

These are wonderful people with genuine hearts and great tenacity.