We gathered at Daswon Hall on November 24th for an American-style Thanksgiving feast. We even had some Egyptians join us to see what all the fuss was about.

While we waited for the last folks to arrive, I played ping-pong with some of the kids.

We had oodles of food!

Here's my plate loaded to the brim. The only thing you can't tell from this photo is how high the food is stacked.

Brice, a great guy who works at Evangelical Theological Seminary begins his meal.

Me and Teri beginning our meals. I don't know what Teri's looking at, but that expression is priceless.

I was HUNGRRRRRRY!

We had nearly fifty people attend out Thanksgiving celebration.

When we finished our meal, we sang hymns from the old red hymnbook.

This was my plate filled to the brim (yet again) at Samia's hose the night after Thanksgiving. Egyptian food is always great and Egyptians know how to be great hosts!

Samia's family invited us over for a meal to get to know us better and to honor Carole, our site coordinator who is returning to the U.S. after 13 years of service in Egypt.

Samia's grandson stole the evening as he tried to walk around the sitting room.

Samia presenting Carole with a gift in appreciation of her service.\

Samia's daughter and grandson.

Samia and her grandson

The entire group for the evening at Samia's house.

Adl took us to Memphis to see the remaining artifacts from that ancient city.

At the Memphis alone there are three statues of Ramses. This is one of them.

Hieroglyphics carved into the side of a stone doorway.

The Sphinx of Memphis carved circa 1200 BC.

Me and Teri with the Memphis Sphinx

Adl told us many facts about the artifcats we were viewing. The statue in the distance is the second statue of Ramses on display in Memphis. Adl told us how the statue was shipped to Memphis, TN to be restored. He was there the day the statue was crated and marked "To: Memphis, From: Memphis." It clearly has been returned to Memphis, EGYPT.

Adl, our wise Egyptian tour guide who is Coptic Orthodox.

The "Memphis Ramses" up close and personal.

The third statue od Ramses on display in Memphis is lying on its back in a shelter.

The statue is holding an the cartouche of Ramses in his hand.

Mounted security at Sakara.

Relief scuptures at Sakara.

This relief sculpture shows a man with a GIGANTIC catfish in his hands.

This picture was somewhat unauthorized. I wasn't supposed to take a picture inside the pyramid of Titi, but the guard let me snap this one. I wanted to get the cartouche of Titi which you can see just below center in the oval.

Jen standing in front of the pyramid of Titi.

Me standing in front of the step pyramid of Zozer.

Adl told us that a statue of the pharaoh used to be in this portico. The steps leading up to to the statue are slanted on purpose because to climb the steps, you are forced to bow in order to keep your balance. This made sure that proper respect was given to the image of the pharoah.

The carpet makers at The Valley of the Nile Carpet School

Sarah and Jennifer at lunch.

Adl took us to a wonderful outdoor restaurant. We had great discussions with him. One of the comments he made that astounded me had to do with the origins of the Arabic language. He said that Arabic is largely based on the hieroglyphic language the ancient Egyptians spoke. Some words in Arabic today are the same words uttered by the ancient Egyptians 5000 years ago.

Me at the Giza pyramids

Walk like an Egyptian

The ladies of the YAV program. Jennifer, Sarah, Jen and Teri

The Solar Boat Museum sits at the foot of The Great Pyramid.

5000 year old rope that was found with the Solar Boat.

A model of the Solar Boat

The stern of the Solar Boat was shaped like a lotus blossom.

The solar boat looking back from the bow.

Teri with the Solar Boat.

Me and Teri at the foot of The Great Pyramid

The Great Sphinx at sunset.

Emil Zaki, the General Secretary of the Synod of the Nile, posing with some gifts given to the Synod at the recent 150th Anniversary Celebration.