Busy week

Hi again :) This past week has been such a whirlwind....I don't know if I can remember everything we have done...
Mostly, guest speakers have been coming and going like a revolving door. First, an Episcopal pastor, then a group from Islam Online. IT has been a heavy week...
The Pastor was really transformational for all of the group: we talked about Islam and Christianity, and how the two interact. It was powerful to see this man who has been living in Egypt for ages argue that Islam is not the enemy, nor something to be looked down upon: Muslims are following Christ in their own way, so our mission is not to convert them but to love them the best we know how. I love this so much!
Then we went to Anafora, a desert sanctuary and a place I never wanted to leave. Why did we go there? I am glad you asked. The 30 Americans in my group got together with 30 Coptic young adults. Coptic Christianity is the indigenous faith of Egypt. Copticism traces it roots all the way back to St. Mark, but was accused of heresy, falsely, sometime before the great schism. This trip was planned for us to see the issues of religious freedom in Egypt. The Copts are a persecuted group (they are about 3-10% of Egypt depending on who you are talking to). Egypt has professed Islam as the religion of the state. Every person has their religion marked on their id card, and this has serious implications on life. Christians face systematic and individual discrimination: They are not allowed to build churches and are the sometimes denied employment based on religion. There has been a lot of conflict between Christians and Mulsims which peaked a few years back with a Christian man being accused and convicted of murdering two Muslim men for which he was sentenced to death. The man was innocent, the murderer was in fact someone else, but religious tension made him an easy pawn. There has also been violence in the streets periodically.
The Copts we met were young and jaded. They felt the system was against them, always has been, always will be. But they were the persecution with pride because that has always been the story of their church. I, however, am left fully grateful for religious freedom in American and a relatively secular society. There are so many more things going through my mind on this topic...
But, for shortness' sake I will have to say that one day with the Copts turned into one day with young Muslim believers. A couple employees from Islam Online (a Muslim living website) came and held discussions with us about a wide range of topics: veiling, marriages, jihad, US foreign policy, culture and society, etc. These people were so fascinating. Every question, and criticizim, about Islam was answered beautifully. A women in a full Nikab (the ninja-esque outfit) was with us to share why she wears it, a personal choice her family does not agree with, young men were there to answer why a women should be responsible for covering up, and journalists were there to explain why anti-American sentiment has developed and produced terrorism. I left our time with more information than ever before. I full reflection would take up pages and pages. Email about specific topics of interests.
This event lead to today's event with three Christians living in Egypt. Up until this point our group has been meeting with highly educated and therefore extremely moderate Muslims. We are being taught the redeeming qualities of Islam and how it is absolutely not what the TV shows it to be. But this group of people, who were born and raised around Islam absolutely ruined this pretty image I had been holding onto. They argued that Islam is a violent, and ugly religion. That the religion itself is the problem, and the people are the ones who were trying to make it softer and more reasonable. Wow! Before hand all anyone would say about this topic is that Islam preaches tolerance and peace, but a few radical preachers have hijacked it and interpreted the Quran in extreme, fundamental ways. My views are being shaken....but more to come.
So for now, I am packing my bags and moving in with a Muslim family for week. Should be interesting...I am a little nervous but mostly excited!
Peace and Love.