At the pyramids, stones were piled up – we still don’t know how – to seal in the dead and keep out evil as they departed to the afterworld. Huge, hollowed out of a mountain, providing sanctuary of passage not to one pharaoh but to 20,000 weekly worshippers of Jesus Christ, this rocky wonder puts into reverse motion what the pharaohs and pyramids did thousands of years ago. Instead of heading straight to the pyramids, we choose to stop at a more recent marvel: the Cave Church in garbage city. The Cave Church in Garbage City: He is not here, He is Risen! Every morning and every night reminds these ancient people that we are here for a brief moment between sunrise and sunset. On the east, where the sun rises, are the palaces. The banks of the Nile are bordered, on the west, where the sun sets, by hundreds of tombs. Life and death always hang in the balance here. In the history of faith, Egypt itself serves as a sanctuary of passage, a portal to everlasting life. The moment someone became pharaoh, he or she began building their tomb, waiting for resurrection. Graves greet us, lining the main road every pilgrim or tourist or local Egyptian takes, from airport landing to the pyramids. From the smallest memorial to the tallest pyramid, every grave serves as a sanctuary of passage, the holding place of preparation for the afterlife. Straight from the airport through the “city of the dead” we drive. How did the children of Israel manage for 40 years? We’re doing it in the heat of summer, for 14 days: dry desert air interspersed with air conditioning and swimming pools. The Exodus journey, from pyramids to wilderness to promised land. Rania our guide and Simon the tour manager.Both Coptic Christians. Take off your shoes, God commanded Moses in this land. Everything’s here, though one suitcase has torn open, a pair of shoes fallen out. Visas are attached to passports, queues swiftly negotiated. Simon the humble, who really is Peter the Rock. Every day, for all of us, is probably like this!Ĭairo International Airport.

So many invisible steps and hurdles to overcome, just to show up. I’ve been travelling for two days to arrive at the start of the journey! Pilgrimage is like this. Landed at last! Vancouver-Calgary-Toronto-Frankfurt-Cairo!

The pharaohs holy treasure