Missionaries

Mounir and Ruth Boctor

May 2011

Dear praying friends,    

Greetings from the Middle East.

We have just returned from  visit to Cairo, our first since the revolution, it was refreshing to be there, a lot cooler than the Gulf where we live and the trees and flowers gave a sense of the coming to new life that reflects the nation these days, 

Our main news is we have now renewed our residence here for another 3 years.  This is fortunate as regulations are changing all the time.  There were new regulations on the spouse visa for Ruth, as they required copy of residence contract which we cannot produce as we live with 2 other families and do not have a contract, but as always the Lord has overruled on our behalf.

After an enjoyable visit from our youngest daughter Becky and her husband Luke in April, we travelled to Egypt in May.  It has been a year since our last visit and of course a lot has changed politically, but it was encouraging to see on the surface that life is going on as usual. The streets in our area are kept clean, most commodities are available, although not so many people are in the shops, and new buildings are going up.  One less agreeable difference is the lack of policing on the streets resulting in “everyone doing what is right in his own eyes” with driving and parking.

Along with the cautious optimism on the surface, undercurrents remain very tense. The general concern for the Christian community of both sectarian violence, which erupted again during our visit, and the fear of ultimate dominance of fundamental Is. for Muslims and Christians, makes concern over the election process justifiable.  Rumours and conspiracy theories are abounding so the true facts are not always clear. 

On a more positive side, the Christian community is coming together in prayer, joint prayer events with Orthodox Copts, Catholics and Evangelicals are a regular occurrence. There is fervent prayer in many groups for God’s sovereign intervention to forward His Kingdom purposes for the future of Egypt even if it means suffering and persecution.

The Prayer for Egypt at this time would be:

• The right spiritual leadership surface to enable God’s Kingdom purposes to be fulfilled.  For God anointed Direction for the nation and for protection from the purposes of the evil one.
• For ourselves, that we would gain fresh confirmation of God’s purpose and direction for us in the coming 3 years.  
• For our time in the UK for the summer.

Thank you all so much for your love and prayers.

We do Thank God for all His favour over our lives and Worship Him who is enthroned above the nations.

For more information on how to pray for the region, website www.pray-ap.info

Our sincere Love and Blessing to you all
M and R