Couple Visits Cave Churches in Egypt
Mike and Claudia Elzinga, the Grand Rapids, Mich. couple, who are traveling the world to tell the stories of Christian Reformed World Missions missionaries, recently left Bangladesh.
From Bangladesh, they traveled to Egypt, where, among other things, they visited a cave church that is one of the oldest Christian churches in the Middle East.
In both countries, as they have throughout their trip, they have published photographs, stories and commentaries on their twocameras/onemission blog. (Anyone wishing to help support their story-telling trip can do so by visiting the blog.)
Their time in Bangladesh was spent profitably. They learned a great deal about the crowded country whose population rivals that of the U.S., but is squeezed into an area the size of Wisconsin.
"I left Bangladesh with a good feeling, and Mike did too," writes Claudia Elzinga on their blog.
“We visit every country with a goal: to showcase God’s work being done by our missionaries and local leaders, and to illustrate the larger venue in which the work is taking place.”
In their conversations with Jeff and Missy Bos, CRWM missionaries at the Christian College of Theology Bangladesh, they heard over and over again how Jesus said to his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world.”
Claudia writes, "This verse wasn’t new to me, but once it was applied to the situation in Bangladesh, it really came to life. I was really inspired.”
In Egypt, the large, ancient church is set back behind a busy town just outside of Cairo.
“It’s called St. Sama’ans Church, and it’s in a cave,” writes Claudia. “The Orthodox Church that built the cave churches has a 2000-year history. There wasn’t a migration of Christians. The church in Egypt has been around since Jesus’ time. This isn’t something we’ve encountered before!”
There are five churches and one giant hall on the site, all built in the caves.
“The cave churches are beautiful. Cool, fresh air. A sea of seats in every venue. If only we could’ve seen these churches in action. I’m sure the acoustics would be incredible, and we’re told 20,000 people attend church on a given day of worship.”
And many of those who attended the churches, she writes, are apparently garbage collectors from the neighboring Garbage Village.
These workers, she writes, "visit the city on routes by truck, horse, or donkey and return to the village with full loads to sort. Sorting is a family affair, everyone participates in separating paper from plastic from metal.”
