The Final Day and a Half

*Pics to come soon*

Today was a whole new kind of incredible. My stomach finally let up, and I got my bags packed to head out. The plan was for us to go install the water system and check on at least one more. The rest of the group would go and do the vision and dental clinics in the final village. After that, we would all head to the airport hotel for dinner and a nap (our flight was scheduled for three...AM). Needless to say, I'm pooped. But like I said, the day was incredible.

We went to PNO to check their water system first. It was fun to go back to somewhere I had already been, and some of the kids from the first night were there. The way their little eyes light up when they see you - it really fills the soul.

The filters were dirty, so we got them switched out with new ones, and headed to the second village. This one was a little different, because we were installing the system at a Coptic church.

The village plumber met us to show us where they wanted to install it - the back of the church. They brought the drill and a REALLY long extension cord, and we drilled holes and hung the top part of the filtration system.

At this point in the game, I just did a lot of standing. I wasn't familiar with they system, and decided it best to just wait until I was told what to do. When it came time to put the blue tubes on however, I was able to finally help because I had assisted with that in the first village. I also got to put Water2Egypt stickers on them because stickers are cool and so I am. Plus, who doesn't like playing with stickers? The plumber definitely did - he was sticking them everywhere. He was very proud of the work he was able to take part in, and that kind of joy was awesome to witness.

Before we had installed the system, Brennen had taken a sample of the water that they had been drinking. It had a bunch of floaties in it and was pretty cloudy. When they ran the water through the filtration system, it came out crystal clear. I meant to drink some, but I forgot in all the excitement.

The bus ride to the airport afterward was...an experience. I think I was airborne more than I was actually bottom-in-the-seat during that FOUR AND A HALF HOUR drive. So. Many. Bumps.

Needless to say, I was beyond pleased when we finally reached the airport hotel. The other bus had a flat tire, so they were an hour and half behind us. And as terrible as it sounds, I was glad. It meant I could shower and chill by myself in my room for awhile without having to be roomie-appropriate.

Karma got me almost immediately. 

Our room REAKED of mildew. Luckily, the window was huge, and it opened all the way up, so I aired it out while I took the most amazing shower of the week. The pressure was phenomenal, and the hot water never ran out. I was able to dry my hair, and put on a skirt. Yes, Lyndse Hamilton wore a skirt. 

Dinner was...(insert your favorite synonym for amazing here). It was an incredible buffet with fourteen kinds of hummus, seventy-nine kinds of bread, and roughly four million desserts. Okay, I may be exaggerating here a bit, but it was the perfect end to a long, hot day. I should have taken a picture, but I was starving when we got there and in a food coma by the time I left. Needless to say, pulling out my phone for a picture was not at the top of my priority list.

I spent some time in the lobby after dinner so I could use the free wifi. Then I made sure all my bags were packed and took a nap.

I was pooped when we got to the airport, but glad to be going home. I smooth-talked the ticket agent Doug-Hamilton-style and he got me a window seat from Frankfurt to the good ol' USA. The plane ride from Cairo to Frankfurt was full, but the longer airplane ride was covered, and that was my main prerogative 

My seat on that ride had no padding, so I was sitting on metal. My back was killing me. I took a muscle relaxer for the longer ride, and that coupled with the window seat made it quite bearable. My seat mate was amazing - I told her I would probably sleep a lot and be twitchy (I may have jerked awake quite violently before telling her this - the plane hadn't even hit the runway at this point), and so she pulled down the window cover after take-off so the sun wouldn't get in my eyes. She even took my breakfast tray off my fold-down tray in order to make sure I didn't knock it into my lap after I passed out post-meal. My airline angel. :)

Getting through immigration at DFW is so much quicker now that they have automated systems. I was even directed to a brand new line after which made getting through customs even easier.

Sissy picked me up at the airport, so I said goodbye to Paul and Nate, and we headed back to Rockwall. It was so nice to see cars that stayed inside their designated lanes on the drive home. It's the little things, you know.

Now it's more sleepy times. I have had an incredible trip and am beyond blessed to have been able to be a part of something so amazing. My sponsors, my family, and Lake Pointe - I couldn't do any of this without everyone's help and prayers. If you fit into one of those categories - I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And I encourage you to sponsor a child or a water system...or to GO yourself.

You won't regret it. Not even for a second.

Much Love,

*L*

There's Too Many Bassetts!

Oh man. Yesterday wiped me out. Emotionally, spiritually, physically. And my stomach started to outsmart the "Magic Pills". I was up really late, and when it was time to wake up, I could barely open my eyes. I told Heidi how I was feeling, and asked her if she could let Brad know so he could bring me some more pills.

And then it hit me. I thought, "What am I doing? Suck it up, Hamilton." So I told Heidi that I was going to try to take a shower and then I'd re-evaluate.

The shower helped tremendously, and I decided I'd go and do what I could.

When we got to the village, I knew going out in the heat was not going to be an option, so I took over setting up the home visits. It was rough, because this village has a lot of children that Lake Pointe members sponsor, so it was kind of tricky making sure they were all grouped together the way everyone wanted.

After I got that up and running, I went out and helped find some glasses for Rebecca in the vision clinic, and then helped for a few minutes in the dental clinic - making kids laugh and smile through the tears. It never fails to amaze me how different the culture is. Corin was having to cheer women and men on to make the decision to get glasses in order to help SEE - because in the Egyptian culture, glasses are not really accepted. Women are embarrassed to have their pictures taken if they wear glasses.

Another cultural difference is the security situation. Every village had members that carried around rifles all day. These men would come to the clinics...and hold their rifles while they got teeth pulled, or were fitted for glasses. There was one guy today that was really nice, and let Steve and Martha take pictures with him and his rifle.

There was a new dentist working with us today, and he offered to teach me how to do an extraction. I was pumped...unfortunately there weren't anymore that day. Figures. :)

I got to meet the famous Refka. She's officially Brad's sponsoree, but they fight over her like cats. It's silly. But she's smart as a whip, and very charming.

Gloria gave me some water balloons (empty), and I quickly drew a crowd of four boys who blew them up and I tied. We had a lot of balloons floating around, and of course, they started popping them. It was loud and echoed quite well in the large room we were in.

Unfortunately, we had to stop because it sounded a little too much like gunfire to the police downstairs. Oops!

After that, I helped Gloria pack up her bags, and we headed back to the hotel.

We hung out by the Nile at the back of the hotel, and took a couple of group photos. The sun was in our eyes, and the Bassetts couldn't figure out how to get the remote to work.

"There's too many Bassetts!"

Eventually, we got it taken, and I wondered back to my room to grab the Cholula and go to dinner. They had the amazing potatoes again, and I decided what the heck. I'd risk it. And it was totally worth it. MMMMMmmmmm!

Tomorrow, I will get to go with the water team to install a water filter and I am beyond excited. I've been able to see some of the systems, and the impact that they've had on the villages. It is an amazing thing to see - people coming to the churches to get clean water. It's an amazing thing.

If you're interested in donating towards a water filtration system, go to transformegypt.com and click on GIVE, then follow the link to the water systems. One system costs $3,000, and every dollar helps.

Much love,

*L*