Cairo: A letter and a dream.

Last night I dreamed I was back in Cairo. I was back in Agouza (although it did not resemble Agouza whatsoever) with Dr. Holt, Dena, Brian, and the new MESPers.

Then this afternoon I got a letter from Cairo.
I was confused at first.
It was my handwriting that read:

"Kayla Barkett
955 La Paz
Santa Barbara, CA
93108 MS#1096
USA [insert arabic letters for AMRIKA here]"

But the stamps were clearly Egyptian.

I turned the envelope over to find a friendly note from Dena and Brian, the interns during my MESP semester.

Ohhh. Let me guess. I probably wrote a letter to myself while I was there.
So Typical.

I opened the envelope, recognizing right away the page ripped out from my journal.

Yep.


To the Kayla I do not yet know:

If you're anything like the self you have always been in the past, you're frustrated with yourself. Don't be. give yourself a little bit of slack when it comes to implementing change. But at the same time, be done with the excuses. At some point you need to suck it up and act on beliefs.

Switching modes...I hope that by now, you're still aware of all that you learned during your semester at MESP...What are you doing with this time? Are you being intentional & investing in relationships like you realized was so important? Don't you dare forget the worthlessness you felt during the semester. Don't you dare forget what it taught you: You may be a failure in many ways...you may never be as smart as other people, or as articulate, or as successful...You have no control over these if they are dependent upon the gifts & abilities, the mind you were born with. But what you can control...what you can excel in, is how you treat others. You can perfect your smile, your listening ear, your selflessness. These types of things YOU CAN DO WELL. But it'll take work Kayla. It'll take practice.

Don't forget the love & hospitality of the Egyptians. They offer so much. Don't forget all the times you were invited for tea as you walked by shops. Don't forget about the eagerness to help that you encountered. Every time you got lost there was an enthusiastic helper showing you the way. Don't just remember this. Don't just admire this. Learn from it. Implement it.

Another thing, how has your faith changed at home? At Westmont? Have you ignored all that you learned, realized, & felt during this semester? ACT ON YOUR FAITH. Like the Muslims here, let your faith become your life. Make it your life, actively. Never forget your moment with God. Hold on to it, treasure it...

Thank you Dr. Holt, Dena, and Brian for making us write these silly little letters.