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Dear Friends,
 The bookfair grounds are not only a place to buy and sell books, but an occasion for shaping the attitudes and ideas of the nation. Organizations and entities take this chance to work on their image and build support for various political and religious agendas, values and concepts.
We too have an agenda! With access to the wider public, we are all about making the Scriptures easily available to all. In the midst of a difficult financial crisis, subsidy ensures that several basic Scripture items are easily affordable. Because of the devaluation of the Egyptian pound many of our scriptures are selling below printing cost while our New Testament is selling as usual at 2 EGP.
For the second year now, the Bible Society has been invited by the Ministry of Culture to present several shows for kids. Kingo is on hand, with puppets, a clown, and a singing/drama group of young people. While children growing up in Sunday-School would feel at home, this is a unique presentation for most. Children come on stage to say 5 things that God created for us. Parents are invited to share as well, often going beyond the birds and trees to deeper things, thanking God for our health, our senses, etc.
 During our first show, a representative from the Ministry of Culture was in attendance to assess. The team was later surprised when the woman came all the way across the fair grounds to find our booth, specifically to thank the Bible Society. She stated that while the acts before and after ours were mocking people and making foolish jokes for cheap laughs, “Yours had a different tone. You were able to pull good things out of people, and get them focused on wholesome and positive thoughts. We are surrounded by all these wonders but we don’t pay attention or notice them. Yours is a very refreshing message that our kids need to hear.”
 This year one of our two booths has been designated solely to serving children, with fun activities and all of our children’s scripture products on display. This colorful, welcoming booth is indeed attracting children and their families. Although it has affected our general sales negatively our agenda is to promote the message of God’s Word. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we anticipate another good week of interaction and outreach at the Cairo International Bookfair.
Sincerely,
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Ramez Atallah
General Director
The Bible Society of Egypt
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