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Dear friends,
 During these last 2 months of “Bookfair season”, the Bible Society has supplied thousands of Scriptures throughout the country. These items are now being used and shared by people who love Jesus and believe in His Word. These are your partners in the Gospel.
A recent Facebook post illustrates our vision to support and equip Egyptian Christians with affordable Scriptures. On 4 February, Mafdy came to Cairo to visit the bookfair. He bought several items from the Bible Society booth purposely to have on hand to share with others. In one post, he shares this picture of a smiling taxi driver who was pleased with his gift of “The Sermon on the Mount”.
 Mafdy also wrote about another interaction: “I can’t go to sleep until I speak of him. This morning, I was waiting for the bus, and I saw a homeless man sitting there. Something in me made me move nearer to him, and this was the first time for me to do something like this! When I got close to him, I greeted him… His name is “Uncle Emad.” He was expelled from his house20 years ago and living on the streets since! And none of his family wants him! He has been in psychiatric clinics and has undergone a lot of treatment, and has a lot of physical complaints and pain in his legs.
I was thinking of what I could give to him, and I asked him, do you know how to read? He said, yes. Would you like to read the Bible? He said, Yes, I used to have a Gospel a long time ago in my house, and I wish I could read it. I gave it to him and immediately he opened it and began to read. I asked if we could pray together, and he started praying, speaking to our Lord with all his love and desire. His prayer really affected me. For the first time in my life, I greeted him with a big hug. I was so happy, and I promised him that we would meet again. (He is there at the walls of the Coptic Hospital)”
This is a beautiful example of how one young man was enabled with Scriptures to share, and how he himself was blessed by his encounter with the homeless man. However, the story does not end there. Mafdy went back 4 days later looking for Uncle Emad, who had already finished Matthew and Luke, and they talked about the miracles of Jesus. “I was so happy to see him, so encouraged and comforted,” said Mafdy. He asked about his health and where he  slept. Uncle Emad said he’d been to many churches and no one helped except for giving him some old dirty clothes which he threw away! He sleeps at the bus stop or in the garden. Mafdy didn’t know what to say, but promised that he would try to find a place for him to stay.
Mafdy’s post about this second visit was shared 127 times, and networking together, just 10 days later Uncle Emad was given a place in a shelter, clean warm clothes and a bed, surrounded by good people who will care for him.
The faithful efforts of Mafdy not only changed the life of Uncle Emad, but hundreds of others have also been challenged to reach out in practical love and mercy. The Bible Society exists to supply Scripture tools for people like Mafdy who believe in the power of God’s Word to change lives. I would like to ask you to pray for all of our distributors in Egypt.
Sincerely,
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