The Bedouin Village Project

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Near the town of St. Catherine’s, Egypt, in South Sinai, at the foot of Mount Sinai (where Moses received the 10 commandments), is a village of 110 men, women and children. We have been helping them with various projects to help them get self-sufficient and get through a horrible two year drought. The only form of work the men have are by being guides climbing up Mt. Sinai with groups, which they receive approximately $10 US for, for a good 8-10 mile hike in all forms of weather year-round, and the groups are sometimes 40 people (not many ever tip them, either). It’s some of the hardest work in the world.

 

We got their garden up and running, just to have the drought strike a few months later. Then a strong windstorm came and destroyed their garden house cover. They’ve recently had the flu and pneumonia and have gotten worms and intestinal infections from eating the local produce they purchase instead of growing it themselves.

 

They’ve been tested and afflicted, yet are still happy and faithful people. Their strength comes from their belief in God. Becky and Ray were the first outsiders ever to be invited to their village. They play with the children and their goals are:

 

• To help them reach digging through granite to the water level in the current well digging project, then brick the inside of the well and test the water to make sure it’s safe to drink and water vegetables so they can become healthier as a village

• Have Mohammed teach the children and teens how to garden so he can have some help and pass on a useful skill

• Provide better health and dental care to the village. Several men have died of heart attacks at age 40 and after lots of research and bringing Dr. Kevin to the village last year, we believe the infection starts in their mouths and spreads to their hearts

• We started an English library but Becky’s dream is to eventually build a building that can serve as an English learning center, library, and computer center for the girls, boys and adults. She would also like to start a sewing and crafts building that allows the women to continue their traditional Bedouin crafts to sell

• Teach the mother’s to allow their daughters to finish school and be educated

• After the garden is flourishing again, plant bee flowers to attract bees

• After the bees come, start a honey farm and teach the older children and willing adults how to work it, then bottle and sell their product

• Continue to educate them on farming goats, chickens, lambs, etc.

• Send the first female in the village to college

• Continue to help the widows in the village who lost their husbands of heart attacks at age 40 and continue to be almost destitute without them (we always provide food when we go, but have also bought them chickens to receive eggs and brought many supplies like working gloves so they can collect the natural Bedouin tea (which sells for only $6 for a massive white flour bag full and takes them several days to collect one)

 

On each of Becky’s trips you will get to visit the village and do humanitarian service, learn how to make bread, and meet and play with the families.

 

If you feel inclined to help, every penny goes directly to the village projects listed above. You will be blessed!