What we've been up to...

Hey Friends,

We created this blog to help us stay in touch with our friends while we are living in Egypt. Once we arrive in Egypt, we will post regular updates about our life there.  In the meantime, we thought you might enjoy a little update on what we have been up to since we left Egypt in 2006.  (There will be some overlap in this post for those of you who received our letter, but there are some new details as well). 

In the summer of 2006 Emily and I moved to Princeton, New Jersey so that I could begin a Masters in Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS) and Emily could begin her career as a nurse.  It has been a wonderful three years packed with dear friends, long hours in the library, long hours at the hospital, and long lines at the nurse’s office at Princeton Academy of Sacred Heart.  Allow me to explain…

Emily’s going-ons:

While I was holed up in the library studying, Emily was busy supporting our family and taking care of kids in need through her work as a nurse.  Emily is currently working as the school nurse at a small boys Catholic school, Princeton Academy of Sacred Heart. This small school only has about 250 boys, most of whom Emily knows by name.  Her office is not only an infirmary, but a welcoming sanctuary for boys who crave a listening ear and a warm smile.  In addition to her nursing duties, Emily and I had a blast coaching cross country this fall.

Before working at Princeton Academy, Emily was fortunate to work as a nurse on the Gastrointestinal, Liver transplant, and Endocrine floor at one of the premier children’s hospitals in the world, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  Emily has loved working there; being in the heart of Philly enabled her to see the soul of the city, and being at an internationally renowned hospital she cared for patients from around the world.  Emily loved being at C.H.O.P., but the long commute and 12 hour shifts were draining, so the opportunity at Princeton Academy was truly a godsend.  

Ben’s going-ons:

My experience at seminary has also been wonderful. The diversity of individuals and Christian traditions that converge at PTS create an environment where I have been challenged intellectually, spiritually, and personally. The quality of professors and students is dazzling; I spent silly amounts of time the library just to keep up. I gained great experience working in a church and serving as a chaplain at a Psychiatric hospital.  I have loved (almost all) my classes, and feel well prepared to serve the church. 

Life in Princeton:

I wasn’t surprised to find that Princeton Seminary was great academic institution, but Emily and I have been joyously surprised by the amazing PTS community.  We have loved all daily chapel, great lectures, and fun community events.  We have had the pleasure of playing hours of Frisbee and being apart of an intramural football dynasty (if such a thing exists).  Our greatest joy has been spending time with the truly wonderful life-long friends we have made.  The hardest part of moving to Cairo will be leaving the people that make PTS great. 

We will add a post soon with more details of what we will be doing in Egypt, but for now I will leave yall with some pictures from the last few years (in the preceding post).

Ben