Chris and Deborah landed at the city of Kom Ombo on Valentine’s Day. There were a lot of ships docked there as well.

Chris and Deborah celebrating Valentine’s Day. The shadow is from Chris’ phone as he was taking this selfie.

Amazing Egyptian structure.

Deborah before a hieroglyphic frieze. It appears there may be a couple embracing on the right side. Perhaps appropriate for Valentine’s Day?

The harbor at night.

Mummified crocodiles. Perhaps they already had plenty of crocodile hide handbags and didn’t need these.

Betty and I have had our faith tested primarily through accident and illness. There are others whose tests have been far more difficult than ours. Here’s a testament from Charles Spurgeon on the blessings of a tested faith.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Pet. 1:6–7)

Untested faith may be true faith, but it is sure to be small faith, and it is likely to remain little as long as it is without trials. Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her: Tempests are her trainers, and bolts of lightning are her illuminators. When a calm reigns on the sea, spread the sails as you will, the ship does not move to its harbor; for on a slumbering ocean the keel sleeps too. Let the winds rush and howl, and let the waters lift themselves, though the vessel may rock and her deck may be washed with waves and her mast may creak under the pressure of the full and swelling sail, it is then that she makes headway toward her desired haven. 

No flowers are as lovely a blue as those that grow at the foot of the frozen glacier; no stars gleam as brightly as those that glisten in the midnight sky; no water tastes as sweet as that which springs up in the desert sand; and no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity. Tested faith brings experience. You could not have believed your own weakness if you had not been compelled to pass through the rivers; and you would never have known God’s strength if you had not been supported in the flood. Faith increases in quality, assurance, and intensity the more it is exercised with tribulation. Faith is precious, and its trial is precious too.

Do not let this, however, discourage those who are young in faith. You will have trials enough without seeking them: The full portion will be measured out to you in due course. Meanwhile, if you cannot yet claim the result of long experience, thank God for what grace you have; praise Him for that degree of holy confidence you have now attained: Walk according to that rule, and you will still have more and more of the blessing of God, until your faith will remove mountains and conquer impossibilities.

Chris and Deborah sent us pictures of their time at the Old Cataract Hotel. It was built in 1900 by the British.

The interior has a lot of Egyptian inspiration.

View at night.

Deborah on a feluca, a traditional wooden boat.

Up to now, Chris and Deborah have been cruising around Lake Nasser. Now they will be cruising on the Nile River, shown behind Chris in this picture.

A good friend of ours, Connie, lives on the main road in Corrales. She has these permanent scarecrows and changes them according to the season and weather. Connie is the person who got our Icelandic Horse.

So, this is our Valentine’s Day card to you from our little New Mexico village.

More from Chris and Deborah on their tour in Egypt. These pictures come from their time on Lake Nasser. Before moving on, notice the bird in the very top of this first picture.

In the picture above, they captured the National Bird of Egypt, a Steppe Eagle. This picture from the web shows what it looks like.

Deborah as captain of one of the boats that took them from their cruise ship to the various sites.

Our two adventurers with their cruise ship on the lake between them to the rear.

This is a picture from Google Earth showing an island with an historic site which they were able to see from the ship. The ship in the picture may very well be the ship on which they’re cruising. You can see the blue swimming pool on the top deck.

Hopefully more to come whenever we get pictures from them.