One of the hard things about living in Egypt is having to move so often. There is a law here stating that owners of apartments have the right to raise the rent of them 10% every year. This is pretty ridiculous to me because who can afford to pay 10% more every year indefinitely? So, we stay in an apartment about 3 years before we are having to start the search for a new one.
This move is particularly hard for me because several years ago we bought all of our own furniture and rented an unfurnished apartment. Most of the time foreigners rent furnished apartments here, and we have rented our share of those.
Due to recent events in the country, we decided to sell our furniture and move back into a furnished apartment. Things have become more unstable here, and the government has never been as unpredictable as it is right now. This is what helped us to make this decision. If something happens and it is impossible for us to return to Egypt after our visit back to the States later this summer, then we will not have an apartment full of furniture sitting here that we can not deal with.
As the title of my blog states "...living in a foreign land," these issues do not just pertain to me, living in another "earthly" country. These types of issues pertain to all of us. We are only on this earth for a little while. Sooner or later, we all pass on to another life, and we cannot take our earthly possessions with us, so as the Bible says in Matthew 6:19-21
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Awwww Jackie - there is a bit of sadness in your words and I feel for you that even though it's only furniture - still you get attached to your own things especially when you have been living a while on other's people furnished flat. At least when you go back to the US, you will make your own home and who knows what will happen!
ReplyDeleteHope that everything goes well with the move.
Amen, Jackleen. Best not to have too much to hold us here on earth. Your decicion to sell your own furniture and rent furnished again, is a sound one. No need for any extra things to hold us down, spiritually and in the world. Bless you and safe and happy moving. Jo PS I love your new header photo!
ReplyDeleteJo and Flo, fortunately, my husband and I have never been people who want to accumulate "things". It is nice to have our own things, but we know that usually what we are living with is much nicer than what a lot of people in this world have. Thanks for your comments.
ReplyDeleteFlo, yes, there is a little sadness, but all is well. My husband and I are the kind of people that do not get too attached to "things". Also, we have seen how some people have to live, and so far, we have been very blessed in our lives to not to have to endure the hardships that some people do. Thanks for your comment. ;o)
ReplyDelete