By David Harder, Head of Communications at SAT-7's (Danish European Mission partner) international office
The Cairo International Book Fair is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Last year, over two million people visited the two-week fair. For the past four years, SAT-7 has had a stand at the fair, handing out promotional material and answering questions from viewers.
This year SAT-7 also had one of its popular TV personalities, "Mr. Know" (Abo El Oref), presenter of the SAT-7 KIDS program "Why That?", at the stand to sign autographs. For several weeks leading up to the fair, SAT-7 aired a special TV spot advertising his participation at the book fair.
"It was amazing," says Mr. Know, whose real name is Essam. "The kids were pouring in!" Over 3,000 children lined up to get an autograph and talk to Essam. The line was so long that the neighboring stands, which were also Christian, had to ask for help to make sure the kids didn't knock over their bookshelves. But they also thanked SAT-7 for attracting so many people to the area because they increased sales!
Although every child who visited the booth was unique, Essam will always remember two children that the Lord touched in a special way during their visit to the booth. One afternoon, while Essam was busy signing autographs, a mother came up and handed him a small note. It read: "The girl who is next in line has some special problems. Please give her extra attention." At that moment, Essam felt an extra responsibility. The girl in line was very big and looked a little awkward. Essam thought she must be at least 15 years old, but she was actually only 12. When she got to the front of the queue, Essam asked all the children to be quiet so he could talk to her. The girl also handed him a note. It read: "I am Iman* from Cairo. I have no friends. What am I supposed to do? How can I know that God loves me? Thank you very much, Mr. Know."
"I said to her, 'If you have problems, look up to heaven and talk to Jesus. Don't let others give you ideas. Talk to Jesus and He will give you an answer,'" Essam says, recalling the conversation. "At that moment, many of the other children started to crowd forward, but I saw a big smile spread on her face. I really think something happened to her at that moment; the Holy Spirit spoke to her."
Later that day, another child, a pretty little boy, appeared in line and Essam bent down and picked him up. As Essam sat the boy on his lap, he noticed that the boy was crippled. He had a wooden leg. The boy had seen the TV commercial announcing that Mr. Know would be at the book fair in Cairo, and he managed to convince his parents to drive him there. The moment is vivid in Essam's memory: "He didn't move much in line, just waved his hands. When he got to the front, he said, 'I've come just to say hello to you,' and he gave me a big kiss. He grabbed me by the neck and wouldn't let me go." It turned out that the boy and his family had traveled a long way to come to the booth and meet "Mr. Know." Essam was humbled because he realized how difficult it must have been for them to travel all the way from Upper Egypt to meet him. But Essam was also deeply touched that God is using him and the "Mr. Know" program to bless so many children, such as the little disabled boy and the lonely little girl.
*The name has been changed to protect the little girl's privacy.
