Rumors and Truth

When we met with Nabil in May, he told us that the American news often paints a much worse picture that what it is really like.
As we near our departure date our attention is of course drawn to the news and what is reported therein concerning Lebanon; especially Beirut. We are very thankful to be in touch with our liaison there who, when recently asked via email what the conditions are like, responded:

"For the situation in Lebanon, what Nabil said is very true and I wanted you to read something that one of our visitors who came from the US last week wrote. This might help:

A Texas pastor and I spent the afternoon walking around downtown Beirut. We stopped in at Starbucks for a frappuchino, bought some souvenirs, and went inside to visit the central mosque (with shoes off, of course).
Last Sunday we went to church at a baptist church in the central Bekaa valley, visited one of the national forests of cedars of Lebanon, and then returned to the Bekaa Valley for a nice lunch at a local restaurant. We also visited the Beirut Baptist School, which is in the heart of the Muslim section of Beirut.
I give you all this detail to illustrate that life is going on as normal, despite the Syrian refugee situation. The local Baptist leaders don't see Lebanon in any more delicate position, or tenuous situation, than any of their neighboring countries. One of their main leaders described life here, with the shadow of hostilities, as their "daily bread". All of the tension, caution, etc is found up on their northern borders."

Rest assured we are paying attention and not going heading out blindly - simply in faith!

Thank you for your continued prayers.