Pictures from our trip

Hello All,

We have finally uploaded a lot of pictures to a flickr account. You should be able to view them here:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/2225532@N25/

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support before and during our trip. We could not have done this without you all.

God bless.

Our Final Days

Zahle is only a few minutes from the border of Lebanon and Syria. There is a civil war raging in Syria, and has been for almost 2-1/2 years. Lebanon is a "free" country with long open borders so the Syrians are flooding in. The population of Lebanon is 4 million souls. There is now 800,000 registered Syrian refugees with an estimated 200,000 more unregistered. That is one quarter of the population of Lebanon! And they are seeking asylum from the war and tyranny at home within Lebanon. In Zahle we see many more Muslims and beggars; people with no where else to go. It is heartbreaking. I think of the 80 or so parcels of food we helped to package back in the warehouse and feel it is but a tiny drop in an ocean of need. I thank God that He likes to turn little seeds into giant trees!

These refugees live in tents, or 3 large families may occupy a 1 family apartment, or they might live in a condemned building. We heard of one family living in a building an hours walk from civilization, surrounded by danger. No matter where they live, someone owns the land or building and charges them rent. If they do not pay they are compassionatelessly evicted. They take any job they can find and work for less than the native Lebanese. They are simply, and barely, surviving. The alternative, to stay at home, is much worse. At least here not all hope has been lost. All this, of course, creates greater tension in Lebanon.

Things are being done. These people are not being forgotten. They are being given the gospel. They are being fed, mostly. It all happens through the efforts of the church and the people like our hosts. Where we attend service this morning we see some of the efforts. Intermixed with the parishioners are some women wearing scarfs on their heads; the family is clearly from a Muslim background. Praise God, the message of His love and Christ's sacrifice for our salvation is clearly present in the message. We notice that during the offering everybody, even the children, gave! They all give! They know they serve a powerful God and He can do great things through meager offerings.

Afterward we are given a tour of the facility. Some is still under construction. The current sanctuary is only temporary. The main sanctuary, which is the second floor of the building, is still without walls. It will be much larger than their current room, which is good as the numbers of this small church is growing rapidly. As we look out over the city from our lofty vantage point I see only a few buildings away a stark reminder that life here is much different. The walls of the small yellow building are pock-marked with aged bullet holes; a reminder of less pleasant days gone by. It is also a reminder of how God works in our lives: from scarred and broken walls he rebuilds us through grace, mercy and endless love. We say farewell to Zahle and begin our winding drive up into the mountains to meet Nabil for lunch.

The route seems to go ever upward. Winding its way through small villages and expansive views, each more breath-taking than the last. We can see, far below us now, the Bekaa valley. Some call it the Bekaa Plain, and those who do are very passionate that it a plain. Regardless its name, it is a small flat area decorated with buildings and farmland, a city rises in the middle. It is surrounded by high brown and green mountains. Across the valley and over the finger of mountains we are told lies Syria. The air is cool. The sun is warm. The virgin Mary perches on a wall to receive prayers from travelers. We are told that the Maronites have planted these statues all along this highway.

After a bit of confusion and some typical Lebanese traffic maneuvering, which would demand a whole other page to detail, we find our restaurant. It is a large open air buffet. Some familiar dishes fill the line, and more we have not yet seen. There is shawarma, both chicken and beef, zaatar, soujouk and kafta, vegatables and fruit, and many more I do not know. We are encouraged to try some new things: it is all delicious. Nabil and his wife along with some others join us. We talk, and laugh, and eat, and revel in the day and our trip to Lebanon. These are wonderful people. God bless them all!

Too soon we are back at ABTS. Our trip is rapidly coming to a close. It is already time to finalize packing and try to rest a bit before our 4:45 a.m. departure for the airport. Despite the jet-lag and illness, we are filled with mixed emotions about leaving. We are eager to return home to our loved ones, but we have met such awesome people we find it hard to leave. Again, too soon, we are packed like sardines and on our way back to the States, to home, to our families, to the refuge of our safe picket fences and daily routines. What a refreshing trip. What a great opportunity to see how God is at work. What a blessing to meet some of family in Christ!

"Passionate God in Heaven, consuming fire, loving savior, Prince of Peace. We thank you for this awesome opportunity to visit our body in Lebanon. Please continue to bless them with your love. Go before them and soften the hearts, and remove the scales from the eyes, of the Muslims they meet that they might see the love of Christ through the work of those serving the refugees. May the grains and foods that are given be like loaves and fishes, feeding more than they should be able. May your Holy Spirit protect them as they enter the den of danger to show compassion to the refugees. May the hope You offer overwhelm the zeal of the Muslims and your love conquer their hate. Show us how to pray for our brothers and sisters in Lebanon, and Syria, and the Middle East. Please continue to multiply their little bits to make great victories for your kingdom, as only You can. We ask all this in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."

Parting is Sweet Sorrow

After another short nights sleep we wake to another perfectly sunny day. Already the Lebanese Orthoptera (grasshoppers that live in the surrounding pines) are singing their daily praises. With sleep encrusted eyelids half open we head out in search of Nescafe and then to the leader's devotional. I have been chosen to read a passage of my choosing that will be our verse for the day. In keeping with the theme for the weekend, I read from 1 John 3:1-10. We pray and then, a bit more awake, go in search for our small group so that we may greet, devote, and pray with them to start the day.

In this mornings group devotional we discuss how God wants us to treat those around us; to "Let the Love Flow Out" according to the passage title. We talk about our circle of friends and God's people and our "neighbors" and who they are. The main focus of this discussion to get them to think about the "ways they can do good to those they meet daily." They are excited to participate in the conversation and quickly toss out people whom they can minister to during their day and how they may do it. It is wonderful to see their enthusiasm for helping one another in a practical, biblical, way. Their ardor is contagious, just like their everlasting smiles, and soon we are all smiling and laughing as we close in prayer and head to the mess hall for breakfast.

In the few moments of free time before the meal, I am approached by Julie's mother. She meekly asks me for a favor, and I tell her anything within my ability is hers to ask. She tells me that Pastor Joseph has told her of my condition, and I immediately, and, thank God, wrongfully, assume she is speaking of my traveler's sickness; I am still not fully well. As she continues it becomes rapidly clear that she is not speaking of any intestinal issues, but, instead, of my diabetes. She is asking me to speak to her daughter about it as Julie has no one to relate to. Julie has cystic fibrosis. I am diabetic. Though they are not the same condition, they have similar life altering implications. I am excited to do this favor. Internally I pump my fists into the air and praise God for this wonderful opportunity. Being diabetic is usually not anything to get excited about, usually just the opposite. However, when our inexorably awesome God hand picks you to share your life with another in a helpful way, this is cause for celebration and reason for praise! Then I think to myself: ok, I am to approach a 14 year old Lebanese girl and talk about our conditions. This won't be awkward at all... Thank God this is by His ordination, His power, and His will!

I do not mean to hijack this blog, but Julie's story is one of hope and beauty. Her life is not merely a breath in the wind, but more like a lightning bud in the dark. She shines and the darkness will not overtake her! As I enter the cafeteria I try to find Julie. I immediately see that God, of course, is at work. Kacie is sitting next to her already: a buffer and reason to sit at the same table. Typically I have noticed that when we gather for meals it is boys and girls at their own tables, so sitting next to a teammate gives me an excuse. We exchange pleasantries and begin chit-chatting. Julie is shy and not very forth coming as I begin to broach the subject. I am trying to play it off as if I wasn't asked by her mother, instead, I just casually bring it up that I heard she had cystic fibrosis. Since I have diabetes, we start to share slowly about our conditions.

Soon she opens up a bit and I quickly learn that it is she that could probably help me more than I can help her! She is a petite, pretty child, optimistic and buoyant in her spirit, and remains undefined by her condition, smiling shyly, yet brightly, as she speaks. She regales to me her story of months long stays in the hospital. Of missing more school than she can attend, but, joyfully she relates, her teachers understand, and despite her prolonged absences, she is going quite well. She has had this condition her whole life and she would not know any other way to live. She is not angry at God, or disappointed in her lot. To her it is just a way of life and the way God made her. I am astonished, but not completely surprised, by her aplomb. The people here are delightfully content and positive, choosing to live instead of worry. It is wonderful! We are so enthralled by her joyful tale that we do not even notice the room has cleared out and it is time to head to morning worship.

Dani, Gladys' husband, arrived last night and this morning he is again leading worship. He is a talented musician on the keyboard; Roula and Noelle lead the songs. This morning we sing and praise God delightedly. We are even learning some of the Arabic verses and join in clapping to the beat. Pastor Joseph also has a clear tenor voice and leads, or continues, some of the songs; he also has a keen memory for lyrics. He then takes to microphone to deliver the final message of the weekend series. The message today is "Seeing the World Through the Eyes of God." He enthusiastically teaches us on how God sees this fallen, broken world and our role in it as followers of Jesus Christ. He concludes by reminding us that what we ask of God should not be to fulfill our selfish desires, but to instead ask Him how we may serve him and open doors from which we can build relationships with our neighbors. A final song and we head out to find our small group.

Sheltered from the already warm sun, we are gathered in the shade beneath the pines. This is our final time to meet with these students as teachers and I wish to make it a good exchange. I start off with the prepared questions and again receive Sunday school answers. My spirit is heavy and my desire is to make sure they understand the importance of this weeks theme. Especially as our group is bound for university. I put the questions away and start to ask them if what we are studying makes sense, do they understand, do they have questions. At first, they are sheepish in the answers. But, since they have had some time, too little time, to get to know

us, they are more comfortable today and one of them opens the flood gates. Yes, they understand, but they have heard it all before and always the same biblical vocabulary laden message. They want to know how they can relate this to their lives; how do they share this with their Muslim friends? The Muslims are hard set in their beliefs and neither will convert to the other's point of view. At last, a real, heartfelt response. A real concern! God, please, give me the right words and do not let my answer get lost in translation. We begin by reminding them it is not their responsibility to change anyone's heart or mind. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. We continue by telling them that God only has one job for them: to love their neighbor humbly and through Christ's strength. Our dialogue continues for some time, but they are eager for the council. They understand and start to speak of how they can do this very thing, how God can work through them to show the Arab nation his great mercy and grace. Our spirits sing in praise to our creator as we see the comprehension dawn in their eyes. We joyful gladness, we close in prayer before heading off for the morning activities. Jon and Kacie have put together a sport for the boys, ultimate Frisbee, and a craft opportunity for the girls, making memory books.

The guys gather on the hot, dusty soccer field. We may be in the mountains, but the sun still blazes and the rain still does not come until winter. We laugh and perspire as we enjoy some ultimate Frisbee. A bit further down the mountain the girls stay cool and dry in the gathering hall, crowded in around several tables cutting colored paper into squares about 3 x 5 inches, decorating them with markers and stamps, and binding them to make memory books. Everybody enjoys the morning activity and then it is time for lunch. Once again we gather in the mess hall for our final meal with these wonderful kids.

Jon and I sit beside one another and enjoy the company of Jad and Peter and several other boys. Kacie and Mary are sitting with some girls. We enjoy the Lebanese dishes and the camaraderie; we smile and joke; we exchange stories; we jest and laugh; we do anything but look at the clock. Way too soon lunch is over and now it is time for the worst part about camp: we must say goodbye.

We will be staying one more night here on the campus as the church we will be attending tomorrow morning in Zahle is close by. The bus is here and the kids stow their gear once again in its belly. We hug and snap pictures and make our farewells. In only three days these kids from the other side of the world have planted their roots deep in our hearts. We will miss them very much. They are such happy, cheerful, gracious, polite,
and now real-to-us kids. It will be a joy to pray for them by name in our daily prayers. We wave as the bus drives away and then it is only us and the pines embraced by the sun. Our day is far from over.

This afternoon we travel on a windy road up and up and farther up the mountain to the Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve. This forest boasts some very old trees - approximately 3000 years old! This forest is where Solomon came to gather the cedar wood to build his Palace of the Forest of Lebanon (1 Kings 7). The thin air is cool on our skin as we exit the car for the tour. Our guide is very knowledgeable and passionate about the cedar forest as he explains the age of the forest, its geo and bio diversity, how the cedar produces its cones, and the history of this forest. He completes the 25 minute tour by telling us that the only insect that can survive the poisonous sap of the cedar tree is the bee, which is essential to the survival of the forest. As we are leaving the park, we stop at the gift center and are treated to a sample of the thick, sweet, pure honey made by the bees that inhabit the forest. It is expensive, but worth it; never before have we tasted such delicious honey. We are dropped off at the same restaurant below the camp in which we dined the night before as our hosts must attend a dinner function with their family. Back now at the camp, we crash hard after a long few sleepless days.

And there was evening, and there was morning - the third day of camp.


"Merciful Father in Heaven, planter of the cedars of Lebanon, the depths of your grace cannot be measured. We praise you for this opportunity to know some of the children of Lebanon; your children. We implore you to watch over them, love them, deliver them, guide them through today and into tomorrow. May they be radiant beacons of your love and hope and may they share your light in the darkness the surrounds them. May they remember their identity through your Son Jesus, our triumphant Savior and everlasting friend. Amen."