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."