Time to Hope. Refugees in Lebanon.

In my previous post, “Tea Time in a Tent. Refugees in Lebanon” I mentioned that my wife, Saundria Keck and her writing partner, Kay Benson had been invited to Lebanon to see how the character development resource they had written for Heart for Lebanon was being used. Pete, the husband of my wife’s writing partner, and I joined them. We wanted to see the schools, meet the teachers, and soak-in their vision for the community-based ministry. The task of the mission seemed almost overwhelming, considering the number of refugees that were coming into Lebanon. I’ve come to see that hope has to begin somewhere, even if it can be offered to only a few. To those with little but despair, it takes something to ignite hope. What might that be?

A day or two before Pete and I went to the Bekaa Valley, we went to one of the schools that was using the character development resource. Our wives had written a series of stories with children in mind. So the idea was for them to tell a story to a group of students as good storytellers can do, involve the children in the activity and see what they learned.

When we arrived at the school before classes were to begin, the children were playing in the parking lot-playground. There was artful graffiti on the playground walls and the kids quickly came up to us, wanting us to take their photographs. Despite the language barrier, Pete and I enjoyed their antics, trying to get us to take their pictures with their friends.

Once inside, my wife and her partner told the story of David and Saul in a desert cave (1 Samuel 24). It’s the one where David, in the darkness of the cave, cuts off some of Saul’s robe without his being aware of it. Of course, the children enjoyed the picture of Saul going into the cave and doing what he needed to do, while learning too of the self-control David had to use in that situation. Afterwards, the children sang animated songs where you sing, raise hands, clap, spin around, and do all the things kids like to do. It was a fun morning.

The children were well-behaved. They spoke familiarly with teachers, but with respect also. It impressed me that when one girl showed up later in the headmaster’s office because she felt ill, she also begged to stay at school. Children at the school enjoyed being there and stayed long after classes ended for the day.

Leaving our wives at the school, Pete and I left with two Heart for Lebanon staff women to visit the home of a Christian Iraqi family. The father had recently had surgery for a serious life-threatening condition and was concerned he might be having complications. We learned the family had little money, but somehow raised some and that someone unknown to them paid the remaining amount to address his medical need. We suspected the surgeon provided the surgery as a humanitarian gesture. The family was grateful but concerned about his current situation and any cost that might accompany further treatment. The building they lived in was dreary, in a poor area of Beirut. You entered through a locked gated door and took a small elevator up to the 3th floor. Their apartment was 3 or 4 rooms with photographs of their boys on 2 different walls. The mother had her hair pulled back and did not wear a head covering. The father was a tall, large man and wore a brown robe typical of many Middle East men. One son, maybe 10 or 11 years of age was there. He had an older brother who came in, they discussed his being stopped by officials and given a warning and then sent on his way. He did not have his “papers” with him. He didn’t stay long and left to work at an odd job.

Over Lebanese coffee, similar to strong Turkish coffee, we asked them how they came to be in Beirut. They explained to us that because they were Christians they were forced to leave Iraq, like many others. Lebanon had been good to them, while at the same time it was a struggle financially as well as fitting in. What was amazing about the visit was that the two women who accompanied Pete and me then asked them about other aspects of their life. When it came to school, they learned the younger boy had missed several days of school. They probed further and learned that something had happened in his school in which the boy was blamed wrongly. Another boy had said something the teacher thought he had said. She was mistaken as to who said it. He had been reprimanded and felt that the teacher no longer liked him. The women with Heart for Lebanon talked more them him. They wept with him and his mother. They carefully cobbled a plan together for them to take. We prayed with the family, the husband’s planned visit to the doctor and for their two sons. Then we left. After the home visit we were all emotionally drained caring about people. It was good.

 

We returned to the school. Our wives had spent the afternoon, while Pete and I had gone on the family visit, discussing the needs of the children, future work and the work that was going on at the school. Even though it was late in the afternoon, students were still present. Some were on the playground. Some were practicing on keyboards. They even have an ambitious goal of doing a music production in the community. Other children were reading. There seemed to be no hurry for anyone to get home.

 

Even though the three schools run by Heart for Lebanon are “non-formal” schools (neither funded nor approved by the Lebanese government), these schools allow marginalized refugee children not to fall behind in their academic development. We determined it was an amazing place.

If there was a definition of hope, these schools embody it. The home visits, the school program, the Bible studies they offer, show a community of people coming alongside refugees who are desperate and alone, struggling to find a way forward. In this place, if hope is to be found at all, this is a ministry that can ignite it. The staff with Heart for Lebanon openly live a hope that is solid. Although there is despair in many places in the world, there is also hope. Where there are Christians there is hope.

My wife, Saundria and her partner, Kay are passionate about character development. They have developed resources for families to use that use the Bible as their basis. Those who are interested in resources to use with children are encouraged to visit their blog: Pass the Bread (passthe breadmon.com) and check out their bookstore resource section.

Meanwhile, pray for those who are ministering to people in difficult situations. Information about the ministry, Heart of Lebanon can be found in my previous post, “Tea Time in a Tent. Refugees in Lebanon.” I encourage you to also visit their website: http://www.heartforlebanon.org/

 

Scripture

Ruth 2.10 – Boaz took notice of Ruth, a foreigner, and found favor (and a hope).

Jeremiah 29.11 – God has plans to prosper us, plans that give us a hope and a future.

Matthew 7.24 – Hearing and practicing the gospel is like a house built on solid rock.

Luke 18.20-27 – What is impossible with men is possible with God.

Hebrews 11.20-21 – By faith, Isaac invoked future blessings on his sons, Jacob and Esau.