September Update
It has been a while since I have given you an update on what is happening in Lebanon. Not sure where to start, given that each day brings with it more struggles, challenges, and misery. Sadly, most media outlets have relegated Lebanon to the back pages, again. Very few reports come out, which is not surprising really.
Thankfully, with social media, we can still share up to date information with everyone. Since the Aug 4th blast, there has been a slew of incidents at the devastated port, and other parts of the country. It is now clearly obvious that someone (fill in the blanks with 20 possibilities) is having a field day causing havoc in a country on the brinks of total collapse. IMO, the
country has collapsed, and we are seeing it wither away. Two hours ago, a massive explosion hit a Southern town, with tens of homes completely destroyed, with no reports on injuries or deaths yet. The actual cause seems to be an arms depot going off mysteriously (insert sarcasm). The fact one was placed in a village surrounded by homes is infuriating. A militia operating on its free will is now causing the divided nation more pain. Last week, a massive fire broke out in the port, burning for days and causing toxic smokes across Beirut. Four separate suspect fires across the country in wooded areas, and the list goes on. Oh, and add thousands of COVID19 cases identified and hospitals filling up again.
In the midst of it all, our team continues to diligently serve every day. Identifying new homes in need of repairs, families in need of food and or medicine, elderly requiring doctor or physical therapy visits. We are in for a long recovery period. We have added a few new projects to our ministry focussing on Trauma and PTSD. Those being served will be students who lost friends in the blast and will return to schools still being cleaned up and being rebuilt. Parents and staff will also receive a training on how to deal with PTSD, grief, loss. In a country not known for mental health care, we feel this is imperative to start the road to healing and recovery. Another project provides comfort kits to children containing slime, coloring books and pens, play dough, a teddy bear, small puzzles, and stress cubes. Best of all, a letter written from one child not affected directly by the blast is inserted in the kit, so directly affected kids know other kids care.
School starts soon, and we are seeing a massive challenge facing parents to pay school tuition fees. Tens of thousands of children will not go to school this year, as parents have no means to pay tuition. $700 a year covers the tuition of a child, and parents do not even have half of that. For the first time in my 52 years of knowing Lebanon, have we seen this
phenomenon. Even during the 15 years of civil war, parents did not struggle to send kids to school, or to feed them.
Yes, things look bleak, discouraging and actually depressing. Then I am reminded how nothing is impossible for God, and how he will never give us more than we can handle. Our commitment to the people of Lebanon will not waiver, we will stand with them when they feel all alone, because of your prayers, support, and help. We thank you for being supportive and faithful partners, and urge you to continue praying, advocating, donating, and sharing our posts. The more people who know what is happening, the bigger the support circle becomes. I often am asked what is the priority? What do you need the most? It is so hard to choose between a child learning, or a home being repaired, or food provided to a hungry family. It is all important, it is all connected, we will keep trying to help. Should you feel led to donate, please make sure you tell us where you want that help to go.
Thank you!