First view of Beirut

            Well, I am here. It is hard for me to believe but I am actually here in Lebanon. It feels strange, almost as if it isn’t reality, and yet it is. The realization of actually being out in a new mission field is starting to set in.

           I arrived in Beirut on Monday around 3:00 in the afternoon. After getting my visa stamped I walked out to the baggage claim area, praying that my duffle bag had made it on the plane in Frankfurt (I only had an hour layover). I was very happy when I spotted my duffle just after I got to the baggage carousel.

           Ms. Alexis Hurd-Shires met me at the airport and one of the church members drove us to the center where I would be staying. As we drove I tried to take in as much of the surroundings as possible. Some of the things I saw were new to me, others familiar. After we had been driving for some time I started seeing run down houses.  A few looked like there were bullet marks in the walls and every now and then I would see a man in uniform. I could see the history written in this city. The beautiful trees lining the road seemed to cry out of better days while the bullet filled walls of run down buildings spoke of hardship and war. Yet life was not at a standstill it was moving on. The streets were full of people many eager to reach their next destination, others not so eager. The noise of people, and cars filled the streets...the road side sellers trying to get the best price possible, the man working on a roof doing his best to get the job done in a hurry no matter the quality or looks, the young men standing around enjoying each others company…life was going on as usual. No one was staring at the crumpled ruins of a house here or a building there. In people’s faces one could see determination to move on. Sitting and bemoaning ones troubles would not solve any situation, but perhaps there is hope as they look to the future.

           Hope is the only means by which many survive. Take away their hope and there is nothing left for them. In fact I might say the same for the whole world. If our hope is taken away we die, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Hope over Beirut

           The Center of Influence that I am working with here in Beirut is determined to bring hope back into many lives using several means. The Center itself is a school for children from the families of Refugees.  We will be teaching English, science, math, social studies, and Moral Education. And after classes each day the staff goes out to the refugee communities, and spend time with the different families. How does an institution like this bring hope? For the refugees it brings hope that their children’s future may be brighter, and also it is a beautiful thing to them that there really are people out there who care for them personally not just for the money in their pockets.

Sunset

           Since I got here we have been fixing up the school trying to be ready for classes, which should start the second Monday in October. There are four classrooms, each a different color and each assigned to a different teacher. I got the green room. Yesterday we got mostly everything finished with the bulletin boards and sorting through stuff and trying to clean up. Next week we will be working on our schedules and get trained in teaching methods and other things.

My Classroom

           I am looking forward to the challenge these next few months present to me. There is a lot I still need to learn, and it is going to be a hard road to travel. But with GOD’s help and with the prayers of each one of you holding me up, I will be able to use this opportunity to the fullest.