The conflict this summer seems to have shifted from the southern borders of Lebanon directly into the straits and shores of Iran. It is almost as if a hurricane has passed that was once sitting on top of the poor country of Lebanon, raging away, but is now churning out it’s stormy winds further east in Iran proper. While the war seems to be expanding elsewhere, for now the worst of the conflict in Lebanon seems to have passed.
This has meant a shaky, uncertain peace this summer, but a peace nonetheless. In recent weeks, many of the displaced families sheltering in the mountains have gradually began leaving. Roads that were once closed are re-opening.
The IDF is even beginning to withdraw from some villages and positions, and making way for the local Lebanese Army to re-occupy those lands. This is leaving a trail of shattered homes and flattened villages behind, but it is leading to what many hope will be an eventual end to this phase of the conflict. Occasional airstrikes and skirmishes still occur in the south, but at a level low enough that the locals consider this a genuine period of peace.
This has meant that the local church volunteers have concluded the kitchen ministry, and no longer have need of producing and distributing hundreds of meals a day as before. The focus this summer has shifted to supporting the remaining displaced family members, as well as taking advantage of the period of peace to conduct our two-month English camp for Syrian refugee and local kids in the mountains.
Still Continuing To Help The Remaining War Displaced
Despite the majority of displaced Lebanese families now being able to go somewhere other than the mountains during this time of peace, a significant number of displaced families still remain in the mountains as they have no home to return to. The local church has kept in contact with these families, and continues to support them with bread distribution, medical help and bags of nonperishable food items. This has also enabled the local volunteers to spend more time with these families, and be able to better share truth with them as God opens doors.
There is hope that this current tentative ceasefire will turn into a lasting, negotiated peace resulting in much-needed long term stability for this country. However, the damage from the war has already been done. Tens of thousands have lost their homes, entire villages are razed to the ground, and the affected communities will likely be in poverty for a generation to come.
We are praying for open doors for a way forward to go into these affected areas to help them rebuild, and establish a witness of mercy and truth amongst them. Pray the Lord would direct our steps in the months ahead as the post-conflict landscape becomes clearer to navigate.
Thankful For Peace To Conduct Summer English Classes
We are thankful that, despite the earlier chaos due to the war, things have settled down enough to allow for the two month English camp to happen this summer. Classes began a few weeks ago, and so far around 70-80 children are in attendance. The classes are split into four different groups, from a very basic kindergarten level up to an advanced, literary level class for the high school students. The teachers have been doing a great job this year engaging the children in the classes, including during a regular Scripture time.
Around half of the English class students in attendance are children sponsored in the Education Assistance Program to attend a nearby school throughout the school year. We support around 40 of these children by paying for tuition, registration fees, books and often uniforms. Other children in the English classes that show good study skills, regular attendance, and an aptitude for English, may also be considered for sponsorship if a sponsor is available.
We rely on individuals to sponsor these children throughout the school year by committing to pray for them and to provide a small monthly amount towards their tuition/book costs. This education sponsorship program has enabled us to maintain contact and good relations with dozens of Syrian refugee and local families. It also involves their children more directly as recipients of regular outreach efforts in the mountains, including VBS and the English classes.
We wanted to make known this summer that there are new children and families asking for help sponsoring their children for school this coming year. If anyone has an interest in becoming an EAP sponsor, there is further information on the website about the Education Assistance Program, but the first step would be to contact us with any questions.
Positive Cancer Case Progress & Ongoing Medical Outreach
We are also thankful to report that our most critical cancer case we are helping with for a young mother with breast cancer has taken a positive turn. After a recent set of intensive chemotherapies, what we likely expected to be a last ditch effort to reverse the aggressive cancer steadily taking over her body, she began to show positive signs of recovery. While the cancer remains, it seems to have stopped spreading, and in some places possibly even beginning to regress. This is very good news, as medically speaking it was not expected she would survive through the summer. Please keep praying for this woman, in this time she has also been seeking God.
We’ve also continued to receive a steady stream of medical cases and emergency requests this summer. Recently a young man, a relative of a member in the local mountain church, was involved in a bad car accident and came to us for help with the surgery. We were thankful to be able to help him and he is currently recovering. This is one example of many cases, we would ask prayer in general that these medical efforts would continue to bear fruit through tangible displays of God’s mercy to those in need.
Thank You For Your Continued Prayers And Support!
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