Stories

Her smile spread broadly across her face as the video called opened and she saw our faces. Her joy was evident in seeing us but mostly that she was back in her home, where she was happiest.

After the ceasefire many men went back to the south of Lebanon to check on their homes. They worked together to make repairs before the return of their wives and children.

As we spoke with Mona, she showed us the damages to the home. She showed us the glass that was replaced and the remaining cracks in the walls and ceiling, where water comes in when it rains. She showed us the 1-inch gap in the front door so they can no longer lock it properly.

But She also proudly showed us the view from her balcony looking over trees and green hills, reminding us of the beauty of Lebanon and hope for this nation.

We met Mona when her family fled to Beirut from Rmeish (southern Lebanon) She’s one of many families that we are staying in touch with. Her, her siblings, and all their children, 11 in all, squeezed into a tiny apartment near our center.

Joumana is another woman that we met in similar circumstances. Her family fled from Dahieh (the Shiite suburb of Beirut) to her sister’s home, near our center. Their family plus her sister’s family made nine in a house made for four people.

As soon as the ceasefire was announced, the next day they returned to their home. They didn’t care that the windows still needed to be fixed and it was full of dust from being open to the air. They wanted to be home.  

Both look back on the war as tough, but they share with us as they remember that when they came to us, they felt relief, they felt loved, they felt cared for and most of all they felt hope.

Like Joumana and Mona, we are following up with many who we met during the war. Whether it was a food box given, a mattress and blanket or a prayer we are continuing to keep these relationships and look forward to what God is doing and what He will do.