On Home Assignment
- Evangeline
- Feb 10
- 7 min read
Updated: Feb 21
This winter Khalil and I were blessed to have time with the family and meet many churches across Western Canada. Check out my November – January updates below.
Photo: Speaking at First Baptist Church in Vancouver in late January.
Not much time to read? Here’s a summary:
In early December Lebanon welcomed a ceasefire between the IDF and Hezbollah, for the most part ending the large scale bombings of Shiite Civilian areas across Lebanon. The ceasefire is fragile and fighting remains next to the border.
After 2 years with no functioning government, Lebanon appointed a president, prime minister, and full roster of ministers. Lebanese people feel cautiously optimistic for positive changes ahead.
Shocking everyone, the 50-year long Syrian Assad Regime fell in mere weeks this past December. The impact on regional politics and social change of this shift cannot be overstated.
Late November CBM celebrated 150 years with an extremely rare gathering of staff from across the globe in Frankfurt, Germany. It was a deeply impactful of prayer and learning.
Over $14,000 was fundraised for emergency aid to Lebanon in just one evening thanks to a silent auction event in Lethbridge.
Khalil visited Canada! After 4 years of trying for a tourist visa, he got it a mere month before we were set to travel. What an unexpected and incredible blessing to have him meet the family. Thank you for your prayers in this area!
My January was taken up with a fast-paced tour of CBWC churches across Alberta and BC.
To meet my fundraising goals in 2025 I need to find 5-8 more monthly supporters. Would you consider becoming a monthly donor?
Arabic word(s) of the month
Ways to pray
Updates on Regional Conflicts
Photo: Smoke and dust rises from buildings hit by airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut. This was the view from my daily commute home in November.
The IDF continued their bombing campaign of Beirut’s southern suburbs well into November. Occasionally my coworkers at Thimar would gather on the roof of our building to watch airstrikes on Dahyeh (a majority Shiite Muslim neighbourhood) down below. Incredibly, the airport never stopped functioning and Middle Eastern Airline maintained daily flights despite there being regular airstrikes quite close to the airport.
Late November/Early December brought an unprecedented domino-effect of changes. November 27, 2024, a ceasefire was signed by Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Force. Just 10 days later the Assad Syrian regime – a key ally of Hezbollah and major conduit of Iranian resources– fell. With Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanese politics severely weakened, the government was finally able to bypass political gridlock at the start of January and elect a president and prime minister. For the first time in 2 years, Lebanon has a functioning government. While Hezbollah and other aligned Shia groups still have some influence in the government, there is cautious optimism that these changes could bring about significant benefits for the country, including greater access to foreign aid and supports to recover from war and economic crisis.
The ceasefire between Hezbollah and the IDF is still fragile. Many people from southern villages have not been able to return to their homes. The IDF continues to strike parts of Lebanon where they report Hezbollah weapons or infrastructure, and individuals have been killed. Please pray that peace is maintained.
The significance of the rapid fall of the Syrian regime is impossible to put into words. 5 years ago no Syrian citizen could have predicted the end of a 50 year old political dynasty that dictated so much of what their life looked like. It has been surreal to see jails opened and hear stories of people (including Lebanese prisoners from the Civil war) thought long dead walk up to their family homes. There is great optimism in the country, particularly in hopes that international sanctions that still cripple Syria’s economy, as well as humanitarian aid efforts, could be dropped. But there are also fears that the Sunni group that has taken power could harm minority religious groups, such as Christians. So far the transition of power has been miraculously peaceful and the new leaders have not encouraged violent revenge on those who collaborated with the previous government, as is common. The stability and peace experienced so far is a true answer to prayer, and we pray it continues.
Crisis Response Update
Photo: Children of displaced families play in the parking lot at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) housing them.
Following the November 27 ceasefire, the families sheltering at ABTS were able to go back home. MERATH is still working hard getting food boxes, hygiene kits, blankets and mattresses to those who are still displaced. We’ve also stepped up our winterization support to families living in informal shelters or other homes with no heating source. Temperatures have recently plunged and there have been bad snowstorms in the mountains and in the Bekaa valley where many refugee communities live.
Khalil is supporting an emergency shelter in Zahle that continues to house families unable to go back to their homes.
CBM Global Gathering
Photo: CBM staff gather in Franfurt for 150th Anniversary celebrations
In late November I had the joy of heading to Frankfurt for an 'uber' rare event: a gathering of all CBM staff from across the world. This only happens once every 15 years or so. We came together to celebrate 150 years of God’s faithfulness to CBM, and to learn and be encouraged by stories of what God is doing across the world. It was a game changer for me to receive wisdom from CBM’ers in very different contexts including India, El Salvador, Bolivia, Rwanda and beyond. Just very, very cool people.
December Fundraiser
A week after I arrived in Canada, my parents and dear family friends put on a great big fundraising event for aid in Lebanon through the Canadian Food Grains Bank – CBM’s partner for emergency relief in the Middle East. It was a ton of work, but a ton of fun (my Dad’s blues band did an awesome job!) and raised over $14,000. Wow! Praise God.
Khalil in Canada
Photo 1 & 2: Our Canadian wedding reception celebrating with those who could not come to the Lebanese ceremony. Photo 3: Khalil and Ejnar's (Evie's nephew) first toboggan ride. Photo 4: Khalil makes sfeeha (Lebanese meet pie) for the family. Photo 5: Evie meeting her new niece.
After 4 applications over 4 years, Khalil was finally approved for a tourist visa to Canada! He traveled this December to celebrate Christmas and my parent’s 40th anniversary with my family. So very many people were praying with us for this and we could not be more grateful. We celebrated our wedding with a Canadian reception at my old camp stomping grounds – Gull Lake Centre - where Khalil met the entire family (there’s a lot of us) and many dear friends. Khalil’s assessment: his fav things about Canada are burgers (or Alberta beef in general), the Rocky Mountains, the Royal Tyrell Museum, and Costco. His least fav things are skating and scraping ice off cars.
Western Canada Church Tour
Photo 1: Being interviewed by former CBM staff David Nacho at First Baptist Church Vancouver, where he now pastors
Photo 2 & 3: I joined Bonavista Baptist Church in Calgary to pray for the church in the Middle East.
January was filled with my Western Canada church tour. I got to meet with more than a dozen churches and many more individual supporters to talk about what CBM’s partners in the Middle East are up to and how Canadians can get involved. I am so grateful for the many generous people who welcomed me into their homes, cooked for me, made space for me to share my story, and even wrapped up a sprained ankle or two! I came away just as inspired by the exciting local ministries these churches are starting up. I was also deeply grateful for the wise advice I received from previous CBM’ers encouraging me to slow down and focus on language learning and relationships in my first few years of ministry in a new country.
If you’re interested in seeing the presentation I shared at churches, you can watch a recording of my sermon at South West Community Church here (start at 44:30):
Fundraising Update
In December 2024 I ended at $5292 short of my fundraising goal. To make up that $441/month shortfall for 2025, I need to find at least 5 more monthly donors to give $88 per month, 8 donors to give $50/month, or 17 donors to give $25/month. If you are not already a monthly donor, would you consider becoming one? Every bit helps me keep doing what I’m doing!
As always, a great big thank you to all of you who have so faithfully supported me over my first year and a half of service. It was a true joy to meet many of you this past month and finally put faces to names 😊
Salam,
Evie
