Summer 2026: Camps, Retreats, and Travel to Canada
Hello friends and supporters!
Check out this post for ministry highlights and regional news from May, June, and July 2026.
Not much time to read? Here’s a summary:
The Hezbollah-IDF conflict, which has killed more than 4000 since March, is at a low yet threatens to escalate at any moment. Tentative agreements for some southern villages have allowed the IDF to withdraw and residents to return.
Most families sheltering at ABTS have moved on, so Thimar has ended special programming. MERATH’s relief aid to displaced families via local churches continues.
Summer is busy with camps and retreats. I helped train leaders and design curriculum for summer camps. We also have a new cohort of young leaders for “Send Me” mission training.
I am now in Canada and enjoying visiting as many churches as I can before the baby arrives in late August/early September.
Arabic word(s) of the month
“Khalset bi salameh.” May your baby come with peace.
Ways to pray
Praise that some families have been able to return to their homes. Please also pray for those lives still left in limbo in the midst of unstable agreements between the IDF and Lebanese government.
For administrators and teachers preparing for a new school year, still unsure if schools will be able to open.
For Khalil and I as new parents, and that Khalil would be able to travel and join me in Canada for the birth.
War in Lebanon
Photos: Scenes of damage to a school in Nabatieh (south Lebanon)
I’ve been posting regular, small updates on war in Lebanon and how CBM and its partners have been responding. You can see those updates here:
The current situation in Lebanon can be described as an uneasy stalemate which could reignite at any moment. There is a tentative agreement between the IDF and Lebanese government that if the Lebanese army can disarm Hezbollah, the IDF will withdraw from occupied areas. A few ‘pilot’ villages have seen the IDF leave, and residents able to return, once the Lebanese army moved in.
However, there has not been much action by the Lebanese government, and it is still very difficult, and unsafe for many, to return to their homes in southern villages. There is evidence of ongoing airstrikes and demolitions within the “yellow line” military zone, but active fighting between armed groups and targeted drone assassinations have significantly decreased. Khalil’s family members in the southern Marjeyoun region have been able to travel back and forth from their homes using alternative routes, but the way is risky – there were large explosions from strikes on infrastructure in their areas this past week.
We are grateful that there have been few new attacks on Tyre/Sour, and many families we know have been able to return and start to rebuild. The church there that Khalil often preached at has been able to open some services. However, ABTS is still sheltering a number of families from Tyre and southern villages who had homes significantly damaged.
Many schools are still functioning as government shelters for those who cannot yet return, and it is not clear when they will be able to open again for students. For example, Nabatieh was significantly hit, and most schools expect to be closed into the new school year. Below are photos from a school in Nabatieh that Khalil supports, showing the extent of the damage from nearby airstrikes.
Is it difficult to say how people in Lebanon are feeling. I think it is safe to say that they are grateful for breaks in active fighting, but there doesn’t seem to be any easy pathways to sustainable peace in the future. They feel it is unlikely that the IDF will withdraw from southern areas without significant action from the Lebanese government, who need to act carefully to avoid civil conflict. Please pray for wisdom for the leaders, and for comfort and provision for those who are still stuck with their lives in limbo.
Crisis Response
CBM continues to support local partners in Lebanon to respond to need. MERATH is continuing to supply emergency aid items to churches supporting displaced families. As mentioned above, ABTS is still hosting a smaller handful of families, although Salt and Light has wrapped up most of the weekly programs they offered. Khalil continues to support several shelters in Beirut and in the south and has enjoyed running special carnival events for the families there.
"Send Me" Lebanon: New Northern Cohort
We’re excited to report that the “Send Me” young leader mentorship program has a new cohort! This time from churches in the north of Lebanon, including Tripoli. We had our first gathering in May. I enjoyed running team building activities for the group as well as morning beach prayers.
Child & Youth Ministry
Photo (1 & 2) Water fights and Bible teaching time at this year’s kids summer camp (3) Summer camp planning day with our fantastic young volunteer leaders.
While I sadly couldn’t take part in running many summer camps as I did last summer, I loved still getting to be part of the prep work. I developed teaching curriculum and activity plans for Thimar day camps, Presbyterian Synod kids camp, and Youth for Christ (YFC) middle/high school camps. YFC asked me back to specifically design their legendary ‘messy game’ time. I took inspiration from the extra messy 90’s Canadian kids game show ‘Uh-Oh!’ – anyone remember that one? I look forward to hearing what the Lebanese teens thought of my childhood! Another highlight of the season was getting to hang out with the volunteer leaders for the Synod camps and help them dream dreams for this year’s camp.
I continue running events for the Living Room Coffee shop young adult outreach ministry . Recently I started mentoring a mini ‘flock’ of Gen-Z volunteers who are feeling out stepping into this ministry. It is such a joy to meet and do a little life with them. Mixing ministry with running a business always comes with unique challenges and Living Room’s leadership team has some big decisions to make. Please pray for guidance and that wise souls will be sent our way to help us in this season!
Travel to Canada & Church Visits
Photo: Sharing with members of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto, Ontario.
With baby coming very soon, I arrived in Canada in mid-July before the airline travel cut off for pregnant women. I enjoyed having a week in the Mississauga region to reconnect with the Canadian office and meet with multiple church groups (see photos). I was fed incredibly well!
I then travelled on to Alberta for family time and more church visits. I look forward to squeezing in a couple more visits while I can still manage to drive longer distances and waddle up on stage 😊
If you’re interested in watching the presentation I am giving at most churches, you can check out this recorded service livestream from Bonavista Baptist Church in Calgary. My message starts around 33 minutes and is based around the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (click photo to play).
Personal Updates
Photos: (1) Baby shower with my lovely MERATH coworkers. (2) A last hang out with my Lebanese family before leaving for Canada. (3) More baby celebrations in Canada.
Khalil and I have been overwhelmed by the generosity and celebration of our community as we get ready to welcome our first child. Our coworkers, churches, and friends in both Lebanon and Canada have showered us with words of wisdom, diaper funds and second-hand baby items. We are so lucky.
Khalil plans to join me in Canada a couple weeks before baby is set to arrive, then needs to return to Lebanon a few weeks after. We would so appreciate your prayers that the airport in Beirut would stay open, there would be no issues with visas, and that he would arrive in time. We also appreciate any prayers for us as new parents.
Fundraising Update
I am grateful to report that I am 73% towards my 2026 fundraising goal. Should monthly donations continue as they are now, I look to end the year around $4000 short of that goal. As always, if you know someone who might be interested in partnering with me, please send them my way! Thank you for your support.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be taking maternity leave for an estimated 6 months (starting in September) before transitioning to part-time work for the remainder of the year. Please know that any CBM donations directed towards my Global Staff account during the time that I am on mat leave will still be well used! They will be put towards the projects CBM supports in Lebanon and offsetting my absence at Thimar, CBM’s partner in Lebanon. Please do feel free to send me any questions about this, or directly to the very smart people at CBM’s Canadian office.
It has been a joy and encouragement to catch up with many of you this trip. Thanks for taking the time to read this update. I look forward to having some cute baby photos for you all in my next update in the fall!
Salam,
Evie
