Welcome to Lebanon

Evangeline
Oct 28, 2023
4 min read

Updated: Oct 29, 2023

Warm greetings friends, families, and supporters. Welcome to my blog!

It’s been just over a month since I officially started my service in Lebanon. As you can imagine, it’s been quite the month. Here are some updates.

Not much time to read? Here’s a summary:

On October 7th a significantly heightened conflict broke out between Hamas armed groups and the Israeli Defense Forces. Since then an estimated 3,478 in Gaza and 1,400 in Israel have been killed. The destruction in Gaza is unimaginable.
Due to the risk of the conflict spreading, the Canadian government has recommended all Canadians leave Lebanon while commercial flights are still available. Khalil and I have decided to stay.
In mid-September, a CBM ‘SENT’ team arrived to tour CBM’s partners in Lebanon. What a stellar team, and what a powerful week of learning and connection!
I’ve started work with MERATH team developing relief project proposals and designing trainings. I love my team.
Arabic classes started last week.

Ways to pray for Lebanon & the MENA Region

SENT & THIMAR's 25th Anniversary:

A great blessing was that my second week of service with CBM partner THIMAR (previously known as LSESD or the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development) coincided with the arrival of a ‘SENT’ trip: a delegation of pastors and supporters sent to visit CBM (Canadian Baptist Ministries) partners in Lebanon and learn about the region.

Their visit also coincided with the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary’s (ABTS) conference on peace building and a large gathering of THIMAR's donor partners for their 25th anniversary. I absolutely loved my time with the SENT group and was blessed to learn beside them. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the conferences, but I came away deeply inspired by the insight, innovation and vision of the church in the Middle East, and proud to be able to work with the crazy-smart professionals at THIMAR.

You can learn more about the celebration and perspectives in an article featured in Christianity Today: www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/october/middle-east-christian-ministry-baptists-lsesd-thimar.html

And in the THIMAR newsletter: www.lsesd.org/celebrating-25-years-of-gods-faithfulness-and-provision/

What I’m working on: MERATH & Beyond

After the rush of the SENT team visit, I settled into my home-for-now with the MERATH team. I realize this is super confusing: I work for THIMAR, so who is MERATH?? Here’s a diagram to help 😊

Under THIMAR/LSESD there are a bunch of ministries, including ABTS. That’s where my CBM teammates work.

While I’m hoping to be able to still be learning from all organizations under THIMAR, it made sense for me to put my desk with MERATH – the aid and development arm.

In and around my Arabic lessons, which started last week, I am thrilled to already have a couple projects to work on!

First up is working with CBM teammate Joe Bridi to develop proposals for emergency aid projects in Sudan. This past April Sudan was split apart by fierce fighting between two rival military groups. Close to 5 million people have been displaced and are without basic needs. While some major humanitarian groups are struggling to get aid to areas where fighting is most intense, like Khartoum, we have access directly through Baptist pastors – graduates of ABTS – who are still working there. It’s a very cool example of how the local church can be super effective in knowing and responding to the needs of communities in a crisis. And the pastors I am working with are just incredible – courageous, kind, and hopeful amid taking on huge personal sacrifices.

Another project of mine is developing something of a “Relief & Development Projects 101” training for Sudanese pastors to be held in Ethiopia this fall. Due to the situation in Sudan many pastors are finding themselves delivering relief aid to their communities, but with little training on how to do so. My job is to take more complex humanitarian concepts like needs assessments, safeguarding, ‘Do No Harm’, or monitoring and evaluation, and turn it into a practical guide for pastors to use in the field.

Lastly, I’m happily tagging along with coworkers on field visits to MERATH’s partners to take promotional photos. Here are a couple shots I took of a wonderful church-run education centre in Beirut for children of refugees. It was their first day of classes and the kiddos were very excited.

On a related note, there are talks of me helping some Early Childhood Educators at THIMAR develop trainings on positive behaviour management strategies for schools like this one. As my crew back at Gull Lake Centre knows, I am a massive fan of trauma-informed care and would be incredibly excited to do that – stay tuned for more updates.

Israel-Palestine Conflict & Difficult Choices

On October 7th, while Khalil and I were in Cyprus, intense fighting broke out between Hamas armed groups and the Israeli Defense Force, with civilian communities targeted on both sides. The resulting bombings have been relentless and devastating, killing an estimated 4,000 civilians in Gaza and 1,400 in Israel.

A land invasion of Gaza is expected shortly, and with it, far more civilian deaths. A land invasion may also mean that Hezbollah and other armed groups in Lebanon will join the fighting, drawing Lebanon into a war as well. There has already been heightened bombing of Lebanese communities close to the border, including where some of Khalil’s family lives.

What we are hearing from friends and churches south of the border is truly heartbreaking. Please join us in praying and advocating for peace, but also for solutions to the long-standing issues fueling these conflicts.

I’ve been asked by many if Khalil and I will be staying in light of the conflict.

Due to fears of the conflict spreading, the Canadian government has recommended all Canadians leave Lebanon while commercial flights are still available. The majority of my expat coworkers with children have already chosen to leave, which absolutely makes sense.

It is a tough decision, but Khalil and I have decided to stay in Lebanon for the time being. We don’t know what to expect, but both of us feel called to minister to the people of Lebanon, and we want to stay as long as we can still be helpful. What might change this decision is if I add risk to Khalil or others by being here – if westerners start to be targeted, for example. The people at CBM and MERATH have been a huge support in passing on security information and helping us make contingency plans should the situation escalate. Thank you team!

Personal Updates

We’re extremely blessed to have a furnished apartment provided by Khalil’s employers with the Presbyterian Church. It’s sunny, quiet, can fit all the tropical house plants, and the back balcony will fit my hammock perfectly! It’s also plenty big with two guest rooms. Should the need arise, we hope to be able to host some of the displaced Southern Lebanese families that Khalil is in contact with through his church work.

To end on a happy note, please look at my new best friend and unofficial therapy dog, Cookie. Look at that face!! This is what I see every time I leave my apartment, what a blessing. Cookie is a not-so-scary guard dog at the warehouse across the street who loves pets and playing with the neighbourhood kids. The more stressful the situation gets, the more pets Cookie gets. It works well for both of us 😊

Warmest thanks to all of you.

Salam,

Evie