You may be following the news about the situation in Lebanon, but please allow me to give you a glimpse of what Lebanese (and others who live in Lebanon) are experiencing on the ground.
In the House of Ruth, we did a Transformational Community Development (TCD) training with the committee. In this training, we focussed on moving from relief to development. I shared the story of crossing the river, which follows:
Raed had training with Ammar, Maliha, Widad, and two other members of the committee of the new village, discussing a few of the Transformational Community Development (TCD) principles, as well as getting together, cooperating, and brainstorming ideas and solutions to solve their own villages’ problems.
During this month we met with 25 individuals, including a mix of Palestinian, Iraqi, and Syrian refugees. The meeting was in an area near to where this group of refugees lives.
One word describes this quarter: “hot.” The weather here in the Holy Land Garden is some of the hottest weather we have ever experienced. In fact, the ground is cracking due to the lack of moisture.
Adra* is a nine-month-old daughter of a family from Homs, Syria. The family consists of a father, mother, and four children. The father was a painter back in Homs. We met this family through one of our Men of Peace.
I was working in the office today when Abila* came suddenly from her class to see me. She was holding a small gift. She gave it to me and said, "I love you." I cried when I opened the bag and found a small white paper with a simple letter and some hearts.
In Mufaradat Village, Kassim's* son had an accident and was burnt. He had to stay in the hospital for two days. They didn’t have the needed cash to cover the payment and the medicine. Kassim didn’t have anyone around to help her.
