Beirut, Lebanon (July 2006)
I have a special place in my heart for Lebanon now...
I traveled to Lebanon with a friend in July 2006 to carry out a mission project that my friend and I
had planned with the help and support of family, friends, and my church congregation, in addition to
her office, Middle East Lutheran Ministry (a branch of Lutheran Hour Ministries), in Beirut. Shortly after we
arrived, however, a war broke out between Israel and Lebanon's "unauthorized" militia, Hizbo'llah. The United
States Embassy was advising all Americans to participate in the evacuation that they were in the process
of planning.
I was in Lebanon a grand total of two weeks (July 7 arrival - July 21 evacuation). I left of July 6 from Omaha's
airport and returned on July 24 to the Sioux Falls airport where my mom and grandma met me.
The war continued through August. Those were the scariest moments of my life--while I was here and
my friend, her family and my new friends were in a war zone...but they were also in God's hands. And
God took care of them.
The war started only days after we arrived in Lebanon. We weren't even over Jet-lag yet!! Some places were
closed because of their location, and some businesses were booming. Southern Lebanese inhabitants were
moving north, to safer ground. People were everywhere. There were cars everywhere, with the thin, soft mattresses
atop their vehicles. If they couldn't find a building to rent or sleep in for free, they slept on the grass near the road.
Some landlords really suffer in the summer because no one rents their apartments. The problem this year, however,
was finding enough room for everyone!
Throughout the time that I was there, I can probably say I was scared. Looking back, I know I was
scared, but at the same time, I don't know why. Logically, I should have probably been more
scared than I was. But one philosophy I've tried to own is not to worry about that which you cannot
change, and let God be in control. That's not to say I didn't want to evacuate Lebanon. (But I did
want to take my friends with me!!) Those philosophies were more real to me than ever after I returned.
Life in the States wasn't life. It sometimes still seems too easy. In general, I don't think the American
population really has a clue about life. Everything in America, it seems, is "easy come, easy go."
I know that I'm generalizing here, but then again...this is my website! : ) Really, though, I don't think
it would hurt anyone to go visit another country to see what people have to do to earn a living,
take care of their families, or stay alive each day--sometimes on a day-to-day basis!
