Friday, April 15, 2011

Beirut

Beirut
This past week we went to Beirut, Lebanon. It was really an interesting trip. There was a conference scheduled between Syria and Lebanon, but with everything going on in Syria there was a thought to cancel it, because the boarders were closed. So we were all coming from all over to go to this conference and help out. The consisted of our team from Thessaloniki, people from America, a group from England and a guy from Germany who were coming. We all felt like we were supposed to go. So we went. We got there and it really was an interesting place.
They said in the past it was a known place of war, but right now it is the calmest place in the Middle East. We arrive to do the conference and there are more of us then them. It was cool though, I really connect with two sisters. One led worship and one played the drums. The one who played the drums was just soooo good at it. I told her that and she said, “Oh yes, it is a gift from God.” It really was such a joy to get to know them. I also got to know the daughter of the pastor there really well, and they were awesome! They were so sweet.
It was crazy the first day went and prayed in the middle of the city. There was a statue there that stood for freedom, and it had all these bullet holes in it. The city is actually divided into Muslims and Christians. It was interesting. We went and prayed were the divided line is. It was cool. The next day we had another meeting. It was good. I think it was important to be with them even though there wasn’t that many of them. We had another meeting the next day and God really started to move. I even got messed up. That night a group of Syrians crossed the border and came. It was cool to meet some of them, and to hear their stories. It was good! The next day we prayed for the churches together. It was huge. That night God did a lot in people’s lives. It was cool to be a part of it and be there. I really felt blessed to be there. We spent the next day with everyone, and ate together and saw a few sights together. It was really neat getting to know the people there.
It is really interesting for a city that has seen so many wars. You can tell on the people that they just have been through a lot and that life has not been easy. The down town they have really refurbished it. Ben and I found a book shop. The lady in the shop showed us a book of what Beirut looked like then and know. It is crazy the difference.
On Sunday we had a chance to attend a church service with the Philippine women who work as house maids there. It was really a blessing to meet them. They go through so much! They live there so that they can work and send money home. Well they also are not always treated very well. They are not always paid. They are not always given the days off they deserve. They are away from their family for so long. It is really an in just situation.
It was really a privilege to meet the people over there! I really thank God for it and Tommie for making to it happen!!! God is really doing something there!
Oh yeah and on Sunday it was my birthday! It was really such a blessing to be there for my birthday and see what God is doing there. They had a cake and they put fireworks on it. It was cool!

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