Lebanon #6: A Joy-Filled Day
A Joy-Filled Day
Mona Lee, for the team
Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church, Franklin, TN
Our devotional this morning was based on Matthew 11:28. Come to me all you who labor, and I will give you rest! This was to be a day to rejoice and have fun!
After ending our morning worship by singing “How Great Thou Art” in Arabic and English, we loaded all the conference members into four buses that would carry us through the beautiful Lebanese landscape of mountains and forests and dry rocky terrain interspersed with orchards, vineyards, and olive groves. It is a starkly beautiful part of God’s creation.
It was difficult to focus on our surroundings however because traveling with the ladies of Aleppo means you are on the party bus! The music and singing and dancing in the aisles never paused all along our route to the beautiful village of Hammana. When we arrived, we met Sanna Koureh, who grew up in this village and is the Director of Hamlin Nursing Home for the elderly. We immediately paused for one of many group photos, then explored the charming narrow streets finding stone cathedrals, second-story open-air cafes, unexpected gardens, and a delightful antique shop. Pausing on a sidewalk, I was truly blessed to meet Bellagia, one of our sisters from Latakia, and we sat in the shade of an ancient olive tree while we got to know each other. It was truly one of those rare moments of immediately connecting with someone and hearing her stories of her happy marriage, her family, and the loss of her husband to COVID-19. Her family and friends’ lives have changed drastically in recent years, but I will always remember the serenity she had and how she told me that she gave up her anxieties for her family and friends by placing them in God’s hands. “I know God loves them even more than I do,” she said.
Our lunch stop was on the beautiful outdoor veranda of Chagour Hamana. Shaded by majestic trees and situated beside a flowing stream with multiple waterfalls, it was a magical oasis. What a joyous gathering we had with our Syrian and Lebanese sisters and (a few) brothers. We were served innumerable delicious appetizers and salads and had a non-stop playlist of Lebanese Dabke, which is modern, but traditional-sounding Middle Eastern dance music to my ears. The Aleppo and Latakia ladies were impossible to resist when they invited us to join in their traditional dances. It had the spirit of the best wedding reception party you have ever attended. I have never experienced such spontaneous warmth, joy, and hospitality. They have truly welcomed us into their lives, shared intimately their life stories, and showed us how they love God and neighbor. They truly exemplify the theme of our conference: “Have hope. Take courage! I have overcome the world” John 16:33.
