Lebanon #12: Encounters
Encounters
Marilyn Borst, for the team
Associate Director for Partnership Development
Our last day here in Lebanon was infused with the essence of why we come to these places: encounters – with the Church and its ministries and with those who serve faithfully in Christ’s name, despite the challenges and obstacles they face. As we learn from them (and hope, in some small way, to encourage them with our presence) we live into the reality of what it means to share “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of us all.”
A rich morning was spent at Haigazian University, a small, liberal arts college (in the heart of Beirut and incorporating some stunning heritage architecture) which was birthed out of the Armenian Evangelical Church 68 years ago. HU’s Principal, the Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, shared with us the struggles of maintaining their traditions of excellence in this failing country, especially as so many of their 700+ students (who are both Muslim and Christian) require scholarship support. The students are deeply engaged in serving the community around them, offering both hope and help in the aftermath of too many crises here. And as a tight-knit family of both faculty and students, they encourage one another to believe in and work towards God’s sure future.
The benediction on our final day – and of our time here – was an invitation to a family dinner at the gracious, welcoming home of Dr. Mary Mikhael, the former President of Near East School of Theology, where we enjoyed a fabulous meal and a breathtaking view of the sun setting over the Mediterranean. Mary was one of the people I met on my first journey here in 1996, and I thank God for the gift of our friendship that has endured and matured for these 26 years!
I am grateful for the presence of the nine women who were a part of this team: Lois Andrews, Toby Mueller, Mona Lee, Christi Ensch, Lisa Culpepper, Annette Brewer, Renata Dennis, Barbara Chandler, and Susan Henry. Our sharing of life on the road (and in the heat and humidity of this steamy summer) was infused with much reflection and flexibility, prayer and patience, adventure and discovery. And I pray that our encounters with our family-by-faith here in Lebanon have opened our collective eyes, a bit wider, to the work and witness of the Church here which has much to teach us about both joy and perseverance.
