Lebanon #2: JOY OUT OF SUFFERING
NESSL Women’s Conference Part 1
By Lois Andrews, Lisa Culpepper, and Nancy Fox, Outreach trustees
On Monday, we greeted car after car of travel-weary but excited ladies. Such wonderful reunions for our team of three with old friends from previous visits! And many new friends-to-be! NESSL is the Synod of Syria and Lebanon, so some came a shorter distance from Lebanon, but most had to cross the border from Syria. Some ladies had traveled 22 hours on a bus from NE Syria to get to the conference!
For most of the women, this is their only vacation and opportunity for a hot shower, fairly consistent electricity, and a plate full of delicious and nutritious food they did not have to skimp and work to prepare. And the fellowship! It’s such a joy to witness and to share. We wish we could bring you all to witness the reunions of women who have shared fellowship over many years but only have this one time in the year to be together.
This conference for 90 women is a super-human and sacrificial effort for everyone involved. Transportation expenses are very high…costs for everything are very high! Economic conditions have deteriorated each year. Lebanon used to be a solidly middle-class country, but in the wake of the Lebanese banking crisis, the Syrian war, and the recent earthquake, the average income in Lebanon is now $90 for an entire month, and in Syria only $8/month. One thousand Lebanese Lira used to buy a head of lettuce but is now only worth a penny. The Outreach Foundation partners with the Synod to host this conference for 90 women from the 40 churches. Thanks to many readers who have been part of this!
Each day begins with small group Bible study, sharing, and prayer. Then the full group convenes for exuberant worship facilitated by very gifted musicians and speakers – a different speaker for each of the day’s three-four sessions. This year’s conference theme is particularly appropriate: “Joy Out of Suffering.” And the theme verse is 2 Corinthians 6:10 – “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” Board member Lisa Culpepper’s opening message “Joy in Suffering” from Genesis 18:1-15 and 21:1-5, focused on God’s promise of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. It is never too late for God’s gift of joy and new life - and laughter!
Throughout our day and all the activities and meals, we spent time chatting with the women, listening to their stories, sharing joys and sorrows and family photos, being inspired by their faith, and of course - TAKING PICTURES! These women have group selfies and photo-bombing perfected to an art.
As an Outreach team, we offered three new options this year for afternoon activities. One had three tables full of women laboring together over jigsaw puzzles – with exuberant celebrations as each piece was fitted. Another group enjoyed practicing English together in a creative game setting. The third option was group prayer (20 women on two of the afternoons) and individual prayer with one or two of our team. This was held for three afternoons, and required boxes of Kleenex, sometimes Google Translate, and always the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Though many of the burdens are very, very heavy, none of us will ever forget the depth and sweetness of fellowship we shared. As our Middle Eastern friends seem to always say in the difficult times, “…but thanks be to God.”
Evenings are filled with singing, Middle Eastern dancing, and hilarious skits that the ladies plan together and improvise as their creativity leads.
