Posts in Lebanon Syria 2021
Lebanon #4: Where is God in the Midst of Suffering?
Lebanon #4: Where is God in the Midst of Suffering?

Where Is God in the Midst of Suffering?

The question has been asked since the beginning of time. Theologians have been quick to write their responses. The Bible gives its “Emmanuel” answer. Still, the question announces itself seemingly not fully satisfied with our words or our thoughts.

Today the question was asked again of me as our team visited a refugee school operated by the Synod of Syria and Lebanon near the Syrian border, only two hours by car north of Beirut. Upon arriving at the school and hearing from its leadership that question announced itself loudly.

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Lebanon Syria 2021, Lebanon 2021The Outreach FoundationLebanon, Syria
Lebanon #3: The Irresistible Force
Lebanon #3: The Irresistible Force

by Julie Burgess for the team

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

The person who thinks that when an immovable object meets an irresistible force that nothing happens has probably never met Linda Maktaby. She personifies the hopefulness and belief in that promise in Jeremiah.

Linda, a graduate of the Near East School of Theology in Beirut, is the executive director of Blessed School, a ministry established by the English in 1868 originally as a school for the blind. 153 years later, it still serves those with vision impairments, but its main focus is now on those with disabilities on the autism spectrum. As we sat with her on Friday, we encountered another fully-turned-on spigot freely flowing with the love of Jesus. If the firehose analogy can be used again here, encountering Linda will leave you drenched with that love.

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Lebanon Syria 2021, Lebanon 2021The Outreach FoundationLebanon, Syria
Lebanon #2: Loving Jesus
Lebanon #2: Loving Jesus

by Julie Burgess for the team: Marilyn Borst, Rev. Mark Mueller, Rev. Jack Baca, Rev. Nuhad Tomeh

We have all made our first travel outside the U.S. since the pandemic began here to Lebanon, a place familiar to us all. Traveling seems different, like everything else. We have learned a new language of COVID forms and PCR tests and even the mysterious CovidLebTrack app that baffled us all. What hasn’t changed is the length of the journey and the almost mandatory three flights, depending on where you began the journey. Needless to say, you arrive exhausted. I know I did.

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Lebanon Syria 2021, Lebanon 2021The Outreach Foundation
Lebanon #1: A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN
Lebanon #1: A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN

by Marilyn Borst, Associate Director for Partnership Development

“It’s about time…” is an expression that we use (often, with a hint of impatience, or, perhaps, standing with our arms crossed over our chest, tapping our toe and wearing a bit of a scowl) to express the arrival of a long-awaited person or event.

Ecclesiastes 3 begins with this divine reminder: To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…

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Lebanon Syria 2021, Lebanon 2021The Outreach FoundationLebanon, Syria