Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Beirut sunset
I thought you might enjoy this pic. Anton has a few of this sunset as well, most likely better takes. I'll have him upload a couple once he returns to Red Deer.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Houston
The team is in Houston this evening and fly out to Calgary in the AM. We will all be home in our own beds by tomorrow night excepot for Anton and Kurtis who have comtinued on to other locations.
We are all tired, happy to be coming home and equally happy for the experiences we have encountered over the past two weeks. We've lots of pictures and stories so perhaps we will unfold some of them here over the next few days.
We are all tired, happy to be coming home and equally happy for the experiences we have encountered over the past two weeks. We've lots of pictures and stories so perhaps we will unfold some of them here over the next few days.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Great day in the Beka
Today we all took a break from our regular duties and headed up the valley to Baalbek. There we visited a site of ancient Roman ruins. We each took many pictures so be sure to ask us about them when you see us at home. Amazing structures. It would appear to be an issue through this country. Whenever a new building is constructed the chance exists of hitting ancient ruins under the foundation. So sometimes the costs are huge because you cannot disturb the ruins.
From the ruins we went to see the BOL school that serves about 650 children. We meet the head mistress and have a wonderful meal that they had prepared for us. She shares her story with us in how she came to Christ through a personal healing miracle and then further how God led her to the dream of starting a school for the under privileged children.
She then took us to a couple of the homes in the area whose children attend the school. One family consisted of a man with two wives and 16 children. We were welcomed with very warm hospitality from this Muslim family. They invite us into their home. Three rooms back to back, each about 12 feet square. The place is very clean. The outside is covered with tin, the walls and the roof. There is a little grass outside and a very clean entry area to the home. The smells are not bad! I cannot detect any foul scent, which means that their sewer and way of handling garbage must be well managed.
Inside the ceiling was low but you could still stand up. Cement floor with rugs nicely placed and covering about half of the floor area, with cushions around the parameter. We are in a room, must be their living room. The walls are unpainted but clean. The wood is the same as our really thin smooth MDF with wood slates tying it all together in about 2ft by 2ft sections. Ceiling is the same. The home is very clean. There is a hole in one side up near the top where the wood stove goes during the winter.
We sit down with him, his two wives and about 5-6 children. One young boy, about 10-11 is wearing a Montreal Canadians shirt and shorts outfit. The kids are shy but full of smiles. As we talk the man begins to prepare tea for us. Two scoops of sugar in each little glass cup, add some tea and then stir. He gets up with his tray of glasses and serves each of us himself. It’s his way of honouring us into his home.
As we talk and find out about his family, his work, we come to know a bit of his heart. He is a gracious man (Everything is being translated). We talked about many things. He and his family work in the local tobacco field. They work about 5 months out of the year and what they get must help them live through the whole year. They collect the leaves and dry them and get them ready for market. He takes us outside and shows us the whole process. He has a shed that is full of dried leaves, waiting for pickup at the end of the drying season. He was asked what his challenges are and he could think of none. They are very happy in their home. No need for anything. Content. And we believed him.
We went home that day with a little more knowledge, a little more culture.
From the ruins we went to see the BOL school that serves about 650 children. We meet the head mistress and have a wonderful meal that they had prepared for us. She shares her story with us in how she came to Christ through a personal healing miracle and then further how God led her to the dream of starting a school for the under privileged children.
She then took us to a couple of the homes in the area whose children attend the school. One family consisted of a man with two wives and 16 children. We were welcomed with very warm hospitality from this Muslim family. They invite us into their home. Three rooms back to back, each about 12 feet square. The place is very clean. The outside is covered with tin, the walls and the roof. There is a little grass outside and a very clean entry area to the home. The smells are not bad! I cannot detect any foul scent, which means that their sewer and way of handling garbage must be well managed.
Inside the ceiling was low but you could still stand up. Cement floor with rugs nicely placed and covering about half of the floor area, with cushions around the parameter. We are in a room, must be their living room. The walls are unpainted but clean. The wood is the same as our really thin smooth MDF with wood slates tying it all together in about 2ft by 2ft sections. Ceiling is the same. The home is very clean. There is a hole in one side up near the top where the wood stove goes during the winter.
We sit down with him, his two wives and about 5-6 children. One young boy, about 10-11 is wearing a Montreal Canadians shirt and shorts outfit. The kids are shy but full of smiles. As we talk the man begins to prepare tea for us. Two scoops of sugar in each little glass cup, add some tea and then stir. He gets up with his tray of glasses and serves each of us himself. It’s his way of honouring us into his home.
As we talk and find out about his family, his work, we come to know a bit of his heart. He is a gracious man (Everything is being translated). We talked about many things. He and his family work in the local tobacco field. They work about 5 months out of the year and what they get must help them live through the whole year. They collect the leaves and dry them and get them ready for market. He takes us outside and shows us the whole process. He has a shed that is full of dried leaves, waiting for pickup at the end of the drying season. He was asked what his challenges are and he could think of none. They are very happy in their home. No need for anything. Content. And we believed him.
We went home that day with a little more knowledge, a little more culture.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Children Children !!!!!
Today Rita went to Beirut to help work on the web site for Bridges of Love. I just spoke with her and she had a very good day and got a good design completed.
Back at the Bedouin village the team was busy right off the bat with about 70 children. It was total mayhem! Fun, but crazy! The story time, crafts and game went really well for such a large crowd. We had lots of help!
There is also a fellow that has been a part of the last two children’s programs that is from another village further north. He is the primary teacher there so some of the things we did will be transferable for him and give him some great ideas for his school.
The rest of us did some more painting and building! Fun day, busy day.
Back at the Bedouin village the team was busy right off the bat with about 70 children. It was total mayhem! Fun, but crazy! The story time, crafts and game went really well for such a large crowd. We had lots of help!
There is also a fellow that has been a part of the last two children’s programs that is from another village further north. He is the primary teacher there so some of the things we did will be transferable for him and give him some great ideas for his school.
The rest of us did some more painting and building! Fun day, busy day.
Fruitful Day
The children’s program went very well today. Kurtis was a great story teller, Kathleen was a great puppeteer and leader, and Rebekka saved the day with a brilliant improvise for the craft.
Then Rita painted a whole room yellow all by herself! She is an amazing worker. Glen did some blue and Albert did some carpentry work building some storm windows for the cold winter coming. Kathleen did some more work on the mural and Debra, Anton and Jordan did various painting tasks in many rooms. It was a good day.
Then Rita painted a whole room yellow all by herself! She is an amazing worker. Glen did some blue and Albert did some carpentry work building some storm windows for the cold winter coming. Kathleen did some more work on the mural and Debra, Anton and Jordan did various painting tasks in many rooms. It was a good day.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Another full day
Today was a great day for the whole team. We got some serious mural done in one of the classrooms. It looks awesome. We will try and upload something for you soon. Good job Kathleen and ladies!
The Women's program went really well. There were lots that attended. Close to 20 I think. They painted some clay pots and then Debra brought a message to them from the Bible. Debra, Kathleen, Rita and Siham got rave reviews from the ladies that came.
Lots of painting still going on. Glen and Kurtis are stars!
Albert did an amazing job of fixing the sink in the bathroom. It's a long narrow sink made of stone so he had to get some stone cut and then he did some fancy gluing to make it all work. It worked!
Rebekka was a blesing for the children all day. She gave all the ladies that attended the meeting to have a child free moment, and then she kept the kids busy throughout the day so we could all work at stuff.
Tomorrow we have a special day planned that is further south in the valley. We are meeting up with believers from other Bedouin camps at a place where the cedars of Lebanon are. We are planning on having a communion service there under the cedars.
Blessings, please continue to pray for us.
The Women's program went really well. There were lots that attended. Close to 20 I think. They painted some clay pots and then Debra brought a message to them from the Bible. Debra, Kathleen, Rita and Siham got rave reviews from the ladies that came.
Lots of painting still going on. Glen and Kurtis are stars!
Albert did an amazing job of fixing the sink in the bathroom. It's a long narrow sink made of stone so he had to get some stone cut and then he did some fancy gluing to make it all work. It worked!
Rebekka was a blesing for the children all day. She gave all the ladies that attended the meeting to have a child free moment, and then she kept the kids busy throughout the day so we could all work at stuff.
Tomorrow we have a special day planned that is further south in the valley. We are meeting up with believers from other Bedouin camps at a place where the cedars of Lebanon are. We are planning on having a communion service there under the cedars.
Blessings, please continue to pray for us.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Day of painting
Today we did some more cleaning and a lot of painting! We are painting a mural onto the walls inside the classrooms. Kathleen is leading that charge and we are following her lead. It’s looking great! When we get the first one done we will try and upload a photo!
Glen, Albert and Jordan sat down with a group of men today. They did a Q & A with some Bible study time. This time was well received and they said they would like something like it again tomorrow.
Later with our time Rita will be working on the web site for Bridges of Love. Rita and Debra will plan a program for the women and Albert, Glen and Jordan will sit with the men a couple more times as well.
Everything is going well. Our hosts are very happy with the work we’ve been able to accomplish so far. There are many wonderful relationships being formed. Pray for the school and all the preparations needed between now and September 20th. They require operational funds and other teaching aids that need to be resourced.
Blessings!
Glen, Albert and Jordan sat down with a group of men today. They did a Q & A with some Bible study time. This time was well received and they said they would like something like it again tomorrow.
Later with our time Rita will be working on the web site for Bridges of Love. Rita and Debra will plan a program for the women and Albert, Glen and Jordan will sit with the men a couple more times as well.
Everything is going well. Our hosts are very happy with the work we’ve been able to accomplish so far. There are many wonderful relationships being formed. Pray for the school and all the preparations needed between now and September 20th. They require operational funds and other teaching aids that need to be resourced.
Blessings!
Day of cleaning
Yesterday we did a lot of cleaning and a little painting. We are putting on an oil primer first before the final coats and so the fumes are flying! These people are wonderful and we’ve had many opportunities to speak with our hosts and become acquainted with them. They are grateful people that pitch in on everything we’ve been doing. It was fun working alongside them.
We are also assessing a few other projects that need to be completed. Some fence work, bathroom plumbing, storm window manufacturing, . . .
In addition to the project work, we will also be leading a children’s program, a men’s Q & A and a time for the Women.
The team is doing well. We are enjoying each other and all the interactions we get among ourselves.
Thank you for praying for us!
We are also assessing a few other projects that need to be completed. Some fence work, bathroom plumbing, storm window manufacturing, . . .
In addition to the project work, we will also be leading a children’s program, a men’s Q & A and a time for the Women.
The team is doing well. We are enjoying each other and all the interactions we get among ourselves.
Thank you for praying for us!
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