We were invited to attend Fady and Grace’s wedding in Syria on August 21, 2022. Unfortunately, our visa applications were rejected as US citizens were not allowed into Syria because of the ongoing civil war. So we decided to celebrate their wedding with them in Lebanon in the week of Aug 28 – Sept 4.
Our friends Jeremy, Seheda, and Hamoud drove from Tyre to pick us up from the Beirut airport at around 8pm at night.
By the time we have arrived in Zahle in the Bekka Valley, it was already 10:30pm. We still haven’t had dinner yet…
We are staying in Fady and Grace’s apartment which is their new home. Fady’s sister Sally and his friend Elias, who hosted me in 2022, also joined us for dinner. We had a delicious Syrian dinner at midnight, and chatted until 2am.HammusPickled eggpantsSyrian yogurt with olive oilTiffany and I went out to buy grocery on our second day. Grace wasn’t feeling well so we decided we will cook some Chinese food for them.Inside a local grocery store in ZahleFady’s car parked outside of his apartment. His new apartment is in a central location in Zahle. Many stores are within walking distance from his apartmentGideon was having a haircut by a local barberThe walking street in downtown ZahleWe spent a night camping in Mount LebanonGrace and Fady were picking the vegetables which were used to make saladElias prepared the charcoal stove for grilling the kabobsWe enjoyed a nice dinner under the night sky.We also had the unique experience of visiting the ER in Lebanon. Carina had to go in to get IV injection due to constant vomiting and dehydration. Gideon, Carina, and I experienced heat fatigue and had various GI issues the week that we were in Lebanon. Due to the effect of global warming, the extreme heatwaves are prolonged, and people in Lebanon and Syria are affected to a greater degree due to the lack of electricity and air conditioning.Hamoud is one of the Syrian refugees I met in 2020, and a Muslim-background believers who are passionate to follow Jesus as a result of the kindling of the Holy Spirit and the labor of missionary-pastor like Pastor Mohammad and Jeremy Fletcher. You will get to hear Hamoud’s testimony, and an invitation to 1) pray for him and other believers in Tyre, Lebanon, who want to continue the ministry (Pastor Mohammad died of a heart attack in May) to reach other Muslims with the love of Jesus, 2) support Hamoud to finish his undergraduate degree in Lebanon. He has one more year to go and needs help with his tuition cost (~USD 1000) to finish his bachelor degree (he is a top student with 3.75 GPA) and his desire to continue to seek a seminary training and/or a medical degree to serve as a pastor/church leader in Tyre.
My reflection on our week in Lebanon is a deeply emotional one. I am so proud of my brother Fady and his new bride Grace. It has been such a rich time hanging out with the newly wed and to share their joy of starting a new family. The scorching heatwave got the best of us. The experience of having to go to the ER due to extreme heat teaches me the vulnerability of the poor in the face of more extreme climate condition as a result of the unbridled consumption and carbon emission by the wealthy nations. In spite of the challenges, I see the hope, joy and resilience of the Syrian and Labonese people. They are much tougher than those of us from the West when confronted with constant power outage, water shortage, fuel shortage, and difficult economic and political situation. Their faith also runs deeper, as they see the human suffering and evil at closer proximity, and thus are more clear-eyed with spiritual things.
