Dear friends and partners,
Thanks a million for all you do to support the ministry with the refugees.
Last week I visited northern Lebanon with the Rev. Tramper, who was visiting on behalf of the GZB of Holland. We passed by some of the miserable tents under which the refugees are living. After that, we passed through some buildings where more than one family lives in every apartment. When children saw a camera they would shout, “Do not take pictures!” The misery is beyond what anyone would want to see in any circumstances.
Yesterday, I visited the Biccaa valley with two Presbyterian pastors. We wanted to see about the work in an old Presbyterian school that is being turned into apartments to host refugees. While the work has been in process for weeks now, it will take few more before it will be furnished and ready to receive families who need comfort.
The tragedy seems to go on and the horror stories are on every tongue. As I mentioned in a previous letter, the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL) has made the decision to go ahead and establish a disaster relief program that can immediately respond to the needs of people.
This morning I was told that at a road near one of the hot areas, a service car was stopped and 80 bodies were shoveled into a truck. Unbelievable!!!
Please let me tell of a meeting with one of the relief agencies who cooperate with the UN in relief work in Lebanon. They work with 20-50 thousand refugees. People must be officially registered in order to receive vouchers to buy food and other daily needs. Many Christians do not register, and thus they do not receive help. These are not rich people at all. They do not want to reveal that they left the country. We can only guess why they don’t register!
Personally and on behalf of the NESSL, I appeal to you, dear friends and partners in the service of God, to pray with us and urge those who are making decisions to help bring the people of Syria together to dialogue and plan a future together. There is no other way to end this tragedy.
