For Christmas this year, consider the gift of heat to a Syrian family. E-mail me if you are interested in making a donation...

Dear friends and partners in the ministry of Christ,

Personally and on behalf of the National Evangelical  Synod of Syria and Lebanon I greet you in the precious name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Thank you for  your  faithfulness, praying with us, and supporting our ministry among the Syrian displaced and refugees.

I also hope you all had a very blessed Thanksgiving..

 

As today the NESSL crises committee had its regular meeting the following information was shared:

 

The committee received a letter from the pastor in Aleppo expressing a great need to help families be able to purchase heating oil as the weather is becoming cold and many are unable to

buy the needed heating oil. Then other  members voiced concern that this is a great need for all, especially that people have rented places in areas considered summer areas where the cold is already severe and will get more severe by the day. In Homs, for example, the temperature currently is 8cg. After discussion, the committee made the following decision:

 

Indeed the winter cold is threatening all people who lack the warmth of their own homes in particular, but also even those who remain in villages and towns or cities where to buy heating oil,  when available,  has become unaffordable.

We need to respond to this need. Cold is surely threatening children and old people in particular, and heating oil is as needed as food. Thus we need to provide for at least  (1000) families in different  parts in Syria.

 

Those will be helped to buy  ( 200) liters by  mid December or  as soon as funds  are available.   In Aleppo the price of one liter is between 100-150 Syrian pound. Other places vary  from 65-80 Syrian pounds. Thus, NESSL will provide the amount of $100 for each of the one thousand as one payment.  The  local pastors with local relief committees  will make the needed  plans.

 

Concerns were voiced as this is a large amount, taking into consideration the fact that our budget for our relief program is $ 1,300.000. for one year. So we need to appeal to our partners to help in providing warmth in a cold winter to one thousand families.

 

However, we have to trust God who cares for  the needy. To Him we turn in all our needs. God will provide!

 

In his report, the director of the relief program has also stressed the fact that so many families have been appealing for help with the rent. Thus, the committee requested more information before making any decisions, taking into consideration that already more than 488 families have been helped with rent for almost two years.

 

It is a fact that all the collections on Thanksgiving in the Presbyterian churches both in Syria and Lebanon have been assigned this year for the families that have lost homes and are unable to rebuild in the circumstances.

 

We in all our churches have launched a winter project which we call: " A sweater and a scarf !" In the hope that we can help those in refugee camps face the cold.

SO OUR GOOD FRIENDS!  WE appeal to your compassionate spirit to help us in this very needed ministry.  Be people who provide loving warmth in a hating cold! Indeed the project to help providing $100 for one thousand families is a big amount, and surely we are in great need of your help.  Maybe we could assign one Sunday when each one coming to church would pay $1-5. This could make like a blanket coming from heaven and providing the needed warmth in this cruel winter. WOULD IT NOT BE A MIRACLE!

 

We appeal to all our friends and partners to stretch a helping hand to the NESSL as soon as possible to be able to provide the heating oil.

Our God who is a God of miracles may guide you all and move your hearts to do His will. To Him all the glory now and for ever.

**, On behalf of the NESSL 

Update from a friend in Syria

Although we're getting hopeful news internationally and good news about the army's control on some dangerous areas, and having more safe roads and places. Today the situation was very bad, several mortar shells and bomb blasts caused damage in many houses in <<Azizieh>> which is a Christian area with many schools and churches. In addition to this we still didn't get back the electricity nor water.

But the most painful news is the targeting of the Armenian Orthodox church and school in Damascus with mortar shells (which is in the same yard of our office), this caused the death of six elementary students. I managed to call [our Damascus staff], they told me how they witnessed everything and did their best to help the children and the parents. They were in a very bad mood, I tried as much as I can to calm them down with few nice words.

We're praying and sure that God will give us enough patience and courage to bare all these things.

I'm feeling bad that I'm always giving you sad news.... The happy side is that JMP is there to assist these people.

Best Regards,

**

A determined woman leads Tripoli church

November 13, 2013 12:20 AM

By Brooke Anderson

The Daily Star

Rola Sleiman, pastor at the Tripoli Evangelical Church gives a Sunday sermon. (Photo courtesy of Rola Sleiman)

TRIPOLI, Lebanon: Rola Sleiman never planned on running a church. But when the opportunity came along five years ago, she embraced the chance to serve a small Presbyterian congregation in Lebanon’s second city. “It’s a huge responsibility. As the first woman, I either succeed or it won’t be discussed for years,” Sleiman says at her office, whose door still reads “pastor” (rai) without the feminine ending, shortly before starting her Sunday sermon at the sanctuary next door at the Tripoli Evangelical Church. “As the first female, you need to be successful to pave the way for others.” Growing up in Tripoli – born to a Presbyterian father from Syria and a Syriac Catholic mother from Lebanon – and attending school with mainly Muslim classmates and friends in the relatively conservative northern city, Sleiman says she knew early on that she wanted to serve God. After high school, she enrolled at the Near East Theology School in Beirut and shortly after graduation began teaching at three churches and two schools in the Zahle area of the Bekaa Valley. From there, she spent two years serving at a church in the village of Minyara in Akkar. Then in 2008, she was asked to serve as a substitute to the pastor of her church, who had left to the United States for what at first was temporary move. When it became clear that he wasn’t returning – and with the encouragement of Rev. Hadi Ghantous from the Minyara church who was presiding over the Tripoli church at the time of an absent pastor – she applied for the position that she was already working hard at by then. Since that time, she has continued with the sermons and lessons she had already been doing, but perhaps with more passion and determination. Every Sunday, the 38-year-old pastor arrives at the simple beige church in Tripoli’s Rahbat neighborhood and warmly greets the neighbors and parishioners, who typically number between 20 and 30 and up to 80 on holidays. After shaking the hands of everyone in the pews, she begins her sermon, interlaced with hymns and prayers. On this day, the theme is “thankfulness.” “It is important to be thankful and think of others’ happiness,” she says as she begins her sermon. “Happiness is a state of mind, to see the good in others.” Referring to the city’s poverty and sporadic political violence, she says, “If you ask people in Tripoli, they will likely say they’re unhappy.” But she believes that helping others and giving thanks can help bring about happiness – even in hard times. Pointing out that winter has almost arrived, she then announces a campaign to gather clothes for Syrian children living in makeshift refugee camps in Lebanon, organized in collaboration with several other churches in the area. As the service wraps up, the members – around 15 on this Sunday – eagerly greet their pastor as they go downstairs for a quick snack and coffee. While the membership of the church is small at around 33 families, many of whom have emigrated, and as Sleiman notes are a minority within Tripoli’s already small Christian minority, their dedication appears to run deep. The church’s elders, all five of them men, are among the most enthusiastic to greet Sleiman before and after the service. The pastor says no one has ever questioned her qualifications based on her gender, and in fact the elders often praise her sermons, which she says she puts much work into every week. “I’m always prepared,” she says, explaining an equally important key to her success: “love and having a good relationship with everyone.” She stresses, “I don’t want anyone to judge me for my gender. It’s what God made me. Maybe it would be easier to be a man.” She notes that she has developed a good relationship with neighbors and makes it a point to patronize local vendors. “When people feel love and respect, they give it back.” She says, “The reputation of Tripoli is much worse than the reality. I lived and went to school here, where most of my friends were Muslim.” During the week, she teaches ethics to local elementary school students at her alma mater, the Tripoli Evangelical School, founded by American Presbyterian missionaries in 1887. The nearby Tripoli Evangelical Church was built much later in the 1940s. While she’s adamant in her belief that love is the best way to build bridges, Sleiman acknowledges that it can be difficult to live and work in a city where there are frequent outbreaks of violence. Some clashes have taken place near the church and school. And evening Bible study classes are usually done at the homes of church members so as to avoid the city center after dark. She credits the faithful parishioners for keeping the church alive during good and difficult times. “I think the church has challenges since we’re in Tripoli and we’re a minority. It would probably be easier in Europe or the United States to serve where Christians are a majority,” Sleiman says. “Here we have a mission to say to Muslims that we’re their sisters and brothers and no one is better than the other.” “We need to love everybody and we need to forgive everybody.”

Letter from a friend about recent developments in Syria...

Dear Friends, 

We are very happy to inform you that the Syrian Army went into the besieged area of the Western part of Saddad and was able to liberate the area from the militant groups who had previously besieged 2,500 persons in that quarter of the city. The army went in after negotiations with the militants failed as they have requested to take 80 persons (40 adults and 40 children) with them into the Kalamoun mountains.

Last night the army, with special troops, were able to launch a surprise attack against the rebels. After heavy fighting the armed rebels left the village, fleeing towards the mountains. Up to this moment, we are not sure of the number of casualties of this battle. The army is still securing the area. At the time of sending you this report, they have a special unit that has reached the border of Haffar, chasing the fleeing rebels. They also have another special unit entering homes to ensure the rebels have left the village.

They have already found a car bomb in Saddad, which was diffused. They are warning the residents not to go back to their homes, which may be booby-trapped. 

So far, we know that thirteen persons have been martyred as a result of this past week’s conflict. Those who have fled Saddad and Haffar are as follows:

 

475 families are in Fairouze

 

107 families are in Zaidel

 

98 families are in Fhaile

 

Around 240 families went to Damascus 

 

Around 200 families went to Homs

 

During the early stages of the crisis we helped people to get out of Saddad and Haffar, and now we are making arrangements to help people return to their homes. Humanitarian aid was and is offered to all of those affected by this present situation.

 

On behalf of the people of Haffar and Saddad, I would like to thank all of those who have helped through their humanitarian assistance and their advocacy on behalf of the people of Haffar and Saddad. I would like to especially thank, Barnabas Fund , Mennonite Central Committee, Danmission, and the United Church of Christ. 

 

Your prayers, efforts, and solidarity have made a difference! We shall keep you informed of new developments. The attached pictures are of people fleeing the violence in Saddad.

 

**

Fall Colors in Armenia

This weekend my husband and I had the unique opportunity to get away from work and spend the weekend together in a beautiful place.  Though I have been to Armenia three times before, I had never been in Armenia in the Fall.  Fall is my favorite season and I was really looking forward to seeing the colors change in this beautiful country.  Finally, I got my wish when my husband announced that we would go away for the weekend to celebrate both of our birthdays.  We went to a touristic town in the mountains called "Jermuk" which is famous because it is the source of hot mineral water which is sold all over Armenia.  The town is full of health spas and people go there for vacations or to heal after health problems and operations.  The water is supposed to be very healing but the taste was very strange for me so I drank very little.  The town was full of old Russian Soviet style sanatoriums.  There were lakes and forests and the air had a very good fresh smell.  One day we took a day trip to a beautiful monastery which I had dreamed of visiting for a long time.  It is called "Tatev Monastery". 

This is some info about the monastery from Wikipedia:

The Tatev Monastery (Armenian: Տաթևի վանք) is a 9th-century monastery located on a large basalt plateau near the Tatev village in Syunik Province in southeastern Armenia. The monastic ensemble stands on the edge of a deep gorge of the Vorotan River. Tatev is known as the bishopric seat of Syunik and played a significant role in the history of the region as a center of economic, political, spiritual and cultural activity.

In the 14th and 15th centuries Tatev Monastery hosted one of the most important Armenian medieval universities, the University of Tatev, which contributed to the advancement of science, religion and philosophy, reproduction of books and development of miniature painting. Scholars of the Tatev University contributed to the preservation of Armenian culture and creed during one of its most turbulent periods in its history.

The monastery is the "best-known site" in Syunik.^[1] Wings of Tatev, a cableway from Tatev to Halidzor village was opened in October 2010.^[2][3] It was included in the Guinness World Records as world's "longest non-stop double track cable car."

^{Here are some pictures from the weekend...}

Chicago centenarian honored as one of Armenian mass-slaughter's last survivors

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-armenian-genocide-20131020,0,940598.story

Letter from a Syrian friend about recent developments...

Subject: Armed Groups in Saddad

Dear Friends,

I write today with a heavy heart and news from Syria.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the small towns of Saddad and Haffar village have been a place of refuge for 4,500 families, most of whom are internally displaced persons (IDPs). Historically Christian villages, both communities have lived in peace with their Muslim neighbors for decades.

Early in the conflict the permanent residents of Saddad and Haffar engaged in the organization and provision of assistance to families who were forced to flee their homes in other areas of Syria. Since the arrival of the displaced, the populations, Muslim and Christian, have lived in harmony as they together face the strain and stress of the conflict surrounding them.

On the morning of the 21^st of October 2013 the situation took a dramatic turn for the worse.

Beginning around 6 a.m., roughly sixty armed vehicles began to enter Saddad. As the vehicles and armed personnel made their way through the streets, the shouting of “Allah Akbar” and the touting of the Quran made it clear to both permanent and displaced that their time of relative tranquility was quickly coming to an end. As the armed groups began to set up sniper posts and a campaign of shelling, the day moved from bad to worse.

From what we can tell, the militias who have taken up positions in Haffar and Saddad are mostly members of the Nursa Front (the Al-Qaeda affiliate). It is suspected that they are using Haffar and Saddad as a launching point for strikes against a nearby army base and arsenal.

Up to now, we know a few of our partners have been killed as a result of the sniper activity and shelling. My brother, who is in Haffar with his family, told me this morning that several mortar shells have fallen as a result of the conflict. However, due to the sniper activity, it is impossible to reach the destroyed sites to search for those killed and/or wounded.

As I was talking with my brother, I could hear children crying in fear of the situation. I could hear the faint sounds of the barrage of mortars and intense fighting raging outside. As I sat on the phone, I could not but cry with them. Why is it that children have to be the victims of such a dirty war!

All we can do now is pray for the safety of the people there, and that they do not become IDPs for the second or third time. The lives of everyone is our concern and we pray for God’s protection to all his people.

As the situation continues to develop, I continue to be in contact with our partners and community leaders in Haffar, Saddad, and the Kalamoun region. Yet another example of the brutality and insanity of the Syrian crisis, I hope and pray to God the militants withdraw quickly from the area. Their use of innocent civilians as cover for their military campaigns continues to make our hearts ache.

As new developments come to me, I will pass along the news.

Please continue to have the people of Haffar and Saddad, as well as the people of Syria, in your thoughts and prayers. Let us continue to work for an end to violence and wars and the creation of a lasting peace and security.

Blessings,

**** *******