Ordinary radicals

Let me tell you about my Lebanese friends.

The last days I've been quite heart-broken, as you can read. CNN doesn't really help me with visible stories of burnt children, as some phosphor is added to the bombs so that they are even more dangerous. Blogs , though very authentic, lack perspective and answers we so badly need.

This morning I got an positive email from my friend whom I visited just a month ago in a village that is now destroyed. This Lebanese man's family has escaped to safer area where his parents live(who also escaped the village during the civil war when Palestinians attacked the village and killed literally everyone who couldn't  escape quickly enough). He writes me that they stopped watching CNN through the day. He called people toggether and organised a ministry to children in a school, where 700 Muslim refugees are currently accommodated. They are also delivering some relief help, food and sanitary items. He has been asked to start this project in another school as well. His message is filled with faith. He knows God's peace and HIS HEART even in times like this. He is asking for our prayers so that he can be safe when coming and going, bying food and distributing it. He rejoices that God has every day sent helpers to him.

My other friend has escaped to the mountains in the north with her family. When I ask her how they  are doing, she reminds me that even in times like this God has a plan for the nation. She is having extended time of praying and fasting. They meet daily with a team to pray and worsip.

Another friends left Tyre for holiday in the home country just 24hours before this all started. Now they are in a position to stay in touch and encourage the new believers that are left behind. They are distributing information, raising funds for relief work and for friends in need and sending forward specific prayer requests. He reports that good things are happening, miracles even...although some of their team members narrowly escaped being hit by a bomb three times during ten days before they got evacuated.

Makes me think that faith is something so powerful, it activates us. Faith is something we in the West, not to speak of CNN, know so little about.   

Comments

[Anniina]

Oon Anniina, johon tuut paremmin tutustumaan elokuussa Ahvenanmaalla. Halusin kertoa että oon löytänyt sun blogin Petran sivujen kautta noin pari kuukautta sitten, lueskellut aina silloin tällöin, ja pitänyt alusta lähtien lukemastani, sulla on tosi eloisa ja kiva tapa ilmaista ajatuksiasi ... Varmasti tällä hetkellä rankkaa aikaa sullekin Libanonin tilanteen vuoksi, paljon surua ystävien puolesta ym. Kiitos että oot jakanut blogissasi niiden ihmisten ihan upeita selviytymiskeinoja sekä kykä luottaa ja turvautua Jeesuksen huolenpitoon tilanteessa kuin tilanteessa, aina miettien miten siinä vois palvella Jumalaa. On ollut tosi opettavaista luettavaa. meitä on varmasti monta jotka rukoillaan heidän puolestaan!!!

Voimia ja jaksamista myös sulle, ja Ahvenanmaalla sitten nähdään.