I Belong Here
I was sitting on a low stool that had been generously provided to me by the refugees living in the tent camp in the Beqaa Valley. Surrounding and obscuring me from every side was a sea of small children. “Where… Read more >
The First 100 Years are Hard
“The First 100 Years are Hard.” That is a Lebanese saying that I learned shortly after my arrival to Lebanon. It means that things get easier after the first 100 years. Too bad no one ever lives long enough to… Read more >
Fadia
I first saw her on a Sunday morning. She was a new face and it was her face, framed by her bright blue hijab, that first caught my attention. I thought she was beautiful and it was also the first… Read more >
Welcome to the Nabaa
Welcome to the Nabaa. The Nabaa is the poorest neighborhood here in the already working class district of Borj Hammoud. Trash blows down the cluttered alley filled with a crisscross of power lines. Clothes are hanging from the windows of… Read more >
Heaven on Earth
One of my top projects upon arriving to Beirut has been to take on the annual Kingdom Fiesta that our church puts on. The Kingdom Fiesta is a 3-day multi-cultural festival that features 10 or more different nationalities and people… Read more >
“They Have Treated Syria Like a Zoo and the Citizens Like Animals.”
“They have treated Syria like a zoo and the citizens like animals.” The language barrier frequently limits the conversation with the Syrian refugees that I have met. Also, many who I meet have been out of Syria for several years… Read more >