In Lebanon, 1 out of 3 people are refugees.
For the next month, my team is partnered with an organization that connects refugees to churches in the area. At one of their centers, they have a women’s discipleship group. All of the women in this particular group are Syrian refugees. While the women have their meeting, their children are looked after and they have their own class.
Yesterday was our first day helping out with the children’s ministry. They had worship, a lesson, game time (including musical chairs), and an exercise/dancing time.
Arabic was spoken the entirety of the time (except for occasionally when the woman in charge would explain to us what was happening). Though we had no idea about what was being said or going on most of the time, we got to love on some kids!
Something that struck me about the kids was how much each and every one of them looks after one another. I continue to be blown away by the sense of community in Arab countries. And I don’t know these children‘s stories, but I know that they have experienced so much hardship, suffering, and pain in their short lives. Even so, the joy these beautiful children possess is supernatural and contagious.
Three little girls in particular latched onto myself and Landry. When we arrived, the kids’ worship had just ended, and the kids were all seated and listening to a lesson. We sat down behind them, and the three little girls right in front of us would periodically turn around and smile shyly at us. We beamed back at them and waved.
After they warmed up to us, one of those adorable girls (with a pony-tail and gap teeth) climbed onto my lap during the lesson. It was so precious and tender. I played with her hair a little bit and rubbed her back.
Then, after a fun and exciting game of musical chairs, it was time to exercise! A children’s video was played on the TV, and all the kids started dancing to the music. My little girl insisted that I dance with her, so we twirled around and laughed together. She eventually lifted her arms and I picked her up, placed her over my hip, and danced with her in my arms. I peppered her little cheeks with kisses while she giggled. I told her that she was so loved. She smiled and then rested her head on my shoulder as I held her.
There is another little girl who clearly is one of the main troublemakers of the group. A couple times, I saw her hit a little boy who had been teasing her. She is one tough cookie.
Toward the end of the class, she walked right up to me and lifted her arms. I picked her up and gave her a kiss. She didn’t want to be put back down— she just wanted to stay in my arms and be held for a while.
During our time in Lebanon, I pray that we will radiate and demonstrate the magnitude of Christ’s love for these kids. Already, they have shown us foreigners the love of Christ.
