More pictures!

Tim helping the students with their homework 

Nathan helping some of the boys with their studies 

Jasmine helping the boys study 

Today was our first full day at Dar el Awlad with the boys. It was a very exciting and full day! We introduced ourselves (well the newbies were introduced since all the kids already know Tim).  Today was my turn teaching the children's message for Chapel and a lesson for VBS. I must admit that I was pretty nervous leading up today since I have never led worship or a children's message before. But as God has been present this whole trip it was evident He was in that room with us. Although the boys know English, it isn't their primary language so I had a helper translate everything to Arabic for easier understanding. It really was beautiful to see the kids worshipping our God in both English and Arabic. 

After Chapel, study time and VBS the kids had free time. Many of them played soccer and dodgeball.  I didn't participate in either of these but it was a pleasure to see Nathan playing with the children and them accepting him. Elijah wanted to play soccer with the big kids so badly!! Elijah has been great and I am glad that Nathan and I decided to bring him as a family. This trip just wouldn't be the same without him. The boys have really loved on him and have been quite affectionate. Often the boys will come up to Elijah and give him a hug and kiss then pat his head or pinch his little rosy cheeks. Elijah loves being outside and gets pretty upset when he has to come inside. He has been chasing all the cats that live on DeA, riding a little red scooter down hills and playing soccer with the smaller boys. 

One of the best aspects of being in Lebanon is the food!! We have had the pleasure of eating fresh fruits such as watermelon, cantaloupe, cherries and plums. We have also had so many Lebanese dishes that I can't pronounce but are so delicious such as hummus and this eggplant dip that's pretty amazing. On our way back from Byblos I had the opportunity to try the best ice cream I have ever tasted. The texture was different than American ice cream and the flavors I had weren't creamy or dairy based. I tried lemon,  mulberry and rose ice cream and each flavor was delicious!! I wish we could go for ice cream every day! After tonight's dinner of eggplant dip, pita, veggies, olive loaf and cantaloupe, we went to spend some time with the boys in their 'houses'. We enjoyed watching them play soccer video games, chase Elijah and teach us how to properly pronounce their names. There are many sounds in the Arabic language that my tongue isn't used to speaking and we had many laughs together as we tried learning. Tomorrow we pass out the shoes that Calvary collected and I can't wait to see the look on their faces as they receive their bags! 

Lindsey Spears

Photos!

Been having some issues with photos, but I think we have it resolved now.

Click on the photo for a larger and correctly proportional view. 

It's been 2 full days now....

Greetings from Lebanon! I'm writing this from Dar El Awlad under a nice shade tree. The journey to Lebanon was long, but God gave us the endurance and patience that we desperately needed. We had one 15 hour flight followed by a 3 hour layover in Dubai and then a 3 1/2 hour flight to Beirut. Elijah was better than expected, especially since he only had a 3 hour nap during the first flight. It helps that he had a seat to himself and was able to stand up and jump around. Also, Emirates was a great airliners with good service and lots of entertainment for everyone. Not only did we have access to movies, tv, and news, but the screens behind each headrest had access to two cameras on the outside of the plane. One pointed directly in fron the of the plane and the other was directly underneath. I can't imagine how the flight attendants managed to look joyful and in good spirits despite the 15-hour flight. After 12 or so hours I was beginning to feel fatigue, definitely so once we left from Dubai, but I'm grateful that God gave us the energy to keep on.

Yesterday we toured the market at Biblos and saw some castle ruins. We walked the cobbled streets in search of Lebanon gifts and souvenirs. The market is one of the oldest in the world. It's great to think that Jesus' followers would have likely stepped foot in these same places.

Today we went to Resurrection Church in downtown Beirut. The service was entirely in Arabaic but we were able to hear a translation into English through headsets. It was almost a copy-and-paste of American contemporary churches. There was a band with a lead singer and guitar accompanied by two female singers and drums. The pastor explained five ways we can tell if the voice we are hearing is from God. I have to admit that I was entirely uncomfortable during the singing because I am so used to participating in church. It's weird to be doing nothing, and even then, I was not able to understand the lyrics. I didn't know until the very end that even the songs were translated through my headset. Yet, it's marvelous to see how Jesus is praised throughout all the world, even in the Middle East. And it was especially wonderful to hear how this church took in Iraqi and Syrian refugees.

Goodbye for now. It's been great being here. Elijah is doing well and we have lots of photos to share. The food has been delicious. I hope that Sheila 😉 can teach us how to make some of the dishes. I love the Mediterranean influence. My favorite so far has been the eggplant. It looks similar to hummus but tastes even better. Pray for us as tomorrow we start our Bible curriculum with the children. Upcoming we reveal the shoes to the kids (Tuesday) and then take a trip to the river on Wednesday.

-Nathan

On Jul 1, 2017 10:04 PM, wrote:

So.....Lebanon.......

So.....Beirut......

God brought us here safe and sound and with a little energy to spare :)

The first full day here was excellent. Everyone at the orphanage has been so friendly and welcoming to us. 

The streets are busy and the language is different, but I feel so comfortable. 

At the moment I'm still in a little "aww", combined with a long and bit of am exhausting day,  so I will translatey feelings today like this:

The view: higher than I could have imagined and perfectly molded by God. 

The atmosphere: Sweet and simple,I can feel God here.

The Dar Awlad team: the friendliest smile, the most giving hands, and compassionate.

Traffic: crazy, nuts, coocoo, loud, but miraculously safe.

Byblos: beauty that never ages. 

The food: well...its the best, most delicious, fresh food I've ever had in my life

The ice cream: just about as sweet as life itself

 :) :) :)

Today was a good day. 

Jasmine Padgett

14 hours until we depart Waco on Calvary’s 7^th Mission Trip to Lebanon. All the preparations are complete; all that is left is getting there.

Those going on this trip are “first timers.” Since the first trip, those that have gone have always included people who have gone before, some for the second, third, fourth or fifth time. It will be interesting to see Dar el Awlad, the boys and staff,  through new eyes.

In our discussions leading up to the first trip, one condition laid down was that the Mission trip was not to be a “one and done,” but rather a relationship building effort.

Calvary, you have done that in your praying, the continuing support, and sending shoes to the same child year after year. The relationships that you have built are evidenced in many ways: in the boys showing us your pictures from the last several years as they and we have grown older, in being greeted as friends rather than guests and in the genuine hugs that let you know they are glad you have returned. Perhaps the most memorable way your relationship was expressed, was when a housemother told one of the boys, “Don’t cry, they are from Calvary, they always return.”

But why do we return? Last year I was talking to the director about the boys that graduate from high school and move on with their lives, asking him what impact DeA has had in their lives? His answer summed it up. “Not all the boys accept Christ and go on in their faith journey when they leave this place. We may not ever see the results. For some it may be 20 or 30 years before we see results, but we have planted a seed. It is up to the Lord to nurture the seed.”

Calvary, you are planting seeds, seeds in the lives of the boys we are with and seeds in those that you send. For one couple from our church, the Bouchers, this has meant moving to Lebanon to serve at DeA the last 6 years. For others that have gone on the trip, you will have to ask them how the seeds have grown.

For the boys, you are helping to plant the seeds, and we will show them all the love we can in the time we are there.

From the corner of 18^th and Bosque, to West Avenue, to Beirut Lebanon, Calvary you have shown the love of Christ, and are continuing to do so.

Tim Smith

Enjoying a Lebanese meal in one of our meetings

                                     Your gifts to the staff and children prepared for packing.

                                                                       Packing

                                                                  More packing

                                                                       Labeling bags