I’ve been back in the States since Thanksgiving and it’s been a wonderful visiting with family again.  I got in just in time to be there for the birth of my newest nephew (Judah makes it eight nieces and nephews!).  I will be ending my time here with the wedding of my younger sister, and I will be able to see the newlyweds before they head off to China for eight months.  I didn’t know about these events when I began to plan my trip, but I sure am glad I made it back when  I did!

It has been great to see everyone.  I have enjoyed times of fellowship with old and new friends, sharing what God has been doing in Lebanon and in my life and ministry.  It's always good to have this time away to be able to step back and see everything from a bigger perspective. I am so excited about what God has been doing, and i am really looking forward to being back in Lebanon to see what is ahead!

It’s always a treat for me when visitors come because it means that it will get a break from my routine and enjoy some time showing people the sites of my beloved Lebanon.  For this year’s conference we had several visitors from my home church, so it was a special treat.  My senior pastor, Larry Stockstill, and his daughter Melissa arrived in Lebanon two days early to be able to see the cedars of Lebanon.  I had not yet been, so I got to tag along for the tour.  It was really amazing to see these trees, some they say have been there 6,000 years, even surviving the flood!  These trees have grown large and plant roots, not in a fertile valley, but on arid mountaintops; their persitance to survive in this condition is amazing!

We had several other speakers for our conference, and one of them, Tony Foster, had been my youth pastor for several years at Bethany.  His wife, Margaret, has discipled me the past few years, keeping up with me while I am in Lebanon.  I visited them in Malaysia where they are now missionaries, so having Tony in Lebanon was like having family here.  We took several of the speakers for a tour around Lebanon.  While these sites I have seen several times, it’s always nice to see the tourist side of this beautiful nation.

It had been a while since I’ve taken a break from the city life and took time to see Lebanon.  As always, I am amazed at the beauty of this nation, and I am so proud to call it home!

I don’t even watch the Lebanese news, but I am still very aware that elections are looming.  Of course there are pictures of politicians plastered everywhere, and billboards with their logos lining the streets, but showing support for your group doesn’t end here.  Each one has his own color (and if you wear the shirt of a groups color, just because you like the style no other reason, you will quickly get questioned if you are showing loyalty.  They are usually joking with me, though).  Each group has his own flag, songs and hand signs.  You can even honk your car horn a certain way to show your support for your group.  If you haven’t guessed yet, elections time in Lebanon are very LOUD! Now that we are closer to the date, you hear music and car horns late into the night, and at anytime you can get stuck in a traffic jam because of street rallies and supporters marching the streets. 

Politics in Lebanon are always hotly divided, but with an important election just a day away you can really feel how much so.  PLEASE BE IN PRAYER.  These elections are very critical, and the outcome will determine the direction of this nation.

To start off, I feel I must apologize that it has been so long since you have heard from me.  While I have been busy, there really is no excuse for not keeping you updated. One of my new year resolutions is to keep my website more current.  I can use your help, though.  The more feedback I receive, the more I am encouraged to work at keeping the site up to date.  So, I am looking forward to hearing from you!

Okay, here’s my blog:

Abundant Life Church started this year, as we do each year, with a 21 day fast.  This has been a practice of mine for 10 years now, but I don’t believe I have ever started a fast with as much hunger for a breakthrough as I did this year.  I had expectations in mind of what I wanted to see, but God had His own direction in mind.  It wasn’t too long into the fast, desiring many spiritual breakthroughs, that the Lord impressed upon my heart, “No, you need to get your life in order”.  I was a little surprised that this is what the Lord wanted to deal with, when I had so many other things in mind, but I felt that He was saying that as I get certain areas of my life in order, everything else I need will come.

There are three main areas where God is dealing with me: eating habits, finances, and time management.  So these past three weeks have been a great time of fasting and praying with the church, but also working on these areas.  Of course, my eating habits are under control right now because I am fasting ( I was WAY out of control at the end of the year), but even when the fast ends I will continue refraining from certain foods, especially fried foods and sweets, and limiting my carb intake.  As for finances, I am so excited that I have made my first budget and I can see where everything is going.  It has always been my desire to be a good steward of God’s money, and this will help me even more.  I am also working on being more disciplined with my time so that I can get more things done, such as studying, office work, preparing things, visiting people, and keeping you updated!

The Lord has been dealing with very practical things, but already I am seeing breakthroughs in the spiritual realm.  I am starting out this new year with much expectancy and I am excited to see what all God has in store.   As things are getting in order, I believe great breakthrough is coming!  There is already much going on, and will be posting soon about new ministry opportunities, and great things happening in the children and youth ministries.

As I write this I am sitting at my dining room table (all plastic for now J ) while there are men putting up cabinets in my kitchen.  When I moved in, all there was were four walls in each room, and two bathrooms that thankfully already had a toilet and sinks (no mirrors, though, for two weeks).  So I have really had to start with the basics, like a refrigerator, washing machine and an electric kettle to heat water for Nescafe (I think this may have been my first purchase, coffee in the morning is a necessity.)  I don’t have a stove yet, but since I don’t really cook and I have the electric kettle to boil water, no stove is not really a big deal for me. 

My roommate moved in last week.  She is from Egpyt, and has also left her family and home because she feels called to serve the Lord in Lebanon.  It is great to have someone else in the home with me, not to mention that she spent last weekend, while I was out of the home, organizing everything.  She’s a great blessing.

My desire for this apartment is that it is not only a place for me, but for the Body of Christ.  It will be a place to hold small group meetings and have fellowship.  Also, a place for you to stay when you come visit Lebanon.  My utmost desire is that it is a place of worship and prayer – prayer for the nations.  This home is not for me, but for the Kingdom.

After living in Lebanon for one year, i am finally settling in to my own place.  I move in on the 25th, and I can hardly wait.  I found a 3 bedroom apartment, 160m (i think that's like 1700 sq.ft, but not sure) near the church, so i will still be able to walk to the church.  The owner has just finished renovating the apartment, so it is freshly painted and the kitchen, bedroom, floors and windows are all new.  It really was great find, I am so thankful that the Lord prepared everything.  I am starting from scratch, though, in furnishing it.  I will start with the necessities, like a bed, refridgerator, washing machine, stove.  Afer that, i will take it little by little.  Please pray that the Lord provides as I am buying the things i need for the home, and also that i will have good roommate to stay with me.

 Now you will have a place to stay when you come visit me!

Three times a week I have arabic lessons and it takes a 30-40 minute bus ride to get there.  One particular morning started out normal, I was running a tad late and then had to wait 10-15 minutes for a bus.  I got on the bus, hot and tired, and found a seat.  I noticed above the bus driver’s head he had his name and phone number.  I thought it was weird, looked at my wallet I was holding in my hand, and that was the last time I thought about either.  When I got off (which I was the last one), I remembered I needed to pay for my term and decided to go to the atm before class instead of after.  Good thing I did, because when I got to the atm I realized I didn’t have my wallet and I must’ve left it on the bus. How could I ever find the exact bus I was on.  I had no idea what I could do, and then I remembered the bus driver’s name.  so, I called the one person who I knew would know what to do, our administrator at the church, George Nayaty. I told him what happened and gave him the bus driver’s name.  Within 10 minutes he called me back and told me they had my wallet.  Thankfully, no one had got on the after me, so the bus drive was able to see it right away.

I was so amazed at how God took care of me, by letting me see the name, being the last person on the bus, going to the atm before class.  But, then I thought, “Lord, I would have rathered you just help me not to lose my wallet.”  His response . . . “but then you wouldn’t have seen Me take care of you.”  I was overwhelmed at the thought that even when we mess up, God is there to take care of us.  What I did was very foolish, and believe me, I don’t plan on losing my wallet again just to see God take care of me.  Even in my foolishness, though, God was more than happy help me.  Even before anything happened, He knew and He was already helping me.  It was just another reminder that God sees me, even when I’m not paying attention myself, and He is taking care of me.

I want to take some time to focus on a family here in Lebanon that is very dear to my heart, George and Francine Nayaty and their precious boys Raphael and Jérémie (French spelling).  George is the administrator of Abundant Life Church and has been the biggest help to me as I’ve settled into life here in Lebanon.  He usually offers before I have to ask - and for someone like me who is not used to needing so much help, it is a great blessing.  Francine is French-Lebanese and moved to Beirut five years ago, so she understands the things you face as you are adjusting to Lebanon from a western lifestyle and has made the transition for me much smoother.

George is also the production manager of the church and when I first came to Lebanon he was selling sermons, books and a few other items in the back of the church before and after service.  He shared with me his vision to renovate the bookstore on the ground level of the church that had been closed for many years and to expand the selection of his merchandise.  It would not be easy because of finances and he would need the permission of the building owner to use the office he wanted.  This was George’s passion though, and he believed that the Lord would provide.  When I came back from Kuwait, he greeting me with the great news that the owner had agreed to let him use the bookstore and help with all the renovations.  After five months of painting, decorating and preparing, Salem Bible Bookstore opened on June 12^th, 2008.  It was an exciting day for George and Francine.  As the church gathered to celebrate the opening and dedicate this business to the Lord and for the spreading of the gospel, I thought of the many times George shared his vision of this very event.  I was encouraged, again, to see how God is always so faithful to us.  In our family, ministry, businesses God has filled our lives with dreams and visions.  They may seem slow in coming, but remain strong in faith.  God has an appointed time for the vision to come to pass.  Keep your eyes on Him, trust in His ways and the Lord will provide everything you need.

Mabrouk George and Francine, I am celebrating with you.  When you receive blessings, I feel as if my own life has been blessed.  Thank you for everything.

Well, my first in Lebanon will definitely be one that I will never forget.  Not so much because it was my first in Lebanon, but because the events that happened on May 7^th sparked what almost became the next civil war (many said it’s no coincidence that it happened on an American’s birthday, and while they had their suspicions before, they are now sure that I am spy).  The day stared with a strike in Beirut, workers demanding higher wages, that was only supposed to last for one day.  By the end of the end of the day, though, the airport and major roads were closed and a curfew was imposed on the city.  We didn’t think too much about, it’s normal for Lebanon.  It just meant a few cancelled birthday plans and turning in early for the night.  Little did we know within two days the situation would take a huge turn for the worse.  On Friday, the opposition militia had taken over Downtown Beirut and it was very possible that the nation could plummet into another civil war when we are still trying to recover from one that devastated the nation less than 20 years ago.  Praise God, though, that has not happened and agreements have been made that have settled down the fighting.  While there are still threats to the security of the nation, things are much hopeful now.

All things considered, my birthday was still a wonderful one!  George and Francine took me to lunch at a Chinese restaurant and then for ice cream afterwards.  Francine is a schoolteacher and took advantage of the day off because of the strikes (the whole nation took off of work to celebrate my birthday!).   That night was the usual meeting for the weekly cell group that I attend, so we celebrated with gifts and encouraging words and a typical Lebanese birthday cake that has fruit on top and big huge candles!  It was great day, and the end I really felt that the Lord was celebrating my birthday with - along with Abundant Life Church, the amazing family that God has place me in!