Lebanon Travel Diary | Executive Director, Jessica Ray

By Amber SolomonApril 21, 2021

Lebanon has been making headlines for it’s devastating explosion and economic crisis, so we wanted to take a moment to highlight it’s beauty. Our Executive Director, Jessica Ray, traveled to the Middle East last year and reflects on the incredible trip below and shares how you can help kids in crisis in Lebanon.

I was thinking again this week about how much has changed in a few short months. A year ago my husband and I were preparing for a trip to the Middle East with The Global Orphan Project where we would see the church serving families in Jordan and Lebanon.

Lebanon

The trip was amazing! I will never forget the experience as long as I live. Many friends and family members were quite concerned when we told them where we were going. We met amazing people while there and experienced unsurpassed beauty and hospitality. And we were so honored to spend time with our team members and see the way they serve those around them. They do so humbly but also with a strong sense of pride in their communities and countries. As if that wasn’t enough, walking in places where Jesus walked only made the trip that much sweeter.

Little did I know riots would break in Beirut only hours after we left. That would be followed by a global pandemic which halted all travel and then an explosion second only to a nuclear bomb would tear apart the Beirut harbor. I had no idea that flight home to Kansas City would be my last for more than a year.

We’re all experiencing loss and grief right now in varying ways and depths. But we’re also seeing people pull together and care for one another in unprecedented ways. Whether here at home or with our team in Haiti or on the other side of the world where clean up reconstruction in Beirut will last years, communities are finding ways to support one another and create moments of joy.

Purchasing our new Lebanon tee is a great way to give to our efforts there to care for kids and families in crisis. We hope when you wear it, it won’t be a symbol of sadness but instead of joy and hope. The team in Lebanon is connecting with more families than ever before and serving them well. Regardless of how hard this moment is, there is always hope for a brighter future and joy in good memories.

Thanks for letting me share one of my favorites!

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