Be Thou My Vision

As promised. Part Two of my photos from Lebanon. I will do Part Three later.  ~Elizabeth  Cross in the mountains showing that it is Maronite land.       Local shops      Prickly flowers. I think they are related to the thistle.         Goats scampering across a road in the Lebanese Mountains.        Delicious fresh fruit and veg. I made sandwiches with labneh (thick yoghurt the consistency of cream cheese) cheese and cucumber in Saj. (flat bread.)      Hot Lebanese bread with beef and spicy pepper on it.  I got this fresh from the bakery down the street from where I was living.      Ma'amoul cookies. Similar to butter cookies with date filling in the middle.        Arabic, French and English. The three languages of Lebanon... all seen on a car license plate.

I had the amazing privilege to go to Lebanon this summer. I was there for two short weeks volunteering at a christian school's summer program.  The Lord was so merciful in my travels there, and I have such wonderful memories. I enjoyed meeting the local believers and hearing Bible teaching in Arabic. (Kind friends translated into English for me.) The arabic hymns were beautiful as well. I practiced Marhaba (Hello) Kifeek/Kifahk (How are you?) and Shukran (Thank you) frequently and added more words to my limited arabic inventory.  I do not know where to start in writing about my experiences there....  Before I went, friends  expressed concern about me going to Lebanon. It is true, there are car bombs in Beirut, and different areas are dangerous for Americans, but I was in a Maronite Christian area, so I was relatively safe. Besides, when the Lord is with you, the Creator of heaven and earth, what more protection does one need?  What I learned from the trip ...