The right connections at the right time

by Eldon Dreyer
View more pictures HERE.

Here I was, sitting on a tractor in Nebraska, helping with the corn harvest, when the cell phone call came from Mike Studebaker - "Do you have a passport?" 
"Why, are you going to deport me" I asked?
"How would you like to go to Lebanon?" was Mike's reply.

About three weeks later we are in Beirut, Lebanon, part of a team of six who have come to see if we can be of any comfort to a country of people damaged by war.  We were the third rotation of teams who came for a ten day Disaster Recovery Mission.

We were assigned to the village of Khiam, located about 3 miles north of the Israeli border.  Normally Khiam is a town of about 8500 people - many moved out during the first few days of the war, and are still returning daily.  No other relief agency has come to help.

An assessment team had gone in early to see what the possibilities were.  A few miner repairs were performed, but it was decided to help by supplying water storage tanks, heaters, and blankets, since winter is arriving (the climate is about the same as Southern California, except not quite so hot in the summer; perhaps more like San Diego).  We were concerned just what the reception would be.  We were cautioned to not discuss politics, but to bring the love of Jesus to these people.

The very first morning we were escorted onto a front porch, given coffee and sweets, and met the local manager of Hezbollah, and his right-hand-man.  The manager was a tall, slim man of about 40, who constantly talked on the phone with one of those ear and wire devices.  He had short hair, short beard, and wore a suit, dress shirt - open, and no tie.  Quite a handsome, intense man who attempted to talk about the governmental policies of President Bush.  We awkwardly but wisely - and evidently firmly - let him know we came as American citizens in the name of Jesus Christ and we came to see if we could help the people of Lebanon in any way.  We met this man and had coffee several more times.  He was aloof but pleasant, and did not broach the political subject again (until the last day!).


Our meetings with the Hezbollah were to coordinate efforts so that services were not duplicated.  They were supplying the water tanks and perhaps other help (we don't know).  As in every country, there are those who always want "more," regardless of what they already have or think they need.  Our job included analyzing people's needs as we met them, and this fell on Pastor Mike to be the analyst.  He was given the name "FBI" by our driver/guide.

We met wonderful people who were gracious and invited us into their homes.  Most wanted to give us coffee or tea, and often sweets or food of some kind.  We accepted this hospitality about 5-6 times each day.  We would, if we could, excuse ourselves because we had more calls to make.  Our procedure was to go into the home, see if the need was there, give what we had to offer (i.e., water tank, and/or heater), then ask if we could pray with and for them (we were never refused.)  As we prayed for them, the interpreter would repeat the prayer in Arabic.  We would then make our way out, shaking hands, hugging and asking God's blessings on one another.

In all, we distributed about 20 water tanks (about 500 gallon size) and 100 heaters (diesel burning), capable of heating an average size room.

About 60% of the homes in Khiam were damaged or destroyed, so people were using garages, basements, apartments and whatever they could find, and were renting or using these as their homes.  There was much demolition by tractors and backhoes and rubble hauling was done by big dump trucks.  The rebuild process was also happening with most construction being concrete block wall, which would be covered with plaster (or stucco).  Typical housing is garage on ground level and three stories above or apartment-type homes.

 
We saw and were in beautiful homes with marble floors and walls, but even more homes that were drafty, makeshift garage or basement type construction.  Most have rugs on the floor and cooking is done on hotplates (we saw only 2 microwaves).  But regardless, I feel that these people need and welcome the gifts and our concern.  The heaters, while helping them to be comfortable and warm, were really incidental.
 

I believe that the greatest gift we brought to Lebanon was the gift that Christians from America cared and took the time to come to Lebanon to empathize and to show our love.

At the end of our final day of work, we were invited to the local Hezbollah office.  We met with the manager and 2 of his special men.  We thanked them for their cooperation and they thanked us for our work, gifts and the sharing we did with them.  Pat, our team leader, asked about praying with them and they agreed - we stood up and all held hands and prayed.  The manager was standing beside me so our hands were together.  Ironic?  Maybe, but we were praying for peace for each other and for the world.  I pray that we were all sincere.

I know that the only way this trip could happen is by God's will.  So many things fell into place, so many details were covered.  The right connections at the right time had to be of God.