EDUCATION

The pictures below show our school premises “before and “after” the complete remodeling and repainting of the building. As you can see, there is much progress! We are now able to welcome 67 students from ages 8 to 13 in the renovated school.

We opened 5 classes altogether, and 30 new students are learning for the very first time how to hold a pencil, open a book, and… the importance of being at school on time! They are also discovering the joys of coloring and cutting.

10-year old Khodr looked very embarrassed as he arrived at school half an hour late: no one had woken him up early enough to be at school on time…

11-year old Khulud directly entered the last year of our program after having been in a regular school, because her parents can no longer afford to send her to her previous school. They moved to find work in a neighboring country and left Khulud at home in charge of her 3 younger siblings.

12-year old Maha, who underwent surgery last year for congenital cataract (see previous update), was finally able to fulfill her dream: going to school. You can see her on the picture, at the end of the row of students in the forefront.

Two of our big boys have begun a basic mechanical training, and three other students who completed our program last year decided to repeat their third year: they are still too young to begin a professional training program and would rather continue to go to school than stay at home doing nothing.

This year, we welcomed 8 and 9-year old children with the aim of offering them a 5-year program. It will be interesting to see whether or not beginning classes at a younger age will enable the children to learn faster.

Pepsi and potato chips are now forbidden during recess – they previously constituted the children's’ breakfast! They are allowed either to come to school with a sandwich, or to order a “mankushe” (a kind of bread filled with cheese or thyme) from the local bakery. The baker delivers them to the children during recess for about 15 cents each (which is less than a quarter of the regular price). We are also hoping to obtain a daily delivery of milk from Tetrapak, a local dairy company, through .the sponsorship of our school by “wealthier” Christian schools in Lebanon.

We appreciate your prayers for our teaching staff: Rami, Suheir, Safa and Catherine. In addition to his teaching tasks, Rami is in charge of the practical aspects of running a school with 67 students. Catherine is devoting more time for the coordination of the curriculum, as well as the clubs organized for the children once every three weeks.

The renovation of the school cost over $3,000 and we pay $300 a month in rent. We employ three teachers full time, which means higher overall staff expenses.

We are grateful to God, who often provides beyond our expectations, and we thank all donors for their generosity and faithfulness to our ministry!

Medical Work

During the summer, the dispensary stayed open 2 days a week. Dr. H ran the practice during that time. Agnès came back from the US and France on September 12^th with 320 lbs. of medication! It was high time for this new supply, as medicine was becoming increasingly scarce in the dispensary, and disillusioned patients often did not benefit much from prescriptions for medication they could not afford. We made the decision to open the dispensary 5 days a week from 7:30 AM to 12:00, with Dr. H working on Wednesday and Friday mornings, and Agnès the other mornings as well as two afternoons. This new schedule enables the local population to have access to medical care 5 days a week.

In the very first week after Agnès’s return, we faced an urgent and vital case: Hassan, 11, who has been diagnosed with rheumatic fever with cardiac damage, suffered acute heart failure. His parents are homeless, and have already lost two young children (one from leukemia, the other from an unknown cause). Only Hassan’s mother works a little bit, unearthing potatoes for $10 a day. She called us one evening at 9:00, alarmed by Hassan’s condition. The child was lying on the floor and breathing with difficulty. Of course, no hospital would have accepted him without papers or money. We had to quickly appeal to some acquaintances (and to God!) to hospitalize him in emergency, obtain a precise diagnosis, and begin intensive treatment. His life was saved, and we were able to limit the costs and cover them ourselves. We are now considering a cardiac valve replacement for Hassan, as this will become necessary in a few months or a few years at most. We are looking for an NGO in Lebanon or elsewhere that could take him in charge.

Julie, a young Australian lab technician, came to Lebanon for a few months and helped us organize our small lab. We are trying to limit outside lab work as much as possible.

Zeina, our local assistant, now works 5 days a week from 7:30 to 12:30. She earns a salary of $300 a month, and this has turned her life around. She was able to register her 3 young children in a public school (a very difficult thing here, especially for Palestinian children). Fadi, her husband, underwent surgery to remove a testicular tumor that proved to be benign. He is doing better and is looking for a job… this will not be an easy task for him, considering that he Palestinian, illiterate, in ill health, and weighs only about 110lbs. With a part of her first full salary, Zeina took her whole family out to Kentucky Fried Chicken (yes, there is one in Beirut) to celebrate the newfound dignity of a first victory over extreme poverty. It is a joy to see their joy. 

Prayer requests

MARCH 2003

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2002

JULY 2002

JUNE 2002

MAY 2002