“It’s time.” These two words, printed on our staff’s YFC t-shirt, caught Mahdi’s eye. A curious boy of many questions, Mahdi, a young boy from a majority religion background, was eager to learn about the strangers visiting his shelter school about 8 km (5 miles) from Beirut. His enthusiasm made an instant impression on the relief ministry right then. Mahdi stood out from casual chats to deeper conversations about the fears and uncertainties of war in the South. He joined every game, never missed a discussion, and eagerly awaited their visits.
A Promise Unfulfilled
The day after the ceasefire (27 November) was announced, families including Mahdi’s returned to the South. The YFC team arrived at the school the next morning only to find Mahdi gone.
Joseph, a staff at YFC Lebanon, carried a promise that day to gift Mahdi a shirt with the camp slogan (It’s Time) he had so eagerly asked about. Determined to fulfill it, Joseph tracked down Mahdi’s contact information through a local community leader. When he messaged, the boy’s excitement was immediate: “Joseph! It’s you!”
A Journey South
The promise took Joseph and Issa on a journey from Beirut to the South (100 km, 62 miles), a region marked by destruction and uncertainty. As they drove, the destruction became more tangible: shattered windows, collapsed buildings, and the lingering scars of war. “I had heard about it, but seeing it with my own eyes was different,” Joseph admitted.
When they arrived, Mahdi was waiting at the ️ gas station, guiding them to his family’s home on his moped. What followed was a warm embrace of hospitality. “We didn’t feel like strangers,” Issa, another staff member at YFC Lebanon, reflected. “His family welcomed us as their own.”
Hospitality Amid Ruin
Though their home bore traces of destruction—sheltered glass replaced by nylon and shrapnel marks on the car—Mahdi’s family shared stories, meals, and laughter. But the shadow of the war wasn’t far. During the staff visit, a powerful explosion shook the ground. (Although the ceasefire has taken place, some villages in the South are still being bombed.)
“I ducked instinctively,” Issa said. The pressure was intense. Amid the commotion, a beautiful bond of shared humanity emerged, transcending religion, geography, and circumstance.
A Lesson on Love
Joseph and Issa left the South with more than they brought. They left with a lesson on love. “Sometimes, our preconceived notions disappear when we get to know people,” Joseph reflected. “Their pain becomes ours, and we are pleasantly surprised by their authentic love.”
We pray that through our relief ministry, we can build bridges and reflect Christ’s love. Pray for families like Mahdi’s who are still living in uncertainty. Pray for those in whom we had the opportunity to plant the seed of the Gospel, that it may take root in their hearts.