Lebanon: the Land of Food

As I think about the last month, I think, what have I even done?! And, where has the time gone?! By now, I've gotten into the groove of things and it feels like I've been here a lot longer than three months.
Going back to school after Christmas was much easier than I thought it would be. I knew what I was doing and the kids seemed calmer and better behaved. A couple weeks into the new term, I added to my timetable. I now assist in three drama and two art classes a week in the junior school. So far, I have really enjoyed them and it's fun to see classes for a different age group. I'm so used to using some Arabic words with the infant children because not all of them speak English. Teachers in the junior school aren't suppose to speak any Arabic to their students but I used some Arabic in a grade three class without thinking - the irony...
Also, I have integrated time into my timetable to do some of my discipleship course. It has been really great to get back into now that everything in school is going smoothly.
Each weekend since Christmas, I have had something to do. The first Saturday, I babysat some American girls who are linked to the school. The second Saturday, I went to a brunch for all the infant staff. We ate lots of food and hung out. It was really fun.

The next Saturday, I went to Tyre with Naomi and the kids. We met up with Andrea, a woman from Scotland who works at the LES school in Tyre. She showed us around and brought us to the Hippodrome and the harbour. It was so pretty and cool to see a town that Jesus went to!

 

Yummy coffee!!

Then, the next, I met up a girl that works at the school and a Syrian woman came to her flat to teach us how to make some Lebanese food. She had an interesting story and the food was delicious!! We made chicken and rice/potatoes with coriander and garlic (Djeej w riz/batata ma3 kizbara w tum!!) and tabbouleh.

One Sunday, I went to an EPC (Evangelical Presbyterian Church) in downtown Beirut. It was a nice little church and cool to see what another church in Lebanon is like. The pastor's wife is a teacher at the school. It was the first time in quite a while that I had listened to a sermon from an American pastor!!

All the poster boards in school are covered with valentine themed messages and the board in the staff room was decorated by all the staff! :)



In Bible, we just finished the story of creation and we decorated one board with the wonderful  creation that God crafted:

For a few weeks, I was praying for rain because it has been nice weather, which is unusual for January/February. This past week was ski camp and with no rain (snow in the mountains), I thought they would postpone or cancel the camp. Luckily, they had hiking camp instead which meant there was no school and I could spend the week with my family and best friend who came to visit!!!
It was a great week - it went by fast, but was so lovely to see them. My dad had the special privilege of driving here. He quickly got used to the lack of stopping at red lights, the necessity of honking, the creation of a new lane whenever the other lanes aren't moving fast enough, and the general ignorance to most traffic rules. I tried to fit in as much sightseeing and Lebanese culture as possible - so basically all I have done in three months squeezed into five days! They coped really well though. Well, everyone except my brother who insisted on ordering McDonalds the second night. I brought them to Byblos, Tyre, and downtown. We also went geocaching with the Dieters - my dad is now hooked! We had Lebanese food for almost every meal and I attempted to make tabbouleh, I'll be eating the rest of it for weeks now! I'm so glad they were able to come visit and I'm stocked up with sweets/food/coffee etc that will last me until I leave!

Downtown

 

 

Geocaching

 

Tyre Souks (not soup, Duncan!)

 

Making Tabbouleh!

Back to school again today and only have 2 months and 5 days left - time flies!
Please pray that I will be useful and energetic for the last section of my trip. I have learned so much, both practical and spiritually, and something I'm struggling with right now is to take in all these lessons and then remember them when I need them or things get difficult. So thankful for all your support and encouragement.