Ahmed’s Story
A few years ago Ahmed’s family moved to Lebanon from Syria to escape the death and destruction approaching their home. He and his siblings participate in Heart for Lebanon’s Hope on Wheels programs. They love these activities and have learned a lot of biblical stories and important lessons. Sometimes they can’t attend the meetings, so whenever the Hope on Wheels team visits them, the children share their sadness about not being able to participate due to certain conditions. During a winter visit, Ahmad said, “I can’t wait for summer! I miss the activities, and it makes me sad that I can’t go.” His mother added, “Ahmad loves the Hope on Wheels programs a lot. He always tells me what he did and learned there. He always shares that he feels happy, safe, loved, and valued there. He loves the team and often mentions how kind and caring they are.” This past summer, Ahmad started working as a mechanic to help his family with expenses. At just 12 years old, he is working instead of enjoying his childhood. “It makes me sad to see my friends getting on the bus to join the club. I wish I could go with them,” he said, feeling disappointed. His father mentioned a time when Ahmad tried to skip his work. “Ahmad wanted to miss work to join the club, so he asked his manager for a day off.” Through the activities Ahmad learned about God, distinguishing between right and wrong, and gained a lot of knowledge from the Bible.
Nada’s Story
Nada was born in Syria. With the onset of the war there, her family moved to Lebanon while she was still an infant. Six years passed and Nada got enrolled at Heart for Lebanon’s H.O.P.E. (Helping Overcome Poverty through Education) Program. After a while, she expressed her love for the center and said “I was amazed by the strong bond I could build with the teachers. I also found myself able to adapt quickly, as the general atmosphere full of love and kindness motivates and drives me to give my best in my studies. In a short period, I made significant academic progress. I benefited greatly from being at the center, and now I love everyone, even those I once thought were different from me in their thoughts and behaviors. In contrast, now, I accept everyone’s ideas without exception.” She added, “I love the lessons where we learn about biblical figures, and one of the stories that captivated me was the story of Samson, where I saw God’s boundless love for us as humans. Despite all of Samson’s mistakes in his life, when he repented, returned to God, and prayed a prayer of repentance, God did not close the door in his face. Instead, He opened His arms to him, giving him all mercy, forgiveness, and kindness. Academically, I love the subject of geography, through which we learn more about the planet we live on.” She concluded by saying, “The school is my second home, and my classmates are like siblings to me. We rejoice together, play, and laugh, creating an aura of positivity. In school, I learned to have a sense of responsibility, I learned discipline, love, and kindness, and I learned to distinguish right from wrong. And finally, I now see in every teacher a mother who gives from her heart without limits.” We believe as we witnessed from the Bible, that God has a plan for every person, and He moves mountains and does great things for just saving the spirit of one single person, and through all the progress that we witness in Nada, we can say that God did a lot for her to learn His words.
