Lebanon (MNN) — Hostilities in southern Lebanon continue daily. They represent the most significant spike in tension since a 2006 war that pitted Hezbollah and Israel against each other for a month.
“Our Hope on Wheels truck has been in high demand in many schools in southern Lebanon,” Heart for Lebanon co-founder Camille Melki says.
“Even if they (families) have not fled their home and towns in the south, they are hearing the shelling repeatedly; they are seeing the news; they are watching others being affected by this conflict.”
(Photo courtesy of Heart for Lebanon)
Heart for Lebanon’s Hope on Wheels ministry helps children leave dire circumstances and fear behind, even if only for a few hours.
“Our Hope on Wheels team is leading fun, joyful activities where children can play in a safe environment,” Melki says. “They can sing along and enjoy watching a skit [or] stories from the Bible.”
Hope on Wheels began over a decade ago as an outreach to Syrian refugee children living in tent settlements. Learn more here.
“We take [our mobile truck] into the refugee tent settlement and open it up as a stage and use it to lead all our fun activities,” Melki says.
Today, “many public and private schools ask us to bring our ‘fun truck’ to their premises to help children.”
Ask the Lord to sustain Heart for Lebanon staff as they introduce kids to the hope of Christ and help them overcome emotional trauma.
“Every opportunity that our team can use to restore a smile and confidence in a child’s life, knowing that they are loved and cared for, we’re going to use because the scars of this conflict [are] going to be with children for a long, long time,” Melki says.
Header and story images courtesy of Heart for Lebanon.