November 2019: Comfort in Our Troubles
Praise be to God, the God of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Last year, the Forum for Development, Culture, and Dialogue (FDCD) in Lebanon began implementing a winterization project in Syria in partnership with Global Ministries. FDCD received many urgent requests for assistance in the areas of Aleppo, Hama, and rural Damascus as Syrians were preparing for a harsh winter. While food supplies are always an enormous need, families were very concerned about the cold winter ahead and the health of the household, children specifically. This is due to the fact that there are few organizations focused on helping Syrians prepare for winter. We planned to distribute 500 sets of children’s clothes, 400 blankets, and 200 heaters, assisting over 1000 families as colder months approached. FDCD also provided assistance to volunteers helping in distributions, extending the impact of the project.
FDCD identified families in the most desperate situations to receive assistance. These families have expressed deep gratefulness for the efforts of Global Ministries and FDCD to help them survive the winter months. During distributions, families thanked volunteers for remembering their challenges. For them, violence may have decreased in recent months, but there are still glaring needs that must be met. They were especially thankful that their children would be kept warm throughout the winter, which affects all areas of life. As young children in rural Damascus and Aleppo told our volunteers, “Thank you for the clothes. Now we can go to school,” and “Thank you for the heaters. Now we can sleep at night.”
Benjamin Drolet serves with the Forum for Development, Culture, and Dialogue (FDCD) in Lebanon. His appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Church’s Wider Mission, WOC, OGHS, and your special gifts.