CANA Lebanon recently experienced a powerful moment with the official launch of its activities, despite the challenging situation in the country. We leave you with a few words from Saïdé and Elie as they share about what is happening in Lebanon today.
“Dear brothers,
First of all, we want to share with you the great success of the CANA Lebanon launch event, which was prepared by all the leading couples and took place on Saturday, September 21st, despite the critical situation in the country.
28 couples participated in the evening, which began with a simple dinner, creating a warm atmosphere conducive to meetings between the old and new couples. We then continued with games around the CANA charter, moments of sharing, two testimonies from couples who have been committed to CANA for a year, some action songs, and finally a prayer marking the commitment and recommitment of all the couples for the year 2024-2025. The atmosphere was friendly, fraternal, and full of hope for the future.
However, we are facing very difficult times. Two days after this hopeful evening, the security situation in Lebanon significantly deteriorated with the outbreak of war. Bombings in Beirut, in the East, and the South have plunged the country into great uncertainty. The nights are filled with fear and air raids, deeply affecting our ability to continue our activities as planned.
We cannot ignore that this war was triggered by Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah. Unfortunately, the conflict is no longer limited to these clashes but increasingly affects the civilian population. The death toll continues to rise, exceeding 2,100 casualties in two weeks, including a large number of children, and more than 10,000 people have been injured. Civilians are trapped, suffering from bombardments and living in a state of constant anxiety.
Additionally, the economic crisis is severely affecting many families, making participation in fraternities and other CANA initiatives even more challenging. More than 1.2 million people have been displaced, and nearly 500 public schools had to close their doors to accommodate refugees. This situation weighs heavily on families, children, and our community.
Lebanon has now been experiencing successive crises for five years: revolution, the Beirut explosion (the world’s third-largest explosion), economic collapse, the COVID-19 pandemic, currency devaluation, the loss of savings in banks, and now war. These events have deeply marked us, but as a community, we cling to hope.
In the face of this trial, we cannot help but think of what Jesus asks of us in Matthew 5:44: ‘But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat and persecute you.’ It is a difficult, almost impossible mission in such a context, but it is the very essence of our Christian faith.
When we see the dead, the destruction, the refugees sleeping in the streets and in schools, the children crying and looking for their parents, the pain is immense. Yet, it is at this moment that we must remember Jesus’ words, which invite us to continue loving and praying for peace.
Dear brothers, we ask you to join us in prayer for Lebanon, for CANA, and for all those who are suffering at this time. We are tired, and we really need your prayers, for they are a source of strength and hope for all of us. May the Lord bring His peace into the hearts of all, guide us, and strengthen us so that we can soon return to our normal lives and activities in a peaceful and more serene environment.
In prayerful union and with all our fraternity,
Elie and Saïdé BAKHOS”
Leaders of CANA Lebanon