Dear Friends of Nexus, Peace be to all of you!

Please click HERE to view Receipts & Payouts for the Mask and Food Package Distribution Project, March – June 2020

Please click HERE to view September 2020 Testimonies from Churches Receiving Help from the Panshi (Mighty Rock) Project: Victory and Mercy

Corona virus Disaster Relief Projects are still ongoing, especially those in Central Asia, South Asia, Levant, and Olive City

(Tree City) Facing disaster together has made the Lebanese one big family!

Lebanon’s people are of different religions, cultures, ethnic groups, denominations, etc; but now, facing the disaster caused by the explosion, citizens from all over the country have come to Beirut to help. They are working as one with loving hearts, comforting and encouraging one another. Despite all their differences, religious beliefs, or ethnic loyalties, Lebanese are now acting like a family!

Levant Worker Peter’s Newsletter                          

Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. Psalm 25:18

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Peace be to you all! Lebanon is in the throes of an extremely difficult time. Just as everyone knows from the news, there was a gigantic explosion at the port in the capital, Beirut, on August 4th, 2020. More than 2700 tons of ammonium sulfate blew up, and the scene of the blast was just as if a small atomic bomb had been dropped there … so horrible!! Current figures show 220 people died, more than 7000 were injured, and 300,000 became homeless! What made the disaster far worse was that the blast destroyed both the port on which this country relies for its imports (vital to this import-dependent country) and also 80% of the entire country’s food reserves (stored at the port). This means that after one month the country will begin to experience famine, and people’s very ability to survive will be threatened.

1. Banking Crisis

Tree City’s currency and US Dollars are both used here, and 80% of all goods are imported. Since the end of last year, the currency has been steadily losing value, so prices of goods have risen steeply. But the income of most families is the same as before, so their income is considerably less than their expenses, and many are having difficulty even to buy basic necessities. The news reported on a pregnant mother who was looking in a garbage dumpster for food to eat and who had been forced to live out on the street because she couldn’t pay her rent. Some who have been unable to face all the pressures have chosen suicide…

2. The Corona virus

Since Feb 21 of this year when the first Tree City case of the coronavirus was confirmed, people’s hearts have been shrouded in yet another fearful anxiety. The government quickly locked down the entire country. Many people lost their jobs; unemployment among young workers is already 37%. Schools are closed and children can’t continue their studies. Government electricity supply is gravely inadequate: some areas receive only 4 hours of electricity per day.

3. Refugees

Ever since 2011 when the civil war in Syria broke out, large numbers of refugees have flooded into this country, besides the Palestinian refugees that had been living here for many years already.  In a country of such small land area, the ratio of native Citizens now to refugees is, incredibly, 3:1. Every day, refugees vie with citizens for the limited resources and opportunities in this resource-scarce country. Many of the refugees also cause unrest in their communities: theft and violent incidents are commonplace.

Our Response:

We thank God for calling our family and our team here to serve these people. In this very difficult time, Nexus Center has had to adjust our service plans quickly. Thank you, Brothers and Sisters for your gifts and support; for those in need we have continued to provide…

1) Pandemic prevention supplies (including masks, alcohol, gloves, etc.)

2) Food packets of basic, necessary daily food supplies. For families with no money and no work, these packets give great comfort and encouragement, so that they know God hasn’t forgotten about them, and they have been brought closer to God or even introduced to knowing God’s True Way.

3) Right after the big explosion, we found out about victims’ situations and needs and then went to help local churches rebuild. We have been supporting them as they go to disaster areas and distribute food and water and help clean up. I and the team also went to help do cleanup in areas most affected by the explosion. We went to churches, schools, local families, and the streets. Everything is in terrible disorder. The doors and windows of all the houses are destroyed or damaged badly, glass is scattered everywhere, streets everywhere have cars that were destroyed by falling concrete, garbage is everywhere — it’s a huge mess!

Prayer Requests 1) Pray the Lord chooses God-fearing officials, those with divine wisdom, to guide and govern this country. 2) Pray for the suffering people, that they will turn to the Lord. 3) Pray for our continuing help to families that have been affected long-term by the explosion.

Goodbye

Goodbyes can be very painful, especially when you have to say them to colleagues that you’ve been very close to. But the Bible shows us through testimonies in various passages that parting ways can lead to more people getting saved and can bring glory to the Lord. So now, Brother Ben, Sister Emma, and their daughter are being led by the Lord to say goodbye to us. The Nexus Mission team in Tree City expresses our gratitude to them for their three years of service with us, and we believe God will lead them and make their future service to Him an even greater blessing!

2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all!”

Peter & Celia & little Esther & Paul

Central Asia – Friendship City

On September 5, they began a three-day drive of 1200 km from L City to Q City. But when still 380 km from their destination, their vehicle’s engine abruptly announced its retirement… thankfully, it didn’t cause any accident.

They went to Q City specially to help the children who are there working in the brick kilns. They live in temporary shelters set up by the kilns. The place is extremely dusty, and their lives are very hard. They eat wheat bread and sometimes get some vegetables, and their drinking water is water pumped up by hand from a well of dirty water.

Mr. Johnson, a teacher, has been providing basic elementary education for the past seven years in Q City; and each month he also provides a nutritious meal for the kids working in brick kilns. Giles and Chris served with Mr. Johnson in July this year at God’s call to give additional help to the children. Many families in Q City are locked up in forced labor conditions — these are the poorest families, and these children are also the most precious! May the Lord open doors for Giles and Chris to serve side by side and hand in hand with Mr. Johnson to train these children so that from a young age they can know Christ and grow up healthy in body, mind, and soul!

Please continue to pray for the Panshi (Mighty Rock) Project. Because of your support we have been able to help more than 100 families, rebuild homes, and repair glass doors and windows. Churches have been able to resume normal meetings. May the Lord provide before winter so that people can finish all their basic glass repairs, so they won’t be too cold this winter!

Sincerely Candy, Nexus Coworker