Notes from South Lebanon, part 3: "Here the coffee has a different taste"

In the South of Lebanon, coffee tastes different

A light mist floats over the cup of coffee, the cat lazily stretches out on the sofa, and Father Yousef tells us about how people live in this difficult time.

This is our next visit to the South. Before we reached the parish priest's house, the location took us to Nabatiyeh, where we stopped at the school of the Antonine Sisters. There are children in this school, whose tution fees are covered as a part of the "First Step" project. After a short while, the priest directed us to his house, in the nearby village of Kfour. As usual, he greeted us with a big smile, and in a moment his wife Suzane appeared.

"I thought you wouldn't make it because of what happened yesterday." We knew about low-flying jets, but we didn't expect it would cause such a panic. Father Yousef explains that sometimes fighter planes intentionally break the sound barrier and then there is a noise, as if the rocekcts were exploding. Sometimes the windows break, and that's exactly what happened that day.

“The children were screaming and crying. What's worse, young teachers, including my daughter, were also panicking." Young generations do not remember well 2006 or the earlier occupation, when such situations were happening on daily baisis. “We didn't know who to calm down,” he starts laughing. You have to laugh. This is probably the most natural way to relieve stress. It also helps to convince yourself that things will get better soon.

Suzane brings more coffee, the cat takes a blissful nap with the sun shining through the thick curtains. Birds are singing outside and the air has a clean taste, unlike in our beloved, smog-covered Beirut.

“I saw a Palestinian child on TV who said: we don't even have the right to dream. It touched me deeply. Because here we live with our backpacks packed, ready to run anytime. How long will this continue? How long can you live like this?” - he looks down. We all fall into a slight reverie for this eternal second. Sound of silence through the air. A sip of coffee. Coffee tastes of silence.

Than we start to talk about people who have been helped. We have been operating in the area along with Caritas of Lodz since last year, even before the war. First we installed 40 lamps with a solar battery ("Light For"). At the same time, a local electrician got additional job. Now we are providing more support. 6 families receive diesel vouchers, 3 received wood, and one family received a gas cylinder (“Warmth For”). We will also send more lamps.

Together we are considering the possibility of organizing trauma treatment workshops for kids from Kfour. After all, we have Hiba in our young "YBTE" team, who has already helped many people as a part of our Lebanese projects. But we can't bring YBTE here, it's too risky. It is better not to organize larger gatherings. That's why we decide that we will try to bring the kids to our Mar Mkhayel Cultural Center in Beirut. Maybe we will also invite the other families from the village. Father Yousef joked that it is parents who need psychological help more. It will be a beautiful meeting. And for the people of Kfour, at least a moment of relief from uncertainty.

We talk about accompaniment, about helping in small steps. Long-term help. The priest has to go to the church in a moment, and we'll be on our way back.

There is a pile of wood in front of the house. This is wood belongs to Yousef's brother. He was trying to sell it. We were moved by the fact that he could have bought it from him. However, he chose another seller who is in greater financial need.

We return in silence, filled with thoughts. An hour after we left, about 200-300 m from "our" school in Nabatiyeh, a rocket hit one of the buildings, killing two people. Then Father Yousef calls and proudly declares that he managed to lower the price of diesel at the station. Thanks to which, he will be able to cover the debt of an elderly woman who some time ago took medicines from a local pharmacy.

Despite the conditions, we are looking forward to the next meeting.

P.S In the PDF attached below you can find whole text and some additional photos.

Than you for your support!