For our neighbors from Syria, Ramadan is not only a month of fasting during daylight hours, but also about celebrating evenings together in breaking bread with their Muslim and non-Muslim neighbors. The Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr comes at the end of Ramadan, with celebrations going up to three days also including visiting friends and families and lots of good food prepared and shared.
Our Syrian Wellbeing (SWI) team would typically visit our Syrian friends during Ramadan to break the fast with them in an evening dinner called Iftar. Because of Covid-19 and the orders for families to stay home and practice social distancing, we regrettably were not able to visit our friends for Iftar or for Eid celebrations. So our SWI team decided to purchase food platters from a local Middle Eastern restaurant and deliver them to 68 Syrian families. Along with the meal were special cards, hand made, telling them how we miss not seeing them and sharing verses from the prophet Jeremiah that God’s plan for them are good, and for them to prosper. Funds were raised from several local church partners and friends. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to all of our partners who gave and prayed this successful outreach.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.’”
-Jeremiah 29:11-13