The focus of the week will be on learning and prayer. Praying for the country, learning about the local people groups, the history, taking some sightseeing trips, finding out what it might be like to live there, taking time to listen, learn, pray and to help out where we can.

Each day will start with breakfast and a time of devotion and will end with dinner and a time of reflection. Daytime activities will be scheduled and varied, to include things like:

1. Visiting churches, home groups, local believers and friends.  
2. Help at Cedar Home with activities at the girls home or start to help build the boys home. 
3. Visit the Seafront, downtown, the site of the 2020 port blast, and understand the history and the impact of Lebanon’s place in the region 
4. Visit Sidon and Tyre, Follow in the footsteps of Jesus and Paul, David and Solomon were friends with King who gave cedars for the temple. 
5. Visit Byblos, a lovely ancient Phoenician sea port, first place the AlphaBet was invented and first used. 
6. Snow/Cedars/Villages, Visit Lebanon’s beautiful mountains, historic and filled with biblical significance. (There should be snow in February)
7. Cave Trip A World Heritage site home to the world’s largest stalactite.
8. Skiing 
9. Baalbak a majestic roman temple in the Beqaa Valley: a land rich in produce and fantastic wine, the valley is also home to much lawlessness, fighting and refugee camps.

Accommodation

Full board/ self catered shared apartments on the edge of Beirut. 

Extra nights can be booked for £20-70 per person per night

Transport

In country transportations will be included between the airport, the accommodation and on group excursions, but not for your own adventures or extra trips in country.

You are responsible for arranging your own flights to and from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) and for purchasing adequate personal travel insurance.  

It is assumed that people will arrive before 7pm on 12th February and depart after midday on 16th February 2024. You are able to extend your trip at your own cost. 

Suggested flights are ME202, departing Monday 12th February from LHR at 12.50, and ME203, departing on Friday 16th February from BEY at 17.40.  

Context

Language

The Levantine dialect of Arabic is spoken in Lebanon, although English and French are also widely spoken and very much on trend. You will hear a lot of English and French phrases interjected in every day speech. You will get on well with ‘Bonjour’ ‘Bonsoir’ and ‘Sava?’ But if you want to really impress the locals, try learning these basic local Arabic words and phrases. 

Marhaba: Hello

Keefak (m) Keefik (f): How are you? 

Ahlan/Ahlaen/Ahla wa sahla/ Ahlan wa sahlan: various forms of saying ‘Welcome’ You can respond by saying Ahlan Bikum

Shukran: Thank you

Hamdilla (Short for ‘Al Hamdu lil laah’): Praise God! (used a lot to answer most questions)

Inshalla:  God willing (used a lot to punctuate sentences)

Falafel: Great street food.

Ahwee: Coffee

Shy: Tea

Duolingo is great, but for conversation, we recommend finding Lebanese language playlists such as this.

preperation

• Check your documents, your passport validity and visas requirements.
• Take out sufficient travel Insurance for your trip.
• Enquire about travel vaccines in plenty of time.
• Take all necessary / usual medications. Be aware that some over the counter medication may be illegal in Lebanon or in one of the countries you are transiting through. Check local laws before traveling. 
• Check gov.uk for any potential safety concerns before you travel. 
• Important: Lebanon is a cash only country. You will need to take all spending money in US dollars. It is not possible to get a good exchange rate from ATM’s in country, but it is possible to use one of the many Western Union branches to arrange a transfer for yourself. 

Budget