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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, APRIL 4, 1980
Page 3
Church Member Reports on Conditions in Lebanon
Our English office received a very interesting letter (dated February 17,
1980) from a member living in Beirut, Lebanon, who also works for a United
Nations Agency there. In light of the continuing unstable conditions in
the Middle East, we are including his letter to update our readers:
Life in Lebanon has proved far too restricting, and I am anxious to
move as quickly as possible. It is not quite as dangerous here as the
international media would have us believe, but the tension and poten
tial for a sudden resumption of widespread violence is ever present.
The country (and the area in general) is a human time bomb, and this
impression strikes you immediately on arrival. The city of Beirut is,
effectively, split between "Christians" in the east and Moslems (and
leftists) in the west, where most of the foreign and diplomatic
community reside. The division is guarded by Syrian peace-keeping
troops although the Lebanese army, which is slowly being rebuilt,
will increasingly replace them (i.e. where politically acceptable).
The sheer volume of weapons at all levels from individual homes
upwards is simply staggering, and makes any real attempt to defuse
the crisis almost doomed to failure before it begins. The war is
in essence merely held up and in a rearming period. The sad truth is
that it is a classic no-win, no-lose situation which can only be re
solved by the return of Christ.
Life on a day-to-day basis is, however, remarkably normal appearing
with a few obvious signs of disruption--once you get used to armed
road blocks and the occasional crackle of machine gun fire in the
night, and occasional rockets and explosions. The Lebanese them
selves seem unbelievably free of the usual postwar syndrome. Business
and corruption are booming at record levels and, as if all too aware
of the temporary nature of life, the Lebanese are enjoying themselves.
Working for the United Nations has been a sad, eye-opening experience.
Far from being an agency for true international development, it is a
cumbersome, highly-politicized international bureaucracy which spends
a fair amount of time just maintaining appearances. The Economic
Commission for Western Asia may not be typical, but I suspect it
is. Dominated by Arabs, the organization seems more concerned with
internal organizational politics than the professionct: jribs nf promot
ing economic development in the region. We are scheduled to muve t.o
Baghdad, Iraq, June of this year, but I am seriously questioning the
wisdom of continuing to work in these circumstances--you can imagine
the enormous delays involved in moving a U.N. agency from one country
to another and the inevitable lapse in work output. I am therefore
not at all sure where I shall be moving to next or exactly when.
Although it is certainly interesting to be living close to the
center of future (immediate, looking at the turn of events) world
upheavals, I feel we would prefer to observe these developments from
a relatively safer distance, hence your offer of prayers on our be
half would be very welcome. Thanks again for having us in your
thoughts.
Don't Forget the CAMEROON, Please
The following note has been received frcm Mr. Ray Clore, our local church
elder in Yaounde, Cameroon: