Hana has been attending our H.O.P.E. Center in the Bekaa Valley for three years. She approaches learning with dedication, yet what stands out most is her sincerity in wanting to know Christ.

One day, Hana approached her teacher and asked, “I love the Lord very much. Can you teach me how I can grow stronger in my faith?”

Her teacher encouraged her to make prayer a daily habit, not simply as a list of requests, but as a personal conversation with God. Hana embraced that encouragement wholeheartedly.

A few weeks later, she returned to the center with tears of joy as she shared: “I truly feel that the Lord is with me and comforts me whenever I am tired or afraid.”

At just 12 years old, Hana even began asking questions about baptism, expressing her desire to take this next step in her walk with Christ. Her teacher reminded her that following Jesus is a lifelong journey and encouraged her to continue growing in faith and trusting God’s perfect timing.

That trust became clearer during a Bible lesson about Abraham and his patient faith in God’s promises. “Now I understand that I need to wait for the Lord and trust that His timing is always the best.”

Hana carried this truth with her during the war in Lebanon this past March. Like many children, she experienced the fear and panic brought by bombings and airstrikes. Yet instead of allowing that fear to take hold of her heart, Hana discovered that prayer is her refuge and that God’s presence could bring peace even in difficult moments.

When she returned to classes, her faith was evident. She came forward and made sure to pray for the sick, those who were weary, and for her classmates to know Jesus more through the Gospel.

The transformation God began in Hana’s heart has extended beyond the classroom. She regularly shares the Bible stories and spiritual lessons she learns at the Center with her family, talking about God’s faithfulness around the dinner table. She was determined to attend church, bringing her sister along with her.

Christ is at work in Hana’s life, just as He is at work in the lives of so many children we serve. Through prayer, patience, and trust in the Lord, Hana has discovered a strength that comes from knowing Jesus, and she is eager to share that hope with those around her.

Heart for Lebanon is a faithful partner of The Bolick Foundation