A letter from Wes and Rita Tillett, mission co-workers in Lebanon
June 2011
Leaving on a High Note
Our flight would leave in just a few hours. For the moment, though, the whirlwind of last-minute details had subsided.
Rita (far left) and Wes (far right) pose with students who stopped by on the Tilletts’ last night in Lebanon.
We were on the terrace outside our apartment, sitting in a circle, munching on mixed nuts, chatting with the students who had stopped by to say good-bye. It was one of those sublime moments full of joy and a sense of accomplishment — something like enjoying the view after a climb to a difficult peak. The “difficult peak” had been slogging uphill for seven months through all the culture shock and isolation that come with moving to a foreign country. The glorious “view” was our relationship with these students — these beautiful Lebanese teenagers we found to be so full of love and hope. We laughed and swapped stories with the students as our children ran and played in the delightful spring evening… What a peaceful moment. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Our last few days in Lebanon were intense. We found out on a Monday that we had to leave the country that Friday. Our visas were about to expire. We had been assured all along that getting an extension on our visas would be no trouble. But in the end we were denied the extension. So, with little warning, we were required to exit on April 1.
As news of our sudden departure spread, there was an amazing outpouring of love from the students and teachers at the school at which we live and teach. We were given loads of gifts, several going-away parties, four cakes, countless warm good-byes and many amazing words of appreciation and kindness. The Lebanese people were heart-meltingly gracious to us.
As an example of that graciousness, here is the exact text from a handwritten letter presented to us by the Youth Group. (This past winter, along with the pastor at our local church, we started a “Youth Group.” Youth Group met every other Friday after school and was focused on building up the students’ relationships with one other and with God.) We think this letter is a testament, not to how wonderful Rita and I are, but rather to how startlingly kind and generous the Lebanese students were to us.
Dear Rita and Wesley,
Today is your last day. You’ve been such an inspiration to us. We had so much fun with you. You taught us so much (how to be confident…). You gave us something to do instead of just sitting in front of the T.V. doing nothing. Every weekend we learn even more and we appreciate everything you did. We hope you come back next year, because we’ll really miss you [we miss you already]. You don’t want that do you? This club was very important to all of us, so we don’t want to stop it and lose you. You actually made us feel like brothers and sisters! Thank you. You’re the best!!
Sincerely: Youth Group
Lebanon’s beauty. The town of Zahle, with Mt. Sannine in the background, as seen from the Bekaa Valley.
“Farewell” was written across the bottom in large, hand-sketched letters. An assortment of colorful, hand-drawn flowers were enclosed in the envelope. Pretty amazing grace, huh?
We left Lebanon on a high note.
Update
We hope to return to Lebanon this August, if all the pieces come together. We plan to live and teach at the same school again next school year.
With these unexpected months here in the United States, we’ve been doing some research and writing for the PC(USA) website and speaking at various churches and gatherings. By God’s grace our speaking schedule has filled up to the point that we only have one unscheduled Sunday morning from mid-May to the end of July. (We intentionally kept one Sunday unscheduled so we could go visit some family.) God uses every unexpected turn for God’s own perfect purposes. That’s our hope and our sanity!
Nerd Facts On Lebanon
- The first school for girls in the entire Ottoman Empire (1299–1923) was started in Beirut in 1835 by American Presbyterian mission personnel. This school became co-educational in the 1970s and today is a world-class university known as Lebanese American University (LAU).
- The Cedar of Lebanon is the national symbol of Lebanon. Indigenous to Lebanon’s mountains, these conifers can grow to be 130 feet tall and have a trunk circumference of over 50 feet!
Prayers
We give thanks for…
- The beautiful kindness we have received from the people of Lebanon.
- Extra time to be with our families here in the United States.
We seek grace for…
- Political stability in Lebanon, founded on justice, truth, and reconciliation.
- Wisdom and guidance with our own lives.
Tillett Family: Wes, Rita, Tobias and Kidest.
Thanks for making it to the end of this letter. Peace to you.
Wes, Rita, Tobias, and Kidest Tillett
The 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 360
Blog: Tillets in Lebanon
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