My team and I were in Cyprus for a training weekend when the attacks between Iran and Israel started, which lead to days of cancelled flights. We made it back home after rebooking a multiple times, stopping in Cairo, and signing a mildly concerning waiver, and then landed to warning sirens telling us projectiles were flying over head. Sitting right between the 2 countries, our airspace was constantly closing and opening as sirens alternated between “warning” and “all clear” 5 or 6 times a day. Despite all of this, people still went to work, kids went to school, and and we held events at the English center. It felt weirdly... normal? Not normal, but not how you'd imagine you'd feel watching missiles be shot down overhead. Living in this part of the world has completely changed how I view this region, these people, war, and so much more.
With a ceasefire in place, life has seemingly gone back to “normal,” however the jaaw (atmosphere, mood, etc.) is still somber and anxious. I’ve struggled a lot with feeling helpless, hopeless, and questioning why God would let war happen. I’m still feeling a lot of that. My heart has been especially broken watching people’s reactions to yet another war next door. Many nationals have emphasized their desire for PEACE and not just another ceasefire. Pray that God would use this time to expose people’s need for the True God, and pray that God would bring healing, restoration, and peace.