Saturday – April 14, 2018
Visit to Druze Politicians
We started the day early, leaving Beirut at 7:00 a.m., and headed towards the Chouf district. We arrived at the village of Kfarhim at 9:00 a.m., and met with Sheikh Nizam at the Lebanese House Establishment for the Environment (LHEE). We were introduced to some of the members of the association. After Judge Naji Khalil and Ambassador Graziella Seif, President of the United Ambassadors-at-Large arrived, we all headed towards the town of Baaklin to meet with the Minister of Education in Lebanon, Mr. Marwan Hamada. Minister Hamada was delighted to receive Vassula and Ambassador Seif. Vassula offered him the Heaven is Real but so is Hell book [hereafter referred to as HIR]. He promised to make it his bedside book
[Vassula offering her book HIR to Mr. Marwan Hamada]
After a short tour of the Hamada Historical Palace, we left to meet with Mr. Taymour Jumblat, son of the Lebanese Druze politician Walid Jumblat.
[Mr. Taymour Jumblat welcoming Vassula and the TLIG group]
We arrived at the town of Moukhtara, and it was very busy. Many people had come on the same day to meet Mr. Taymour. We waited inside the famous historic Moukhtara Palace where Vassula gave the HIR book to Sheikh Bilal Fakhreddine and to Mr. Taymour. We took many pictures of the beautiful scenery and then went to the Barouk Cedars Forest.
[At Mokhtara Castle with Sheikh Nizam and the TLIG group]
[Sheikh Nizam-Sheikh Bilal-Vassula and Judge Khalil]
[Vassula giving the HIR book to Judge Khalil]
[Druze women at Mokhtara Castle]
The Cedar Forest
We walked along a short trail in the forest, enjoying the many thousand- year-old Cedar trees. Sheikh Nizam imparted to us much information about these trees. In My Angel Daniel the Lord says: “I want you to grow perfect in My Spirit; grow tall as the cedars and the cypress for in you I will breathe many revelations;” (My Angel Daniel, January 10, 1987). We reminded Vassula that there are two verses in the Bible regarding the Cedars of Lebanon. The first verse implies the reason why we call them the Cedars of the Lord: “The trees of Yahweh get rain enough, those cedars of Lebanon he planted;” (The Jerusalem Bible, Psalm 104:16) The second verse relates to holiness: “so the virtuous flourish like palm trees and grow as tall as the cedars of Lebanon.” (The Jerusalem Bible, Psalm 92:12) The cedar grows slowly but firmly in harsh environments; that is how we all walk on the path towards holiness and virtues through the cross.
[In the Cedars Forest]
Lunch
After all the meetings and the walk in the old forest, we went to Sheikh Nizam’s house for a lavish Lebanese lunch prepared by his own family. We were joined by other Druze sheikhs and people that the sheikh had invited, as well as the other sheiks who had accompanied us to Russia.
The Honor Ceremony
That evening, at 6:00 p.m. we went back to the Lebanese House Establishment for the Environment (LHEE) for the Honor Ceremony. At the event we were honored by the presence of Mr. Karim Hamada, son of Minister Marwan Hamada.
[Sheikh Nizam giving his welcome speech]
Sheikh Nizam welcomed everyone, around 40 persons. He said that we are honoring Mrs. Vassula Ryden because she has dedicated her life to elevate the human being. Humans have become cheap nowadays; we lack values and justice. History speaks about Vassula’s achievements and what she has done to elevate man who is the holiest of God’s creatures. Today, the most dangerous torture for humanity is human trafficking; people are being sold. To resist and fight this crime, we need to hold onto our humanity and acclaim Vassula’s efforts.
[Vassula’s Honor Ceremony]
Then Sheikh Mohamad was asked to say a word. He said that “all religions and clerics speak about peace and love. As Muslims we hear our clerics call for peace, but our reality is different. Likewise, in the West, people speak about human rights and democracy, but there are areas in the world where they are not practiced; instead there is a support for dictatorships. I am not saying that Islam does not call for peace; yet, we too have a social illness within our Muslim society alongside the social illnesses that exist in western Christian society.”
[Sheikh Mohamad talking at Vassula’s Honor Ceremony]
He hinted that Muslims should stop acting as if they are the chosen people. He continued by saying that religion needs a little bit of humanity; Vassula is spreading this humanity. She has been highly regarded in many countries through her call to spread peace and love. He wished her more success.
[Sheikh Iyad speaking during Vassula’s Honor Ceremony]
Sheikh Iyad then said that it was in this town, Moukhtara, where the Muslim sheikhs previously met and decided to walk on this path towards the joining of the various faiths and denominations. Later on, they met Vassula with whom they share the same ideas of love, communication and encounter. He mentioned the many televised and private meetings they had with Vassula before they joined the pilgrimage in Russia where they met hundreds of believers from many countries and faiths. There, at the pilgrimage, Sheikh Iyad was able to see that man cannot but go back to God, in spite of all the worldly attractions, the dominant material mentality, and the preoccupation with worldly passions. He told Vassula that on Monday she will be welcomed in his own town and by his own people.
Ambassador Graziella Seif thanked Sheikh Nizam for this event. She said that people, like Sheikh Nizam who cares for the human condition, are pure within themselves. She turned to Vassula and told her that since her autobiography has become a bestseller, it must contain something very important that unites us. She congratulated Vassula for her firm will. She also thanked God for caring people, like those present, who want to be, each one of them, an ambassador for their community, so that we can all work together equally, as God has created us. She also told us a story about a Christian person who was very offended when someone asked him about his denomination; the question itself is a sign of division.
Vassula then told us, as she subsequently presented her talk, that God cannot remain silent when He sees the horribly bad situations that exist in our times. He will intervene. The Holy Koran says in Surat Al Hajj, verse 75: “Allah chooses Messengers from amongst the angels and from amongst the men; for Allah is He who hears and sees (all things).” (Holy Koran, Surat Al Hajj, verse 75)
[Chadi providing the translation as Vassula speaks at Sheikh Nizam’s place]
She explained that God chose her by grace, not because of anything good that she has done in her life, nor by any merit. What she brings is a reminder of what has been revealed. It’s not a new revelation or a new doctrine. God is reminding us of our foundations and that we descend from Him. She spoke about how important it is to repent. In the end we will be judged according to the measure of love we gave on earth. Many people pray and fast without love. When we love we become true apostles of God.
[Vassula’s testimony for the Druze community]
Those who belong to different religions are also creatures made in God’s image and are ultimately destined to live in God’s House. God is gentle, simple, not complicated. It is not enough to dialogue; we have to live what we say and teach our people likewise. It is our duty.
[Sheikh Nizam, Fr. Nicolas Ayoub, Mrs. Graziella Seif, Vassula, Mr. Karim Hamada, Sheikh Iyad, and Sheik Daneel]
After Vassula’s talk, Sheikh Nizam, the clerics, Ambassador Seif and Mr. Hamada, offered Vassula the Cedar of Lebanon plaque as an award for spreading harmony, peace and reconciliation among the nations, and for her unique contribution to interfaith dialogue.
[Award to Vassula for Spreading Harmony, Peace and Reconciliation among the Nations, and for her Unique Contribution to the Interfaith Dialogue (written as is seen in the above photo)]
All those who attended the Honor Ceremony left with a copy of the HIR book signed by Vassula. Many of them were deeply moved by her experience.
[Sheikh Nizam offering Vassula the award for Spreading Harmony, Peace and Reconciliation among the Nations (written as seen on the award)]
[Vassula’s thank you message to Sheikh Nizam’s Association]
