What a morning
The heavy attacks started at around 3:00 am. The first call to prayer is at right around the same time. They are attacking a little bit south of our location. Probably around 1-2 miles from where we are. You could here the jets flying overhead, the sound of the anti-aircraft, and the explosion of the bombs. It was surreal to hear the call to prayer while all of this is going on. The call to prayer is done live, so the person doing this was hearing everything going on and continuing the call to prayer. It's one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The area being attacked is mostly Palestinian camps. The palestinians we met at the beach live here. I pray that they were able to stay safe. I've never experienced anything like this. You could see the anti-aircraft fire (It's a light red color) from the window. Some of the explosions seem to be vey close and a few of them shake the building. We are going to be evacuated to the Byblos campus of LAU at around 12:00 noon (4 am PST) My personal safety is still not a major concern to me. Beirut is one of the most beautiful cities i've ever been in, and now the infrastructure is being obliterated. This is Mish ma3quul (unbelievable). I'll never forget this experience. As I'm writing this I'm finding out that we are no longer being evacuated. I'll try to keep you updated.
Peace and love
Josh
addendum - We are going to Byblos at about 1:00pm. The drive should take 40 minutes or so. Today is friday. And friday in the muslim world is the day that they go to the mosques. I'm not worried about the drive, but it should be interesting to see people of prayer reacting to this war.
Peace and love
Josh
addendum - We are going to Byblos at about 1:00pm. The drive should take 40 minutes or so. Today is friday. And friday in the muslim world is the day that they go to the mosques. I'm not worried about the drive, but it should be interesting to see people of prayer reacting to this war.
posted by Josh | 11:07 PM
20 Comments:
josh,
your frequent posts help those of us far away and worried about you. thanks for being in touch during this chaotic moment. i cannot imagine what this experience must be like for you, although i am certain if it were me, i would be freaking out big time, and maybe already home by now if i could have managed it.
lots of people are asking about you and we're fillling them in.
we're thinking about you.
I could never pass up an opportunity to toot my own horn. I'm glad I suggested and help set up this blog for you. If it wasn't for this, we'd all be like Lebron James, biting our fingernails down to the nub.
It sounds crazy over there. You're like Wolf Blitzer as the embedded reporter, but much, much less telegenic. Keep us posted, JFEW. Bowled tonight with amy and thought of you!
1) right on with Amy - thank you for the continued posts and especially for your reflective composure which helps inspire a bit more calm in us.
2) right on, Jorge - thanks to both of you fine gentlemen for setting this up.
3) I guess that right around now is when you will have been evacuated and transported, so that's a bit of relief. As I've heard, the power stations are getting hit but I'd imagine that some sort of telephone/cell phone access would be available should computer/blog access become a non-option. Perhaps in that event you can contact Jorge and he can post comments for you to keep us updated.
peace and prayers, brother~
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Josh,
Like everyone else, these blogs are a life line to you right now so keep them coming. More news is better. Don't let it go to you head, but I think you're a lot cuter than Wolf Blitzer. Be wise and stay safe.
Aunt Susan
PS. You're on the prayer list at St. Anne's parish.
And I thought the bleachers at the Dodgers game were dangerous...
Just so everyone knows we heard from Josh at 8:00 am today Friday July 15th. He has been evacuated to the other campus and is there OK.
Josh,
As everyone has said thank you for the updates, I read them before I check my email. They are very important to all of us. I'm glad you were evacuated safetly. Keep up the good work. You and the people of Lebanon or in our prayers.
Aunt Mary Ann
Josh-
It is good to hear that you are safe. Sara - if you could let us all know EVERY TIME you talk to Josh it would be wonderful.
Once again - are there plans on how to get out of the country if the time comes? Let us know.
Paul said a rosary for you last night. You know if I did God would have a heart attack. :) Be safe and we love you very much.
Donna
thank you to everyone, both friends and family, for keeping josh in your thoughts and prayers and for keeping a sense of humor about this. josh is now in northern lebanon, in the christian area. the campus is located in a wooded area, on a hill overlooking the sea. he is continuing to attend classes. we are contacting our congressman regarding potential evaacuation. we will keep you advised.
Peace to you, Laura
This is an e-mail we sent to Josh today for anyone interested.
I talked to the Congressman's office and they said that as of right now there are no plans to evacuate Lebanon. They said the state department has not determined that an evacuation is necessary yet. They recommended that you register with the American Embassy but I know you have already done that so they said the best thing to do was stay put. The Beirut Airport keeps getting bombed so there won't be any flights out anyhow.
Be safe, Mr. Wilson. Come back soon. It's 2 for $3 double cheeseburgers at Rally's, and you know what that means.
Josh,
When Sara said you were a trouble maker, I took it for sibling rivalry. But now!
I am also keeping you in my prayers. I think we should have a bigger party when you get back. See you then.
Joe
You dont know me man, but I saw your blogsite on Anderson Cooper's website. My friends are paying very close attention to the situation in Israel and Lebanon and you are certainly in our prayers. We will pray for you specifically tonight.
Peace, love, grace and courage.
I'm with Jess. You don't know me but I saw your blog on AC360s blog comments.
Please take care. I'll visit your site often to read your updates.
My prayers are with you.
What a day! I just informed John about what is going on over there. He is oblivious to any news unless it comes on the History Channel, and of course it is way too late for it to be news. We are praying for you and will continue to look forward to hearing about Sara's conversations with you. Ok, so if the airport is destroyed, do I need to look for a sub for the first few weeks of school? Are you really just in florida with Josh, selling swim suits and you made up this whole war thing so you don't have to come back to work. Well, you will definitely have a lot to tell your World Religions classes about. JFEW take care PLEASE!
Hey Josh-
The girls on the team have left you "about 50 messages" on your cell phone thinking you might check it to wish you well. Be safe. They all miss you and hope you're doing well.
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Hi Josh,
It's Kareem - as you may know
Cyrill and I left Byblos and
made it to aleppo.
We just wanted to send this message
to everyone in the group, but I
only had a couple of email addresses.
So I hope you don't mind this post -
but could you send this out or have
people read it?
I just want to make sure people
know how we left in case they
want to leave.
We really think the situation is
getting worse and it's not safe
to stay.
The US embassy has not yet
come up with an evac plan
so Cyrill and I want to do whatever
we can to help you guys get out.
Ok man - take care and best of
luck with everything.
Kareem
Hi All,
It's Cyrill and Kareem. Please send this to all LAU students, these are the only emails that Cyrill and I had collected.
This morning at 8am, Cyrill and I successfully attempted to leave Beirut. We are now in Aleppo, Syria.
We're sending this email to try to help anyone who might be interested in evaluating their decision while in Beirut.
You really should be aware of the urgency of the situation - it is escalating each day, with all parties involved continuing
to fight.
We'd like to inform you of how we left Byblos - not to decide for you or influence your decision, but to advise you about
one possibility (if you decide not to rely on your country's evacuation plan).
To start with, we found out the schedule of embassy-sponsored convoys leaving Beirut. We believe there are actually
several convoys from each embassay...for example, in our case, the Swiss and German convoys drove together to the
border from Beirut...
We then hired a taxi at Byblos, negotiated a rateof $80 to follow the convoys to the northern Syrian-Lebanese border
nearest to the sea, all under the assumption that accompanying embassy convoys is a safe bet .... we still feel this is definitely a risky assumption, but in our estimation, remaining in Lebanon was more dangerous.
Make sure to get the mobile number of the convoy and be in touch with them on route.
From what we saw, the roads were intact, and the drive took 1.5 hours to get to the border.
At the border, as an American, I passed through with no problem. But I checked this before I left Byblos. So make sure
to verify that there is an open border, intact roads, and permission to pass through as an American.
But do bring water and patience ... go only in groups - we do not recommend going alone...it makes it 50x more difficult.
A little Arabic helps smooth things out...
Process and procedure at the border took some time, but wasn't as bad. Make sure to buy stamps for the officials before
having your passport processed by the Syrian authorities - you can buy the stamps in an adjacent building.
Now, we used Byblos Taxi at 09/94 93 94.
They are well informed about the route to the border and will help to separate fact from fiction about what and who is being
bombed/doing the bombing. I will say that we are all, including the driver, very nervous about this. It was a very silent
car ride.
In Syria: We hired a cab from the border to Homs. Then from Homs to Aleppo which we all know from our latest excursion.
Cabs from the border to Aleppo totalled $150.
We are also staying at the same hotel in Aleppo as our LAU excursion...the Mirage Palace.
Tomorrow, Cyrill and I are planning to cross the border to Turkey, and catch a flight from Gaziantep to Istanbul in the
evening. It costs $100 one way. We feel that leaving Syria is the best move given the current political statements
made.
We hope you are faring well and please call us or email us to let us know how you're doing and how we can help you.
We hope you will remain safe throughout this ordeal.
Cyrill cell: +41 79 278 5754
Kareem cell: +1 973 979 7030
Best wishes for a safe return to your families and loved ones,
Cyrill and Kareem
Hi Josh,
It's Kareem - as you may know
Cyrill and I left Byblos and
made it to aleppo.
We just wanted to send this message
to everyone in the group, but I
only had a couple of email addresses.
So I hope you don't mind this post -
but could you send this out or have
people read it?
I just want to make sure people
know how we left in case they
want to leave.
We really think the situation is
getting worse and it's not safe
to stay.
The US embassy has not yet
come up with an evac plan
so Cyrill and I want to do whatever
we can to help you guys get out.
Ok man - take care and best of
luck with everything.
Kareem
Hi All,
It's Cyrill and Kareem. Please send this to all LAU students, these are the only emails that Cyrill and I had collected.
This morning at 8am, Cyrill and I successfully attempted to leave Beirut. We are now in Aleppo, Syria.
We're sending this email to try to help anyone who might be interested in evaluating their decision while in Beirut.
You really should be aware of the urgency of the situation - it is escalating each day, with all parties involved continuing
to fight.
We'd like to inform you of how we left Byblos - not to decide for you or influence your decision, but to advise you about
one possibility (if you decide not to rely on your country's evacuation plan).
To start with, we found out the schedule of embassy-sponsored convoys leaving Beirut. We believe there are actually
several convoys from each embassay...for example, in our case, the Swiss and German convoys drove together to the
border from Beirut...
We then hired a taxi at Byblos, negotiated a rateof $80 to follow the convoys to the northern Syrian-Lebanese border
nearest to the sea, all under the assumption that accompanying embassy convoys is a safe bet .... we still feel this is definitely a risky assumption, but in our estimation, remaining in Lebanon was more dangerous.
Make sure to get the mobile number of the convoy and be in touch with them on route.
From what we saw, the roads were intact, and the drive took 1.5 hours to get to the border.
At the border, as an American, I passed through with no problem. But I checked this before I left Byblos. So make sure
to verify that there is an open border, intact roads, and permission to pass through as an American.
But do bring water and patience ... go only in groups - we do not recommend going alone...it makes it 50x more difficult.
A little Arabic helps smooth things out...
Process and procedure at the border took some time, but wasn't as bad. Make sure to buy stamps for the officials before
having your passport processed by the Syrian authorities - you can buy the stamps in an adjacent building.
Now, we used Byblos Taxi at 09/94 93 94.
They are well informed about the route to the border and will help to separate fact from fiction about what and who is being
bombed/doing the bombing. I will say that we are all, including the driver, very nervous about this. It was a very silent
car ride.
In Syria: We hired a cab from the border to Homs. Then from Homs to Aleppo which we all know from our latest excursion.
Cabs from the border to Aleppo totalled $150.
We are also staying at the same hotel in Aleppo as our LAU excursion...the Mirage Palace.
Tomorrow, Cyrill and I are planning to cross the border to Turkey, and catch a flight from Gaziantep to Istanbul in the
evening. It costs $100 one way. We feel that leaving Syria is the best move given the current political statements
made.
We hope you are faring well and please call us or email us to let us know how you're doing and how we can help you.
We hope you will remain safe throughout this ordeal.
Cyrill cell: +41 79 278 5754
Kareem cell: +1 973 979 7030
Best wishes for a safe return to your families and loved ones,
Cyrill and Kareem
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