On Saturday the 22nd of December, a group of Lebanese Franciscan Scouts visited 3 of BASSMA’s families to share with them the true meaning of Christmas.

The first family is composed of 3 members: the father who has a broken back and can’t work to provide an income for his family, and 2 children, a 12-year-old girl with a heart disease who has been operated for a heart battery implant, and a 14-year-old boy who lives in a residential school for boys and visits his parents only during the vacations. This family doesn’t have a house of their own; they live with their grandmother in a very old and modest house.

The second family is also composed of 3 members: the mother who doesn’t have legal papers, and two children, a boy and a girl aged 10 and 11 years old. They lost their father 3 years ago and they are still living in bereavement: the children don’t feel happy anymore and they forgot the sense of childhood; they always talk about death and they are very pessimistic.

The scouts decorated their house and drew a smile on their face during this period, especially when the family received a huge package of food that the scouts had collected for them.

The third family is composed of 4 members: the mother who was treated for gastric cancer which has also spread to her breast, the older boy who suffers from epilepsy, and the 2 younger children who suffer from minor thalassemia. The scouts offered them a Christmas tree with decoration and a huge food package containing all sorts of basic supplies (Rice, flour, milk…).

In the name of the BASSMA team and families we would like to give big thanks to the Franciscan Scouts: you helped BASSMA spread smiles during the holiday season.

Merry Christmas and God Bless you all!