In addition to its medical work, the delegation also visited some of the great cultural treasures of Damascus, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.  These included the Umayyad Mosque where Islam first blossomed into a great world religion, and Old Damascus, where a settlement was built somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 BCE, according to Al-Ahram Weekly, (Sept. 6, ’07).  Damascus is also the place where St. Paul had his life-changing experience of renouncing religious violence and embracing peace and grace.  Left, inside a mosque in Damascus.

 

 

 

 

 

The delegation was impressed with the level of professionalism of their Syrian colleagues.  They visited the Museum of Arabic Science and Medicine and learned about the many contributions the Arab and Muslim world has made to the history of science.

Iraqi Refugees in Syria                                      Page 4 of 4

Special Report of a Medical Delegation to Syria, July ‘07   

 

 

 

Mel Lehman visited his long-time friend Mrs. Mahat Farah El-Khoury who has worked in Damascus for many years with the Middle East Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Karen Hoover at the Syrian National Museum.

Photos by Dr. Wanbli Franklin and Dr. Karen Hoover.  Photo of Mel Lehman and Mrs. El-Khoury courtesy Mennonite Central Committee Syria