Two Adventist injured in Car bomb

[Stan]

Monday morning (14 February 2004) Dr Armond Manassian called his wife, Pamela, and suggested that they go out for a very special Valentine's lunch. It would be easier, they decided, than going out in the evening when they would have to work around the class he was to teach at Middle East University, find a baby sitter, etc.

By 12:30 p.m. they were sitting cozily in a restaurant at the bottom of the Phoenicia Hotel. The large glass windows looked out across the beautifully restored Corniche area of Beirut. Thoughts of the war years, when they had hidden for days in bomb shelters on the campus of Middle East University, were far from their minds. The waiter seated them opposite each other, but since this was Valentines, Armond suggested that Pamela move over next to him.

They snuggled close to each other and talked as they looked over the menu and placed their order. Appetizers came and were enjoyed. Then the salads arrived. As they picked up their first bite of salad they were suddenly blown from their seats. Glass, metal, and bricks splintered around them, their ears pounded and it felt like someone had knocked the breath out of them.

Dazed, they told each other their faces felt like they were on fire. But they didn't see any blood, so staggered to their feet and walked out through the broken windows. Suddenly blood began to gush, filling their eyes and drenching their clothes. They had trouble seeing, but found their way to the front of the hotel. Still dazed they thought about getting in their car and driving away, but finally just sat on the sidewalk waiting for help and calling out to people that they needed an ambulance.

When one arrived they were loaded in the back with six or seven others. The driver drove so furiously to get them to the hospital that they all thought they would die in the back of the ambulance as they smashed back and forth against each other.

After being passed through a quick triage process at the hospital it was determined that their injuries were not life threatening, so they were put in a room to wait till the more serious cases were cared for. Finally, out in one of the lobby areas that was filled with beds, stretchers, and people, two doctors began working on Armond and three on Pamela. They each received dozens of stitches on their faces. Some of the cuts are right next to their eyes, but thankfully no damage to the eyes. Pamela also has wounds on her arm and shoulder, is missing a tooth, and has several others chipped.

By evening the Manassians had been released and were back at home with their children. They are praising God that their lives were spared although they do wonder why He allowed them to go to that particular restaurant at that particular time. Armond is also feeling guilty about asking Pamela to move around the table and sit next to him where she took the full force of the blast that happened just 80 meters from where they were sitting.

Please join us in thanking God for His protection and pleading with Him to stop Lebanon from degenerating into chaos again. Things have come so far in the last 15 years of peace. We have far more freedom in Lebanon than in most of our countries. We pray that our work will be able to grow and not be set back by renewed insecurities.

Note: The Manassians have lived for many years at Middle East University where Dr Manassian was Dean of the School of Business. Although they have recently taken up work in another part of Beirut, Dr Manassian continues to teach some classes and help out at Middle East University. They are active members of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Lebanon. Pamela is the daughter of Dwight and Donna Rose. Dwight is the principal of the Nile Union Academy in Egypt. She and Armond have two children who were not with them at the restaurant.

Homer Trecartin, MEU Secretary-Treasurer