Glad you’re here!
As you poke around, you’ll hopefully get the feeling that you’re experiencing a virtual book launching party. There are no drinks or hors d’oevres, but you don’t have to talk to weird artsy people either.
I’ve reposted articles from N8exchange.com in the blog section that include supplemental stories that don’t appear in Coffee & Orange Blossoms. If you enjoyed the book, consider this site as the source for ongoing extra bonus features. If you haven’t yet read it, then you can preview similar content in advance.
The photos are organized in chronological order according to when they are referred to in the book. Hovering over the image will reveal titles and captions, or you may choose to click on a photo to switch to slideshow viewing.
I also encourage you to ask questions or give suggestions for future blog articles. You can communicate with me by filling out the form on the I Want More page.
Salaam,
Nate
Coffee & Orange Blossoms 
Love this new website!!! Blessings
Thanks my friend!
So glad you’ve finally gotten your story into print. Congratulations, Nate!
If you hadn’t encouraged me, it may never have happened, Jeleta. Check the Acknowledgments page.
What’s the feminine version of Barnabas? Barnabasetta? Barnabasina? Whatever it is, it’s you.
I received Coffee and Orange Blossoms this week and find it hard to put down. WAY TO GO NATE!!!!!! WELL DONE ! I was honored by the mention of my name and book in it. Thank you!
Look forward to seeing you and family soon!
Thanks greatly for your encouragement, Heather. You’re the greatest. Glad to see you poking around the blog as well!
Nate,
I just finished the book. It was wonderful! Very well-written, interesting and it gave me an amazing glimpse into your life there and Lebanese culture and history. It makes me want to get to know the people that you so dearly love and got to know! Thank you for writing this story and sharing it with us! Matt is going to read it next!
Amy Koehler
Thanks Amy! You are such an encourager. I’m so glad you liked it.
Nate, My name is Drew and I recently came across your book and just finished reading it while sitting on my balcony in Hosh, Lebanon. I enjoyed hearing your insights and discoveries on the people, culture, history and heart of Tyre. It’s great to read something and be able to picture exactly what is being described because you have been there as well. We too will be delivering a child at Jabel Amel Hospital under the care of Dr. Saliby early next year. This is our third (but first in Lebanon) and we didn’t realize until I was reading your book that we had forgotten to ask her views on natural birth, my wife gave a sigh of relief to hear your story. 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to put your thoughts together in this book and I pray that one day our mutual connection to Tyre will cause our paths to cross. May God continue to bless you as you serve him wherever he has you.
Thanks Drew! Perfect timing for your comment. Kimarie just gave birth to our fifth child – like four hours ago! It was a natural, home, water delivery. Please greet Dr. Saliby for us and let her know that Kimarie is a steadfast champion in large part because of her coaching and encouragement. She’ll treat you right.
I have no doubt that our paths will cross. Our kids will play together and love each other for their common connection to the ancient city. Be blessed to be a blessing.
Nate,
I am an American from NC writing today from Tyre. This is my third trip to the city. On previous trips I stayed just a few days but decided this time to rent an apartment and stay for a month. Before I left I searched Amazon for something to read while I was here. I just finished your book and decided to give some observations and update on Tyre.
On my first trip to Tyre about four years ago I went to the Tyros Restaurant. It was bombed a few months before when a few restaurants and stores in the city that sold alcohol were bombed. I was there a few months after the attack and it had been repaired but there were no customers except me. When I visited last year it was gone. The location is now a vacant lot.
Another location bombed at the time was the Queen Elisa Hotel, which I believe was across the street from your apartment building. The hotel was repaired and reopened but the restaurant and bar still have not opened. They have been remodeling for the last few years and say they plan to reopen.
The buildings facing the Cornish and beach have changed a lot in the four years I have been coming here and are probably almost unrecognizable from your time here. Now there are fancy restaurants and cafes from one end to the other. In the evening, especially during the summer and on TV football nights, they are all full. On Saturday nights they close the street to cars and the restaurants put tables and chairs in the street. It can get very loud with bands and DJs competing for attention. A Starbucks opened a few months ago.
I also went to Qana and the story in the book about it is a little different from what I had read. I read that, according to legion, the cave was where Jesus and the apostles spent the night during the Qana wedding and the carvings were made by pilgrims in the Middle Ages.
The city is now getting ready for Ashura and is a little on edge from worry and speculation about retaliation during the procession on that day for Hezbollah involvement in Syria.
I looked for the Arizona Language Center but did not see it.
Seve
Thanks for giving us an update, Seve. I was back in Tyre in 2010, and I experienced some of the changes you describe. Our building’s ground floor was unrecognizable to me. Rather than visit with our friends the car rental folks, my daughter and I ate at the new KFC for dinner.
Thanks for the elucidation on the Qana story too. I didn’t have access to anything by my Lebanese friend’s version of the story and I was pretty sure it wasn’t the whole picture.
Tyros was frequently empty for most of the day. It was a hopping place in the evening. I have very fond memories of that place. You have explained the mystery of why I have been unable to spot the restaurant on Google Earth.
Alas, the Arizona Center has closed its doors, but it had a good run. We pray that many were equipped with the language they needed to make themselves understood and bring about greater cross-cultural understanding.
Again, thanks for going to the trouble to fill in some gaps for me and the other readers.