Architect, youth coach, light designer in-the-making

Even in war, good things happen. Elise very rarely visited her hometown of Becharre. In July 2006, her parents fled Beirut to their village in North Lebanon for the remainder of that summer. Being there was safer and farther from the Israeli-Hezbollah war.

“I had seen him 15 days before we actually met. He made me nervous. I decided to meet him.”

She was 16 and a half. A bunch of giggly girls walked out of the supermarket near the village square with about three dozen lollypops. Ready to go camping, they bump into another group of teenagers. A common friend introduces him to Elise. He reaches and snatches the only Coke-flavored lollypop. “You took mine!” she told him, turned around and left. A few minutes later, he returned with two handfuls of Coke-flavored Chupa-Chups. They talked for about 15 minutes. That summer, she saw him every day.

Her eyes glittered, danced, and smiled as she continued. Love radiated from her. 14 years later, as if it just happened.

They talked, played basketball, MSN’ed, and so much more together. Today, with a beautiful 3-year-old daughter, the story continues.

Her school years

She attended the Jesuit school of Notre Dame de Jamhour, where she went through a system that integrated sports and extracurricular activities with learning. She worked hard and learned to manage her time. She did not like the predominant snobbish standards and practices in that culture. It was against her grain to adhere, making her a nobody in some situations. The feeling of not entirely fitting in lasted throughout her school years. The classmates with whom she kept in contact were the ones who escaped that culture.

College and professional life

Elise graduated eight years ago from the Lebanese American University with a degree in architecture. Although her professional experience is challenging, she prefers it over college life. Her formative years at LAU equipped and helped her overcome the emotional baggage she had collected at school. When she would forget names and dates (minor details of important events, you know), as a little girl in college, she learned to memorize. When a history lesson would go something like: “There was a king who started a war sometime somewhere, and then his son took over,” it got a little more specific in college.

She started working in a firm the summer she graduated. Four years later, she left to work in the family business with her brother, the civil engineer, and with her father’s coaching. Another four years into that business, her brother leaves for France to pursue his graduate studies. She’s reinvented the business with her father.

*Hallway lighting | Scandinavian-style bedroom | Prototype of a light fixture |* *Publication* | *Instagram*

“It’s more challenging being a freelancer. I have to find clients and generate new ideas. It’s tough, and I love it. I don’t see myself working in a company again, even with the risk of no work for a while.”
She’s comfortable with the challenge. Confident, gutsy, creative, and entrepreneurial.

She has been taking online courses to explore new fields and acquire new knowledge. Her latest is interior and product design. Her training in architecture equipped her to build the spaces. Interior design focuses her on the internal spaces and furnishings. She’s fascinated with lighting and wants to pursue a more specialized light design path, including the fixtures. Lighting changes everything in a space. Day or night.

Let there be light. Genesis 1:3.

Samer and Elise

A lot happened between giving her the Coke-flavoured Chupa Chups and raising their three-year-old. It took off quickly as they started dating 15 days after they spoke. Their honeymoon phase lasted about three years.

Elise grew up in a Christian family. Initially, she would go along with her parents' practices out of habit until she experienced God at 19. She decided to spend nine months in a program where same-age girls live, eat, pray, and share life experiences together. One of the rules is to abstain from exclusive relationships while on the mission. The intention is to help the girl focus with an undivided heart.

“When I did this conversion, I was happy with Samer, but I also wanted that experience. It took me 2 weeks to plan on how to tell him. When I did…”
“Oh! Wow! I didn’t know girls like this still existed.” He decided to wait when she thought he would break up with her.
Clever, all-loving man. Who in his right mind would compete with God?

They talked once a week and saw him by accident a few times. Her routine was a tough one. She would work on her projects and pull all-nighters when the other girls would wake up for the 6 am breakfast and prayers. Not having slept, she’d join in and continue her university routine. It was a tough but one of the best years of her life. It was so difficult that she opted not to renew her mission.

Guess who’s been waiting for God to hand over?

In preparation, Samer had picked up the pace of phone calls with Elise towards the end of her mission. They’ve been together since. Married for 6 years. In between? Trials, tribulations, and a few breakups.

God wanted to make sure, I guess.

“I was in a phase where I was worried about being stuck with him. I was a kid. What if I don’t actually love him? What if he’s not the one?”

Compromise is the name of the game

No matter how much freedom Samer gave her, she still felt a little stuck. She wanted to do a Master's and work abroad, but she never did. He never discouraged her, and she did not want to leave the good things she had. Sometimes, commitment holds you back from doing everything you want to accomplish.

“Everyone should live their life and enjoy every phase of it.”

She never left the mission

She left the all-girls household but stayed in the mission. She kept her faith and introduced Samer to the community. She still volunteers, joins prayers once or twice a week and serves with the youth group (girls 9–12 grade). She does not advise young girls to do what she did with her relationship. She says that she was fortunate. It’s not always that the first boy you meet will be the one. The one who respects you and lives your values. So many things can change as you grow up.

She sees girls who are growing up in unhealthy environments where more parents are getting divorced than before, sometimes putting the children in the middle of their quarrels. She also deals with a lot of bullied girls. On the other hand, she witnesses girls living life to the fullest.

“Sometimes I’m so tired and ready to give up until they give me hope and show me life as it should be.”

Some of today’s teenagers are so alive, clear in what they want, dedicated to service, committed, and entirely focused. Home plays a significant role. Well-rooted core values are central to weathering the storms that will test their character.

Living forward

She believes that her life just got started. They’re both young and have plenty to accomplish, separately and together. They’re open to new opportunities.

Maybe that Master's degree can be planned somehow.

Eventually, Samer joined the community and has been dedicated to service. It isn’t easy — very demanding. It’s like having a side mission on top of your full-time job, company, and life in general.

Elise sees her mission as refreshing, rewarding, and providing a safe environment for her family in the long run.

Samer, on the other hand, has shown wisdom, humility, faith, and love. God handed her over to him. He made sure that He stayed at their dinner table that night and every night.

Starbucks drink: Grande Caramel Frappuccino. Every time. Even in the winter. She attempted the hot chocolate, but would rather stick with her regular.

Her smiling eyes told it all