Cease Fire?

Here we go again… yet another cease fire.  The cycle of one-sided adherence continues. The agreed upon cease fire went into affect nearly 10 hours ago. In the first four hours of the so called “cease fire”, more than 20 rockets were fired into Israel by Palestinian terrorists. So what happens now?  Do we return to the prewar normalcy of the one or two rockets a week? One must ask, “What now?” as the outcry of “disproportionate response” ceases and Hamas once again rebuilds their smuggling tunnels for the fresh supply of Grads and Fajr-5 rocket that will be fired once more at Israel. Is this the “state of normalcy everyone insisted on? Do the pleas for, ”maximum restraint” carry on  as the rocket  continue to be fired into Israel? The Home Front Command has issued instructions to keep schools in southern Israel shut on Thursday and stressed that it instructions to residents had not changed. The courageous men and women of the IDF staged and ready on the Gaza border remain and wait. We hope… we pray… we remain ready.

Hope For Sderot Is On Facebook

Due to the large volume of reports and information coming out of Israel my friends at Hope for Sderot have opened a facebook page for update purposes. Please Visit them at; Hope For Sderot | Facebook and show your support.

Voices From Sderot

The following was written less than a week ago just prior to the current operation. It has been posted with permission by MC. Again, a unique and first hand view of the reality on the ground.

News from Front Line Sderot

It’s Sunday morning and I am just a bit on edge, I was woken up this morning to a chorus of “Sever Adom” echoing across the town. Our culture was about to be enhanced once more.

Last night there was a condition red but nothing happened, this morning the explosions were too close for comfort, the house shook, the windows rattled, the town went silent, just the natural noises of the wind.

The “life enhancing” qualities of Islam will be at work today while the emergency teams at magen Dovid adom get to work on the inevitable victims, trying to save life and limb, but nobody can save mind and demeanour.

As usual it is school time, the children are on their way; and vulnerable. The shelters are about a hundred yards apart, 12 seconds for a six year old 50 yards from the shelter.

Me, I am crippled, I cannot move fast, I stay put, if Yehovah wants to bring me home then so be it, but I would rather not be maimed any more; Abba, all I ask is make it fast.

This is a mind battle, we work for a small humanitarian aid organisation called “Hope for Sderot”, we mainly give out food to the now poor families in the area, our local cultural enhancement experts in Gaza have driven out many of the employers, and with them go the jobs and the wealth. The battle is to keep Sderot alive, the enemy wants to make life so uncomfortable that the town is abandoned and they have won. We work in the front line, doing what we can to make life in Sderot workable.

As we say goodbye to the Jobs, so we say hello to debt crisis management, no job means that the mortgage does not get paid, the loans cannot be serviced, the gas, electricity and water have to be juggled; get it wrong and the children get their food cold.

To qualify for aid, our clients have to do a means test, this is a heart rendering process, made worse by bank and government inflexibility. Many clients see what little money they get eaten up by compulsory repayments;, clothing and equipping the children for school becomes a matter of scrounging what you can. We keep supplies of nappies (diapers) and unused children’s underwear so that if we see a need, we can fill it.

But it all costs money, I flew in from Vienna a few months ago, girl’s knickers had been at half price in the local supermarket so I got a hundred euro’s worth, my bag was opened at the airport security and there, on top were all these packets of pants, the official gave me a very strange look!

Added to all the local cultural enhancement, The Joshua Fund (Christian) has just removed our $10,000 monthly grant after four years, we are too “Jewish” for them, they want our (Jewish) boss to go to church in Beersheva (40 Kms away) on Saturday instead of keeping (Jewish) Sabbath. We thanks the Joshua Fund for their past support, and we are slowly breaching the huge gap that their decision has left, but it IS difficult not to be angry at the pettiness of it all.

If I might put in a ‘beg’ here, you can contribute at our website www.hopeforsderot.com all money goes to counter the Jihad being waged directly against us.

We have enough supplies to keep distributing food into January, but our ability to ease the financial burdens are now severely restricted, we have to rely on contributions from our supporters mainly in the USA with some local assistance. This Income has dropped off by about 30% this year (excluding the above).

But above all we must trust in Yehovah to provide, He has His ways of overcoming the stupidity of mankind and to support that which He deems to be GOOD.

In this we are very little different from our cousins over in Gaza about 5 Kms away, but we do not need to defend Yehovah with our swords, and we do not expect everybody to love our Abba as we do. We love Him by looking after His Creation, not by destroying it. Islam is a religion of the desert, and desert is land that has been destroyed. Mark Twain described this land as :-

"..... A desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds... a silent mournful expanse.... a desolation.... we never saw a human being on the whole route.... hardly a tree or shrub anywhere. Even the olive tree and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country." (The Innocents Abroad, p. 361-362)

Another ‘sever Adom’ with accompanying wiz-bangs as I sit here writing this.

It is now productive, and even given the limitations and bias of Mr Twain, It has come alive only in the last hundred or so years.

Israel IS the front line, and although it is not perfect, it is here as a bastion against Islamic encroachment. There is mounting resentment against Israel, from the those same sources of cultural enrichment as we are all used to, I would only ask that the world remembers this as one by one, the nations of the world fall victim to Islamification and start to vilify Jews and Israel. Holocaust denial has become rife, and yes, the holocaust has been overplayed in some quarters, but my relatives, left behind in Lithuania and Russia all those years ago, have yet to turn up and make contact, I can only assume that they all died before anyone could let us know what was happening, it is certainly unusual for a whole family of about 20 people to die in the course of a few years, and our family is by no means unique.

It is still eerily quiet outside, the schoolchildren are not singing and playing, they are behind the concrete and steel reinforced structures that pass for school buildings here. Four civilians are casualties so far reported, I am sure there are more to come.

Here we go again, condition red, we had about 4 seconds warning of that one.

I think it is time to put the kettle on and resort to Mr Folger (very hard to get here, we have to ask visitors to bring us supplies).

Please remember us when the chips are down.

"Operation Pillar of Defense" Update

Over 335 rockets have been fired at Israeli communities in the past few days. One rocket hit the central Israeli city of Rishon Lezion, home to over 200,000 people. The Iron Dome Active Missile Defense System has successfully intercepted over 184 rockets launched from Gaza.

IAF aircraft continue to target central terror activity sites in the southern Gaza Strip in order to harm the command and control posts of the Hamas terror organization.  .

Over 16,000 reservists have been mobilized, out of the 30,000 approved by the Israeli government.

The Paratrooper and Givati Infantry brigades have completed the final preparations for a potential ground operation. The forces are on standby, ready to enter should it be decided that a ground operation is necessary.

In preparation for a ground offensive the GOC has now issued road closures.

Road no.232
Road no. 10 
Road no. 4, in the direction of Yad Mordechai. (If coming from a northern direction, turning left is possible in the direction of Be'er Sheba only, there is no entry to the part of the road that runs along the Gaza Strip.)

The Israeli Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz spoke to his soldiers a few hours ago and said, "We are here tonight on the eve of a possible ground operation. This is not our first time in Gaza. We have been through a few days with very significant attacks on the scale of hundreds of daily targets, and have struck with great force and precision.”

A few hours ago, as Shabbat  fell over Israel a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed just outside Jerusalem, Israel's capital city.

Voices From Sderot

We are now into the wee morning hours in Israel and day two of Operation Pillar of Defense, and I can’t help but think about the significance of the name by which the current military actions are known. It brings images to mind of the children of Israel as they were fleeing Egypt and how Yahweh stood between them and the pursuing Egyptian armies as a pillar of fire.  Yahweh protected them, He shielded them, but He also used the pillar of fire to lead them. It guided them when they were to move forward and instructed them when to halt. May Yahweh continue to fill the armies of Israel with courage, strength, and wisdom beyond their years.

The IDF continues to target launching sites as they attempt to impair the rocket launching capabilities of terror organizations in the Gaza Strip and hamper their weapon build up capability. The past 24 hours has seen over 300 rockets fall throughout Israel. Three Israeli were killed by a direct hit on their home in Kiryat Malakhi.

For the first time since the Gulf War in the 1990’s, sirens were heard in Tel Aviv today. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad took responsibility for the three rockets fired on Tel Aviv. Three Fajr-5 rockets landed just 15 km south of Tel Aviv. The IDF confirms that all Palestinian terror groups are participating in the rocket fire with Hamas trying to take the lead.

The following is posted here with permission from the author. I thought my readers might find the first hand experiences of those living in the midst of all this interesting.  Real people sharing their unique take on what is happening there. These are the “Voices of Sderot “.

The following was written prior to the start of Operation Pillar of Defense and it is MC’s observations of the effects of tens of thousands of rockets falling on the community of Sderot for the past decade.

*********************************************************************************

This article arose from an email to Her Ladyship concerning the BBC reporting of an event in Gaza and the implication that the Israeli arms blockade was causing starvation in the strip :-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19463367

Her ladyship pointed out that my asides were a story in themselves and invited me to indulge in some beeb bashing:

I live in Sderot a small city in Israel about 3 miles from Gaza, there, my wife and I are volunteers at a charity that supplies supplemental food to poor and unemployed families in the city and surrounding area.

We hand out the food in supermarket bags which have to be packed the day before.   Somehow it is usually when doing these sessions that one hears “Sever Adom” on the loudspeaker system that covers the whole city.  The internal alarm also triggers, and the blood pressure peaks.   At this point we officially have 15 seconds to get under cover, often however, it is more like 4 seconds.

S rushes to the lavatory at this point and locks herself in, I her husband, goes outside to see if there is anything to see.   The rest of us stay out and wait for the bang.   There is not enough time to get to a shelter (all the bus stops are bomb shelters) and being caught out in the open is not healthy.

Y knows this, he is permanently crippled from the one that exploded about a yard away from him, there was a brick wall in between and he still carries some of it around with him, too deeply embedded to be removed safely.

Sderot was built in the 50’s when Jews had to flee from North Africa in the aftermath of the 1948 war.   It started as a tent city on the periphery of the Negev desert, later, rows of prefab housing were erected, they can still be seen.

S. the lady of the loo, was from North Africa, as a 3 year old she was doused in petrol and set alight.   She survived, but grew up carrying the scars.  

Bible scholars will remember that the Amalekites attacked the tail end of the Israelite column as they were leaving Egypt.   In this  rear part were the families, the old and the infirm.   These are the soft targets, and there is little risk but great terror potential in attacking babies.   Several hundred years later King Saul was commanded to wipe out the Amalekites, lock, stock etc.    But the barrels proved too tempting and he failed so the problem of Amalekite hatred of the children of Israel continues to this day.

As the first missiles fell on Sderot some dozen or so years ago, those who could afford it moved out, along with the factories that provided the jobs.    Notable exceptions being Nestle’s, Amdocs and the Israeli food company Osem.   With the resulting unemployment came poverty and exploitation.

E one of the volunteers is a Sabra, a native born Israeli, she speaks Hebrew, English and French and works for a cleaning company at minimum wage.   They require her to work 20 hours a week, but only pay her for 12.   If she works more than 12 hours she loses her welfare payment, but jobs are so scarce that that E has to do the 20 hours.

G is in debt to the bank, his unemployment cheque is also paid into the bank (he has no say in this), he sees very little of this money, we feed him and his children.

K was badly crippled by a qassam  missile, he cannot now do any physical work, his wife left him soon after the injury happened taking his two daughters with her.   The state pays most of his benefit as child support, K is left to live on a pittance.   He needed an operation a few weeks ago, to remove shrapnel , the hospital would not operate until someone put up a bond in case the insurance would not pay (it was a war injury).  We were able to find the money for that.

The rain of missiles is from our peace loving ‘cousins’ in Gaza, each warhead is lovingly filled with nails and rat poison (promotes bleeding)  and are cynically aimed at our children when they are going to school or coming back.

Gaza has some of the finest beaches in the Mediterranean an area famous for its beaches.   It could be a major tourist destination, but no, the spirit of the Amalekite is with us, killing and maiming Jews is more important.

The BBC article in question uses  a seventies lefty trick that I recognise from my student union days, 

“Some 80% of families in the Palestinian territory are said to receive some sort of food aid from UN agencies and other international organizations.  

Although there have been some previous incidents of Gazans setting fire to themselves because of hardship, this is thought to be the first fatality.

The UN has been highly critical of the blockade on Gaza which Israel and Egypt tightened when Islamist group Hamas seized power in 2007, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports.”

You will note the non sequitur insertion of the UN sentence, this is designed to link in our minds the otherwise unconnected ideas of hunger, unemployment and blockade.   The BBC is telling us a lie whilst telling us the truth. 
 
I would disagree with the beeb, Hamas and Islamic Fundamentalism are the prime cause of the dire problems in Gaza, and also it’s painful consequences for the innocent people of Sderot who just want to get on with life.    But the BBC obviously do not care for truth, they are, after all, a propaganda organisation, paid for by the people of the UK, but representing whom, we don’t know, maybe those that would want to rule for a thousand years.  

"Operation Pillar of Defense" Update

Nearly 18 hours have passed since the initial actions of the IDF in response to the recent days of unrelenting rocket attacks that have reigned down terror on Israeli civilians living in the southern communities.   

 A pinpoint air strike killed Ahmed Jabri, the head of Hamas' military wing, in the Gaza Strip. Jabri was a senior Hamas operative who served in the upper echelon of the Hamas' command and was directly responsible for executing terror attacks against the State of Israel in the past number of years.

The IDF has targeted a significant number of long range rockets sites and storehouses including the underground sites that housed the Iranian Fajr-5 rocket. The Fajr-5 has a range of about 75 km and is most likely what was fired at the Dimona nuclear reactor on Wednesday. These rockets have the capability of hitting Tel Aviv and threatening nearly 3.5 million people. The aim of targeting these sites is to impair the rocket launching capability of the terror organizations in the Gaza strip and damage their further build up.

IDF infantry brigades have been deployed to the Gaza border ahead of a possible ground offensive. Schools and universities with 40 km are closed and Gaza border communities within 7 km are in lock down with residents ordered to remain in their homes. The IDF has dispersed leaflets over several locations in the Gaza Strip. These leaflets warn the residents of the Gaza Strip to stay away from Hamas and other terror organizations' operatives and facilities that pose a risk to their safety.

Earlier today as I scanned the western media sites I was not surprised by the fact that little coverage was found or that what was available focused mainly on the effects of the aerial strikes on the residents of Gaza. There had been very little written in regards to the days of relentless rocket fire into Israel.

As I press into Yahweh my heavenly Father and draw strength and encouragement from His Word I find peace and comfort in the knowledge that HE REIGNS! I was reminded this week of a 2500 year old letter written by Jeremiah the prophet to the children of Israel. The Jewish exiles were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and forced to live in Babylon. A false prophet named Hananiah came to them and told them that their time of exile would only last two years. And so Jeremiah wrote a letter to the exiles.

I am sure that you have heard a part of that letter recited many times. I wear a bracelet with the words from Jeremiah 29:11 on it.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares Yahweh, "plans

to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

For me it is a constant reminder that whatever happens, good or bad, it is all filtered through a loving Father. It is one of the most commonly quoted passages in the entire Bible. Unfortunately, this passage is mostly taken out of context and delivered as a "feel good" word that everything is going to be O.K. We often miss the point that the plan that Jeremiah's letter was referring to was exile. The Father's plan for His children was exile.

“This is what the Lord says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you "

Exile was the plan…

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" … was the goal.

As I think of the events of the past eighteen hours in Israel and that the land and people I love are now at war, I realize that all that Yahweh does in our lives; all that He allows is to one single purpose; to restore us to Himself.

11/14/12 "Operation Pillar of Defense" Day One

Israel has launched "Operation Pillar of Defense". I awoke this morning to the first reports from Israel indicating that it was at war. Because I am currently in the States, I called my contacts back home in Sderot, Israel to confirm what I was beginning to see from the ME news sites. Apparently, after weeks of increase rockets attacks aimed at innocent civilians who live in the southern districts, and a failed cease-fire, Israel has launched an air offensive.

Over and over again Israel has seen an escalation in rocket fire until the militants in Gaza need to restock or they believed that Israel's response was about to be ratched up. They would then attempt to negotiate a cease fire. Time and time again the rockets would continue during and after the cease fire was agreed upon. This past week while the lastest rounds of negotiations were being discussed, the terrorists in Gaza were smuggling more Grad rockets through the tunnels on the Sinai border. 

Approximately 24 hours ago, and after the cease fire was agreed to, the terrorist fired five of those Grads at Be'er Sheva. That action led to Operation Pillar of Defense.

Prior to the round of air strikes that killed Jabari a senior Hamas operative who served in the upper echelon of the Hamas' command, citizens were given prior warning. IDF warnings and instructions were issued telling citizens that they should stock up on food, water, candles ect. and to remain in or near their safe rooms. Shortly after that the Israeli miltary reserves were called to active duty. The first of the air strikes began shortly after that. The PA has stated that Israel's actions are considered a "declaration of war". 

I will continue to be in contact with those who are there on the ground and will be posting updates daily to the blog. Please join me and all those who stand with Israel in prayer. May Yahweh's shalom cover His people Israel.

With trumpets and the sound of the Shofar make

a joyful noise before the King, יְהוָֽה!  Psalm 98:6

Hallu  Yah

י ה   ה ל ל ו 

Update From Sderot 9/1/12

I can't believe that it has been this many weeks since my last update. The summer here has simply flown by, with a whirlwind of activities and many visitors who came to bless us with their gift of serving along side of us. Our heartfelt thanks to each of you. For me it has been a time of growth and time spent in the Word.

As you can read below, the rockets from Gaza continue to break the fragile quiet. Nearly fifty rockets were sporadically fired at the cities of the southern Negev this summer. Rocket fire has increased this week as school here once again reopens.
For those of you who have asked about my next trip to the States, I will be back in October sometime after the Feast of Tabernacles. I look forward to seeing everyone again. In the meantime here is more about what has be going on here in Sderot.


Rocket Fire Once Again Increases As The Children Of Sderot Return Back To School

The first week of school was marked by three straight days of sporadic rocket fire in the South. Three rockets were fired toward Sderot on Sunday, the first day of school and three more on Monday. Two rockets damaged buildings in the industrial area and two people received medical treatment for injuries. As the week progressed a total of five rockets hit Sderot, including a home on Friday morning.

The Growing Threat Of War

The degree of concern being expressed in the media in regards to the “coming storm” this fall is greater than anything that has been aired to date. There are almost daily threats from the nations surrounding Israel. This week Hezbollah’s MP Walid Sakariya states that Iran’s nuclear program is designed to “finish off” Israel. The growing concerns about chemical attacks from Syria are only reinforced by published statements from the Syrian rebels that they have taken over a military base and have found missiles with “non-conventional warheads. The leadership of Iran continues to spew threats of genocide with increasing frequency.

New Pamphlet Issued This Week To Prepare The Israeli People

The new pamphlet was sent out this week by Home Front Command to homes across Israel. The favorite children’s TV character featured on the front cover is a sad reminder that Israel is a society that needs to teach its children to prepare for war. Additionally, the Home front command prepares medical personnel and the public with state-wide emergency drills. The increased threat of chemical attacks has caused Israelis this week to stand in lines across Israel in order to receive gas masks.

We have started to gather the necessary emergency items; drinking water, food, medical supplies. This week I gathered together supplies for a "first responders" box and have begun to discuss and develope a crisis plan within our family fellowship. I have to admit it feels somewhat surreal, much like being in the middle of movie as it races toward it's climax.

Thank you for allowing me to share. I am thankful that we are able to continue to bless and minister to the people here in Israel at this time. We give thanks to our Heavenly Father who continues to move in the hearts of His people to “stand in the gap” and support this ministry. Your faithful prayers and vital support are greatly appreciated. Todah rabah! May Yah bless and keep you…

Escalation Of Rocket Fire In The South

Rocket fire has greatly increased since Monday. Between Monday and Wednesday afternoon a total of 57 rockets fell into Israeli territory. On Monday, a rocket landed close to a Border Police vehicle wounding 11 border police. Hamas terrorist carried out the overwhelming majority of attacks. The change from their regular denial of responsibility to openly claiming responsibility is a significant change.

A week ago on the 16^th, two 122 mm Grad rockets were fired at Israel’s southern border with Egypt from the Sinai Peninsula. On Monday, a three-man terrorist squad infiltrated into Israel territory at the Israel/Egyptian border. They detonated an IED while attacking vehicles that belonged to some construction workers. They also launched a RPG and opened fire with light arms. An Israeli construction worker was killed in the attack.

Israeli Air Force carried out a number of counter-terrorism attacks which was followed by a massive barrage of rockets targeting the western Negev.

This morning at 0630, Sderot was awakened to the sound of alarms going off. The “Tseva Adom” was being heard all over town as the rocket barrage began. I awoke as the first alarm sounded and as my feet hit the floor, the first rocket hit with a thundering loud impact causing the windows to rattle. “That was close!” I thought to myself as I opened the bedroom door. As I stepped through the doorway, I heard the sound of two more rush by overhead and two more found their target. Two… three… four… five… rockets hit as the houseful of visiting friends and children gathered together. Adults trying to comfort the children while shielding them with their own bodies.

Ok, so this sounds like some scene from a movie… but it wasn’t. Over the next 45 minutes the scene was played out five more times. Each time the sound of impact sounded like it was just outside the outer walls. Each time, parents could be heard asking, “Where is Ezra?” or “Where is Gabriel?” as they searched the huddled children to assure all were there.

The morning’s rocket salvo left one man with shrapnel injuries to the neck and stomach, and many more were treated for shock. A factory and a school took direct hits, causing extensive damage. Approximately twenty rockets in less than an hour brought the total since Monday to 150 rockets.

“Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though

war arise against me, yet I will be confident… For he will hide me in

his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of

his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:3, 5

                

“… from your bounty, Yah, you provided for the poor.” Psalm 68:10 


 The Father’s steadfast love and faithfulness in our lives and the lives of those He allows us to serve is without end. There are so many times He brings someone to us with a need, and then provides that need through another source. Or we are given things that at first may seem like an odd donation only to have someone come to us requesting that very thing. 


Last month at the storefront, a lady came in seeking help. Her husband is working, but with three small children it just doesn't stretch far enough. She had asked if we could help with some diapers and formula. Now diapers and formula aren't part of our regular items we distribute but we sure have been getting a lot of requests lately. It dawned on me the other day that all those children who were 11, 12, and 13 when the rockets first started in 2000, are now grown, married and having babies. The children of 2000 are now bringing the next generation of children into this war zone reality. Anyway back to the young mother asking for help. We now have about 5 or 6 young families we help out with diapers and formula when we can. As funds become available we purchase what we can and then make deliveries. Well the day the mother came in we had just gave out what we were able to buy that week so we had nothing to offer her, but told her we would help when we could. Later that afternoon, a truck arrived from a ministry in Jerusalem called Joseph Project. We were expecting some beds and chairs that we would distribute to those in need. Well there weren’t any beds or chairs on the truck, but instead a pallet of boxes. Our Father's love and concern for His children is so amazing. You guessed it... the unexpected boxes were filled with diapers. And of course, being able to share with this young mother (we called her that afternoon to come back in) that God loves her so much that even before she asked Him to help her that morning, the day before the truck was being loaded with what she needed. Praise Him!


About a week ago, a couple who live in the north contacted us because they wanted to give a donation to provide for some needy families for Shavuot (Pentecost). Now it was a Thursday and there was much to prepare for the double Shabbat that was quickly approaching. Not to mention the shopping and dinner to prepare for the Thursday night fellowship. There are times when we must put our carefully planned agendas aside in order to let the Father bless us. 


So arrangements were made to meet with the couple, who had 1000 sheckles to donate and wanted to buy additional food for eight families. The couple later shared how they had collected the money by saving loose change for the past year. 
So anyway, they go to the local market to buy eight each of the items we told them the people would appreciate. Meanwhile we get another phone call. It was a family who in the past chose life when faced with a pregnancy at a financially difficult time. At that time we promised to help in any way we could to relieve the burden of the expanding family. The father called because he had lost his job and the family had nothing for the holiday. 


How amazing our Father is! He touches the hearts of a young couple over a year ago to save up. And right in His perfect timing He orchestrates it all, bringing together those that have to give and those that need. Then He allows us to share with both His great love and provision as we share the parts of the story unknown to those involved. Hallelujah!


I praise you for all your wonders and mostly for your great love. Help me to be an instrument that effectively broadcasts the story of your glory.

Update 3/13/12

March 9–13

Palestinians have fired nearly 200 Grad missiles, rockets and mortars deep into Israel. Three civilians were wounded directly by the fire, one of them seriously. Additionally, 21 people suffered from shock and 11 were injured while fleeing for cover. Many of the Grad missiles launched at large cities were intercepted by missile defense system known as Iron Dome.

Most of the attacks followed an Israeli air strike on Zuhair al-Qaissi, commander of the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, a terrorist group with close ties to Hamas, and Mahmoud Hanini, a top field commander in the group. Al-Qaissi had overseen the 2011 southern Israel cross-border attacks, which killed eight Israelis including six civilians. Israeli officials said that he was preparing the final stages of a new mega-attack that could have claimed multiple lives.

To protect students from the rockets, Israeli officials cancelled classes in most schools in the cities the Southern region and the Home Front Command barred all mass gatherings in southern Israeli communities. The Israel Police raised the level of alert around the country and foreign embassies, including the US Embassy, have issued travel warnings and emergency directions to Americans currently living in Israel.  A portion of that travel advisory is below.

Today, despite the so called ‘ceasefire’, seven rockets have been fired into the southern region. The news media refers to this as “relative calm”.

“I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalms 91:2

From: <amctelaviv@state.gov>
Date: Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 6:07 PM
Subject: Embassy Tel Aviv Security Message, March 12, 2012
To: stewartinsderot@gmail.com

Security Message for American Citizens regarding Travel in Southern Israel, March 12, 2012

Violence continues to occur along the boundary between Israel and the Gaza Strip.  Terrorist groups fired rockets and mortars into Israel from Gaza over the weekend, and Israel continues to conduct military operations inside Gaza, including airstrikes.  In the past, some rockets have traveled more than 40 km (24 miles) from Gaza and landed as far north as Yavne and Gadera and as far east as Beersheva.  As a result of possible military operations by the Government of Israel in Gaza and the ever-present risk of rocket and mortar attacks into Israel from Gaza, U.S. government personnel travelling in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip boundary, including the city of Sderot, or traveling south of Beersheva,  must make prior notification to the Embassy's Regional Security Office.

U.S. citizens in southern Israel should be aware of the risks and should take note of announcements by the Government of Israel’s office of Homefront Command at: http://www.oref.org.il/315-en/PAKAR.aspx.  U.S. citizens are reminded to exercise caution and take appropriate measures to ensure their safety and security while traveling in this region, and should monitor local news sources to find the latest information on the situation, as it can change unexpectedly.

Update From Sderot 10/3/12

As most of you know, I have now returned to Sderot after spending a few months with family and friends in the States. I am thankful for all the opportunities I had to share and visit with family and faithful friends. You all made my visit very memorable. And of course, a special thanks to my host families for providing me with housing and friendship.

While I was in the States I had a wonderful opportunity to share over several weeks with a ladies group on Leviticus 23 and the Appointed Feasts of the LORD. The Appointed Feasts of the LORD are vital to the gospel message and understanding the Father’s plan of redemption. They were given to us by God so we could understand the coming Messiah and the role Messiah would play in redeeming and restoring both man and the earth. The Feasts were intended to place man into God’s time table; they help us understand His reckoning of time.

Now that I’m back in Sderot, I am busy catching up on the changes in the weekly distribution and the new computerized system of tracking everything.

The past 24 hours has once again seen an escalation in rocket fired into the southern region. At least 100 rockets- Kassams and the longer-range Grads- have pounded the southern region since Friday. As of now those living in the affected areas have been instructed to remain near safe rooms. According to the Ministry of Defense the current escalation is far from over and the operations will probably continue for another day or two.

“You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.” Psalms 32:7