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

Update From Sderot 14/12/11

Just a quick note for those who may not know… I am currently visiting friends and family in the States and will return at the end of January. Blessings!

Update From Sderot 1/11/11

For Zion's sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof goes forth as the noon day, and the salvation thereof as a blazing torch. Isaiah 62:1

On Saturday 39 projectiles, including Grads and mortar shells were fired at the southern cities in Israel, hitting populated areas in Ashdod, Ashkelon, Be’er Sheva, and regional councils across the region including Sderot. A number of rockets caused extensive damage to buildings including a multi-story apartment building, and a school. There have been many hospitalized with injuries including small children. A 56 year old man who was injured by shrapnel to the lower limbs died on Shabbat.

An Egyptian brokered “cease-fire” was scheduled to take affect Sunday morning at 6 a.m., but that was soon ignored by the terrorists as a dozen or so Grads and mortars were fired at the southern cities throughout Sunday.

The current escalation actually began last week when a rocket hit the small residential community of Be’er Tuvia which is located south of Ashkelon. Be’er Tuvia is 18 miles (over 30 kilometers) from Gaza – That’s how far the various militia terror groups’ rockets can now reach inside Israel, at least the ones they have fired so far.

Take a moment, and wherever you are living in the world imagine an 18 mile (30 km) radius from your home. How many loved ones, co-workers, acquaintances would that radius include? Now imagine an alarm sounds and you have only seconds to find safety… you count off the seconds and then you hear the loud explosion. You then instinct fully grab your phone to call family and friends to make sure they are ok. This is the reality of those living here in the cities of the Negev.

At any given second, over 1 million Israeli citizens; men, women, and children are living under the constant fear of rockets. At any given moment the ‘Tseva Adom’ may sound the warning that a rocket has been fired. The time you have to respond ranges up to 60 seconds in the remote areas to only 15 seconds for those of us living in Sderot.

This terror, over 1 million Israelis (and the number continues to grow as the weapons reaching Gaza become more and more advanced), hardly ever gets mentioned. Many are just too busy to care about Israel’s need for security. Moreover they simply refuse to address the fact that no peace agreement can be enforced in the Gaza Strip – a cease fire can hardly be enforced!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! "May those who love you be secure! May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels!" For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you!" For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.

Psalm 122:6-9