Update From Sderot 5/27/10

We are often unable to see the handiwork of God in the moment… but step back a bit, collect the moments into a whole, and clarity is often ours. With the passing of time we can see the seemingly disconnected events of our lives as a perfectly woven tapestry that God has orchestrated.

Learning to recognize God’s handiwork in the midst of ordinary events requires faith. It requires a willingness to listen to His quiet voice and trust His gentle leading. But to completely trust God requires the discipline of absolute surrender.

Between the promise and the fulfillment is a pathway of dependence. We must learn to choose faith over fear, and to rest in His promises, for He whispers to His children, ”I the LORD your GOD, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not.” Isaiah 41:13

Over the past two years the Lord has continued to stir my heart toward Israel, particularly Sderot, Israel. And I believe that over the past eight or nine months, He has continued to reveal through His Word and godly counsel His plan for me to spend a season there.

I am so blessed to be able to continue working with those in Sderot who have been injured, both physically and mentally by the Kassam rockets. My hope, my prayer is for God to use me to bring some comfort to His children, and that I might boldly speak His truth. Please join with me in prayer as I ask our Lord to strengthen me for the work ahead. Your support in prayer is appreciated. Toda raba!

I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future!

Hope For Sderot -The First Year

Update From Sderot 3/3/10

Well this past week has turned out to be a whirlwind of activities. The days have been full of opportunities to serve, sharing of the gospel, and special times of fellowship and prayer.

This past Wednesday, another ha mutah here in town known as “Hands of Mercy,” blessed the volunteers at “Hope for Sderot” with Purim baskets for all.

To commemorate the miraculous turn of events recorded in Esther, Purim is celebrated with feasts, sending gifts of food to friends and the needy, and with the reading of Esther. The story of Purim reminds us that God is always in control, even when we don’t easily recognize His hand in our circumstances.

Yeshiah the director of “Hands of Mercy” (a ministry that provides clothing for those in need) wanted to bless all of his volunteers as well as those with “Hope for Sderot.” And so a few of us from “Hope from Sderot” and Yeshiah went to the local candy store to buy baskets, candy, and various other treats. After our trip to the candy store we gathered together to assemble the fifty baskets. It was a special time as we came together and worked with one another in order to bless our volunteers.

Later that night, Yeshiah and three other believers from “Hands of Mercy” gathered with us for a spaghetti dinner and prayer and fellowship. We also watched episode two of the “Truth Project.” It is a very special time for us as we are able to gather together once a week to share a meal, pray and fellowship and encourage one another.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! Psalm 133:1

On Thursday after home deliveries were done for the day, I had the opportunity to make a home visit to Rachel, an elderly lady who had been sick for several days with a respiratory infection, and was now feeling worse. What a privilege it is to use my nursing skills here, and although there is obviously a language barrier, the Lord provided a young neighbor girl with some English skills to help translate. I continue to visit Yael and help her with her physical therapy. She is improving and is beginning to be able to move around better.

We spent two days this week, in Beit Shemesh, where The Joshua Fund just opened a 9000 sq. ft. warehouse. The new warehouse will serve as a centralized location to store food and wartime supplies. The warehouse, when operational, will partner with the smaller moxons like “Hope for Sderot.” It not only will be making weekly deliveries of food to “Hope for Sderot,” it will also coordinate any war-time efforts between the moxons. While we were at the warehouse we helped with the assembling of office furniture, did some cleaning, and labeled pallets from the first food delivery.

There is still much to be done in order to get the warehouse operational, and we pray and trust the Lord to send helping hands. The current “quiet” here is deceiving and very fragile at best. There is a sense of “racing against time” as we work to make things ready. Like Nehemiah, our prayer is that God would prosper the work of our hands.

Thanks to all you prayer warriors who continue to lift me up, Toda raba! I miss you all. Leheitraot!