We have had a couple of opportunities lately to help us prepare for emergency situations should they ever arise. Our organization has formed a relationship with Magen David Adom, literally "Red Shield of David" - Israel's version of the Red Cross.
Linda had donated blood last autumn, and was wanting to donate again, she had been receiving text messages from them stating their need for donations, especially during the summer. At the same time, our organization had planned a staff tour of the new Jerusalem Magen David Adom facility.
A few days later this article was in the paper about the new facility, and the need for blood donations. http://www.jpost.com/Health/Article.aspx?id=281025
Here is the very clean and spacious donation center.
After donating blood, Linda caught up with the staff for the tour.
We were given a few facts about Magen David Adom.
Magen David Adom is the largest volunteer organization in Israel, and does not receive funding from the government. Needing $25 - $30 million per year to function, the organization relies on monetary donations and volunteers. Hospitals will also buy ambulance services and blood from them.
During our tour we also received a short first aid course.
A few years ago, the American Heart Association updated its CPR guidelines to include "hands only" CPR, making it more effective for untrained rescuers than integrating "mouth to mouth" as well.
Part 1
Part 2
Linda gets a chance to try out what she has learned.
Norman Feingold is the founder and president of Christian Friends of Magen David Adom in Israel. He is a Jewish man who desires to bring Jews and Christians together by supporting this great need in Israel.
To find out more about Christian Friends of Magen David Adom:
Regular ambulance.
Intensive care ambulance.
All ambulances are donated.
One of the projects that we're considering with Norman, is the possibility of being the first Christian organization with staff available in a crisis such as a war. We would receive initial training in first aid and other needed tasks, and volunteer with Magen David Adom if and when the need would arise. Once again, relationships like these are immeasurable in showing our love, commitment and support towards Israel and the Jewish people.
| IKI - Israeli Krav International |
Another opportunity we've recently had to be prepared (properly expectant, organized, equipped, and ready....) is to take part in Krav Maga self defense classes. Krav Maga is "contact combat" in Hebrew. It was developed in Israel, and ended up being the official system of the IDF - Israeli Defense Force.
Krav Maga is known for its focus on real-world situations and extremely efficient counter-attacks. The focus is to arm the individual with the necessary strategies and tactics to dominate and terminate a violent encounter in minimal time.
The room we learn in has padded floors and plenty of gear to practice with (padded shields, rubber knives & guns, etc). Our instructor's name is Moshe (Hebrew for Moses).
One of the girls learns what to do if someone attacks by pulling your hair.
Another is practicing her new tactics on Jim - good thing he has a padded shield!
So what do you do if you're in a head lock?
Here is how to get out of one of the holds.
There are several different strategies, but they are pretty similar and easy to remember, based on common sense. Krav Maga's objective is to dominate and terminate the situation as quickly as possible.
First you give an elbow to the face....
Then a swift kick with the knee...
Now they practice on Jim again....
The classes have not only been a lot of fun, but as our instructor put it, both empowering and humbling at the same time. Humbling because it causes you to consider situations you never thought of before. It's empowering, though, because you learn proven tactics that even the military is using against real life attack situations.
We aren't taking these classes because it's so bad here we felt we needed to know how to defend ourselves, but the opportunity arose and we felt it was important. The fact is that we live in a society where certain people groups have hatred toward others. We use wisdom in what we do and where we go. We know that God is our protector. We are just being prepared (properly expectant, organized, equipped, and ready....). To be able to protect not only ourselves, but others if necessary.
Another step of preparedness is to have a clear understanding of what to do in emergency situations such as rocket or missile attacks. In recent weeks, the Nation has been increasing its preparedness level on a civilian level. Friends who are in Reserves (every Israeli is in Reserves after completing active duty in the military) have been contacted by their units to see if they are in the country and available if needed to be called up. There has been an asserted effort to distribute more gas masks to citizens (yes we have ours), including others we know. The Army has been practicing drills (well, yes, they always do that...). And this past Thursday there was a SMS drill, where Home Front Command tested its system that would send text messages to citizens in a targeted area warning them of an incoming missile attack.
As an organization, we will again go over emergency procedures for what to do if at work, and what to do if at home. We will make sure that we each have our safety room set with plastic and tape to seal it off, and all of our supplies ready (radio with batteries, canned food & water, candles & matches, etc.).
What will Israel choose to do with the impending threats from Iran "to wipe it from the face of the earth"? Sounds a lot like what Hitler said not so many decades ago...We don't know what She will do, but Israel will not stand by and watch another holocaust come to her people - with or without support from America or any other country - She will defend herself. And you know things are serious (or politically expedient) when the UN Secretary-General condemns offensive and inflammatory statements such as were recently spoken by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who branded Israel a "tumor" that needs to be wiped out.
Incoming Home Front Defense Minister Avi Dichter on Sunday described Iran as an existential threat to the State of Israel. "Iran", he said, "threatens the very existence of Israel, which the country has not experienced since its establishment. Israel, however, has proved to itself, to its enemies and the world that the era in which Israelis are murdered just because they are Jewish - is over!"
Here's a link to a Fox News interview that's very telling...
Please pray that Israel and Her leaders will recognize that the God of Israel is Her only hope and salvation. That with all the enemies all around Her wanting Her destruction, only God can be Her protector - it cannot happen in Her own might. The Scriptures are clear concerning the future of this Nation, and no enemy can take that away. So we stand and say, even as Jehoshaphat said, "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” 2 Chronicles 20:12.
As we continue to watch prophesy play out before our eyes, we feel such a calming assurance. There's no sense of fear. No anxiety. Just a sensing of the need to be prepared (properly expectant, organized, equipped, and ready....). We came to Israel for a reason - to unconditionally love and encourage and show compassion. To support and stand in solidarity with the Jewish people in good times and bad times, in easy times and hard times, in times of peace and in times of war. Israel needs to know that Christians are Her friends, friends that see you through. We believe we are exactly where God wants us to be, doing what He has called us to do.
PLEASE PRAY FOR US IN THE LAND,
AND PLEASE PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM,
THE APPLE OF GOD'S EYE.
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