No better way to say thank you....

...this is what we were told by the mother of one of the soldiers we have met, spent time with, and helped practically through CFI.

But before sharing about God's amazing gift to us during this Thanksgiving and Chanukah season, a bit more about our last blog post concerning the young soldier Eden.  First we'd like to thank you for all of the heart-felt thoughts and prayers for his family and for Israel - who did mourn for this young man as a nation.

The Sunday after his death we were privileged to deliver t-shirts to an elite special forces division of the Israel Defense Forces - Duvdevan.  Duvdevan literally means "cherry" on top - the best of the best.  While there, we spent time and ate lunch with the unit commander.  During our time together, we expressed our condolences and sadness about Eden.  You could see the same on the countenance of this leader's face.

Jim told him that we realize the difference between Israel and her enemies in what took place - that the murderer was apprehended by the IDF immediately, and not shot.  The commander explained that they don't kill every terrorist they catch, only if there is an immediate danger and threat to life.  We understand this, and as we told him that we are doing everything we can to share the truths of what is really happening here, Linda began to cry once more in the sorrow and injustice of it all.  It was then that this commander of 600 of Israel's elite warriors reached over and put his arm around her to try and comfort her, and said, "This is Israel...."

When we left he gave Jim an open invitation to come to the base anytime - and to bring his wife :) - even just to have a cup of coffee.  We will definitely take him up on that....

Checking out the logo of the t-shirts we were dropping off.

The relationships that are being formed here go beyond what we ever expected when we first came.  Some are people we've only meet once, and others are mere acquaintances, but there are so very many people that we forge real friendships with.  Israelis are known as "sabras" which is a cactus also known as a prickly pear.  These cactuses were also used as "barbed wire" fences in the past as protection.  But the truth about this prickly pear is that on the inside is a sweet fruit....and the same is true about the Jewish people.

So back to giving thanks.....sometime in October, Jim met a soldier at a base in the North at Mount Hermon.  He was the English translator for Jim's visit to the base - along with Frank, who was visiting from Colorado.  They spent quite some time with the translator, and must have made an impression, because a week later he called Jim and invited us to have dinner with his family for Thanksgiving!

We originally had plans for that evening (guests coming to our home to celebrate Thanksgiving...) but knew we must change our gathering to Sunday because we couldn't miss this important opportunity.  Linda was given the name and phone number of his mother to call and find out the details of the evening.  Her one hope was that the family knew that their son had invited "strangers" for their special dinner!

This first conversation over the phone was enough to set the evening apart as a Thanksgiving gift from our Heavenly Father.  When Linda explained who she was, the excitement from the mom was palpable.  After confirming the details of when, where, what to bring, etc. Linda expressed how honored we were to be invited to their home for such a special evening - not only Thanksgiving dinner, but erev Shabbat dinner - and the only one during Chanukah!  The response was that she and her husband had heard so much about us from their son, and what we do, that they could think of no better way to say thank you than to invite us for thanksgiving dinner with their family - that it was such a blessing for them to meet people who care so much for their children.  This was a first for us - we normally hear that we care for the soldiers, but to hear a parent say to us that we care for their children - that is so much more personal.  We couldn't wait for the evening to arrive....

BUT - God is a God Who does things beyond what we can think or imagine!!!  It "just so happened" that Jim needed to deliver fleece jackets to the base where this soldier's unit was stationed.  So, the day before, the two of us headed out for a full day adventure of leaving Jerusalem to drive to Tel Aviv to pick up the jackets, then on to the base - now stationed in the Golan Heights.  It was a race against time, since it was a Thursday and some of the soldiers would be going away for weekend leave and they were also moving to a new location.  We managed to arrive just in time for lunch :) - it's also a treat to eat with the fighting men and women of Israel, and to certainly enjoy true Israeli food.  We then headed out to hand deliver the jackets to the soldiers.


When we arrived it was very evident that they were packing up to move to their next assignment.

Serious and heart-felt greetings.

Sincerity of why we have come
and the gratitude in which we were received.

Happy to have us their to celebrate their last day at this base.

Ready to distribute the fleece jackets.

Commander explaining who we are and why we are here.

They're really listening.

Let the gifts begin!

Checking it out.

Warriors

Checking sizes.

We then drove a short distance on the same base to another division of this unit to distribute their jackets to them as well.  

Unloading

Meeting the troops.

It's this personal distribution that we love, and it is so important for them to actually see who is providing for their needs - to explain that these come from the Christians in the Nations who love and pray for them, and for us to share our hearts.  Here Jim is explaining that although we know they need these jackets to keep them warm (the weather was just getting ready to get cold and they would be much needed), what we really wanted to give to them was our love and support.  To this, throughout the crowd, could be heard sporadically "we love you too!"

Very happy to pose for a picture in their new warm coats.

Checking out their logo that we had put on their jackets.
This gives them a great sense of belonging and moral.

Notice how they immediately put their beret
on the shoulder of the jacket.

Jim & the commander - real friends.

When we were passing out the jackets to each of the units, we greeted the soldiers with Chag Sameach! Happy Holiday!  - because it was the beginning of Chanukah.  When Linda said this to two young ladies, one looked confused and asked the other girl what Linda meant.  She then replied that they had been so busy on their special exercises that week that she forgot that it was Chanukah!  So a big smile came as Linda asked what she was doing for the weekend.  She said she would be going home to her family in Samaria (known to some as the west bank).

Our Thanksgiving dinner host.

One last good bye.

A thank you from the base commander and the unit commander.

Exchanging contact info.

Another soldier ready to go home for the weekend.

So if visiting this base the day before going to dinner with our young friend and his family wasn't enough.....we were also blessed beyond measure to have come at just the right time to be able to drive this young soldier straight to the door of his home!  He had planned to take the bus that was coming to pick up the soldiers, but it was postponed until 6 pm.  That bus would take him to Tel Aviv, where he would then transfer to take a bus to the Jerusalem central bus station, and then transfer again to take a bus to his home, getting him home close to midnight.  Instead, he arrived in time to eat dinner with his family.  God is good!

You should have seen the wide eyes and dropped jaws of his fellow soldiers as we drove through the gate.  He said it was the look of those who see one who is being favored - he said that not only did he get to leave before the others, but he had a ride.  Not only did he have a ride, but all the way home!  Not always wanting to wait for public transportation - which can be a long wait in rural areas -  many soldiers catch what rides they can, get as far as they can, just to catch another ride.

All packed up to go home - including his new fleece jacket!

When we left the base we were all very excited!  We just had a great visit, and our friend was "going home for the holidays."  You could hear through the cell phone how thrilled his mom was that we were giving her son a ride all the way home.  She told Jim that he was her hero, and this earned us "seconds" at dinner the next evening.  

For the next 3 1/2 hours, the three of us talked non-stop about what we do at CFI, what we believe about the Bible, Jim's experience in the US Air Force, and some about his family.  It was so friendly and so comfortable - the drive went really quick.  And the best part was we would meet his family the very next night.

Sunset over the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) on our drive home.

Friday evening we set out to walk...just down the street!  In all of Jerusalem our new friend's family only lives a ten minute walk from our apartment.  When we arrived, most of the family and friends were already there.  There ended up being 18 of us!  They had a beautiful home, very warm and friendly.  Everyone was quick to introduce themselves and make us feel welcome.  Being an orthodox Jewish family, we weren't sure how religious or traditional they were, so Linda waited to see if the men would shake her hand - which they did, very warmly.

After taking our coats and meeting everyone, we sat down to dinner - with "assigned" seating.  There was even a "kids table" - full of current and former soldiers!  We sat at the main table with the mom and dad, and soldiers as well - including our friend.  Why so many soldiers you say?  Was this a special meal that soldiers were invited to?  Not exactly.  This group comprised of the host family who moved to Israel 8 years ago from the United States, and other close friends and families whom they've known since being here.  It just happens that they all have kids the same age - the age of the Israeli soldiers, both girls and boys.  So given that fact, about half of the guests were soldiers!  How blessed were we!!

We were given the honor of sitting next to our host and hostess for the evening.  After saying the blessings and singing many prayers as well (they provided a book for us), we had a turkey dinner - not quite as traditional as we were used to, but delicious nonetheless.

All of the rest of the people knew each other, so we carried much of the conversation since they wanted to know all about us.  The mom (around Jim's age...) said that from the moment her son told them about us, they just knew that had to meet us.  We explained how CFI helps the soldiers and their units, and were then asked if we help anyone else.  We explained about our distribution center that assists those making aliyah (Jews moving to Israel), and our department that visits and assists holocaust survivors bringing them blankets and financial gifts, the department that cares for the needs of victims of terrorism and also for communities that are generally under attack in Israel.  We told them of our project especially for Jewish immigrants from Ethiopia, because they have special needs coming from a third world country.

All at the table were quite amazed to meet people from other countries who, they said, did more for their people than most Israelis.  But we tried to express to them the honor that we feel in doing this.  We also spoke of our faith, that we believe in and serve the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - just as they do.  And that we know that the Bible says those who choose to bless Israel will be blessed, and those that curse Her will be cursed (Genesis 12:3).  We said we realize that Christians in the past were not always kind to the Jews, and we want them to know that there are those who love and care for them - those that will support and pray for them.  We were a little surprised when the mom asked us if we come across many Jews who are afraid of us.  We asked, "Do you mean they don't like us as Christians?" And she said, "Well, I think that comes from being afraid of Christians from past history."

Provoking to jealousy should have never included persecution.  Yet, this is the mindset of most Jewish People.  We have work to do - to help change the mindset, and through relationships.  We know we cannot change history, but we can change the future.

This, dear friends, is why we are in Israel.

We then explained that we feel part of our job here is also to tell the world the truth about what is happening in Israel - that we have a website, e-newsletters, a magazine and a TV broadcast.  Most media does not paint Israel in a favorable light, but we are doing our best to get the truth out.

Give thanks with a grateful heart.....

After the main meal, we were told were we to all switch seats and get to talk to someone new during dessert.  It was then that we all shared what we were thankful about.  Each took a turn to share what they were thankful about during the past year.  It was very special for us to be a part of this family tradition - and included in it.  Everyone truly shared from their heart, with some tears being shed - first from Grandpa (he flew in from America for this dinner) who lost his wife that year.  

Jim shared that we were thankful to the Jewish people for maintaining the Bible for thousands of years and that it could be brought to the world - and to us personally, and how thankful we were that this family opened their home to us that night - with a response from them that not only have they opened their home, but their hearts to us as well.....Linda shared that we are thankful that although we had to leave behind our families, friends, home, etc. -  God gave us the desire of our hearts in coming to Israel to help and serve - and blessed us with this family to spend Thanksgiving with.  

One of the last to share was a young man in the army who belongs to the unit that had soldiers injured last month when trying to blow up the tunnel found coming into Israel from Gaza.  One of the soldier's eyesight was damaged, and these were his friends.  He shared his thoughts and feelings about how this affected him, his plans for the future, and then surprised us by "giving thanks for us."  He said that he knew that everyone that night who learned of what we were doing in Israel for their people would leave this dinner inspired - that the acts that we were doing had echos that would go farther than we could imagine.  This touched our hearts in a way that he would never imagine.... Then the father said that this was one of the best Thanksgiving dinners they'd ever had, and that each and every person sitting there had a personal invitation to come for next year's Thanksgiving meal.

By the end of the night we knew each person, how they were related to each other, and a little about them - in a personal way that only God could put together.  We were exchanging
contact information with our soldier friend's mom & dad, and talking about getting together soon - just the 4 of us. :)  As we left for the evening, and made our way back to our apartment - strolling down Bethlehem Road arm in arm - we felt the warmth stay with us as we talked about our very special evening and how truly blessed we are.

So much to be thankful for......