This past Thursday was a long, busy - but totally rewarding - day. It started very early in the morning before the sun even considered rising. We began the day at CFI's Distribution Center in Jerusalem near the Central Bus Station to begin unloading a semi truck filled with over 700 banana boxes of clothing that had arrived on a shipping container from the UK.
After 4 hours of several people unloading and moving these boxes, our storage room is now full again of like new clothes to bless the new Jewish Olim (those coming back home to Israel from the diaspora). Along with clothes for their new beginnings, CFI provides pots & pans, towels & sheets, a challah cover & candle holders for Shabbat, a hot water pot or mixer and a blanket. If it's a lone soldier (a soldier from another country choosing to come to Israel to serve in the army) they receive an additional bag of toiletries and a winter fleece kit.
That same night, we were invited to attend an evening BBQ party at the Paratroopers training base near Be'er Sheva. The particular unit we would be visiting had just finished their Paratroopers basic training week. This is a week filled with lots of walking, carrying heavy equipment, not much food, and not much sleep. It's an endurance training to prepare them to be then sent for specific unit training around Israel. The day before the BBQ feast they finished their last day - which consisted of 50 kilometers of hiking and finally receiving their berets as their reward. This scrumptious BBQ dinner was another reward.
Before heading south, we went to Tel Aviv to our supplier to pick up Dri-Fit t-shirts as a gift for these new soldiers, with their unit logo on the back. Going to the supplier is always an adventure, and a chance to meet commanders. While on this visit, Jim was honored to meet a command sergeant, who when hearing what we (CFI) do for the IDF, took off his brigade pin (which he'd had for 14 years) and gave it to Jim - personally pinning it on Jim's jacket.
The general manager of the supplier (below) is a special person, who says Jim is like a brother to her.
While waiting for the commander, we spoke with several soldiers. Each curious as to why we were there and what our amuta (non-profit organization) does in Israel. It was a great opportunity to spend one-on-one time talking with the guys.
This was the best chicken BBQ we've ever had. Absolutely perfect - and served with the most delicious hummus and pita. What else could you ask for??
Sooooo wish you could smell this.
Once we met up with the commander, he explained what the unit had just endured with their training and a little bit about them. He then introduced us to one of the lone soldiers in the group who had come to serve from the United States. This special young man told us his story with great passion. He was serving in the US Navy, and on an officer career path at the naval Academy, when he realized that he had a drawing to serve in the Israel Defense Forces protecting the Land of his people. The pull was so strong and so big in his heart, it was written all over him. He has now been in Israel almost a year, and is so proud to be serving here. We were happy to find out he lives in an apartment only a few blocks from us shared with 3 other lone soldiers when they are not on duty. As he and Jim exchanged phone numbers, we planned to get together for Shabbat dinner in the future. We're also hoping through CFI to help with some needed maintenance of their apartment in Jerusalem.
The brave, new soldiers below were patiently waiting for the ok to eat the food being served. They didn't touch one morsel until the blessing was said - and some were sitting here for at least 30 minutes....
While we waited for the evening to begin, several soldiers came to speak with us when they heard English. :) Several were lone soldiers who chose to come to Israel to serve from their home countries. The IDF allows Jews from other nations to volunteer in their army to defend their ancestral homeland. Those who come serve with great pride.
Before the meal, we watched a montage of pictures and video of the past week's training - strangely enough to music in English....
Also before the meal, Jim was asked to share a few words with the soldiers. As he does many times, he encouraged them in what they are doing, and told them that we want them to know that what they are doing is the right - and not only right, but righteous - defending the homeland of the Jewish people, and God's Land. The interpreter, after having spending a while with us and learning what CFI does for the army, told his fellow paratroopers what we do and how we support them. When the young soldiers found out we had brought them a small gift to reward them for an end of a difficult week, they were so thrilled! Who would have ever thought a group boys would be so excited to be receiving a t-shirt? But these brave new soldiers were VERY proud of their unit, and loved the t-shirts with their logo on the back. Wish we'd taken a picture, but the shirts were black with the logo on it in Israeli blue.
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| Jim speaking to the soldiers. |
During dinner, one of the fathers of a soldier made his way to where we were sitting to thank Jim for what he shared with the boys, saying it meant a lot to him. You could see the pride he had in his son who was sitting across the table from us. After eating the best chicken BBQ we've ever had, soldiers came to us to thank us - not only for t-shirts, showing our support for them, but for what Jim had spoke to them - it had gone straight to their hearts, his saying we believed what they are doing is right.
One young man poured his heart out to Linda for at least half an hour - explaining the burden of knowing what they are doing is right, but that the world doesn't see it this way. They know they are a moral army and the great lengths they go to to save lives, even to the extent of losing their own - but they want others to know this as well. To know "people like us" see this, and support them, is very important to them. He told her of how growing up, the IDF soldiers were his heroes - admiring them when on the bus, overhearing their conversations with their loved ones, and taking note of the different weapons they carried. He shared with great pride how he knows that now - it's "his time" to serve.
This young man (all these boys were 18-19 yrs old) shared how he is not afraid of the bullets that may come at him during war, what concerns him is the thought of his mother watching the news and waiting with her phone just to know he's ok - which brought tears to Linda's eyes. Before we left, she asked if she could give him a momma hug, which he readily received.
Jim had an intriguing conversation with another soldier. Yoseph, a religious young man, approached and shared his thoughts about what Jim had shared. Incidentally, Jim is now regularly being referred to as Kobi - which is a nickname for Yakov, which is Hebrew for Jacob, which a translation of James,...It's fun explaining that! Yoseph and "Kobi" talked about names for a few moments. Anyway, the discussion ultimately centered around the differences between life and death, blessing and cursing, good and bad, etc. And how the Jewish people are called to represent life, blessing and good - all which are commandments of God and represent His Truth. The choice then is simply - what are we going to do about these instructions, which side will we be on, and how do we represent this in our everyday lives? Yoseph was quite amazed as he doesn't speak to many Gentiles or Christians, so for us to be in agreement about some of his beliefs really encouraged him. As a believer in the New Testament as well, Jim encouraged him to continue being a light to the nations, and representing God's fundamental truths. Provoking to jealousy (Romans 11:11) is always an exciting opportunity - to be a part of Ephesians 2 seemingly coming to pass in front of our very eyes - is what drives us to remain in Israel and to be a part of those whom CFI likes to call "people chosen for a chosen people."
On Linda's birthday, we travelled to visit a commander of a special forces unit. There is nowhere else she would have rather been than visiting there. After spending some time together, we followed him out to a training area for new unit soldiers. They were living in these tents in the middle of nowhere.
They asked if we wanted some "local" coffee and made us some very strong (yet very good) "soldier" coffee. The army uses these portable coffee makers in the field and during war. CFI provided some of these sets to a unit during the recent war with Hamas in Gaza. Seeing that they were having to use plastic cups and the set was worn, Jim asked the commander if he'd like more kits for his guys. Being surprised at the offer, the commander, of course, said yes - thank you! Coffee is actually quite essential to help the soldiers be alert when they cannot get much sleep.
When it was time to leave, Linda asked if she could ride in the truck with the commander back to the base, in which he said of course! She happily jumped in the back with him and his "right hand man." After not being in the truck for long, he asked her - why do you (CFI) do what you do? We're Jewish, you are Christians? Why? Wow!! What a great opportunity she had found herself in - here was the leader of about 800 elite warriors, wanting to know why we support them.
She explained that we serve the same God they do - the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of Israel - and we believe what He says His plans are, for Israel and the Jewish people. God says He gave this Land to Israel as an inheritance forever - period, and that while God is the "big iron dome" (the defense system that took out all the rockets during the last war), He also uses the Israeli army to protect the land, and that we consider them an extension of King David's army from the Tanakh (Old Testament). Linda shared many more things with them, and they agreed with everything she said, and were happy to hear we felt this way as well. It was such a special birthday gift for her to have this important talk with them.
Whether we are unloading a shipment from around the world to bless the new immigrants coming back to their homeland, visiting with the protectors of this land, or doing administrative work at the office of CFI - we are truly, truly blessed to be making a difference in Israel. Many times it's one person at a time, but the impact you make in one heart spreads as the trust grows. We thank God for each and every opportunity He presents to us.
We also thank God for the opportunity to visit the US in a few weeks. We will be attending family reunions in Florida, North Carolina and New York. A time of rest and reuniting with our daughter and other friends will be highlights of our first trip back in over four years. Your prayers and support are very much appreciated. We wish we could stay longer to visit.
LORD ~ please help us to...
"be doers of the Word [obey the message],
and not merely listeners to it, betraying ourselves
[into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]."
James 1:22 AMP
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