We thoroughly enjoyed our time visiting with friends and family as we toured around several states. We even had a little time to relax and enjoy the mountains during the beginning of Autumn. While in North Carolina, we received the much-needed new laptop that was given to us, which we are now writing our first blog post since being back. It is soooo much faster, saving us time and frustration.
We would also like to thank everyone for their love, encouragement and support. While our round trip flight to the US was sponsored by loved ones, the rest of our visit expenses were by faith. By the time we left to come back to Israel, we had received more than enough support to cover all our expenses. Once again proving God's faithfulness to provide for our every need, including spending time with those we care about so far away. Thank you for your giving hearts.
If possible, we could write updates every week, there is so much going on here....but we will share just a bit in this post. Right before we left to go the States, our CFI headquarters began moving to a new location, and was still completing the move when we returned. For the past 2 1/2 years the HQ has shared the location of our Distribution Center, but has recently moved to a new home. We are very excited about our offices - located on the 6th floor, inside the Jerusalem Central Bus Station! This is the most perfect location, being literally right around the corner from our Distribution Center, not to mention convenience for not only the staff but all those who visit us. It is a prime area right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem.
As many of you may already know, we recently had a wave of terror-related fires in Israel. With 2,000 fires - yes, 2,000 - there has been significant damage to many homes and lands. Along with several other organizations, and the Israeli people as a whole, our organization - Christian Friends of Israel (CFI) is contacting those with needs to help them get back on their feet.
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| Burned out house in Haifa. |
CFI, in conjunction with a Jewish organization, provided several items that were needed by 20 families in the town of Halamish. These families were left homeless as the fires ravaged through this town a week ago. It was with full hearts that we (Jim & Linda) shopped at stores pricing the items we needed to quick order so they would be received before the Sabbath began. A small staff team personally went to the town to deliver what CFI donated to the families. Our hearts and prayers are also with the families in Tennessee who also suffered the tragedy of fires this past week.
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| Home in Halamish |
The day the CFI staff team delivered needed items to the fire victims, was a miraculously rainy day across much of the country that desperately needed rain. At the same time, we (Jim & Linda), along with another staff member, were on another ministry adventure. There were several visits in the south to needy families to be made, so we set out early on Friday morning - in the blessed rain.
1 - Our first stop was to recipients of our First Fruits project. These are believers in the Land who are in a situation where they need a financial helping hand. In this instance the husband had been in an accident and was unable to work for some time. We arrived to being treated to hot tea and homemade cookies - great on a cold rainy day. As we discussed the accident, you could see the pain and difficulty it brought to the family. As Jim shared how CFI would be able to assist them, you could sense them begin to relax.
When discussing things that the husband truly loved - fishing and their son, who just finished his army service - you could see the pride and joy return. Before we left, we were shown lots of pictures and a video of their son, and his uniform; they are so proud of him. They also showed us several fishing pictures and a cross he made from fishing rope. It was hard to leave, but we had two more visits to fit in. It was with hugs and smiles that we left this family - much better than when we arrived.
2 - The next visit was to a holocaust survivor from our CFI project Forsake Them Not. She welcomed us with open arms - and a meal! She made us homemade chicken schnitzel and bulgar wheat. Coffee and cookies for dessert. As we sat around the table she shared her story with us. She was only one month old during the war. Her parents didn't survive, but her 14 year old brother saved her. He took care of her and they made it through the ghettos and concentration camp. Quite a miracle! She and her family moved to Israel 20 years ago. Since then, they have had many health issues and her husband has been bed ridden. We were able to provide some assistance, and hopefully more in the future.
This visit was such an encouragement to her, and she asked Jim to come to the bedroom to pray for her husband before we left. Once again, we left with hugs and smiles - and a gift of cookies. It may be cold and rainy, but the hearts we were visiting were warm.
3 - The last visit was an hour away. As we drove through the storm, we went in and out of the system. It was already afternoon by now, and we thought the next visit was going to be a quick drop off of the assistance CFI was providing to the family through our CFI project Streams of Blessing. We were wrong.
As with the first two visits, we were greeted with warm hospitality - and coffee and cookies. The family began to share their experience of hardship, which brought CFI to want to help them. The wife had an accident at work a few years ago affecting her head, and has been unable to cope normally since then. She and her husband also have a teenage daughter who has had a hard time dealing with the trauma of this situation. In addition to their difficulties, the husband is in a wheelchair, having lost a leg while in their home country, which they left 10 years ago to come to Israel.
After spending quite some time hearing their story, Jim shared what assistance CFI would be providing. As he did, tears came to the eyes of the husband. You could sense the relief this brought to the difficult situation they had been going through.
Before we left, Jim got to play with their dog. They had gotten the dog for their daughter to help her through the difficult situation their family was dealing with. They also showed us many crafts that the daughter had made as a sort of therapy. As a thank you gift, they gave us two plaques she made by pressing clay into a mold and then painting with her fingers. This was very precious to us - and we had the daughter sign the back for us. With grateful tears they said goodbye as we left this precious family.
As we drove home on that cold and rainy day, our hearts were so warm and full from the 3 visits we were blessed to participate in that day. And as the three of us discussed in the car, yes these families were in need of practical assistance to ease the hardship of their situation. BUT - from what we experienced, even more so, they were in need of an understanding heart and a warm and gentle smile. They needed encouragement that they were good people, and that they would make it through. That God was for them, and that while it was tough right now, things would get better.
They thought they were the ones being blessed - but it was the three of us blessed that day. It's better to give than receive...
"In everything I have given you an example of how,
by working hard like this, you must help the weak,
remembering the words of the Lord Yeshua himself,
‘There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.’"
Acts 20:35
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