June 5 Homeward Bound

Our family rose at 4:00 am to catch a taxi to the Ben Gurion airport to return home with our hearts full. What a joy it was to see Baba and Gido Kirylchuk and the Lane family at the Calgary airport!

June 4 Nitzana

Gisela speaking about her experiences. Our first time in a synagogue.

The after glow of that amazing meeting with God.

Our last day in the land began with our first ever time in synagogue. In Peg Byars’ words: We listened to “the testimony of how Gisela, an Argentinean Jew who made Aliyah many years ago and is now a volunteer at Nitzana, came to place her faith in Yeshua... Gisela’s story is one of deliverance from deep depression and a life without hope. At her lowest point, she was befriended by our friends Rachel and Avner Boskey who poured their love and the word of God into her. But it was Jolanda Pinchas who helped her through one of the biggest hurdles Jewish people face when considering Yeshua – the divinity of this Man from Galilee and the Trinity – three Persons in one God. All their lives, Jews say the Shema – Hear O Israel the Lord your God is One. How could this Yeshua be God’s son and have deity like the Father? 

Jolanda took Gisela to Genesis 1:26 to begin her journey:  Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, in Our likeness . . .”  Then she used the analogy of water and the three states of water: liquid, steam and ice – yet all water, to bring light to the doctrine of the Trinity. Suddenly, something in Gisela’s heart opened and the revelation of the power of the blood of Yeshua began to take form. There is much more to the story as this precious woman was besieged by demons for many years, but now, armed with Yeshua within her heart, she began to walk in authority under sound teaching and oversight, and one by one, the demons had to depart from her.  She thanked God for the blood of His Son that set her free and encouraged us to appropriate the blood of the Lamb to be rid of any demonic influence in our lives. Dean invited anyone who was troubled in this area, or who had a loved one or friend in bondage, to come forward for prayer.    

This synagogue became holy ground as Yeshua ministered freedom to many. The next hour was one of chains being broken and prisoners being set free; of secret sins confessed and the blood of Yeshua joyfully claiming His own.  God created an environment of His Presence in this place and the enemy had no choice but to flee.  How special of the Lord, that in the fullness of time on this tour, He ended our time together in such a precious and powerful way. All glory to our Saviour and Lord!”


 I had the opportunity to speak with a Ukrainian Jew named Peter with the hopes of encouraging him to move to Israel. I shared about our family's historical roots and how grateful we are to my grandparents for immigrating from the Ukraine in 1930.

Following that amazing time with the Lord, we hopped on the bus with all of our luggage and made our way back to Tel Aviv. After saying goodbye to our great bus driver and settling into the Gilgal Hotel once more, most of us headed for the beach of the Mediterranean Sea. 

Our last meal together before departure.

Being in Israel has changed our lives! We are so grateful to Return Ministries for walking with us in the Land.

June 3 Relationship with the Father

June 3, Friday Nitzana walk way 0551, Kristi 0598

One picturesque view while in Nitzana

Our first experience today was a visit in the Nitzana Educational community where we spent the night. Since 1986, Nitzana has provided a place of transition for Jews making aliyah (moving to Israel) provided by the Israeli government. Nitzana is 3 km from the Egyptian border and often refuges fleeing Africa come here. One of their goals is to do research to discover new ways of living, recycling water and growing food in the desert. A few years ago water (lots of water just below the surface) was discovered and we could see lakes of this water on the Israel side of the border. Isaiah 35:6 “Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” The water is brackish with a salt content beyond human consumption. We visited an organic green house where they produce succulent cherry tomatoes that have been watered with this brackish water! 

An Ibex in the park where the Ben Gurions are buried.

The young adults of our team ready to step across the line in the sand to declare consecration before the Lord.

Sweet things happened in our group during our time at the David Ben-Gurion tombs after touring their last home. David Ben Gurion, Isarel’s first Prime Minister, had a dream for the Jewish people to come and make the desert bloom as in Is 35:1 “The desert shall blossom as a rose.” We had a moving prayer time for the young people of our group (which included Kristi, Kathleen, Karilyn, David and John along with 5 others). Then each youth was given the opportunity to make declarations regarding their time in Israel. David’s declaration was that he is going home with a completely different mindset regarding the Jewish people, John said he was going home with a love for the Jewish people, Karilyn quoted Proverbs 3: 5 & 6 and that she now presses in to see prophecy fulfilled wondering what her part is in all this.

(from the pen of Karilyn) At this location overlooking the incredibly beautiful desert hills, Dean began to speak. One of the things that he mentioned in memory of David Ben Gurion was that he had a dream that became his reality as he worked and strove towards it. Dean encouraged the young adults of our team to do likewise. Shortly after his talk he called us young adults up to be prayed for and invited us to give testimonies of what God has been doing in our hearts while being in Israel, as well as a time to encourage each other. With the scene set, each of us began to share: Kristi, Gab, Rob, Kath, Stephanie, John, David, Paxton, Tyler and myself. You may ask, “Were you encouraged?” and in response I would say, “Yes!”  A couple of things that still echo in my mind can be summed up in four words: relationship with the Father. First and foremost, if us young adults put God first, everything will come into place. The Scripture that God gave me for my friends was from Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

David speaking of how God had worked in his heart.

My brother David had a good word. God gave him a picture of a hill and at the top was a symbol of a heart and around the sides were knights covered in armour protecting the ‘point.’  There were enemies attacking, and each knight represented an area of our lives. In Proverbs 4:23 it says: “Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” Understanding the importance of this time, Gab encouraged us to make the commitment (a symbolic act) to walk forward in the good things of God by crossing a line. Personally, it felt as if I was being baptized again, saying, “Yes God; not my will but Yours be done” (as Jesus said so many years ago). As Gab put it, this reflects a martyr’s act. This is absolutely true because this kind of life is not one of pleasure (as the world sees it) but one of sacrifice. In the couple of weeks that we have been together, I have felt that this team is like my family; none of us were brought together by accident. My prayer is that we would continue this journey of friendship, with one another, with the people of Israel, and most importantly – with God. This has been an experience I will never forget. ‘I’m ruined for the ordinary.’

(from Kathleen’s pen): “I wanted to share one of the highlights of my adventures yesterday.  After we went to David and Paula Ben Gurion’s grave site, we stopped for a late lunch. Now you may be asking, “What’s so significant about food that you have to blog about it?” But trust me, it was way more than a physical feeding. I had decided to randomly bring my guitar to practice a song some of the young adults were going to perform, and while the majority went off to eat, I chilled a bit with the guitar, and not even two minutes into the ‘chilling,’ a young boy with long hair rode up on his bike and shouted excitedly ,“guitar!” He then disappeared around the corner and I thought nothing more of it, until he returned and stood and watched me strum a few chords and I asked him “Do you play the guitar?” He replied, “yes, but not well.”  I handed him the guitar and my jaw dropped; this young boy was picking beautifully. I thought this couldn’t get much better until he opened his mouth. The sound that came out of that little boy’s mouth was beautiful. After talking with him for a while I found out that his name was Itamar and that he was born in Israel 14 years ago. Later on, some of his friends also came to listen and encouraged him to play more songs. The beauty of this story comes in its simplicity. It wasn’t a “show me what you got” mentality; but rather the enjoyment of each other’s company; knowing that Christ loves us in the same way, not expecting anything in return and looking beyond the borders of age, gender and ethnicity.”

Shabbat tonight was shared with two Messianic Jewish couples in a Bedouin tent in Kadesh-Barnea, very near the Egyptian border. (Avishai & Jolanda Pinchas and Avner and Rachel Boskey! Their testimonies were focussed on the goodness of our God. One family has a couple of music CD’s that we will soon be adding to our collection, see www.davidstent.com. The other family has spent the last few years helping Sudanese refugees settle in Israel. Amazing! (Before the meal, the young adults played soccer with our bus driver!)

Working up an appetite!

Sharing the Shabbat feast with Messianic Jews near the Egyptian border

June 2 Ein Gedi, Masada, Negev Desert

After a quick breakfast, we proceeded to do some filming of Yaakov Berg and Dean Bye at the Psagot Winery. Return Ministries is very interested in partnering with the Bergs to construct some living accommodations for people making aliyah or for gentiles to live in while they volunteer in Israel.

Our next stop was to Ein Gedi, another beautiful Nature Reserve where we were refreshed in the pools. Karen Dunham, of Living Bread International Church, met us when we had returned to the visitor center. As she told her story of how the Lord saved her and then inspired her to begin working in Palistinian refugee camps, we were amazed. “She brought the pure love of Jesus to them, and is now highly regarded by the Israeli government and tolerated by the Palestinian Authority. She has access to all 28 refugee camps in the land and gives the Bread of Life right along with whatever compassionate care she is able to provide. She is no stranger to being on the receiving end of violent acts by terrorists, but boldly carries on behind the shield of the One she serves so selflessly, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Miraculously, she now pastors a Christian church at #7 Prophet Street, just steps away from the Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem. She inspired us with stories of God’s Spirit moving amongst the Arab people and gave thanks and glory to God for salvations, healings and deliverance. What a privilege it was to join our hearts with hers today and to seed into the work God has called this bold, humble lady to.” Peg Byars See www.livingbreadchurch.com Karen took time to pray for each person on our team! 

Karen Dunham praying for Dean Bye

Playing in the pool of Ein Gedi

Dan with Julian, a new friend.

Another amazing God-incidence happened while we were at Ein Gedi: Dan met for the fourth time a young American man traveling with a Birthright group! Both interpreted this miraculous repeated re-encounter as a sign that perhaps Julian should consider making aliyah (moving to Israel) and his heart was open to the idea!

We ascended Masada in a sky tram

Completely re-energized we continued our journey to Masada, King Herod’s Fortress. We learned of how this mountain was the last Jewish stand against the Romans before being beaten into submission.

Sharing a meal amid the extensive almond grove

A wonderful surprise awaited us in the Negev Desert enroute to Nitzana. Dr. Jair Yehuda’s sister, her husband and other families work together to grow almonds, grapes, olives, grapefruit, apricots and cherries in the middle of the desert and prepared a simple feast for our team in the middle of an almond grove. It was heartwarming to spend time with this Orthodox Jewish couple. Their work is part of the fulfillment of Isaiah 27: 6, “in days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.” 

The beginning of another vineyard

THE CALL

(written by Karilyn Schultz at our Return Ministries’ base before leaving for Israel – from Isaiah 51)

O Israel, O Israel – hear the Voice

O Israel, O Israel – hear the Voice of the One who’s calling,

The Voice that’s calling you home

The Lord will comfort Zion

He’ll look with compassion on her

He will make her deserts like Eden

Her wastelands like the Garden of the Lord

For Yeshua

Yes,  your Yeshua

Calls you to awake, calls you to rise

The ransom of the Lord, He’ll leave no one behind

You’ll enter Zion with singing and dancing

And gladness and joy will become your crown

Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults,

For Yeshua, yes, your Yeshua

A typical trailer that a Jewish family making aliyah might live in.
Please note the flowers blooming beside the steps - it is as though the Jew has a natural bent toward beauty! 

June 1 Bet-El and Yad Vashem

Hillel Brenner teaching us from the best tour book: The Torah!

Our children joined others from our team to pick cherries in the hills of Benjamin this morning. More fulfillment of prophecy! Isaiah 61:5 “Foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.”

We traveled to Bet-El where we met Hillel who blessed us once again with insightful teaching on many portions of relevant scripture. We began on the top of a water tower which afforded us a 360 degree view of the area. We learned that because of Muslim snipers local Jewish people must drive 45 minutes between villages where they used to have a 10 minute drive. (We saw the sign: “No Jews on this Road”.) Annie Elliot has written, “The word of God came alive as Hillel shared about some of the kings of Israel who ruled in the region of Benjamin. A highlight was visiting the site where Jacob ‘came to a certain place’ and laid his head on a stone and had a dream. Jacob’s destiny and the destiny of the Jewish people were revealed as God said He was giving the entire land of Israel to him and his descendants forever (Genesis 28). Here we were, as a group of Christian Zionists, standing at that very place, 3,600 years later with Israel back in the land of her inheritance. The contention escalates today with those who  seek to divide God’s land (Joel 3:2), but God is watching over His word to perform it and we declare that every promise He has made to Israel will come to pass.” It is hard to believe that U.S. President Obama and others want to give all this land to the Muslims!

Did you know that Wadi Perat, an Israel Nature Park, is where the prophet Jeremiah was instructed by the Lord to buy a piece of land (Jeremiah 32: 13)? This amazingly beautiful area near Anatoth has picnic tables set up along a stream filled with fish that flows in the ravine. Dean and Chris from CBN did some very meaningful filming while sitting in the shade of some very large ancient trees. Our bus driver performed amazing driving feats getting us to and from the very deep ravine along a winding road with many hairpin curves. 

Following this exciting time, we traveled to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem. Here are our family’s immediate reactions after leaving the museum:

Dan - I never want to see that happen to the Jews again. I want to fight for/with them.

Kim - I am so grateful that my grandparents moved to Canada before the Holocaust as the Nazis swept through Ukraine killing Jews very near the place where they had lived.

Kristi - The persecution of the Jews actually started after Jesus’ death.

Kathleen - My desire to become a teacher is reinforced as I want to educate children to help prevent this from ever happening again. 

Karilyn - Now I understand why we are encouraged to say we are “Believers” rather than “Christians” to a Jewish person as they associate the name Christian with the persecution and death.

David - I don’t like to be reminded of these things.

John - Why didn’t the Jews fight back instead of going like lambs to the slaughter?

The museum was closed long before we were ready to leave. As we drove by the Old City of Jerusalem on our way back to Psagot, we saw thousands of youth marching on the streets from East Jerusalem to the Western Wall. At times the streets appeared to be a sea of white and blue. Lord may You “plant them in this land” as you have said in Jeremiah 32:41. 

May 31 Jerusalem

Karilyn wrote a poem called, “Coming Home” which she declared as we drove.

COMING  HOME

Sing!

          Shout!

                       Laugh!

Cry in Jubilation!

For Israel is returning to her land.

Zion – Awake with joy

Dance for all your might!

The Lord is Calling,

                                 Calling,

                                                Calling you home.

Judah – stand.

You rise redeemed

Lift your hands and sing!

For Israel is returning to her land!

2 Chronicles 6:32-33 – Solomon’s prayer to God for foreigners was never more meaningful “Also concerning the foreigner who is not from Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your great name’s sake and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray toward this house, then hear from heaven,  from your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, and fear You as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I built is called by Your name.” Lord, may Your people return home.

Our first stop in Jerusalem was at the Davidson Center where we watched a virtual 3-D reconstruction of the Temple Mount based on actual archaeological evidence. Then we walked through the ruins and observed the evidence! 

Flagging on the Southern Steps

On the Southern Steps of the Old City, we were finally in a place where we could be certain that Jesus had once walked. We filmed dancing and declaration. It is a great sadness to the Jewish people that not even one stone of the Temple itself remains as it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD and now the Muslims have built The Dome of The Rock on the very spot. Every Jewish marriage ceremony recalls the longing for the Temple as the bride and groom symbolically crush a glass.

Schultz Family on the steps of the Temple Mount where Jesus would have walked!

As we neared the Western Wall of the Temple Mount and then as we walked in the streets of the Old City, we realized the fulfillment of Zechariah 8:5: “The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.” Tomorrow is Jerusalem Day and already the streets are filled with school children and Birthright young adults. Jerusalem Day celebrates the 1967 liberation and reunification of Jerusalem which had been under Jordanian rule, now once more under Israeli rule. Great excitement was in the air! We shared quiet contemplative moments at the Western or Wailing Wall.

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School students rejoicing near the Western Wall

After which we walked through the famous Zion Gate, sang a couple of songs to some more students and continued on into the City of David. Another completely new experience awaited: a 45 minute historic trek through Hezekiah’s Tunnel complete with cool, refreshing water (over our knees at times!) “Singing and rejoicing, we bumped our heads and arms as we made our way under the city through to the light at the end of the tunnel where the Pool of Siloam pool was recently discovered.” Peter Firth

Hezekiah's Tunnel

During supper back at Psagot, we were joined by Chris Mitchell, CBN’s Bureau Chief for the Middle East. This amazing day ended with prayer for Chris and his family.

May 30 Jordan River, Qumran, Genesis Land

May 30, Monday

After spending an enjoyable weekend at Ron Beach Hotel along the Sea of Galilee or the Kennaret as it is now called, we departed southbound along Israel’s eastern border. Arriving at Kaser El Yehud, a baptismal site on the Jordan River provided a first time sight of Israeli soldiers on one side of the Jordan and Jordanian soldiers on the other. 

This was a very special experience because six of our family were baptized in the same river that Jesus had been. For us it was evidence of desire to go deeper with God. Prayer for our family, filming, and worshipping through dance made it very meaningful. Costas spoke of worship being akin to digging wells. We’re not responsible for the water in the well, only to dig. There is great value in continuing to dig beyond the first bit of water so that more water can be held. The well diggers are the musicians who do the work even if other just stand around and watch.

Singing to the Israel Defense Force Soldiers at the Jordan River

The most hot and dusty stop followed with teaching and photos at the site of where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered at Qumran. The great honor the Jews have placed on the Torah was very evident. 

Karilyn pointing at the possible location of discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea is vast although it is shrinking. We observed a massive program to retain the water for tourist hotels along the Sea. The most exciting things was seeing the fresh water reeds and other vegetation growing where the water has receded. This hot and dusty experience was rewarded with a float and mud bath in the Dead Sea, the lowest place on Earth. Our children really are bonding with the other 5 young people on our journey.

Mud bath in the Dead Sea

A delightful and insightful experience awaited us for supper as we rode camels to “Abraham’s” bedouin tent. Those camel saddles potentially cause nasty bruises, as Kristi can attest. Abraham’s gracious hospitality included 3 courses and dessert which we enjoyed while lounging on mats around low tables! The desert surrounded us as we watched a quick sunset. 

May 29 Beautiful People of the Land

Part 1 from the "pen" of Kristi

The moments have slipped into days filled with wonderful, unexpected joy and the overflow of learning. This day began with a strong swelling in my spirit to sing love over the people of Israel who we would meet over the course of the day, so we sang ‘My Beloved,’ the new song the Lord gave yesterday. This simple, but necessary act of intercession was soon met with another first time experience for us; a visit to the Memorial centre for the fallen Druze IDF in Daliyat al-Carmel. “Druze?” you might ask. Well let me give you a few facts about these kindred spirits:

1. The Druze take as their prophet Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law.
2. The Druze community in Israel today numbers 140,000 and continues a long history of kinship with the Jewish nation.
3. The Druze were the only Arabs who signed a covenant with the State of Israel.

How precious it was to see Dean being led by the hand around the memorial by Mr. Amal Naser El Deen, an elder in the Druze community. Personally, I had never heard of the Druze and was shocked to hear of their deep mutual respect of Israel, their participation in the wars to insure Israeli independence and safety, and their selfless acts of binding themselves to the Jews. Wow! A quote from one biography by Mr. El Deen about Mr. Begin (a former Prime Minister of Israel) says in a prayer-like way to which Christians can agree: “We will keep these chose relations and together we will build the country and protect it from enemies and strangers until we accomplish the hoped for peace.” Amen!

We were joined again by Deputy Minister Ayoob Kara whom we met last week at the Knesset. He is Druze, and a most poignant moment occurred when Mr. Kara sang HaTikvah (The Hope), Israel’s national anthem, with a heart full of passion. As a Member of the Knesset, he encourages that HaTikvah is sung often in the halls of government. If you haven’t heard the song, YouTube it or better still – come to Israel and hear this beautiful song of Hope. In English it goes as follows:

As long as deep within the heart

A Jewish soul stirs,

And forward, to the end of the East

An eye looks out, towards Zion.

Our hope is not yet lost,

The hope of two thousand years,

To be free people in our land

The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

Dr. Faydra Shapiro teaching "Eating Jewishly"

What a beautiful way to be introduced to this little-known people group, the Druze. May we all stand so strong for the Jews and for the Peace of Israel as history has proven they do. J

Part 2 (Karilyn)

Visiting with Rachel (middle) in Mitzpe Netofa.

I wanted to tell you about a special moment that also took place today. After eating a scrumptious lunch with Dr. Faydra Shapiro, a Canadian orthodox lady who made Aliyah from Ontario with her family almost three years ago, we enjoyed her  Selah Workshop. Faydra lives in Mitzpe Netofa in the Lower Galilee.  She taught us about Jewish eating customs which was very enlightening. My sisters, Stephanie Bourassa and myself were invited to the home of Rachel Jehuda who we spent Shabbat with, and it is so wonderful to build a friendship with a Jewish girl! I felt so blessed by her hospitality and kindness. Her affection for her family and God gave me a bigger love for her people.

Part 3 (Kathleen)

This part of the blog consists of the discovery of the Brethren of Early Christianity community in Magen Shaul, not far from Afula. Before we came to Israel, our family was privileged to spend several days at the Return Ministries’ base in SW Ontario. While we were there, we had the opportunity to tour the Brethren Farm in Bright, ON, and were informed that the arms of the Brethren of Early Christianity stretch overseas to Israel. The Brethren’s desire to bless the Jews was seen in Israel yesterday! We were able to visit and see the wonderful enterprises the Brethren have become involved in and hear their amazing testimonies of grace, mercy, humbleness, and faith. I saw that since these families choose to align themselves with Israel they are being blessed in the shadow of His wing.  

The Brethren factory that we visited in Magen Shaul.

These Brethren in Israel are people that want to remain hidden so that all the glory will go to God! How humbling is that!? It was beautiful to come together as sisters and brothers in unity, showing our support for one another and having a deep love that was based upon Christ’s love for us!

This entry was also published at http://return-to-israel.com/2011/05/

May 28 Shabbat

Dr. Jair Yehuda, daughter Rachel, son Noam with his wife, Yaffa and their 2 girls, shared singing and teaching with us for most of the afternoon. They are Orthodox Jews who love the Torah, Hashem (the Lord), their children, the land of Israel for starters. Last night when we welcomed the Shabbat together, we saw photos of the gathering and ceremony for Jair’s grandson’s circumcision. It was special for them to share this part of their lives with us. The Jews have weekly readings from the Torah called Parsha, this week’s parsha reading comes from Numbers 3. Redeeming this first born son was part of the ceremony.

Here’s what we’ve learned about Shabbat since participating twice: Shabbat is the only day off each week so the Jews really keep the observance seriously. There is a ceremony to welcome it and to bid it farewell, in fact the rest of the week is spent either anticipating it or glowing from it! It is primarily a time for family and the giving of blessings. Jair spoke of “the notion of the Shabbat being a gateway to ascribe to return to intimacy with the father,” and that although “the Jews kept the Shabbat, the Shabbat kept the Jews” through all these thousands of years. One more significant thing Jair shared was when we reconnect with God, the earth responds! Things will grow. We were introduced to a new website that Dean Bye, Jair and others are involved in developing which will facilitate communication between Jews, Christian Zionists and Muslim Zionists! The goal is to study the Bible and to seek a greater understanding of God and each other to spark the development of unity! Praise the Lord for e-noam. Another aspect of Jewishness that I want to learn more about is celebrating the Biblical feasts such as Passover (thanks Mom for a really great start), Tabernacles, and Harvest. 

BELOVED ONE

 (written by Karilyn during our time in Galilee inspired by Isaiah 60, 62)

Nations shall see Your victory

Every king Your majesty

 You shall be called by a new name

A name that the Lord will bestow

On you, on you

Oh Jerusalem, O Zion

The name His delightful One

 The name His Glorious Crown

 A Bride who’s waiting for her Groom

 The name His Beloved One

The Name His Shinning Star

A bride that’s being called to her Groom

Nations shall see Your radiance

 HaShem’s presence over you

Your sons shall be brought from afar

All returning to You and calling You

So hear the Voice of your Deliverer

 Hear the Voice of your Redeemer

 Rise up and embrace your place as His pure Brides

May 27 Journey to Galilee

Date Palms growing in the desert

Kristi, Kathleen, and Karilyn dancing with Monica Di Francesco

Monica prayed as we left Psagot that we would be able to dance and worship the Lord! Driving through dusty hilly desert, a few minutes later our bus driver, Amos, stopped the overheated bus. We were in the Jordan Valley. The girls changed into their lovely costumes and danced on the road and on a gravel path with Monica. People drove by with varied reactions (mostly Palistinians - their license plates were white with green print; Jewish license plates are yellow with white print). Then a family with 6 daughters stopped to meet us. Perhaps the sacrifice of praise drew them (the temp was above 30 degrees and blazing sun), perhaps curiosity but at the end Dan spoke to the father who gave us his name and phone number(!) and told us there were many Muslims in these hills that want to live as Israelis peacefully (not as the Palistinians who reject Israel’s nationhood).We took pictures of them, Stephanie gave Canadian flags and pencils, they smiled a lot, we smiled a lot too. :) 

We reached our destination in Tiberius, along the Sea of Galilee, just after 2:30 in order to join Daniel Carmel on the vessel, Faith. Daniel came to faith in Yeshua through the witness of Christian who snag to the Lord on his boat over the years and now he enthusiastically sings lovely worship songs. The Shabbat was welcomed in with Jair Yehuda and family at the Ron Beach Hotel in Tiberius. 

May 26 Elon Moreh

Karilyn wrote this poem, “Beloved Israel” before we left home and it seemed so appropriate to read and proclaim it today: 

Once Lost

Now Found

A Price Paid

A Life Given

For a Life Taken

Do you hear a call?

A call filled with Hope

Sung from a Heart

                                Once weeping

                                                Now singing

Carrying Sheaves sown

Sown in Joy

Arise and Return

Alive and Reborn

Today started with a journey to Elon Moreh, where few Jews and Christians travel. Our guide, Gershon, lives in this beautiful village with his wife and six children. We saw schools, neat homes and yards, some with rose bushes fully blooming. 

Mount Gerizim, the mountain of blessing and Mount Ebal, the mountain of cursing can be clearly seen from here in the region of Manasseh. See Deuteronomy 11: 29 - 31. Although there has been much media and Muslim opposition to Elon Moreh, it is land clearly given to the Jewish people by God. We could see the ancient city of Shechem, where the patriarch, Joseph’s bones are buried, which has been renamed Nebulus by the Muslims.

John and David with an unexpected find.

A hill top overlooking Elon Moreh and Shechem

We were served a delicious lunch by Nir and Shira Lavi on the top of Mount Gerizim in a quaint building. They are fulfilling Amos 9: 13 - 15 with a pioneering spirit and diligent labour.

Then a guide from the Shomron Liaison Office joined us to view the three seas: the Sea of Galilee, the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. Here in the heartland of Israel we made Biblical declarations and our dancers worshipped the Lord of the dance. 

We then travelled to Itamar where a random act of terrorism in March, 2011, killed some residents. You can read about the Fogel family at  www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=211863 

Kathleen was moved to pen this song from a possible perspective of Tamar:

Oh what a price we’ve paid,

The pain won’t go away,

For to live a life,

Taking a stand against the strife

Father, Mother gone,

My life is turned around,

Hope is fading now,

Yet I’ll hold on, hold on

For You, O Lord, are my strong tower (yeah),

You, O Lord, are my Saviour,

And I’ll put my trust in You, I’ll put my trust in You

I will not be moved, my feet are planted here,

I will not release the promise from You

Stretching out my hand

For unity – in the nation,

Turning my cheek – to the left,

Oh help me, God

Understand me, here’s my story, in the land together, in harmony

We traveled to Givot Olam Organic Farm where this hardworking and enterprising Jewish family sells organic meat and milk products. We were privileged to enter an amazing ancient wine cellar built at the time of Joshua while in the preparatory stages for becoming a tourist attraction! 

At Shiloh

Hillel, another guide joined us as we journeyed to Shiloh to the site where the ark of God stood in Shiloh for 369 years. As we listened to Hillel, I investigated a square meter of vegetation around  the rock I sat on. The varieties of plants (some succulent, some wiry, others wispy, or thick) reminded me of the varieties of people in Israel with the same possibility of mutually beneficial relationships! We had an extended time of intercession, worship, mediation, singing and joy as the Lord met each of us among the ruins of where His glory presence dwelt. 

Resting in Psagot

Tired yet with full hearts, we finally reached Psagot, where we returned to familiar sleeping quarters.

Sleeping in the vineyard