Hello & Happy December to All! What you will find in this update:

• Israel Trip & Personal News Updates
• IHOP News

I hope this letter finds you all doing well and keeping warm. It has been rather chilly in the Midwest for the past week or so, and we got our first real snow a few days ago. Brrrrrrrrrrr………

My love and thanks all of you who continue to support me in so many ways! It means so much to be undergirded by you. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU RICHLY in return for planting and watering in my life! I could not do what I am doing here without you – truly!!

Many thanks go to my friend David for surprising me with the gift of this awesome website a number of weeks ago. I was such a wonderful surprise when he sent me an email to let me know that he had spent an entire afternoon of his time creating it for me. What a gift!! Thanks, David for your loving support! This will make my life so much easier and I will be able to communicate more effectively while I am abroad.

November marked a few firsts on this end. My first Thanksgiving in Kansas City – wooohooo! Spent the day with gracious friends and what a spread they laid out! I ate enough for 2. Thanks Jeff, Kristian, Ashton and Mallory. I loved our time together.

This has been a lovely fall and warmer than I anticipated – thankfully! I ventured out quite a bit to enjoy the weather, trees, sounds and smells of fall in the heartland. The vibrant reds, oranges and yellows of the trees made my heart sing. Beautiful!!

Plus – we had our first snowfall ~ a mild dusting that showed itself around the middle of the month.

Work is going well and I continue to enjoy the working relationships I have with those in my realm.  Never a dull moment when you have so many visionaries on a team! IHOP continues to birth many new babies and we work hard to keep pace.

In follow up to last month’s newsletter, let me update you on my Israel trip status. (Last month’s letter can be found below.)

It was just today (12/10) that a substantial gift was given to me which will allow me to make the 7-8 week journey. I was so surprised and it was so unexpected! The Lord’s ways never cease to amaze me! Thank you, precious friends! You are much loved and I so appreciate your generosity. I pray a MULTIPLIED blessing back to you for the seed you sowed into this life and really, into the land of Israel and beyond.

My tentative date to leave is the 29th of December, to return mid February. I will be purchasing my ticket and making more firm plans this week. The Lord opened another door for me to be able to go to Colorado next week to spend time with family and friends over the holiday, and leave soon after.

It has been my secret desire to be there for my birthday – the big 49!

The word “jubilee” has been running around in my mind for the past couple of weeks and I kept saying, “what is that about? It’s not my jubilee year yet. Jubilee is associated with 50.” Well, little did I know, until today, when a friend educated me – The entire 49th year is considered the Jubilee Year, so I was hearing right.  I feel this is significant for my life.

I continue to meet people and connect with individuals and groups who possess a heart and vision for Israel and the Middle East. God is orchestrating relations, and opening doors of fellowship and camaraderie for which I am most grateful. I am beginning to build a sense of community here with those who desire to see God’s purposes for His Land and People come to pass. This renewed Israel interest and drawing has come as a surprise for me in this season, and I enjoy the direction the Lord is leading me in this. I have SO very much to learn.

Can you believe I participated in my first Shabbat meal ever in November and am asking myself where I have been all my life.    It was wonderfully enjoyable and I am finding the Jewish culture –the little bits I have been tasting along the way – to be so rich. As I learn about the land and people, Scripture is taking on a whole new meaning. I believe this is just the beginning of something God is doing in and with me in the days ahead. I do not know what that might look like, but I am giving Him my “yes.” “Be it unto me according to Your word, Lord.”

It is still my plan to assist Karen Dunham with the internship in Jan – Feb (see October Newsletter below for details). www.livingbreadchurch.com In addition, I plan to spend a few days on the front and back end of the trip at the Jerusalem House of Prayer For All Nations and with other friends of IHOP-Kansas City in the Land. www.jhopfan.org

Tom Hess, founder of the Jerusalem House of Prayer spoke at IHOP in November which was such a blessing for me as I had not heard him before.

It was interesting to learn about some of the things the Lord is doing through this ministry on the Mount of Olives, a predominantly Arab area. He talked about the prophetic significance of Israel in the last days, and concentrated on the Isaiah 19 passage.

23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.

24 In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,

25 whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

Finally, those of you who know me, know that I enjoy (along with some of my favorite women on the planet Starbucks Maple Scones and Christmas Blend coffee. For about a year, the delicacies disappeared from the planet never more to be found…. UNTIL…..

On a little outing a few weeks ago, I made an amazing discovery. I HAD to take photos of the momentous occasion, and send them to my Women to celebrate the moment with me.

Mom said that she has not seen me look this guilty since I was 2 years old!!

May the Lord bless you all, look on you with favor and make you fruitful in the work of your hands. May His peace flood your mind and heart, and may this be a holiday season more special than all the rest ever!!

Learn about the move of God in our midst by reading my recent postings and go to www.ihop.org

Tune in free nightly!! Bill Johnson and John Arnott were here this past week.

I love you all!

Life took an interesting turn this month as a door of opportunity opened unexpectedly.

Brief history: During the final session of our 3-day IHOP 10 Yr. Anniversary Celebration in September, Mike shared IHOP’s vision for the coming decade and beyond.

Almost as a side-note, it seemed, he “threw in” an idea that had never crossed my mind – “houses of prayer in refugee camps.” “WHAT?”

My heart lept.

When he spoke those words, it was as if a bolt of lightning went through me and I began to weep. For the next 10 minutes or so, I had a very powerful encounter with the Lord.

In the weeks to follow, I asked the Lord what the experience was about and went on a little journey to explore this idea.

The incident did and did not surprise me. God’s call to the nations has burned within my heart for decades now, and I have spent years in purposeful preparation for the work to which I have long felt drawn and called.

My little investigative journey led me to a few people on the IHOP Base who I thought might have some knowledge of houses of prayer abroad in refugee camps, but thus far my progress has been slow.

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned my experience to Scott, my boss. His eyes widened as I spoke of my encounter with the Lord and he said, “There is someone you need to meet.”

He then directed me to Karen Dunham’s website and explained that Karen has been working in Palestinian refugee camps (along with a host of other activities in Israel) for the last number of years.  Scott and Katherine (his wife) have supported her work for years and have been to Israel with her on a number of occasions.  Karen actually spoke at IHOP in August of this year, while I was on vacation in Colorado.  I did not know she was here until I was out of the state.

To learn more about Karen’s work, Living Bread International Church and NGO, visit: www.livingbreadchurch.com

One thing led to another, and within a week I flew to Florida to meet Karen and learn more about her work in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.  While there, she and I discussed the possibility of my assisting her with an Internship she is conducting in Israel from Jan. 8 – Feb. 8 ’10, geared toward training and equipping young men and women.

I heartily agreed to join her, pending confirmation and provision from the Lord.

The tentative Israel agenda includes: Touring and times in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Beersheva, Hebron and possibly Gaza, times of worship and intercession, street ministry, giving aid to and praying for refugees, training / activation workshops, etc.

Right up my alley.  

It has long been a strong desire of mine to travel to the Holy Land.

Since my return to IHOP-KC from Florida, I have been making some interesting connections and participating in a variety of events with an Israel focus (of which there are many) here on the Base.

My tentative, unfolding plan is to fly to Israel the 3rd week of December, connect there with friends of friends on this end, spend a bit of time at the Jerusalem House of Prayer for All Nations, King of Kings Congregation and Prayer Pavilion and other IHOP connection spots, get acclimated prior to serving Karen and the internship…PLUS who knows what else….  I plan to return to KC in Feb.  A total of about 8 weeks.

From November 16-19, I will be participating in a 3-day intensive held by IHOPU (our university) with a focus on Is. 19 and the Israel/Mid East connection as it relates to end times, etc.  I need to become better educated and am finding ways to do just that.

Tom Hess, founder of the Jerusalem House of Prayer for All Nations (a house of prayer, provider of prayer resources, host of convocations/conferences, and facilitators of reconciliation amongst people groups) will be one of our instructors and I am most excited to hear him for the first time.

You are most likely able to sense my excitement with this potential opportunity, yet my heart is also sober.  I know enough about the state of affairs in that region of the world to know that I want only to be there in God’s timing and for His purposes.

The safest place in the world is in the CENTER of His will!

My work on the Base with Scott is going well; 7 months already.  I enjoy our working relationship and consider it an honor to join him in the work God has for us to do in this season.

If you sense God stirring your heart to partner with me in prayer or provision for my Israel Ministry Opportunity, click PARTNER for details.

I would love to hear your news and receive your prayer requests. It is always good to hear from family and friends while I am away from so many of you.

Sending Love and Hugs!

Val