Hello All!                                                                                 

Limited access to the internet and limited time to update my blog have prevented me from updating as I would have liked.  Hopefully, I will be better able to do so going forward.

While I was at the Jerusalem House of Prayer for All Nations, on the 31st of December the group there (about 35 people altogether) brought in the New Year with a lovely late evening meal, and from there went up to the Prayer Tower to spend a couple of hours in worship and prayer.  That was a very

special time. 

Someone leaked to another that it was my birthday that day, and I was presented, after dinner, with the most beautiful Jerusalem roses from their garden and a birthday song, which made my heart melt. 

The following day, Jan 1, was a laid back day at the house, fellowshipping with others there.  People come from all over the world to stay a while and pray from that place.  I met ppl from Sweden, Russia, Columbia, Zambia, etc.  Americans were in the minority.

I also spent time that day getting to know a young man from Zambia who recently resigned his position as a Senator in that nation, as he felt the Lord telling him to do so in order to run for president of his nation.  So, Saviour (his name), has started his campaign to run for the presidency in 2011.  That was a great joy for me to be able to get to know him better and pray and bless him.

The following day, a Russian group was scheduled to take a tour to the Dead Sea and had an extra seat in the sharut (shuttle bus) and I was asked along.  The majority of them spoke no English and the rest of them very broken English.  So I spent the day with them.  It was so much fun.  We “played” in the water, then went to one of the mineral mud pits and doused ourselves with the black mud, then jumped back into the water to rinse off.  That was an experience I will not soon forget.  We then traveled to another spot on the Sea about 20 minutes away that was more touristy in nature.

I have never been known to be much of a people watcher (ask my Mama), but I have become one here. 

There I sat at the end of our day together, on the shores of the Dead Sea, with a group of people from Russia, laughing and eating pomegranates.  So many thoughts going through my mind….  Took us about an hour to get back to the house.

From there, on the 3rd of Jan (Sun), I moved from JHOPFAN to be with Karen Dunham and her ministry team.   They have a couple of facilities inJerusalem.  One is a huge 4 story building where guests and offices are housed and another is a beautiful old building where they hold services of various types. The latter is called Damascus Gate Church.

I took a taxi over to the church to meet Karen the first day I came over here.  We went immediately to the church as it was almost time for the service.  As soon as I walked in the doors, I sensed the strong presence of God in that place which was so sweet. She and I spent time together that day getting caught up a bit, and she filled me in on what has been going on and a bit about what to expect during the internship.  The Holy Spirit agenda continues to unfold from day to day.

Amongst other things, we (Karen and her team) have been busy preparing for the Prophetic School (I have been referring to this one-month long event as the ïnternship”).  We are expecting anywhere from  25-35 people here over the next month.  There will be a group of YWAM people here from Sweden (they were also at JHOP while I was there) and a group of American young men and women from the Burn School in OK.  There will also be a couple of others joining us.

A lady came a couple of days ago to join the Prophetic School from Plano, TX and she and I are in a room together.  Small world – as I lived in Plano for many years.  She and I visited the Garden Tomb today and went to the Western Wall.  It was a very blessed day.  The Lord kept us safe and we did not get lost (hardly) at all.  I was our tour guide as it was my second time there.

My days here at Living Bread Ministry start with a walk of about 1/2 mile or so from the ministry house to the church where we participate in corporate worship.  Everyone in the house, staff and guests, participate.  We start at 9a and go to 10:30 or 11:00 usually.  It is a very blessed time and the presence of the Lord is very thick during our times together.  From there, we generally head back to the house, eat lunch together, and then go about whatever work we may have on the agenda for that day.

On the 4th, I had the awesome opportunity to go to Jericho with Karen and some of the Arab men who come to the church most mornings joined us.  They refer to these men (and other Arab belivers) as MBB – Muslim Born Believers.  This term is new to me, but used by many.  Also along for this trip were 4-5 of us on Karen’s team. We took their van to Jericho which is about a 20 minute drive from the ministry center (where we are staying).

We drove to the Prophet’s House (they call it) there in that city – a small house that Karen rents in Jericho, where they meet from week to week to disciple young believers.  These young believers are leading Bible studies during the week in their homes for other new believers.  That was such a special time.  The whole property where the house sits is very anointed.  When one walks onto the property, there is an orange grove on one side of the path to the house and banana trees, rose bushes and other beautiful plants on the other side of the path.  The aroma there is amazing.  We all sat together in the house while a friend of Karen’s brought a little lesson on holiness and had some interaction with those who were there.

We went into the small business section of the city and purchased fruit and falafel sandwhiches.  My first pitas and falafel.  Oh my goodness – were those good.  The food here is amazing.  We have all been participating in a Daniel fast, and drinking no coffee or tea.  The fruit and vegies are amazingly tasty, and we eat lots of fresh pita, hummus, olives, nuts, etc.  Yesterday someone gave me the most wonderful dates I have ever eaten!  From Jericho.  Also, the honey from Jericho is unlike any I have ever tasted.  I have a new favorite fruit to add to my list….Yummy persimmons.  Oh, and not to forget the beautiful avacados.  Ok – you get the point about the food.

I loved Jericho.

I just find myself very much in observation mode while here.  Looking, listening, watching a LOT.  Looking with my eyes, and listening for the Lord to speak to my heart about the things I am witnessing.  Everything is so new to me, and I really do not understand a lot of what I am seeing and hearing.

I find that my heart just hurts for many of the people here who look so empty.  You can see it in their eyes.  This is an amazing place, and I am so thankful for this experience.  Thanks to so many of you who have made it possible.  The “work” I have come here to do really starts on Monday, so I would appreciate your prayers.

Well, it’s late here tonight so I will finish updating you all hopefully tomorrow.

With Love to All,

Val