Hello All,                                                    

Here’s a brief run down of this week’s activity…. but first a few thank you’s!

Mom, I took this picture for you.  This pretty geranium reminded me of you and your plants.

Aaron, Suz and boys – My Under Armour keeps me toasty each and every day!  What a timely gift and ohhhhhhhhh so welcome!!    Especially wonderful b/c there is no central heat here.  We use space heaters and where our coats indoors the majority of the time. 

To all of those who are praying for me and the team, THANK YOU SO MUCH and to those whose hearts and thoughts are with me, may the Lord Bless You Richly!  I look fwd to sharing about all the Lord is doing in my life when I return to the States.

I am checking email every couple of days, ideally, so feel free to contact my Yahoo address.  I did update Facebook with some pictures.

We did not get the anticipated approval from the Israeli Army this week to go into Gaza, but did hear from them today, informing us that we have been approved to go in.  There is another glitch now, however, as at the govt level there is a hold up.  Due to the fact that the Burn Team will be flying home to OK on Tuesday, they will no longer go in with us.  The Army instructed us to call back on Tuesday of this coming week to see if we have been cleared by the Israeli govt. to go.  We continue to wait on the Lord.  The team that goes in now will probably be about 8 of us, I am thinking.

Plans have changed.   The Burn Team went to Haifa this weekend, and I did not feel a peace about going with them.  There is a good chance I (along with a couple of the other women here) may go up tomorrow or Tuesday.  We are hoping to stay at David Davis’ ministry on Mt. Carmel, Carmel Assembly, http://www.carmel-assembly.org.il/.  I am not sure when, but I am also making plans to spend a couple of days at Revive Israel, about  20 minutes from Jerusalem (Asher Intrater).

I posted some more pictures on Facebook.  Dad – You need to let one of the boys hook you up with a Facebook account.  K?  Say yes!    So many pictures of Matt’s kids, etc. that you will be able to view. 

Mon 1/25 – Zedekiah’s Cave  We worshipped and prayed for a couple of hours in this expensive cave right in the heart of the earth below the Old City.

Also known as Solomon’s Quarries – this is 5 acre underground limestone quarry that runs the length of five city blocks uner the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.  It was carved over a period of several thousand years and is a remnant of the biggest quarry in Jerusalem.  Interestingly, it is a very old traditional key site where Freemason’s gather anually to hold very significant meetings.

Tues 1/26  Was a cold rainy indoor day when many of us just hung out and rested and got better aquainted.  Later in the afternoon we had an Arabic lesson from a woman who comes to the house to give lessons 3-4 times per month.  I love learning Arabic, and am picking it up bit by bit.  I learned a few phrases a number of years ago, and plan to further my learning of this beautiful language when I return to the States.

I am also prayerfully considering obtaining an ESL certificate.  May come in handy. 

The woman who gives instruction is a brand new Arab Believer and she shared some of her story with us.  Oh, my!  My heart ached and broke for her as she shared of a relative (I think it was her brother) who was killed in Gaza sometime over the past couple of years.  That was only the beginning.  We ended up crying with her and praying for she and her family.  That was a precious time.

Wed 1/27  Spent the afternoon on Ben Yehuda St. – a popular open-air pedestrian mall, in the heart of downtown.

Cafés have tables out on the cobblestones; vendors display inexpensive wares, and musicians can be seen playing tunes old and new. It’s a great place to sip coffee or munch falafel and watch the passing crowd.  Since we are Daniel Fasting coffee and tea as well, many of us stuck to water.    Picture of me above is while we were walking back.

We took instruments to the street and talked to some of the interesting people on the street.  I did not realize that evangelizing (as we know it in U.S.) is illegal here.  I spent a good amount of time talking to an interesting Jewish man who has been in the Land for 20 years.  He is from U.S., San Fransisco and NYC.  He gave me a history lesson and I hope to meet up with him again for further discussions before I leave.  He said that he hangs out a lot in that area.  His eyes showed signs of lonliness and I grieved inside for him, and silently prayed that he would come to know Yeshua very soon.  I have so much to learn about how to minister effectively to Jews and Muslims.

Saturday 1/30 – A couple of the gals and I toured the Old City some more; went into the Jewish Quarter which I have only seen briefly.  So interesting and fun.  At this point, every day (almost) is an adventure.

Px below:  Damascus Gate (not part of Jewish Quarter but passed it on our way).  Other 2 px are within the JQ. So clean and peaceful in that area.  Looking fwd to going back there again when we have a bit more time.  It was Fri afternoon and everything was shutting down for Shabat about the time we arrived.  Next picture is of Sweet Kat and self, and other px walking back to the church for the Arab Friday night service.  Some of us stood outside the door of the church handing out free bags of rice and Forgiveness books.  It was great.

Sunday 1/31 – Gaza Update

We had our little service this morning at the church and I came home with Karen to help with the Gaza project.  Others went to Ben Yehuda and the Holocaust Museum.  I will have to see it another time.

Our plans have changed some for Gaza.  Instead of meeting with a group of select students from the school (as previously planned) it looks like now we will be meeting with many more than originally intended.  School was not in session this week when we were going to go, but select students were going to come in to school anyhow, to be with us.  Our aim is to establish friendships, let them know they are not alone there, and encourage their hearts in whatever way Holy Spirit leads us to do so.  Also, we will be helping them improve their English skills and doing some grafitti workshops, where we will be joining them in some wall paintings in Gaza City – writing words and messages of LIFE and HOPE on the walls.   It looks like we will be going, pending govt approval, this coming Friday for 4-5 days or so….  Still working out ever chaning plan.    God is in control, for which we are thankful.

Will close for now.  Sending my love to all!  Val