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Under His Wings - July 2024
Summer is here in Israel. The October 7 war is still going on, but in Jerusalem it has been peaceful. During June, as well as meeting people, there has been more admin work to do, and I have had a lot of communication with my contacts and also with other organizations.
Essential needs often are not small for people whose lives terrorism has affected in many ways. If they want to find a new path for their lives after destruction, CFI wants to help with this. I am grateful that we may have found some ways, through this challenging situation, to find the key to open the window of hope. This takes time, communication and co-operation in many ways.
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Hope for the Future - July 2024
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)
Finally!
Now after two months here in the Land and with CFI, I feel like I am finally starting to make some progress with this ministry, Hope for the Future!
During the past month I was able to visit two schools with significant Ethiopian populations, one in Ashkelon and one in Netivot, each approximately 15-16 kilometers (9-10 miles) from the Gaza border, and also to bring a work team to repaint the interior of the Ethiopian Youth Center in B’nei Brak (near Tel Aviv).
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Wall of Prayer - July 2024
Maybe you know the theme song from the blockbuster children’s movie, Toy Story, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”? If not, look up the lyrics. It’s by no means a Christian song, but it embodies the friendship I’ve been witnessing being extended to Israel - as volunteers come from the nations to love and support the people - in this the greatest crisis Israel has faced since the rebirth of the nation-state.
People like Miji from the US visited us at CFI and brought such joy and encouragement through prayer to the Wall of Prayer team and staff members. June was filled with opportunities to continue holding the banner of hope over the Land and its people. On Jerusalem Day, we participated in the March of Flags near the Mamilla Mall, into the Old City. I met Isaac, an IDF security officer who was grateful for our presence and prayers for Israel during this time of war. Like many Israelis, they never cease to be amazed that we not only came to Israel, but stayed even after the October 7 Hamas attacks. “Where else would we go?” we say. We’re not fair-weather friends!
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Streams of Blessing - July 2024
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified” (Isaiah 61,1-3).
This wonderful prophecy from Isaiah relates to Jesus - Yeshua. Jesus came and proclaimed good news to the poor. He bound up the brokenhearted and proclaimed release to the captives. He comforted all who mourned and healed all who came to Him. He gave them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and festive garments instead of a heavy spirit. All those he healed and helped became happy and remained forever grateful to Jesus. However, since Jesus is not visible in the world at the moment, He wants to work through us. We are His hands and feet and can do the same things He did. There are also sad people around us who are in need, whom we can help and comfort. We also have plenty of opportunity in our project Streams of Blessing to help people in need and make them happy.
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Forsake Them Not - July 2024
“Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord: The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death” (Psalm 102:19-20).
It has been CFI’s great privilege to welcome a group of volunteers from Colorado this month. We especially enjoyed making them part of our FTN team. All together as one team, we were able to visit various parts of the country, spend quality time with our friends, and manifest the solidarity and love of Christians towards Israel and God’s chosen people. For the hosts - Holocaust survivors – and their guests - volunteers who responded to God’s call to come to Israel in this challenging time – the impact of these meetings proved to be as significant as mutually favourable.
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Bridal Salon - July 2024
We have had a hot month of June this year, but it has not stopped us serving different and interesting clients in our Bridal Salon. Every week we have had a couple of appointments. Thank God, most of them have been very successful.
Rada was here with her mother and friends. They all were very excited about the appointment. Rada tried on dozens of dresses. Four of them were chosen as good options to consider. The mother wanted the puffiest one. The friends had their opinions. It was not easy to make the decision but in the end Rada knew what she wanted. It was a new gown which we acquired from Germany about five years ago. Rada took also a shorter wedding dress for the dancing. We found a pretty veil for her and a pair of shoes as a gift from CFI.
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Open Gates - July 2024
"'Comfort, comfort my people,’ says the Lord” (Isaiah 40:1).
This verse Abba Father gave to me long time ago; that is the reason I am here to serve the Jewish people.
This month was busy and beautiful. We helped many new olim (immigrants) and people who have lived in Israel for many years. I contacted several pastors from Messianic congregations about our ministry, and new olim started calling us and coming to us, asking how we can help them. After conversations, they were very surprised and glad and grateful that someone cares about their establishing in their home after many years living in a different land, society, government, tax rules, language and more.
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Communities Under Attack - July 2024
Our International Executive Director Tristan Hall and his family were invited to a special ceremony at Kibbutz Be’eri where the foundation stone of a new neighbourhood was laid. Hamas sought to destroy this community on Oct 7th and committed countless unspeakable atrocities but this community chooses life…their spirits are strong and they will rebuild and grow. The ceremony was moving and uplifting but nothing had more impact than looking into the eyes of some of the residents of Be’eri and sensing their desire to live and love life in the same place that was filled with a murderous evil that I still cannot comprehend. It was a reminder as to why, with God’s help, this nation will flourish. They will heal, they will survive, they will rebuild, their kibbutz will blossom again and be a place of love and hope once more ... because this nation and this people love life and choose life, every single time.
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Forsake Them Not - April 2024
"For everything, there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
The month of March started for our team with a trip to Ashkelon. After 5 months of rocket attacks in Ashkelon it was the first time that is was considered safe enough for Holocaust survivors to plan to meet together and for us to join the gathering. The main reason for this meeting was to commemorate the loss of Alexandra Smolkina, the leader of the Organization of Holocaust survivors in Ashkelon.
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Communities Under Attack - April 2024
During March CFI Leadership including Tristan and Galya Hall and Sharon Sanders, took a trip down south to visit communities close to the Gaza border.
Our first stop was Kibbutz Be’eri where we visited with a friend of Galya’s whose family miraculously survived the Hamas invasion and massacre of Oct 7th. It was deeply disturbing and upsetting to see the ruins and devastation of what was once a lively community filled with beautiful homes. Instead we were faced with homes burnt to the ground and a real sense of the evil that ran rampant all over the Kibbutz that awful day. Endless posters displaying the names and photos of people who used to live in different houses, before their lives were so mercilessly and cruelly cut short by Hamas terrorists, fill the Kibbutz. Knowing what took place in those houses was very disturbing, to say the least.
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Streams of Blessing - April 2024
"Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him" (Ps. 28, 6 – 7).
Yes, the Lord is wonderful. He hears the voice of our supplications. He is our strength and our shield. We trust in Him and He helps us. He is very happy to help us in our needs or problems because we are His beloved children and He is our Father who cares for us and stands up for us. Therefore we can rejoice and praise him. We don’t have to worry about anything because our Heavenly Father takes wonderful care of us. He sees everything, understands and helps us and we will praise Him.
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Wall of Prayer - April 2024
“Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, 'Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you'” (Isaiah 35:3-4, NASB).
We pray because He promised. God’s works are so many in the Land all the time, it’s hard to sum up from all the opportunities to pray what to highlight. The times we’re living in are the fruit of committed intercession from the generations that preceded us, and a picture of God’s promises being actualized in the life of His people. Our Wall of Prayer team started this month fresh off the heels of a three-day fast in solidarity with Messianic & Arab Christian congregations in the Land who joined together in humility to seek God’s face during this time of prolonged war in Israel. There was a sense of urgency in the coming together of these pastors, leaders, intercessors, worship leaders, and all those who are seeking the face of the God of Jacob. Many who partook of this time felt a palpable hunger for the return of the Lord and a need to prepare the way through repentance.
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David's Shield - April 2024
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31)
Team David’s Shield has truly had a full month of blessings, refreshing and mutual encouragement! One of our first visits was to the North of Israel to deliver a variety of items to a large artillery unit that we have assisted in the past. One of the hardest things to locate these days is boots, and these guys are especially in need as they are high in the mountains and in the cold, rain and yes, even snow! We have a special relationship with the Supply Sergeant of this unit and on this visit he presented a certificate of thanks to us, a very cool unit flag and a small gift for our Team. What an honour!
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Hope for the Future - April 2024
"But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me.' Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands" (Isaiah 49, 14 – 16).
Yes, the Lord will never forget his children. He has inscribed us on the palms of his hands. He will never forget his people, he cares deeply about them. The Ethiopian community in Israel is also important for him. He does not forget anyone. Some of them turned to us with their needs.
We are still waiting for a new coordinator to come and take care of the project ”Hope for the future”. Indeed there is a person already coming to fill the gap so please pray that she will get her visa and arrive very soon.
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First Fruits - April 2024
“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10).
One of the things we do in the Land is go to various events put on by different Jewish & Arab pastors. These pastors believe it is important that the body of Yeshua come together to worship and pray for the land of Israel and God’s purposes here. The worship center Kehilat HaCarmel has been active for number of years hosting prayer and worship events which are attended by people across Israel and the world.
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Bridal Salon - April 2024
Our CFI Bridal Salon is open for different and interesting clients. One day we had the privilege of welcoming Esther and Ruth. They are cousins and both of them belong to the family of faith in the Land.
Ruth knew about us from previous years. She brought two dresses as a donation for our ministry and Esther was the excited one who needed a wedding dress! Both ladies had experienced great disappointments in their previous relationships with young men. After a time of tears they decided to trust in the Lord. Ruth had faith that God would bring their future spouses right to their home. After a while it happened!! Two brothers in the Lord joined the fellowship and attended the home meetings. May the God of Israel bless and protect these beautiful young people and their future families.
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Under His Wings - April 2024
Spring is the best time in Israel. In the south the hills are blooming with flowers and crops of wheat are soon to be ready to be harvested, which normally takes place during the special holiday of Shavuot.
In March Under His Wings was able to help several people. We are receiving request for support and assistance and we are endeavouring to help as many people as possible, to meet their needs and be a source of comfort and support to those who are traumatised and suffering here in the Land of Israel.
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Open Gates - April 2024
Our project Open Gates is alive and well! We are ready and very willing to greet every new immigrant that enters our welcome room at the CFI Distribution Centre. Many times we see how the words of encouragement and the practical gifts really touch their hearts in a deep way.
Thank God we have received enough donations to keep going. We have been able to purchase different household items and electrical appliances for the precious people who come to us.