Shalom my Brothers and Sisters in Messiah

 

I have the most exciting news to share with you!  After an extensive application and interview process over the past month, I was formally accepted today with an administrative position as a staff member of an amazing organization/ministry in Jerusalem called Christian Friends of Israel.  Please check out their website here: http://www.cfijerusalem.org/default.asp

I have researched several different organizations since my return in July and felt the complete assurance of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) that CFI was the organization I wanted to be a part of for my launch into permanent ministry in Israel.  CFI has several branches of outreach to the nation of Israel:  Holocaust Survivors Outreach, Terror Victims Outreach, IDF (Soldiers) Outreach, Ethiopian Jewish Outreach, New Immigrant Outreach and many, many more that you can read about on the website.  In fact, I highly encourage you to read about Christian Friends of Israel so that you will get a better idea of what they are all about.  I was offered an Administrative position for CFI where I will be able to utilize my administrative/office background.  I will be working out of CFI’s main office in the center of Jerusalem from 9-5, five days a week.  CFI will be paying for an apartment of my choice (within a certain rent amount), my health insurance, my bus pass and some meals.  I will need to pay for my monthly utilities and meals/groceries and any other miscellaneous expenses.  This is a huge blessing and I am so thankful for God’s provision.  And the most exciting part is that I am granted an automatic permanent visa in Israel… that’s right!  CFI is so highly respected by the Israeli government that I am granted automatic visa renewals without any trouble on a permanent status.  So there you have it.  I am in for the long haul!

 

This is an amazing answer to prayer because three months ago I flew to Israel on a one-way plane ticket not having a clue what would be in store.  Now I am watching my dreams unfold before me of being a permanent missionary/volunteer in Israel, particularly Jerusalem!  This Wednesday I have a meeting to attend at CFI where they will go over all of the additional details and I will tell them my start date. Thank you so much for your prayers.  You all have been so supportive and I can’t thank you enough for supporting me in payer and finances.  How exciting it is to be a part of such a ministry at such a time as this!  Things are about to get exciting… and I’ll keep you updated as always.

 

And please feel free to email me any questions you have about this ministry and what I will be doing.  I am glad to tell you all in greater detail!  And don’t forget to check out recent pictures and updates on my website: http://braveandunafraid.blogspot.com/

 

I also thought I’d take a moment to fill you in on the differences between living here in Israel and living in the States.  It crossed my mind this week about how different it truly is here and I thought I could maybe help you see from my perspective what it’s like to move to a foreign culture and adapt to all of the changes.

 

It’s been three months since I have:

• Driven a car
• Stepped foot into a Wal-Mart or Target
• Eaten fast food
• Seen a movie
• Spoken English to more than one or two people a day
• Heard someone pronounce my name correctly
• Purchased milk from a carton instead of a bag (yes milk comes in bags here)
• Walked into a store or restaurant without being fully searched and scanned
• Had a good old-fashioned Hershey Bar
• Had a shower with a shower curtain (they don’t use them here)
• Done my laundry without walking far away with a bag slung over my shoulder
• Dialed a seven-digit phone number instead of ten+
• Walked down the street without seeing soldiers, policemen and the UN everywhere
• Seen a weather forecast in Fahrenheit
• Paid for anything with American currency
• Gone anywhere without my passport

 

My, it’s amazing how these basic things most people do on a daily basis have become so far removed from my life and daily routine!  It’s exciting to see how far I’ve come and how far I still have to go.  There’s nothing like living an adventure every single moment of the day.

 

Once again, thank you all for your encouragement, prayers and support.  I eagerly look forward to updating you on my new season of ministry in Israel!

 

This is Erin reporting LIVE and Permanently from Jerusalem…