Shalom Loved Ones!

 

Do I have a jam-lacked update for you all!  There is so much going on that I will just pour it all out in this email, as random as it may be:

 

Hamas - Yes, the ever-violent terror organization that is now in political power has been making lovely alliances with none other than Iran.  Iran came forth today and said they would fund Hamas in place of the USA and Israel's funding that was cut as soon as Hamas came into power.  This is EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING FOR ISRAEL!  We are gearing up for war (according to my Israeli friends) and are about to undergo some trainings here at CFI on what to do in the event of an attack, war or threat.  Pull out your gasmasks everyone, it's time to gear up.  Speaking of gearing up, my new apartment in Mevaseret is fully prepared for such events.  My bedroom converts into a bomb shelter!  It has a giant bolted door and the room is made of concrete.  Don't worry, it looks normal, yet in five minutes it can convert into what looks like military headquartes!  How fun is that?  I'm loving it! 

 

Moving - I moved two weekends ago to Mevaseret where I can rent an apartment for much less than in central/downtown Jerusalem.  God provided me with a view of Jerusalem that takes my breath away.  It is a nice suburb that is relatively safe (can any place in Israel ever be categorically safe?) and it is close to many of my friends.  I am working on furnishing it slowly with the basic necessities. 

 

Friends - For those of you who have been praying for Tomer, I have great news!  Tomer attended "thedeepend" yet again this past Thursday and is now officially a regular part of our Young Adults group.  My friends have really reached out to him and he feels so at home with us, it's amazing.  Tomer is reading the Bible from the start and regularly discusses it with me and asks us all questions.  I took Tomer on a tour of CFI and ever since then he has been promoting us within his police unit!  He is actually defending us against the critics!  Tomer asked me last week if I could teach him how to pray, so we sat down and I prayed for him.  I sat and watched this special ops policeman hold his face in his hands and cry with tears streaming down his face.  And now Tomer prays on his own and even asks what he can pray for with others.  He said that for the first time he knows what it means to pray and not simply recite prayers from a book.  Tomer also told the story of Yeshua to his police unit (even though Tomer is still not entirely sure of his beliefs regarding Yeshua as Messiah) and explained to them the true story... not just what they have heard.  I am claiming Tomer for the Lord and I believe that it is simply a matter of time!  I rejoice over even one of God's Chosen returning to the Faith!  Tomer also said that he never realized until I told him that he was one of God's Chosen... he said he had forgotten what that meant.  He told his police unit "It took a non-Jewish beliving American girl to teach me how to pray and know God personally!"  And we all laugh at the irony of that!  After all, do the scriptures not say that we as Gentiles will provoke the Jewish people to jealousy because they will want the knd of relationship we have?

 

Designing - This past week Jess, the Young Adults leader and creater of "thedeepend" approached me and asked if I could design the set for thedeepend with free creative reign!  I said yes and fully designed the stage with candles, mirrors, hanging beands and other cool effects.  I had so much fun doing it and it turned out so well that I am now heading the design committee for thedeepend once a month.  I am so excited about this and I truly enjoy it!       

 

Ethiopian Outreach - This past Thursday I went out on visits with our CFI coordinator for project "Hope for the Future" where she and I visited three extremely needy Ethiopian families to distribute financial support and other items.  We took buses and walked to their different apartments and sat with them, talked to them and blessed them with the gifts.  When I walked in each door, I was reminded of the fragrance of Kenya and the rich tones of the African culture.  I felt at home, as though my Calling to Israel and my heart for Africa merged.  And each of these Ethiopians were so precious.  The women hugged us so tight as though they would never let us go and cried tears of joy and thanked us.  As we sat and talked with them through a translator we learned of their immense difficulty and were deeply affected.  They had barely anything at all and were very much left alone.  One precious Ethiopian lady had a giant scar on her neck from where her husband had tried to kill her with a knife.  He is now in prison for five years and she is left alone to raise the family.  We gave her a check for approx. $100 and she sat on the chair and quietly cried as she held the check in her hands.  It was then that I was reminded that there is no material possession, no feeling, NOTHING in this world that can equal helping and loving another in need.  It made me realize that true value is upon life, not what I own.  And as I thought about what I needed for my apartment and all the things I am lacking, I realized that I would sacrifice those things just to see one precious person receive the gift of God's provision and unconditional love.

 

Soldiers at CFI - Today as I was working here at CFI, I walked downstairs to the lobby and saw a small group of soldiers who came by to pick up winter fleece jackets from one of our project's "David's Shield" that helps support the IDF soldiers.  They were asking a million questions about us and thanking us profusely.  I smiled to myself as I thought about all the people we are helping in Israel.  Isn't God an awesome God?  Can anything beat serving Him? 

 

A close call - last Saturday evening, I went to the grocery store and barely missed getting caught up in a mini-riot outside the store.  Evidently an Arab family was clashing with some of the Israeli clerks and all the sudden a full-on fight occurred and people were beating each other, throwing chairs and getting seriously injured.  I just stood there a bit in shock but with it enough to get out of the way.  It was horrific to see and it reminded me of the super-tense climate here in Israel and how we are entering into a time of war very soon.  These are the birth pains...

 

A weekend away - This Thursday I am going on a much needed retreat to the Galilee area with the young adults group from my congregation!  We were able to get super-cheap accomodations and we will be on a two-night, three-day retreat where we can hang out, have devotional sessions, hike the Galilee region and enjoy some relaxing fun with fellow believers my age.  Please pray that God will renew me as this is my first weekend get away since I have been in Israel!

 

Once again, I want to thank you all for your constant prayers and support.  It is critical to the success of my ministry here in Israel.  Thank you for your faithfulness, encouragement and obedience to God.  If you are interested in supporting me financially, please contact my mom at kcmather3@aol.com for information.  Each donation is greatly appreciated as I cannot function here without your support for my basic needs.  I thank you with all of my heart.  It is my privilege to report to you from the front lines here in Israel.

 

This is Erin reporting LIVE from Israel and gearing up for what's next...