Shalom Faithful Friends and Family,
Shana Tova! (or "Happy New Year!")
Friday at sunset begins the Jewish New Year, and it's a time to celebrate with a lot of good Israeli food, candy and singing as well as special prayers. I always enjoy the special traditions that are celebrated on Rosh HaShana. It's good to be "home" again.
Before I get into the heart of my update, I wanted to say how wonderful it was to see many of you in the States on my vacation. I had a lovely time sharing with you all and receiving your hugs, prayers and encouragement. It truly made my vacation a blessed one. Though I wasn't able to connect with everyone, I am so thankful for the time I did get to share with some of you. You gave me the inspiration to keep doing what I am doing knowing that you support my Calling 100%. Thank you for listening to my heart and for sharing yours in return. I am reminded of the sweet sorrow Paul shared as he left his Believing friends to go fulfill the mission God had placed upon his life to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It's hard to say goodbye (especially to mom and dad) but I trust God will keep us all in the palm of His Hand until we meet again.
I had an eventful flight home with three total flights back, all running late and eventually they lost my luggage in the end. Because God is gracious, He returned my luggage from the chaos of Iberia airlines and I received it after four days of anxious waiting! Word to the wise: Don't take so many connections on the way home!
One story comes to mind about my return to Israel. As I was going through security at Tampa International Airport, we were pulled aside for questioning and they asked where we were going. I said Israel and two of the security guards faces lit up. One had been to Israel himself and both were extremely supportive of Israel! We talked for almost fifteen minutes and basically they pumped me up for my return and said to "Keep up the good work and know that there are many Americans that stand behind Israel." It was just what we needed as we headed home.
Now that I am resettling myself in my apartment and at CFI (to which my CFI family received me with very much enthusiasm as well as much work), I reflect upon the timing of my vacation and thank God that I was able to rest before returning to Israel for the start of the month of Ramadan. You see, Friday is a big day. Not only is it the Jewish New Year but it is also the first day of Ramadan, the "holiest" (yeah right) month of Islam. Allow me to expound: Ramdan is an entire month of fasting (no food OR water) from sunrise to sunset every single day. Over 400,000 Muslims will gather at the Temple Mount here in Jerusalem for the entire month to pray, listen to fanatical "Kill the infidels" sermons (Translated: "Kill the Jews and Americans" sermons) and will then be encouraged to commit acts of terror against Jews and Christians in Israel, and even throughout the world. The Muslims, after being starved and listening to Islamic lunatics rant about how good it is to kill infidels, will then leave the Temple Mount and:
a. Start riots
b. Kill/stab Jews and Christians
c. Suicide bomb
d. all of the above
The answer is, yes, all of the above.
But remember, Islam is a peaceful religion (sarcasm again).
Just yesterday, two suicide bombers were on their way to bomb central Jerusalem (area where I work) but went back to the Palestinian Territories to hide because they heard that we set up checkpoints and roadblocks... GO Israel Police and IDF!!!
But the threat remains, and it now becomes the highest level of alert due to Ramadan, the holiest observation of the peaceful religion of Islam (sarcasm)... are you all getting the hint?
Boiling down to the point of this update is that we need your prayers. Desperately.
I will provide this list for you as you pray specifically throughout the month:
- Please pray for the attempts of Muslims to commit acts of terror during Ramadan to be thwarted by the Police and IDF and intel
- Please pray for the safety of those of us who live here
- Please pray that the eyes of the people throughout the world will be opened to the threat of Islam and it's evils
- Please pray that the international community will stop persecuting Israel and will stop defending Islam
- Please pray for the Israeli Police Force and IDF
- Please pray for CFI and other similiar ministries as we battle the spiritual war that is taking place
Once again, I know you will be praying... I feel your prayers and appreciate each one of you.
I wish you a Happy New Year with blessings, protection and grace from our Messiah, Yeshua.
May His Peace Reign in Your Hearts.
Fear Not.
Pray.
This is Erin reporting LIVE from Jerusalem, for yet another year!!!
1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.