Shalom Brothers and Sisters in Messiah,
I am alive and well even though it's taken me some time to write a new update! "Swamped", "Beat" and "Plowed Under" are all words that come to mind to describe my current status! The fall season in Israel is always a busy one but a fun one also (not to mention, a beautiful one)! The joy of the Lord continues to be my strength (Acts 20:24) and it never ceases to amaze me how I wake up each morning ready to go and without the exhaustion of the prior day. (Prov. 3:24)
Living in Israel is not easy. It's not what you picture it to be. The work we do as servants here to the people of Israel is not without it's challenges and it consumes us in every way. Thank God that He is an All-Consuming Fire (Heb. 12:29) and He continues to replenish us like trees planted by the water. The longer I am here, the more I learn the true meaning of God's many different Names. God becomes so much more to us when we leave comfortable surroundings or abandon familiar life patterns and habits.
It's hard to believe that I am turning 27 this coming week... I am so excited for each year of life my Creator gives me! In a way, I feel I am getting younger in Spirit with each passing year. To offer my life as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1) to Him is an amazing experience and I could never go back to a status-quo life... it just isn't me. Isn't it amazing to know that God gives us all a unique identity in Him? (Acts 17:28)
We have just completed our busiest holiday season in Israel, including Rosh HaShanah (Jewish New Year), Yom Kippur (Lev 23), Sukkot (Lev. 23; Neh. 8) and Simcha Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah). All of these are very important holy days and observances in Judaism. They are each an honor to be a part of.
I am currently taking on more responsibilities at CFI as my workload increases (I think I say this in each email, don't I?) and I am loving every minute of it. I am currently organizing a short-term team of volunteers that are coming to renovate and repair a home for a Jewish family that lives in extreme poverty. They will be arriving in two weeks and will start to bless this special family with a better home. Please lift this team and project to God in prayer. I am scheduling an upcoming war relief outreach so that I can assist with victims from our recent war with Lebanon. I continue to work with the Ministry of Interior to obtain visas for all of our volunteers and I am also trying to recruit to fill a lot of open volunteer positions we have at CFI. I do thank the Lord that He recently filled three positions we have been praying to have filled. All of this on top of my other responsibilities.
My personal life away from CFI is also extremely busy. I maintain relationships with my friends and participate in congregations, synagogues and other events. Tomorrow I will attend the Bat Mitzvah of Julie's oldest daughter named Zoe. It will be a delight to be there as I have become a part of her family. I pray continually that the Messiah (Yeshua) will be revealed to their entire family. It's something I choose to walk in Faith about!
The political climate of Israel is extremely intense. Though my work at CFI consumes me, I was rudely awakened and reminded of the very real threat that surrounds us as I was on the bus three nights ago on the way home and watched the traffic clear and a bus was evacuated as they found a suspicious object. The tension from Ramadan (Muslim religious holidays) and the tensions remaining in Gaza and Lebanon (also, adding Syria and Iran to the mix) make us all feel as though we are sitting on a ticking time bomb. One would have to be blind to not see the times we are living in. I pray continually that you are not one of the blind. That may sound audacious of me, but if you saw the world from Israel's perspective, the future looks bleak when it comes to the events that occur daily and the lack of response from the believing community. Do not be deceived...
I offer my continued thanks for your prayers and support. Please know that you are a crucial part of this ministry here in Jerusalem. Your prayers and support enable me to serve the Jewish Nation of Israel during it's most tense times.
This is Erin reporting LIVE from Jerusalem...
If you are interested in becoming a financial supporter of my ministry to the Jewish People of Israel, please contact my mom at kcmather3@aol.com for information on how to donate. Your support in any amount is received with much gratitude and is used to go directly toward my necessities as I serve as a volunteer through Christian Friends of Israel www.cfijerusalem.org