Newsletter from Jerusalem September 22nd Hi everyone and greetings from here in Yerushalyim, Well , it is difficult to know what to say in the face of all that has happened in the last couple of weeks, however there is a lot to say, it is just how to piece it all together, and express it. There is so much grief in the world at the moment that it is a little difficult to comprehend , and how it came about , surreal. To watch it unfold from the time of the first report of a possible plane hitting one of the towers, the filming of the second plane some 18 minutes later, the report of a third hitting the Pentagon, then the report of a fourth going down short of it�s target, was like watching a disaster movie.. The impact of the successful hitting of one of the financial nerve centres of the world and certainly the States and then the Military nerve centre of the States was something we are yet to fully comprehend. A brother of Barry�s, who works close to the towers, through a miraculous way, was saved from being anywhere near when it happened. Another friend of theirs, who was in contact with us through the day, that day, had a sister who worked in the Trade Centre and, she was late to work, arriving at the underground station as it happened. I am sure there are many more similar stories, but our thoughts are with those who were caught up in it all and who were there, or whose relatives and loved ones are missing. To see the two towers just crumble and fall and realise that many many people would have lost their lives some of them having gone there to help�.., well there are no words sufficient. I believe that there are some 133 Israeli�s amongst the missing, many more Indians , many from the UK and other European and Asian countries, from other Arab countries and quite a few from Australia. I just thank the Lord that He is in control and knows exactly where all this is going. We are waiting to see how it all plays out for us here in Israel and to see if, as in the Gulf War we are dragged in with the beginning of any military response. No-one seems to be panicking, but one thing that is a worry, and that is already coming out is the very real pressure on the Government here. They have an unenviable task, as in some areas, the finger is already being pointed at Israel in relation to this because of USA connection with her, and the support she has had from the US up to now. Israel�s conflict with the Palestinians , in some quarters, is already seen as the cause of the disaster. Our own ones and two�s (referred to as incidents and not violations of the ceasefire) continue to die, the latest, a shooting death of an Israeli mother of 3 young children, the father seriously injured. We are thrilled that prayers have been answered though, for the recovery of the young border police man who was seriously injured in the suicide bombing on the street of the prophets. He has finally come out of a coma ( yesterday ), quite some time after the attack but praise the Lord that his life was spared. The other thing that has happened here in the last week was the reopening of the restaurant (Sbarro�s) the scene of that awful suicide bombing in Jerusalem not so long ago. Actually it was the 12th that it was opened and I admit to HAVING to have my evening meal there that night. They were determined to open as soon as they could, and I wanted to be there to support them (actually it was great as it was all half price as well !!!!). Barry, was in the States at the time of the attack there in New York and Washington, and we were not sure how and when he was going to be able to get home, but he safely made it on the following Shabbat, in time for the praise gathering in Abu Gosh, an Arab village near Mevesserett . We invited a Russian congregation to contribute, an Ethiopian group and a couple of Israeli as well. It was a wonderful time of praise and worship from 5.30 to around 10pm, people coming and going contributing song and dance�..it was wonderful. Work on their (Barry and Batya�s) new CD continues with often 2-3am finishing of recording and work, so the hectic pace continues, and the need for prayer for continued strength for them remains. The feast of Succot is coming up and preparations for the conference are in full swing. We will be soon putting up the Succah here at the Segal�s . Yom Kippur comes first though and at present we are in the 10 days of Awe between Rosh HaShana ( the new year ) and Yom Kippur . The blessing you give to people at this particular time is Chatimah Tova which when said in this context means may your name be in the book of life. Personally it has been a particularly difficult and heavy couple of weeks and I would very much appreciate your prayers. I need His wisdom, grace and discernment on a couple of issues and would ask that you would pray for this for me. I am trusting the Lord to arrange everything to be able to get back and visit home in Australia in November / December. It looks like I will need to work in UK for a couple of weeks, financially, but will have to see whether I need to do that on my way there or on my way back. I want to be in Adelaide for mum�s birthday ( Dec 1st ) and that is what I am aiming for. Meytal and Justin ( Barry and Batya�s oldest ) were going to get married in February, but may now get married on Dec 31st . I would love to be back for their wedding, but again�..we will have to see how it all works out. For those of you who have written e-mails to me, and who are waiting for a reply�.I am sorry that I have not done so individually yet, but you WILL hear from me. This last few weeks has just been difficult to get to sit down and actually do it. It is Shabbat at the moment and I have taken the opportunity to shut myself away in my room for the day so that I can rest and spend time with the Lord and catch up with all of you��uninterrupted. Lastly I just want to share a passage that just struck me so much two Shabbat�s ago. It is in Zechariah 9�..in fact if you would look at that chapter, I would love to first hear what strikes you about it, I am interested in what touches other people as they read His word. I will let you go now and will look forward to hearing from you all. Much love in Yeshua Jenny |