Hello Everyone,
Well I guess you join me in a world of very very rapid change. It would seem that the world is running to a place of facing it's own helplessness in the face of evil. The time of people feeling safe seems to have very much ended for the people in the West. Almost hourly there are things happening and new developements. Thank the Lord that we can read a Psalm like Psalm 91 and know that it is that same God who we can rely on in these times, and our hope is sure. So, for the world , we are coming to a time where, increasingly people are looking for answeres to the meaning of life, and it's fragility. Trying to make sense of the drastic, almost overnight changes that are occuring. May many look to the Lord for those answers. Now with the situation escalating with the assasination of Rehavam Ze'evi and the ground troops now in Afganistan.......the world waits to see where it is all headed and we in Israel too wait. The prospect of biological warfare is psycologically effective in generating fear and uncertainty.
I am writing this , sitting outside in a cafe in Jerusalem, having had some soup (cream of butternut ) and listening to a old man who is sitting nearby, playing Jewish traditional songs, from folk to religious songs from Passover, on his banjo. Jerusalem is so empty. Shopkeepers sitting in empty shops and they are SO happy to see anyone from overseas. A friend of mine has just been over for 3 weeks and after talking with someone on the plan over, they said to her, "may I give you a hug.... coming to Israel at a time like this you deserve it "
We have just had a string of feasts and holidays. First came Rosh Ha Shanna which I spent with my friends Judy and Wendy with the apples and honey symbolising the desire for a fruit full and sweet new year and the blowing of the Shofars (rams horns) and family gatherings with singing etc that you could see and hear as you walked through the streets, then the 10 days of awe to Yom Kippor in which time you speak the blessing "may your name be written in the book of life" ( what a wonderful blessing to speak over people.....and they liked to hear it to ) , then Yom Kippor . We used this time to fast and pray for the redemption of Israel, as Jews world wide fasted and prayed for forgiveness of sins. It is quite something to see a nation literally grind to a halt for 24 hours for the purpose of fasting and prayer, with only emergency vehicle allowed to move by law. Then came Sukkot and Simcha Torah. (Feast of Tabernacles and Rejoicing of the giving of the Law.) It was neat to see the Sukkahs go up in private homes (to be a part of doing that), and eating places in town putting up their outside sukkah's for people to eat in , for a whole 8 days eating outside in the Sukkah. It has been a time of a whole gammet of responses and emotions. Joy with Rosh HaShanna , reflection on our lives during the time of awe, repentence and sorrow for Yom Kippor and Joy again at the giving of the Law. Apart from Yom Kippor , it has been a time of eating eating eating. Apples, honey, Pommegranites, dates, figs, grapes, wheat products barley. and plenty more.
They had a Sukkot conference with the believers in the land and that was terrific. It was a busy time for us, because the Segals were organising and running the conference along with two other believers here and we also had a line of people coming through at various time to see their Sukkah and have a meal in it. ( For those looking at this Newsletter via the website " www.geocities.com/jas10592001/newsletter3.html " you will see a couple of pictures of what I am talking about in this letter .....please take a couple of seconds to go there and see the photo's.)
In the middle of all this, came my birthday, and I was lured out the house on the eve of it. When I returned Batya came to the door excitedly saying she didn't know what to do , there was some kind of animal in the sukkah and could I come quickly and help ! I followed her out to find a surprise party waiting for me. My friends from the storehouse here and in UK there. What a shock !
At the present Barry and Batya are in UK finishing the recording of their new album . When they get back I will be organising a time to go back to the UK and work for a couple of weeks to get the fare to visit home. I am looking at being home for my mums birthday on Dec 1 and so you might like to pray that I will be able to organise it all in time and that the work in UK will come through for me to be able to get there in time. I am going to finish here . Please keep in touch . I do miss hearing from you . I will send this by email but DO go to the website and see some of the photo's . Take care and keep us in your prayers.
Lots of love in Yeshua
Jenny
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