The Israel Team has arrived home safely! We landed at Newark Airport at 4:20 this morning after a good flight.

Since there was not much time at Ben Gurion airport to post pictures yesterday, we have included more pictures from our final day in Jerusalem and our dinner in Abu Ghosh.

For my part, I would like to thank every member of the team for making this such a special trip. God moved mightily to get done what we need to accomplish, and I am sure we were used by Him in ways we don’t even realize. So… Jill, John, Renee, Marc, Chrissie, Mike, Nick, Dave, Jackie, Paul, Nancy, Ray, Steve, R.B., Ashley and Brenda: Thank You!

Special thanks to those who prayed for the ones who went, for those who drove us to and from the airport, for those who contributed financially and in other ways… You are just as much a part of this team. For as we read in Samuel: Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” 1 Samuel 30:24

Please continue to pray for God to bring forth fruit from the seeds He allowed us to plant! I especially think of Adi, Jonathan, Rudi, Shlomit, Gabriel, Alexander, Yona (who we met on the plane ride home) and the many others that God placed in our paths.

To God be all the Glory!

God Bless! Tom

We have a very short note tonight as we are in Ben Gurion airport just about to board the plane.

We had another wonderful day in Jerusalem, visiting the pool of Bethesda and singing in the Crusader Church.  We then went to the pavement where Jesus was scourged and had a time of quiet reflection.  We went to Golgotha and the Garden Tomb, and had Communion there. Then some of us went on the tour of the tunnel along the western wall of the Temple Mount while others walked around the old city.

We had a final dinner at the Lebanese Restaurant in Abu Ghosh before heading to Ben Gurion.

Our plane is just about to board.  Pray for the team as we travel home from Israel.

God Bless!  Tom

We are in Jerusalem!  John contacted his friend Avi to drive us around the city.  Traffic is always very bad and some of the roads are very narrow.  It is better to leave the driving to a professional.  John has worked with Avi for several years on his trips here, and it is always interesting.

Some of the group left on foot to walk through the old city, while the rest of us went with Avi to the Dung Gate, and in to the Temple Institute.  They have some very strange ideas about the Temple and how it fits in God’s plan.  They seem to have made the Temple itself an idol.  When asked about the Messiah, they told us that they don’t worry about the Messiah – He may help build the Temple, or maybe use it, but I gathered that they thought the Temple itself was most important and would be the instrument to bring peace to the world.  It was a very strange visit.

After the Temple Institute, some of us decided to walk through the city while Avi took the others to the top of the Mount of Olives.  Most of us met up in the Garden of Gethsemane.  John reminded us of what happened in Gethsemane and how the battle was really won right here – when Jesus wrestled with the knowledge of the task ahead – and yet was willing to be obedient to the Father and go through with the Sacrifice.  We took some time in the Garden to pray and reflect on what our Lord did for us.

We left the Garden and returned to the Old City.  People were on there own to get lunch and then had free time to do whatever they wanted.  Some went to the Western Wall, some walked the top of the wall, and some did some sightseeing and shopping.  We met up at 5:30 back at the hotel for our final dinner in Jerusalem.

John and Jill had a special treat for us tonight – we went to the Citadel, which is just inside the Jaffa Gate next to David’s Tower.  There is a laser light show that uses the buildings as the screen.  It tells the story of the city of Jerusalem through holographic images projected on the walls.  It was absolutely incredible!  It was a great way to end a wonderful day!  Thanks John and Jill!

Tomorrow: More Jerusalem and Communion at the Garden Tomb.  Pray for Avi who has been dealing with some health issues, and pray for his heart to be opened to the Gospel. Pray for the people of the Temple Institute – that their eyes may be opened to seek for Truth in the Tanach, not in tradition, and that they may see the true place of the Temple in God’s plan and His plan for them.  Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.  We know that Peace will not truly come until the Prince of Peace returns.  Pray for the team as we spend another busy day in Jerusalem, and then board a late flight to return home.

God Bless!  Tom

We spent our third and final night at Kibbutz Dorot.  The entire team had breakfast together this morning.  Once again, Shlomit (not Schlome as previously written) joined us for breakfast.  Jill had another chance to share the Gospel with her.  Shlomit told us that she is not religious, but she obviously wanted to hear what Jill was saying.  When we finished, Shlomit was amazed and told us what she heard from us is what the “religious” Jews should be sharing with their people, but instead, she had to hear it from Christians from America!  She said we were welcome to come back anytime we want, because she could see something was different about us.  Praise God the He can make Himself known through us, in spite of ourselves.

We packed our gear and stored it in the kibbutz storeroom.  One van was loaded with lumber for today’s project.  We fit ourselves in the vehicles and headed for Gaza.  Our first stop was on a hill overlooking the fence to the Gaza strip about half a kilometer away.  We could see the IDF vehicles patrolling the road along the fence.  John gave us a history lesson from the pages of Scripture to explain why the surrounding nations want Israel wiped off the map.  It is really a spiritual battle, because Satan knows that the Messiah will return when the Jewish people call from their hearts for Him to come to them.  If the Jews can be destroyed, no one will be left to call for the Messiah and He will not be able to return.  Praise God that we know that He has other plans.

Our next stop was an IDF base a hundred meters or so from the fence.  Twenty-foot high concrete barriers protected the base from snipers in Gaza.  The buildings and barracks were all concrete to protect from rocket attacks.  The soldiers work continuous shifts of 2 hours on duty and 4 hours off.  Their “time off” however is spent doing work on the base itself or preparing for their next shift.  They work 17 days straight and then get 4 days off.  One soldier told us he went a week without sleep when he first arrived.  They catch whatever sleep they can between shifts.  Their gear, including the body armor and field pack, weighs around 60 lbs.  The typical tour at Gaza lasts 4 to 6 months before they are transferred elsewhere.  They definitely do not have an easy life at this base.

We brought the lumber to build two picnic tables for the soldiers.  It might not seem like much, but they have no special comforts from the military.  The sit on whatever they can find – old car seats, discarded furniture – even just on the ground.  Each picnic table went in the center of a group of barracks under the shade netting.  In addition to the tables, we brought candy and Skittles, Israel/America flag pins, and soccer balls.    We had the opportunity to talk to many of the soldiers.  There were even a few from the U.S. who had made aliyah (returned to Israel to live).  We met Michael from New Jersey, David from South Carolina, and Frank from Michigan.  It is amazing how God is drawing back the Jewish people to their homeland.  These young people came without their parents – they just felt called to move to Israel.

We had fun in some of the activities. R.B. showed us that he could juggle soccer balls, and when they found out Ashley sang on the CDs we brought, they were practically lining up to get copies from her.  Some of the gang got to play with the guns (unloaded), and a few of us got hats or shirts from the soldiers.   Most importantly, we had the chance to tell many of these soldiers that God loves Israel and He loves them.

We stayed at the base longer than expected, but it was worth the time we spent.  Most of the team headed directly to Jerusalem.  John, Chrissie and Marc swung through Tel Aviv to return tools we borrowed for the building projects.

We met together for dinner at the hotel in Jerusalem to end the day, then most of us headed off to get some rest after our busy week of work.

Tomorrow: Time in Jerusalem!  Pray for Shlomit.  God is working in her in a powerful way. Pray for the soldiers in the IDF, especially for those we saw today in the Gaza base.  God is moving in this land and working in His people of Israel.  Pray for the team to get some rest and enjoy the time we have in Jerusalem – that it would touch each of us in a special way.

God Bless!  Tom

We spent our second night at Kibbutz Dorot.  Once again, part of the crew left early in the morning to get started by 6.  We still had to put a full roof on one building (pergola) and finish the roof on the second pergola.

The rest of us had breakfast at the kibbutz before returning to the park.  Last evening, Tom and Brenda spent some time with Schlome who runs the guest service of the kibbutz.  We showed her pictures of the work we are doing in the park and talked about our love for Israel.  Then Brenda went with Schlome to see her new house.  Schlome made a point to visit with us at breakfast this morning where John got to explain more about what we are doing in Israel, and Jill had a chance to share the Gospel with her.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1

By midday, we completed all of the roof work, started another picnic table under the first pergola and started leveling the ground for the landscaping.  The plants arrived mid-morning, including the almond tree we will plant as a memorial.  The stone monuments arrived at nearly the same time as our lunch so everyone had a chance to take a look.

The pace picked up in the afternoon as we neared our deadline.  We set the monuments in place and had a short dedication ceremony with Adi’s relative who lost her 5-year-old son and was injured in a qassam rocket attack.  The memorial was dedicated to her son and the seven others who have been killed here in Sderot.

The landscaping continued, and some of the guys were still doing the final clean up touches after the crowd arrived.  The park looked great for the official re-opening ceremony!

The evening was incredible.  Somewhere between 300 and 400 people showed up, and probably more than half were the kids who will use this park every day.  Adi gave some opening comments, several of the town leaders spoke, and then Adi’s relative shared with the gathering.  John gave a short message on how we true Christians care for all people, especially the people of Israel.  He explained that while we built the park, it belongs to the people of Sderot.  Most importantly, John made it clear that God should get all the glory for what was done here.  Jill added a few notes on how God’s hand was in the project throughout.

After the official ceremonies were over, we distributed candy and toys to the children.  We did not have enough soccer balls for everyone, so it was decided to donate them to the school next to the park.  We finished the night by having dinner at Nana’s.  She owns a house on the edge of the park and has supplied us with electricity, water, bathroom facilities and sometimes food.  She has been a huge blessing to this project!

This was one amazing incredible evening!  Praise God for all – the work got done and we had great interaction with the people.  Pray for the seeds that were planted tonight and all during this project.

Tomorrow:  An IDF base to build some picnic tables, and then… Jerusalem!

God Bless!  Tom