September 1st and 2nd- Day 9 and 10 Israel trip

September 1^st, 2016 Day 9
Early that morning we drove to Zikhron Yaaqov to go to a Kibbutz called Beth-El- a German, Christian community that exists to employ Israelis and bless Israel. My older sister helped here with Servants to the Land. At the community they toured us around the factories that they have built, a school, retirement home, day care, big barns and all the fields of produce they have. We saw all the animals they have like cows, goats chickens etc. We had lunch in the cafeteria where the workers are fed, along with their families, with the elders of the community. Lastly, we then visited a friend of my older sister, played with her little daughter, had more tasty snacks and talked awhile.

Then we arrived at the home of an Orthodox Jewish family who my sister, her husband and a few other friends know. We had a delicious Israeli dinner with them and such great conversations. They were so thoughtful, kind and wise. After dinner, we ladies walked around their neighborhood. We watched the beautiful sunset with them and had more wonderful conversations. The Jewish people really are so loving and hospitable. They were telling us that their neighbor was a grandchild of a Nazi solider. Ironically, our friends are from families who survived the Holocaust and they still choose to love their neighbor. Our friend’s daughter goes to the university where she has Christian, Muslim and Jewish friends. She chooses to love and be kind to them all. She stays on guard, but she chooses to love and be friends with them. We realize how unique of an opportunity it was to be invited to stay with an orthodox family. Most Jews are still cautious of Christians due to the past. It was a wonderful time with them and I am so grateful for the gift of being able to develop what we hope will be a long friendship with this family. God has definitely arranged an interesting thread of relationships! I look forward to seeing what he is going to do.

September 2^nd, 2016- Day 10

We had such a great time with our friends and later we headed over to Tiberias, where we would stay for several days and be near the Sea of Galilee. When I saw the water I was so ecstatic. We checked into the Aliyah Return Center, where my older sister was apart of their program and helped to open the Israeli division of Return Ministry. This ministry is based in Canada and they help the Jewish people return to their home land of Israel--which is part of prophesy. My older sister’s friend was still at the center so it was really fun seeing her again. Everyone we ran into was like “are you Alexandra’s family?” and some people even called her the “founding mother” of the center in Israel. Our room was really nice and modern and the coffee shop next door has the best coffee, lol J Once we settled in, we got ready and went to the congregation that my sister attended when she was there for Erev Shabbat. The worship was so wonderful and the message was really great and powerful. We then went back to the ARC (Aliyah Return Center) for a nice Erev Shabbat dinner. We had delicious food, fun fellowship and several screaming children (ha ha).