Moments of the Heart

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

September 3rd, Day 11-Israel trip

September 3^rd, 2016- Day 11 We were told that Israel has changed but the Sea of Galilee is and will always be the same. Those are the same waters that Yeshua walked on which is so cool to think. After breakfast we headed to a worship boat. Daniel Carmel (the boat captain) is the only Messianic boat owner on the sea. He played and sang great worship songs on the boat and when he played Oceans by Hillsong that just really touched my heart. The wind was blowing and it was saying, “You(Yeshua/Jesus) call me out upon the waters”-referring to Peter. All the lyrics in that song are amazing. I’ve heard that song so many different times but that time, on the Sea that Yeshua walked on and He called Peter to walk on was just so powerful. I could for sure feel God’s Holy Spirit within me and it was incredible. Will you come out onto the waters of a challenging situation, if He calls you or will you be scared and fall in like Peter? Having Shabbat in the Land and sailing on the waters of the Sea of Galilee is indeed a memory I’ll never forget. Back at the guest house we all had nice Shabbat naps, more food and then headed out for a drive around the entire Sea of Galilee which took about an hour and a half. We couldn’t have gone at a better time because the sun was setting and shining through all the trees. It was so beautiful! We then went to this wonderful, restaurant on the peer overlooking the sea and had amazing food. The waves were crashing and we had really great family time together. The hummus tastes so much better here than it does in the US, just saying ;) I miss Shabbat in the Land of Israel. It is so uniquely special there.

Pictures from September 1st and 2nd- Israel trip

Morning light 🌞

What our room looked like. The hotel ran out of rooms quickly so my mom and I had to stay together and my sister and dad stayed together.

A cow at the Beth- El Kibbutz

So much greenery and growth in Israel (especially at Beth-El).

A beautiful hibiscus 🌺

Beautiful overlook on a village and sunset at our friends house.

Our two friends with my mom and sister (my dad and my friends dad was inside).

I've never seen that much challah at once. The gas station near by was preparing for Shabbat on Friday. It smelled so wonderful!

My friends sister Charissa holding one of the children.

Where we had the Erev Shabbat survice

Shabbat dinner

Me and my new little friend from New Zealand

My Shabbat tea

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).

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Pictures from August 30th and 31st, Day 7 and 8

Ben Yehuda street where we did most of our shopping

You never see this in America.

A Broncos Kippah, you never see this in America as well. 😂

The shook!

Fruit at the shook

American flag with our tour guide from Bridges for Peace.

The tram

Two IDF soldiers

A sign at the garden tomb.

The tomb

A pomegranate, yum!

My mom with Karen

Coca- Cola. It just tastes better in Israel.

The best ice cream ever 😋

Our last time at Aroma, ha ha.

Last time at the wall.

I miss Jerusalem and my heart yearns to be there again soon. ❤️

August 30th and 31st- Days 7 and 8- Israel trip

August 30^th+ 31^st- Days 7 and 8.
The 30th was our shopping day on Ben Yehuda Street. If you ever come to Israel, for sure go to Ben Yehuda Street for gifts, some history and just fun. We shopped in about 15 stores, bought a lot of things, we bargained a lot--since that’s just what Israelis do, ha ha--, and ate at a Kosher McDonalds. There are many different languages, people and cultures there which was fun to experience.

Day 8 a cat that kept us company every morning for breakfast jumped on the table, stole my chocolate croissant and ate the whole thing! It was so funny! J Afterwards, we went to a ministry called Bridges for Peace where they reach out to the Jewish people by serving with 14 humanitarian ventures, including doing home repairs and painting, installing hand rails through the hilly city, operating the food bank, helping non-Israeli Jews make Aliyah to Israel etc. Their purpose is for the Christian people to create a bridge to the Jewish people. They aren’t in Israel to aggressively evangelize the Jewish people but to serve them and love them. Of course, when it is appropriate, and they are asked, they explain that they want to share God’s love and plan with them and share the good news of Yeshua (Jesus). We received a wonderful tour around the Bridges base and met lots of sweet people. One of the ladies recognized us and asked “were you at Sukkat Hallel the other night?” She remembered that we had asked directions from group of friends that night. They seemed like angels that night because we were lost and they directed us to the right place. God sure does bring people in your life at the right time. With several Isralies we have met we mentioned Bridges for Peace. Each time, the person spoke favorably of Bridges. Over their 25 years of service, BFP has done a great job serving and creating relationships with the Jewish people and are indeed building “bridges” by putting Christians in a new and favorable light.

Next, we visited the Garden Tomb where Yeshua is said to have been buried. When you first enter, it is so beautiful with all the flowers, pomegranates etc. The garden is very beautiful with numerous types of flowers and trees. It is quiet and a great place for meditation and reflection. We headed to Skull Hill where possibly Yeshua was crucified. It sad now though because there is a dirty, busy, loud Muslim bus station and prayer tower, beside the fencing of the tomb complex. Then we went to the tomb. The original door was ruined when there was an earthquake in the 1900’s but the tomb is still there. We don’t know for sure if this was THE spot but it was pretty neat and special to go there. Walking inside the cave or tomb was very surreal.

On our way back to the hotel we stopped by a church called “Living Bread International” where my older sister went to when we she went to college. We had actually stopped by there before going to the Garden Tomb but no one had answered. So we’re back and rang the door bell several times and no body answered. My mom had silently prayed that we would be able to meet the pastor there, Karen. Right then and there, there was Karen walking by. Karen is a very courageous and brave woman. Her car has been blown up by terrorists, then those terrorists captured her, held her captive and tried to kill her. We visited with Karen and toured the lovely worship center. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago before this writing, the church was burned/destroyed by that same group of terrorists and had earlier tried to kill her. Karen’s trust in God is incredible. She still holds on to God, and hears from him that she is still to love the enemies who are trying to destroy her.

God kept having us meet special people during our trip. That night our family had dinner in Jerusalem, visited Moshe’s shop, and bought the best tasting ice-cream I have ever had. We then walked down to the Western Wall for the last time --until we go to Israel again. My mom and I shed some tears leaving this special city. The city of David. The city where Yeshua spent time. No words or pictures can adequately describe what this city does to a person’s soul. Next year in Jerusalem!