One Year in Pictures

As the month of July starts, I automatically get into defense mode. I defend my brain from melting in the hot and humid weather, and I set aside my tendency to run any training program. This is the time to turn on the air conditioner, reflect on the passing year and chat with God about His plans for the coming one.

I should probably include you in some of our conversations. But let’s start with a bunch of pictures I took along the way. They will do a better job than my many words, and they will give you an idea of some of my whereabouts in the passing months.

Teaching and Ministry Tours

I travel overseas mostly to teach about the role
of Gentiles on behalf of Israel. My US tour started in Chickamauga, GA

I believe the Gentiles who love Israel are the modern day “Ruth”,
and that they have a crucial position as a mediator between
the modern day Naomi and the Redeemer. In the picture above:
teaching about it at Second Baptist Church in LaFayette, GA

Wounded people cannot serve as healthy intercessors between God
and a wounded nation, unless their wounds are healed. Teaching
about forgiveness in Scottsboro, AL

Recruiting Gentiles to stand alongside Israel in Birmingham, AL

and in Dalton, GA

As weird as it may sound, even cowboys can become a “Ruth”…
Trying to convince them, in a Cowboy Church, LaFayette, GA

Updating friends who already serve as “Ruths”, in Chattanooga, TN

Teaching in Charlotte, NC on hearing God’s voice
through difficulties and hardships 

  

Tabernacle seminar in Florida

Why do we see very few miracles in Israel?
Talking about it with university students in Cleavland, TN

England is turning Islamic in a rapid pace. The lovers of Israel in England are not many, and they are always so hungry to learn more on their role on behalf
of modern Israel. Teaching in Luton on April 

In Finland, May 2017

Inkeri (on the right) came from Finland to minister in Israel for a while and attended one of the long term workshops we lead.
On May I traveled to Finland, and enjoyed her aid as my interpreter in Turku

Teaching about the Messiah who is hidden from our nation, in Helsinki

Conducting a Tabernacle Seminar in Bergen, Norway

The first session of the seminar was bout the gate, which represents salvation.
Jakob Arnt is the leader who invited me to hold this seminar. Here he enters
His gates with thanksgiving in his heart And His courts with praise!

Home Front – Ministering to Holocaust Survivors 

Rivka W’ has been home bound for the past five years. We visited and provided companionship and some aid. Rivka is singing here with Bracha – a Dutch “Ruth” – who comes to Israel twice a year in order to make the survivors’
hearts rejoice! (more about that in You turned my mourning into dancing)

Rivka Shechman was a dear friend we recently had to say our good-byes to
(read about it at A sad goodbye). Here are snapshots from some
precious moments we had with her. This one was taken during
a special evening we held in her honor (see Yizkor the forgotten)

She fell in love with Kirby, a “Ruth” who came from
the US to paint her house and soften Rivka’s heart towards God

Kirby realized that Rivka appreciates the language of arts, and placed in her hands an English Bible. Rivka could not resist that. She set on her sofa and was impressed with the art accompanying the text

Enjoying a meal with the team that came to paint Rivk’s home
and give of their time to help the Body in Israel.
I am still repenting of the crazy deserts we had later on

Humanitarian aid given to an elderly couple in Be’er Sheva.
The husband is a Holocaust Survivor

All Kinds of Training Programs

 

Brainstorming with the team of “Matzliach” – a new program, designed to equip Messianic students with much needed tools as their faith comes under attack in the world of academia and the job market 

One of the weekly “Matzliach” meetings

At Kfar Nahum (Capernaum) with “Taglit HaMaayan” (Meaning: Discovery through HaMaayan). This is a new program, launched by my local congregation 

At Gideon Spring with one of the groups of  “Taglit HaMaayan”.
This unique format enables tourists to study the Bible
on site with great teachers and apply some of it as they travel

We teach, for example, about prayer and the borders of Israel,
and than travel to strategic spots in order to apply that teaching

Pastor Hope Burt from New Life Church in Venice, FL, attended one of our tours. Here is what she shares:

The “Taglit HaMaayan” was a wonderful experience and I would definitely recommend it to others. I would like to bring another team.

What I most appreciated (it is rare) about the trip is the spiritual safety. The heart of repentance, redemption and restoration that the team exhibits creates an atmosphere of health, healing and heaven on earth.

Training and equipping a team in the southern region. This was one of my main projects this past year, and will continue next year as well

Teaching in youth camps – one designed for teens from the south

the other one with the youth group from my home congregation
(see picture at the top of this post)

Publications

In between teaching overseas and in Israel,
I took a few weeks to write… and write…

Yap, still writing. I hope to have some of this material available
in both Hebrew and English by Fall 2017

Recording my testimony at the “One for Israel” studio

You can watch it at My testimony on One for Israel

Work Only?

Work can be so exhausting… “collapsing” on a sunny moment
in cold Finland, with my close friend Liat, who joined me during that tour

A moment of rest at the Tennessee aquarium 

Touring the land  

Feasting on a great meal at a goat dairy farm down south

I heard about the statue “Fountain of Tears” years ago, and only this year made it there. This is a powerful piece of art, made by a Messianic believer – Rick Wiencke (http://fot-foundation.org/portfolio/).
It shows where was Yeshua during the Holocaust

A moment of pure joy with my great-niece Emmanuel

and my playful great-nephew Itamar, who calls me “DOODA”

Catching virtual kisses from my American niece and nephew 

 Bottom Line

I overloaded, overburdened myself, and over committed. Travelling is not easy for me, and my itinerary this year made it clearer than ever how long it takes for me to recover when I get back home.

So one conclusion is: I must work harder on making sure God wants me to travel so often and so much. I love teaching, and I love being among Gentiles who love us, but my main calling is to the restoration of the widow Israel, and I kind of lost balance a bit, I’m afraid. I thought I can rest a couple of days after each trip, and continue with the things I usually do here. Didn’t work. I had to say so many no’s this year to people who asked for help. Not good!

Another point I discuss with God these days: I want to make more close disciples, to train a few people on a long term commitment, walk with them through their life and equip them with the powerful tools God has loved on me.

And the last one: I need a personal assistant. One of my sisters lives in America and helps me a few hours each week with correspondence and planning. But I also need someone who lives in Israel, can travel with me and help me carry some of the load. You are welcome to pray for me along these lines.

Those of you who mention my name before the Throne when I am either too busy to do that or too negligent to remember how powerful that is – bless your hearts and spirits and mouths. I even bless your knees. I consider it a huge privilege to have you watch my back.

Some of you are co-partnering with me financially, enabling me to dedicate time and energy for all these projects. I bring you before our Father and ask Him to bless you in return.

Others are – I hope – get inspired as you read this blog, and understand Israel and her need a bit better with each post. You are all important and precious, and I cherish the fact that you even care to read, comment and support. Especially when the post is so crazily long.