My journey back went well. Before I went to the airport I had a chance to visit the people in Tel Aviv once more, we all watched 'Amazing Grace' together and it was a good way to end my trip. I am looking forward to going to the Missions Conference in Austria this week and to get some time to process everything. There is so much to be thankful for and to think about. Thank you for all your prayers, encouragement, emails, comments!
Meine Rückreise verlief gut. Bevor ich zum Flughafen fuhr, konnte ich die Tel Aviver noch einmal besuchen. Wir schauten uns zusammen den Film 'Amazing Grace' (Erstaunliche Gnade) an und es war ein schöner Abschluss meiner Reise. Ich freu mich auf die Missions Conference nach Österreich diese Woche zu fahren und alles zu verarbeiten. Es gibt so viel, wofür ich dankbar bin und worüber ich nachdenken muss. Danke für Eure Gebete, Ermutigungen, Emails und Kommentare!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Veggie Tales in Arabic, youth group, Mafraq
These past days have been different compared to my first two and 1/2 half weeks, and I've been enjoying it.
In the mornings we meet at church to do a kids club/vbs. We usually have between 16 and 20 children come. One of the guys from the youth actually leads the program, he does a very good job and has great potential. In the afternoons we usually play with the kids and do stuff around the house. In the evenings we've been meeting with the youth from the church which has been very encouraging and fun. It is obvious that God is working in their hearts. There are many things that are still very surprising to me, e.g. the way they think about their own tribe and other tribes, and the way the Christians even look down on and mock other Christians because they are from a different tribe.
Yesterday we also went to drop off a boy from Iraq at a hospital in Marfraq. He has TB and is getting treatment there before he can have his heart surgery in Tel Aviv. When we arrived at the hospital he put up two Bibles on his shelf; people here keep telling me how much he has changed since he came (in March). On our way back we took a little tour through Amman, that was fun.
On Tuesday I'll travel back to Tel Aviv to get to airport on time for my return flight.
In the mornings we meet at church to do a kids club/vbs. We usually have between 16 and 20 children come. One of the guys from the youth actually leads the program, he does a very good job and has great potential. In the afternoons we usually play with the kids and do stuff around the house. In the evenings we've been meeting with the youth from the church which has been very encouraging and fun. It is obvious that God is working in their hearts. There are many things that are still very surprising to me, e.g. the way they think about their own tribe and other tribes, and the way the Christians even look down on and mock other Christians because they are from a different tribe.
Yesterday we also went to drop off a boy from Iraq at a hospital in Marfraq. He has TB and is getting treatment there before he can have his heart surgery in Tel Aviv. When we arrived at the hospital he put up two Bibles on his shelf; people here keep telling me how much he has changed since he came (in March). On our way back we took a little tour through Amman, that was fun.
On Tuesday I'll travel back to Tel Aviv to get to airport on time for my return flight.
Monday, July 28, 2008
first day in Jordan
We just got back from a youth group meeting at the church here in Jordan. It is great to see everyone again, it doesn't feel like that it has already been a year since the last time I saw them. My trip today went well...long hours of waiting at check points and borders but I was still blessed. At the border I was able to watch a large crowd of men from Saudi Arabia who were all dressed in white robes, like the ones they usually wear on their 'religious journeys' (whatever these are called). Interesting!
An example of God's faithfulness: Since I don't have my cell phone anymore, I wasn't sure how everything would work out in case I need help. My taxi driver who drove to the Israeli border spoke German. At the Israeli border I met a lady from Kentucky, USA who speakes Arabic fluently. She and I stayed together till we reached the Jordanien border. Her cousin, who is Jordanian, was there to pick her up. Before they left he organized a taxi cap for me (got a very good deal for me), made sure the driver knew where to go and called my missionary friends to make sure everything is taken care of. It was a very fun day.
An example of God's faithfulness: Since I don't have my cell phone anymore, I wasn't sure how everything would work out in case I need help. My taxi driver who drove to the Israeli border spoke German. At the Israeli border I met a lady from Kentucky, USA who speakes Arabic fluently. She and I stayed together till we reached the Jordanien border. Her cousin, who is Jordanian, was there to pick her up. Before they left he organized a taxi cap for me (got a very good deal for me), made sure the driver knew where to go and called my missionary friends to make sure everything is taken care of. It was a very fun day.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
beautiful and sad moments
I just had my last dinner with the Iraqi families. I will miss them.
Here are my last few days with Shevet Achim in Jerusalem (and Tel Aviv) ...
On Wednesday Amy, a shevet volunteer, and I went to the Jordan border to pick up new patients and a missionary couple from Iraq. The whole trip was quite crazy, we got lost several times, we had to wait for hours at the border until everyone was able to go through passport/visa control...on our way back through the desert as we were listening to Johnny Cash I couldn't help but smile at everything that is going on.
Thursday morning: I went up on the temple mount- it was so peaceful up there. Amazing.
Later on the missionary couple (he is from Iraq, she is from the US) and I went to the Wolfson hospital in Tel Aviv to meet up with the other Shevet workers and the Iraqi families (they had gone there early in the mornig). It is so good to be able to talk to the missionaries and to hear their stories. To see our children and for more details about our day at the hospital, check out the blogs at http://www.shevet.org/childrennowinisrael.html. Our kids who are here: Shanaw, Shkar, Hevi and Sara.
Friday: spent time with the Iraqi families. Had very good conversations with a Christian couple from Baghdad, they are here for several reasons. They have gone through so much, lots of hurt, fear and pain. But there is hope, but that is difficult for them to see. Also, one of the fathers here started talking to me yesterday about what I believe and what he believes. The conversation was very interesting- even the way it came about. The Lord is working and it is good. The things that I am hearing, seeing and sensing feel pretty intense.
Saturday: met a friend at the Shabbat service here in Jerusalem. I had met and seen her last eight years ago. We had coffee together, shared briefly about our last 8 years and our prayer requests- all in 1 1/2 hours. So good and amazing!
In the afternoon I went to Tel Aviv to go to the CC Tel Aviv outreach. They had a Christian rock band from New Zealand play right down by the beach. They were really good, but unfortunately they had technical problems and couldn't play for very long. It was great seeing everyone again. It was funny though that I really missed the kids from Shevet at the same time.
Sunday: went to the Wolfson Hospital in Tel Aviv with our families. Two of the girls got their echos done, everyone got their TB results. We had a great time playing together as we were waiting...pictures and details should be on the shevet blog tomorrow...
Tomorrow morning, Monday,... will be on my way to Jordan.
Here are my last few days with Shevet Achim in Jerusalem (and Tel Aviv) ...
On Wednesday Amy, a shevet volunteer, and I went to the Jordan border to pick up new patients and a missionary couple from Iraq. The whole trip was quite crazy, we got lost several times, we had to wait for hours at the border until everyone was able to go through passport/visa control...on our way back through the desert as we were listening to Johnny Cash I couldn't help but smile at everything that is going on.
Thursday morning: I went up on the temple mount- it was so peaceful up there. Amazing.
Later on the missionary couple (he is from Iraq, she is from the US) and I went to the Wolfson hospital in Tel Aviv to meet up with the other Shevet workers and the Iraqi families (they had gone there early in the mornig). It is so good to be able to talk to the missionaries and to hear their stories. To see our children and for more details about our day at the hospital, check out the blogs at http://www.shevet.org/childrennowinisrael.html. Our kids who are here: Shanaw, Shkar, Hevi and Sara.
Friday: spent time with the Iraqi families. Had very good conversations with a Christian couple from Baghdad, they are here for several reasons. They have gone through so much, lots of hurt, fear and pain. But there is hope, but that is difficult for them to see. Also, one of the fathers here started talking to me yesterday about what I believe and what he believes. The conversation was very interesting- even the way it came about. The Lord is working and it is good. The things that I am hearing, seeing and sensing feel pretty intense.
Saturday: met a friend at the Shabbat service here in Jerusalem. I had met and seen her last eight years ago. We had coffee together, shared briefly about our last 8 years and our prayer requests- all in 1 1/2 hours. So good and amazing!
In the afternoon I went to Tel Aviv to go to the CC Tel Aviv outreach. They had a Christian rock band from New Zealand play right down by the beach. They were really good, but unfortunately they had technical problems and couldn't play for very long. It was great seeing everyone again. It was funny though that I really missed the kids from Shevet at the same time.
Sunday: went to the Wolfson Hospital in Tel Aviv with our families. Two of the girls got their echos done, everyone got their TB results. We had a great time playing together as we were waiting...pictures and details should be on the shevet blog tomorrow...
Tomorrow morning, Monday,... will be on my way to Jordan.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
last day in tel aviv
...just to let you know. tomorrow morning, wednesday, I'll leave from tel aviv to go to jerusalem for a few days (shevet achim). i might not be able to update my blog while i am there. i am also not sure how busy i'll be there. so ~no need to worry! :)
...nur so, dass alle Bescheid wissen. morgen frueh, mittwoch, werde ich von tel aviv nach jerusalem fahren, und dort fuer ein paar tage bleiben (shevet achim). es kann sein, dass ich den blog von dort nicht updaten kann. es kommt auch darauf an, wie viel ich dort zu tun haben werde. also~ kein grund zur sorge! :)
...nur so, dass alle Bescheid wissen. morgen frueh, mittwoch, werde ich von tel aviv nach jerusalem fahren, und dort fuer ein paar tage bleiben (shevet achim). es kann sein, dass ich den blog von dort nicht updaten kann. es kommt auch darauf an, wie viel ich dort zu tun haben werde. also~ kein grund zur sorge! :)
Monday, July 21, 2008
hospital visit/ Krankenhausbesuch
Gigi and a lady from Ramla, and I went to the hospital Tel Ha-Shomer today to visit Um-Rassan and her baby Rassan (right). They are Kurdish. Rassan is 6 (!) months old and has a hole in his heart. After the first surgery, they found out that he has another hole in his heart. The catheterization today was unfortunately not successful, they couldn't close the hole. That means he'll need another surgery. To be able to visit him and his mum today was a very special and interesting time. His mum speaks a little English, it was great to talk to her while we were waiting for the doctors to come back with Rassan.
We also got to meet ladies and their children from Gaza at the hospital. This little guy (above), Abdallah, caught my attention right away, he had the biggest smile and just wanted to play. It is amazing what God is doing. It was also very interesting to meet the doctors, who are all Jewish and very loving. The language barriers make things difficult, it was great to have the pastor's wife from Ramla with us, she is fluent in Hebrew and Arabic, so she translated a lot for the doctors, Um-Rassan and Gigi.
It is such a blessing to be here!
Gigi und eine Frau aus Ramla und ich fuhren heute zum Tel Ha-Shomer Krankenhaus um Um-Rassan and ihr Baby Rassan (rechts oben) zu besuchen. Sie sind Kurden. Rassan ist 6 (!) Monate als und hat in seinem Herzen ein Loch. Nach seiner ersten OP, hatte er wieder ein Loch in seinem Herzen. Die Katheterisation (?) verlief leider ohne positives Ergebnis, sie konnten das Loch nicht schliessen. Das bedeutet, dass er noch eine weitere OP benoetigen wird. Die Zeit mit den Beiden heute war echt beruehrend und sehr interessant. Seine Mama spricht ein wenig Englisch, es war toll mich mit ihr ein bisschen zu unterhalten, waehrend wir warteten, bis die Aerzte mit Rassan zurueck kamen.
Wir konnten ausserdem einige Frauen und deren Kinder aus Gaza im Krankenhaus besuchen. Einen kleinen Jungen, Abdallah (zweites Foto), hatte ich sofort ins Herz geschlossen, er hat das groesste Laecheln und wollte einfach nur spielen. Es ist so erstaunlich was Gott hier tut. Es war auch sehr interessant die Aerzte zu treffen, sie sind alle juedisch und gefuellt mit Liebe. Die Sprachbarrieren machen alles schon schwierig, es war wunderbar die Pastorenfrau aus Ramla dabei zu haben, sie kann fliessend Hebraeisch und Arabisch, deshalb konnte sie viel fuer die Aerzte, Um-Rassan und Gigi uebersetzen.
Es ist echt ein Segen hier sein zu duerfen.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
undivided heart/ ungeteiltes Herz...
...has been the main 'theme' this past week.
Let me give you an idea of what has been going on...i'll try to make it short :):
Tuesday:
- Clothing distribution: fun, good to meet the homeless and needy, good times of prayer with the cc tel aviv team (amazing: people from the US, Holland, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, Iran, Israel)
- Women's bible study: sweet time; one homeless lady, Tanya, russian jew, came! her first time to come to a Bible study.
Wednesday:
- heart breaking: saw Tanya sleeping on the side walk, totally passed out (drunk)
- clean up and practical work at church
- went to Jaffa with Rosanna (room mate), got to see Jaffa and Simon the tanner's house (Acts 10:6), good conversations with Rosanna
Thursday:
- soup kitchen, food prep, serving the tables, many homeless people came; amazing opportunity, He was so faithful to pour out His love and His joy; very sad- so many broken lives, Tanya came
- went to an opening of a messianic jew- bookstore, hebrew worship, communion, very encouraging to watch messianic jews
Friday:
- went to Ramla with Gigi, Sherif and their two daughters Nardine and Nada. they are from Egypt, love the Lord, work also with Shevet Achim. we visited an arabic church service. Alex and his wife (Alex is the Shevet director) were there too, he spoke to the congregation about getting involved with the shevet ministry. arabic worship, teaching, fellowship- so good...could talk for hours...
Today:
- Shabbat Shalom! church service, fellowship. it seems that a lot of the people who are coming to the church are not christians. Itzrak, from iran, is not a christian either but has been coming for a long time. he is a jew, still has family in iran. he is a very very sweet man. he wants to buy me a hebrew/german bible :).
Praise report, prayer requests:
praise:
- so many opportunities to learn, serve and share; wonderful people all over the place, health (no problems with my stomach), feel super blessed
requests:
- open hearts... room mates, hostel staff, homeless people,...
- to understand and to have God's heart
- safety (will travel to Jerusalem and to Jordan next week)
- can i learn arabic?
...war eines der wichtigsten Themen diese Woche.
ich versuche euch -so kurz wie moeglich :) - von dieser woche zu erzaehlen:
Dienstag:
- Verteilung von Kleidung: es war gut obdachlose und hilfsbeduerftige menschen zu treffen, gute gebetszeiten mit cc tel aviv (cool: team aus USA, Holland, Neuseeland, Sued Korea, Russland, Iran und Israel)
- Frauen Bibelkreis: gute zeit; eine obdachlose, Tanya, russische juedin kam, sie war das erste mal bei einem bible study
Mittwoch:
- herzzerreissend: sah Tanya auf dem buergersteig liegend, total "zu"
- aufraeumen und praktische arbeiten in der gemeinde
- war in Joppe mit Rosanna (zimmerkameradin), waren bei dem haus von Simon der gerber (Apg 10,6), gute gespraeche mit Rosanna
Donnerstag:
- Suppenkueche, essen kochen, tische bedienen, viele obdachlosen kamen, so gute gelegenheit, Er war treu Seine liebe zu geben/zu zeigen; sehr traurig so viele kaputte leben zu sehen, Tanya war auch da
- ging mit zu e eroeffnung eines buchladens, der einer messianisch-juedischen gemeinde gehoert, hebraeischer lobpreis, abendmahl, sehr ermutigend messianische juden zu sehen
Freitag:
- fuhr mit Gigi, Sherif und ihren zwei toechtern, Nardine und Nada, nach Ramla. sie kommen aus aegypten, lieben den Herrn und arbeiten auch fuer shevet achim. wir besuchten einen arabische gottesdienst. Alex und seine frau (Alex ist der shevetleiter) waren auch da, er erzaehlte der gemeinde wie sie teil von dem dienst von shevet sein koennen. arabischer lobpreis, predigt, gemeinschaft- so toll, koennte stunden erzaehlen
Heute:
- Shabbat Shalom! gottensdienst, gemeinschaft. es scheint, dass viele der besucher gar keine christen sind. Itzrak, von iran, ist auch kein christ, aber kommt schon sehr lange. er ist jude, hat noch seine familie im iran. er ist ein echt lieber, herzensguter mensch. er moechte mir noch eine hebraeische/deutsche bibel kaufen :).
Dank/ Gebetsanliegen:
Dank:
- viele moeglichkeiten zu lernen, dienen und ueber Jesus zu erzaehlen; wundervolle menschen ueberall, gesundheit (keine probleme mit meinem magen), fuehl mich sehr gesegnet
Gebetsanliegen:
- offene herzen... zimmer kameradinnen, jugendherberge mitarbeiter, obdachlose,...
- Gottes herz zu verstehen und zu haben
- sicherheit (fahre naechste woche nach Jerusalem und Jordanien)
- kann ich arabisch lernen?
Let me give you an idea of what has been going on...i'll try to make it short :):
Tuesday:
- Clothing distribution: fun, good to meet the homeless and needy, good times of prayer with the cc tel aviv team (amazing: people from the US, Holland, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, Iran, Israel)
- Women's bible study: sweet time; one homeless lady, Tanya, russian jew, came! her first time to come to a Bible study.
Wednesday:
- heart breaking: saw Tanya sleeping on the side walk, totally passed out (drunk)
- clean up and practical work at church
- went to Jaffa with Rosanna (room mate), got to see Jaffa and Simon the tanner's house (Acts 10:6), good conversations with Rosanna
Thursday:
- soup kitchen, food prep, serving the tables, many homeless people came; amazing opportunity, He was so faithful to pour out His love and His joy; very sad- so many broken lives, Tanya came
- went to an opening of a messianic jew- bookstore, hebrew worship, communion, very encouraging to watch messianic jews
Friday:
- went to Ramla with Gigi, Sherif and their two daughters Nardine and Nada. they are from Egypt, love the Lord, work also with Shevet Achim. we visited an arabic church service. Alex and his wife (Alex is the Shevet director) were there too, he spoke to the congregation about getting involved with the shevet ministry. arabic worship, teaching, fellowship- so good...could talk for hours...
Today:
- Shabbat Shalom! church service, fellowship. it seems that a lot of the people who are coming to the church are not christians. Itzrak, from iran, is not a christian either but has been coming for a long time. he is a jew, still has family in iran. he is a very very sweet man. he wants to buy me a hebrew/german bible :).
Praise report, prayer requests:
praise:
- so many opportunities to learn, serve and share; wonderful people all over the place, health (no problems with my stomach), feel super blessed
requests:
- open hearts... room mates, hostel staff, homeless people,...
- to understand and to have God's heart
- safety (will travel to Jerusalem and to Jordan next week)
- can i learn arabic?
...war eines der wichtigsten Themen diese Woche.
ich versuche euch -so kurz wie moeglich :) - von dieser woche zu erzaehlen:
Dienstag:
- Verteilung von Kleidung: es war gut obdachlose und hilfsbeduerftige menschen zu treffen, gute gebetszeiten mit cc tel aviv (cool: team aus USA, Holland, Neuseeland, Sued Korea, Russland, Iran und Israel)
- Frauen Bibelkreis: gute zeit; eine obdachlose, Tanya, russische juedin kam, sie war das erste mal bei einem bible study
Mittwoch:
- herzzerreissend: sah Tanya auf dem buergersteig liegend, total "zu"
- aufraeumen und praktische arbeiten in der gemeinde
- war in Joppe mit Rosanna (zimmerkameradin), waren bei dem haus von Simon der gerber (Apg 10,6), gute gespraeche mit Rosanna
Donnerstag:
- Suppenkueche, essen kochen, tische bedienen, viele obdachlosen kamen, so gute gelegenheit, Er war treu Seine liebe zu geben/zu zeigen; sehr traurig so viele kaputte leben zu sehen, Tanya war auch da
- ging mit zu e eroeffnung eines buchladens, der einer messianisch-juedischen gemeinde gehoert, hebraeischer lobpreis, abendmahl, sehr ermutigend messianische juden zu sehen
Freitag:
- fuhr mit Gigi, Sherif und ihren zwei toechtern, Nardine und Nada, nach Ramla. sie kommen aus aegypten, lieben den Herrn und arbeiten auch fuer shevet achim. wir besuchten einen arabische gottesdienst. Alex und seine frau (Alex ist der shevetleiter) waren auch da, er erzaehlte der gemeinde wie sie teil von dem dienst von shevet sein koennen. arabischer lobpreis, predigt, gemeinschaft- so toll, koennte stunden erzaehlen
Heute:
- Shabbat Shalom! gottensdienst, gemeinschaft. es scheint, dass viele der besucher gar keine christen sind. Itzrak, von iran, ist auch kein christ, aber kommt schon sehr lange. er ist jude, hat noch seine familie im iran. er ist ein echt lieber, herzensguter mensch. er moechte mir noch eine hebraeische/deutsche bibel kaufen :).
Dank/ Gebetsanliegen:
Dank:
- viele moeglichkeiten zu lernen, dienen und ueber Jesus zu erzaehlen; wundervolle menschen ueberall, gesundheit (keine probleme mit meinem magen), fuehl mich sehr gesegnet
Gebetsanliegen:
- offene herzen... zimmer kameradinnen, jugendherberge mitarbeiter, obdachlose,...
- Gottes herz zu verstehen und zu haben
- sicherheit (fahre naechste woche nach Jerusalem und Jordanien)
- kann ich arabisch lernen?
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