One month ago, we sat/lay on the floor of Ben Gurion Int. Airport not knowing what to expect from Israel and having no idea what lay ahead. Today we sit in the same airport, wearing the same clothes as when we arrived (washed, of course) but our hearts are completely changed.
To put our Israel experience into words would be a great injustice as there are not nearly enough words in the English vocabulary to explain each one in detail.
Israel in a nutshell from each one of our teammates looks a little something like this:
David - What I experienced in Israel is that we can always expect the unexpected because of God. He makes impossible things possible. Israel is one of the best examples of God performing miracles and fulfilling his promises. For example,
God is bringing all the "lost" Israelis in the nations back to Israel (Isaiah60; 4)
Clirese - Landing in Israel, I signed up for one month of adventure. But, as you know, God always gives you more than what you asked for. My heart is washed clean and forever changed.
Talita - Israel was full of breaking me down and building me up with God. And God really taught me how to see everything as a blessing from Him. He took us on a rollercoaster ride.
Ashleigh - South Africa has never felt as far as it did during the first two weeks of our adventure here. From wanting to go home, to never wanting to leave, God really worked in my heart to break down walls that were keeping him out and filled the new gaps with himself. It was tough to say the least, but I would do it all again if it meant getting to know His love as well as I did. Israel, I will be back for you.
Johannes - At the beginning Israel was not part of our journey, but God opened the door to spend one month in the promised land, which was a big miracle for me. During this trip God blessed our team in so many different ways and He showed me what it means to be in his holy land and to walk a personal journey with me. I am so thankful for all the adventures we experienced with God and the team and for all the revelations about Israel and the Jewish religion.
Yaelin - In Israel I really learnt what it means when people say that our God is a provider. When we had no transport, He provided. When it was hot, He provided shade. When we needed fruit, He abundantly provided for us. When our hearts ached, he provided comfort and when we were joyful, He provided a celebration. Our God is a God of provision and He provided an adventure full of Him here in Israel.
Jay - The past month has been a wild ride. But I've never learned this much about God and His people before. Israel taught me how to hold on to God when things get tough. I cannot grasp His love for me, because I've never experienced this kind of love before. It just never stops. No matter how doubtful or stupid I am. It never stops.
Thulani - JESUS was born here in Israel ,and for me to know that I walked where he was is just a dream come true. So for me, being here means that king Jesus is alive and in me, he became more real to me than before. A true meaning that I can experience His Glory in the present.
Simon - Israel will always be the place for where I experienced God as my PROVIDER - where He showed me how much He cares for us on a daily basis. He made a way for us, so we could live in abundance - in an expensive country, for a whole month, without having sufficient finances or contacts or any other securities.
(If you want to read some more amazing details I invite you to read my personal blog)
Valerie - Truly waiting on the Lord and then actually doing what says is what I experienced so powerfully in Israel. Learning a lot about the roots of Jewish beliefs as well as learning about how to share Jesus with them was definitely a highlight too.
Cherise - Israel has been a life changing country for me. I had a few moments where I felt so down, discouraged and afflicted, however I experienced God in such a humble and down to earth way.
God stripped me of everything I was still relying on, like associating comfort, security and peace with my environment and circumstances. It was a hard lesson to learn…-not putting your security in your 3 daily meals or in the place where you’re sleeping. We camped for 6 nights at different places and God just blessed us with bunches of bananas, hands full of grapefruit and baskets full of fish from the Galilee. He pursues, he cares.
Israel consisted of the most outrageous adventures.
We slept in an airport; in a parking lot; in tents next to the Jordan River, Sea of Galilee, Red Sea, Dead Sea, sheep kraal and on the roof of a house; in tents in the middle of the Negev desert; in a bed; and again on the airport floor.
We ate traditional food; familiar food; chocolate - A LOT of it (for free); grapefruit and bananas in abundance (for free); humus; falafel; semolina; bread, bread, bread; a Shabbat meal and the list goes on. God really blessed our team with food in Israel, he definitely knows the way into our hearts.
We traveled North, South, East and West in busses, trains, taxis and by foot.
We lost the team wallet, found the team wallet; met up with Northbound; hitchhiked; served hosts; hiked the Jesus Trail and most of all, went on one heck of a faith journey with Him.
God provided for us around every corner and everyday we are in awe at how blessed we have been. We are so in love with Him and with the places he took us to, both physically and spiritually, in Israel.
Our team grew closer, our faith grew wider and our love grew stronger over the past month. Israel, you strange and beautiful place, we will definitely miss you.
Moscow, we'll see you in a few hours!
Thank you for all the prayer, blessings and support friends. Our hearts are overflowing with appreciation! We serve such a faithful, loving and personal God.
All our love,
Hidden World