Israel UpdateRuth NessimAnother month has taken wings<strong>and</strong> flown by, each day full of unexpectedexperiences <strong>and</strong> opportufromlowers in theCJFM June 2007Shalom to all our dear Friends,esert....We could almost begin this month’sletter with the words of the Passover song,“Why was this month different fromall other months?” And the answer wouldcome back, “Because all other months arefilled with rushing from place to place,<strong>and</strong> this month found me in a hospitalbed for two weeks” I was admitted withhigh eye pressure after a botched cataractoperation, <strong>and</strong> remained until mysurgeon was able to do a laser treatment,which he hopes will solve the problem. Ishould know in about three weeks’ timewhether it has been successful or not.Meanwhile, the set-up is such, thatwith or without me, the meetings go on.I have a lady called Shoshana living inmy house. She kindly prepared the house,<strong>and</strong> the meeting was packed. Unfortunately,I spent my birthday in hospital,which was the meeting Saturday, so agood number of them came to visit afterthe meeting, <strong>and</strong> I was greatly cheered.Staying in hospital was not withoutits humor or its brighter side. Khalilcame to give me a summary of who hadcome to the meeting, <strong>and</strong> it turned outthat on that particular Shabbat, more Arabshad come than Jews or anyone else!Then Khalil turned to me <strong>and</strong> said, “ThoseArabs, they get everywhere!” (Khalilhimself is an ex Moslem waiting to gointo ministry) We had a good laugh. Butwhile I was relating this to Gideon of CJF<strong>Ministries</strong>, son Sammy, who was listeningon the loudspeaker, quipped, ”You’regoing to have to rename your organization,to “the Christian Arab Foundation!”In the next bed to me was a nurse whowas quite ill. One day her whole family,including her parents came to visit, <strong>and</strong>our Karen was also visiting me. Somehow,instead of having a private visit,we all became one happy family, chattingfreely to one another. At one point,the whole family had to go somewhere,<strong>and</strong> left the old mother alone with us.She fixed her eyes on us <strong>and</strong> said quitedeliberately, “I learned English in Tunisia,I learned it in a mission School. They did28 <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly • June 2007not pray to Mary, but only believed in Jesus.They were wonderful people” “Yes,”I said, “My husb<strong>and</strong> visited such schoolsin Cairo <strong>and</strong> India, <strong>and</strong> they were run bythe Anglican Church. He loved them too.”Karen then asked her, “Did they try to teachyou their beliefs?” “Yes they did”, shesaid, “<strong>and</strong> I have loved Jesus since I wasfive years old” At this point Karen wentto sit next to her <strong>and</strong> said, “We also loveJesus, <strong>and</strong> there are thous<strong>and</strong>s of Jews inthis country who believe like us” “What ablessed day this is,” she said, “that I camehere to meet you two. As soon as I sawyou, I knew there was a different spirit,<strong>and</strong> you reminded me at once of those Anglicanladies” She reads the Bible secretly,as her husb<strong>and</strong> is against, but asked us tovisit her <strong>and</strong> have a meal with her, <strong>and</strong>bring Khalil with us, whom she also melater on. Her daughter also wants us to visither, which we will do next week. Whatamazed us, is that this dear lady has hadno fellowship for at least 65 years, (she isnow 77), <strong>and</strong> she was able to discern thatwe were believers, without a word beingsaid. Both Karen <strong>and</strong> I were astounded!Last Shabbat was a little sad, as wesaid farewell to Jim <strong>and</strong> Vera, refugeesfrom the Lebanon. After knowing them forsome years, it was with heavy hearts thatwe took our leave of them, as they go tofind a new life in Canada. Jim <strong>and</strong> familybrought to the meeting the biggest <strong>and</strong> mostdelicious chocolate birthday cake that wehave ever seen or eaten, made at home bya fellow Lebanese who lives not far fromus .It was difficult not to cry. And again westress, that in the Messiah, there is neitherJew, nor Arab, nor Lebanese, nor Gentile.God loves them all, <strong>and</strong> though our primarytask is to reach Jews, he is not unmindfulof all the others that make up the colorfulmosaic of peoples, which is this country.This week, we hope to baptize twonew Russian believers, a mother <strong>and</strong>her daughter. They have come a longaway, <strong>and</strong> still have much to learn, butare strong in their desire for baptism<strong>and</strong> to follow the Lord. Please pray forthem, as their life is far from easy.Shoshana, my former neighbour,<strong>and</strong> I continue to meet almost everyweek. Last week she treated me to a Chinesemeal. Next week we will return toour breakfast schedule. At the moment,her heart is shut to the things of God,at least outwardly, but there is always abreakthrough. One has to wait patiently.The two sick sisters are definitely not doingwell, <strong>and</strong> we have had to step backabout from them. Cindy visits us frequently,but is still sitting on the fence,<strong>and</strong> two other non believers come to themeetings quite frequently, but whetherthey take anything in, is anyone’s guess!Our Teacher will be leavingus for 6 weeks after the next meeting,<strong>and</strong> in his place we hope to havean Arabic Pastor, who has kindlyagreed to fill in for that period of time.There is one more thing. There isconstant talk of war. This time, it is notonly Hezbollah, but also maybe Iranwho is threatening to wipe us off themap, <strong>and</strong> Syria, which wants the GolanHeights (<strong>and</strong> Lebanon!). The townof Sderot has been rocketed from theGaza strip unmercifully for weeks, infact ever since Israel withdrew completelynearly two years ago. Rememberus in your prayers, as we get readyfor another round of bombings. Pray forwisdom for our government, which doesnot appear to be unduly blessed with it.Pray for us, as we prepare for this situation.Pray that all may be to the furtheranceof the Kingdom of God, <strong>and</strong> thespread of the good news of the Gospel.With greetings in Yeshua,From Ruth <strong>and</strong> the congregationDear Friends,
nities, <strong>and</strong> also trials <strong>and</strong> blessingsWe continue to be more than busy, withthe usual <strong>and</strong> unusual visitors from all overthe world, <strong>and</strong> also from within our town,expected <strong>and</strong> unexpected. Sometimespeople call to ask what we are doing, <strong>and</strong>go away promising to pray for us. Otherscome because they are distressed or curious,<strong>and</strong> want to hear what we have to say.One day, Paul dropped in. He used tobe a neighbour, <strong>and</strong> moved to a nearbytown, but still keeps in touch. He <strong>and</strong> hiswife are both Jewish, but into new age, <strong>and</strong>open to listen. He stayed for breakfast <strong>and</strong>a long chat, <strong>and</strong> then invited me to cometogether with another lady who lives withus, <strong>and</strong> also to bring Halil, whose faithin Yeshua (as a former Moslem) reallyinterested him. We plan to visit him forlunch shortly, <strong>and</strong> ask prayer for this manwho is a descendent of the priestly tribe,but knows so little of the God of Israel.Cindy is also one who drops by frequently.She is educated, intelligent <strong>and</strong>searching, <strong>and</strong> finds a refuge in our homefor her personal sorrows. She has read anumber of books about the faith, includingmy poetry book, <strong>and</strong> loves everyonein the fellowship. One of her sons died ofa heart attack before he reached the ageof 40, <strong>and</strong> the other is sick. She is so sad,<strong>and</strong> needs to know the God of all comfort.Shoshana <strong>and</strong> I continue to meet ona weekly basis. Yesterday I visited her,<strong>and</strong> she greeted me with such a warmsmile, <strong>and</strong> such obvious pleasure. Sometimeswe have lively discussions, as wedid when she also met Halil some weeksback, but she still holds out stubbornly.After a year or more, the parents of R.came again to visit him. I was as usual invitedto a meal out, <strong>and</strong> what a discussionensued. These are also Jews of the priestlytribe, who have long since given up anyfaith in God, but now owing to their son’sfaith in Yeshua <strong>and</strong> immigration to Israel,they want to underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> get to thebottom of everything. The day before yesterday,they all came over for a Chinesetake-away, <strong>and</strong> Cindy joined us. These“eating together” evenings are wonderfulbarrier breakers, <strong>and</strong> we have formeda number of loving friendships this way.The meetings continue to be well attended,<strong>and</strong> our sitting room is packed tocapacity, <strong>and</strong> always we have problemsseating so many people for the meal afterwards,but these are again great timesof fellowship, <strong>and</strong> opportunity for believers<strong>and</strong> non-believers to talk <strong>and</strong> exchange.Our teacher is back, <strong>and</strong> somewhatimproved in health, for which weare grateful. We are hoping that two ofour newer believers will soon be ableRuth Nessim Israel Updateto confess their faith in Baptism, <strong>and</strong> tothis end we have started mid-week meetingswhere we endeavor to teach basicdoctrine. Halil is doing this <strong>and</strong> gettingpractice for possible future ministry.The two sick sisters are not doing sowell, although the health of Elana hasimproved. They are still walking in darkness,confused <strong>and</strong> troubled, <strong>and</strong> althoughintelligent, have great difficulty underst<strong>and</strong>ingthe plain facts of the Gospel.Please keep praying for Abdullah<strong>and</strong> Hashem. The last we heard ofHashem was that he was waiting for histurn to go for surgery to fit a new leg,after the Fatah shot his off! Nageeb,the Arab Pastor, is hoping to see Abdullahshortly in Bethlehem, <strong>and</strong> we shouldhave some news soon. Pray that the Gospelwill take deep root in their hearts.God bless you all, <strong>and</strong> please continueto remember us.In Yeshua’s service,Ruth Nessim.Watch Jacob Prasch &Friends On WebcastInternet TVJacob & Friends can also be seen atGodlyConferences.com &Radio Free TVGraphically illustrative of a widespreadproblem in the media is thiscartoon from South Africa’s BusinessDay.Israel is held wholly responsiblefor the situations in Lebanon in 2006<strong>and</strong> the current crisis in Gaza. OnlyEhud Olmert is seen to be stirring thepot or deliberately leaving it to boilover depending on one’s interpretation.Either way, the poisonous penof Br<strong>and</strong>on, who titles his cartoon“Chef’s Specialty”, leaves no doubtas to whom he believes to be at fault.This conveniently ignores Hezbollah’sprimary responsibility for provokingthe Lebanon war <strong>and</strong> the chaos<strong>and</strong> violence in the Gaza Strip, as Palestinianterror gangs fight each other<strong>and</strong> launch barrages of Qassam missilesat Israeli civilians in Sderot <strong>and</strong>the western Negev.Comments to South Africa’s BusinessDay - busday@bdfm.co.zaPlease be on the lookout for similarattempts to unjustly blame Israel<strong>and</strong> absolve the Palestinians from responsibilityfor the current situation.For more on anti-Israeli mediasentiment in South Africa, seethe It’s Almost Supernatural blog.June 2007 • <strong>Moriel</strong> Quarterly 29