We leave for NY early tomorrow morning.

Let me start with an update from last week when I had no access to internet.

Last week we had interactions with people who were to busy doing drugs to care about anything we had to say.

However that being said the L-rd made us available to a few key people who really had questions about what we believed, and we ended up giving out multiple new testaments.

This last week we were on an All guys team. Hiking all around, it was a really great growing experience as well as a very difficult and dark time for us as I mentioned the people who didn’t want anything to do with us.

I will try to give more details in a different blog post, right now I want to talk about how amazing this trip has been after I tell you about this morning;

This morning we arrived in Delhi and I went to bed around 6am because our bus had just dropped us off. When I woke up I felt really Ill and cold, even though Delhi is a extremely humid and hot place. Thankfully I went back to bed, turned off our AC and Fans and put on really warm cloths and got up around 3ish, being all sweaty, and no longer being cold, but needing to put something in my body to give me energy because I felt very weak. So Praise Y’sh’a that this illness hasn’t been a very long ordeal (I think) I still feel a bit ill.

Now onto the partial unpacking of what happened on this trip.

This 10 week Journey has been a wonderful and great ride and I am really appreciative of the fact that it exists, and all the people who have helped it become what it is right now, I also look forward to where this trip will go in the future…

Many difficult and wonderful things have taken place on this trip, and through it all the L_RD has provided for me in each and everyone.

From the long grueling hikes we were on last week, to the adventures we had in Israel and the people we met and friends we’ve made both on this trip with me and the people we encountered along the way. I am truly glad that Y’sh’a called me to this trip this summer.

Although this trip is over, The season that follows when I arrive home will be another journey that I am excited and ready for, and I know it too has hardships along the path but I look forward to tackling them as they appear.

I am sad to be leaving the people who have become such an amazing family to me in these past 10 weeks but also and happy to part ways from them that I might see how this trip will allow their changed lives to bear fruit in the different paths all of us are about to go on.

I am happy that we are going back to the states but saddened by knowing that I will be leaving 6 wonderful friends I have made behind. As they continue on with the call that G-D placed on their lives for these next 4 months.

This trip has really opened my eyes and helped me gain a new perspective on evangelism, life, living a life of evangelism, and also shown me what I need to work on next in my LIFE LONG journey to knowing and growing closer to Y’sh’a.

It gives me great joy to know I have such an encouraging community behind me. And as hard as this trip has been looking back on all the things that have been accomplished for “The Kingdom” and in my life, make all the hardships that my community and I have been through, worth it.

Before coming on this trip I knew that I would be changed when I went home but I didn’t know that it would be so drastic, the next issue on this journey will be not falling into the boxes and routine things that I used to do.

I want to thank all of our Supporters who have been praying for us and helped us come on such an amazing Massah Trip.

I pray that all of you will be blessed imensely for all the support you’ve given us.

This post seems very unorgainized but I hope that joy I have from this trip and appreciation I have for you helping us on this trip comes across.

In HIS Divine and Perfect Mercy

~Jonathan

Let me catch everyone up since the last time I posted. I apologize for not writing as these last weeks have been very full. If my posts have not made it clear I am very interested in the current conflict that Israel faces between the Israeli and Palestinian people… let me specify, I am very interested in reconciliation tactics between these two groups. Fortunately our group visited an organization that dealt solely with this issue. Musalaha is an organization which provides different opportunities for Jews and Arabs to interact as children and teens as well as in various other ways. Our team was able to hear a lecture from the founder about their methods and the theology that fuels the success of this organization.

Let me summarize the conflict:

Often in Conservative Christian circles the mere existence of the Palestinians are “in the way of the end times”.

For the religious Jews, Israel is the land God promised to them which negates the fact that the Arabs were occupying the land first. The Palestinians are an enemy of God.

For the Messianic Jew who supports the state of Israel the land is justified biblically to the Jew.

The obstacles:

1) Complexity: The Arab and Jew have not always been fighting. It has been the last hundred years.

2) There is external power involved.

3) Imbalance of power: The Israelis have a lot more.

4) Dehumanization: The Arabs in many cases are treated like 2nd or even 3rd class citizens. “we are good they are bad” mentality. This causes an indifference to other people’s suffering.

5) Identity complex is more complicated than the land issue: both the Jews and Arabs suffer from a victimization mentality, ” the Europeans killed the Jews and the Palestinians pay the price.”

Reconciliation:

There is a problem with our theology.  Jesus is about reconciliation, he died for all.

Both sides need to admit pain and wrong doing. Reconciliation is divine and that is what Christ desires.

Also a lot of Palestinians are Jewish by blood.

My desire is that this will give you some insight into the current conflict and give you something to think about.

***this is officially yesterday***

We have been given the wonderful opportunity to lead a morning devotional. Each person has this same opportunity. So this morning we heard from Joshua N.

He spoke about, 2 Chronicles 7:14;

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Josh spoke about how the Jewish people are open to everything but Y’sha’, and how HE is the only way to the father yet, they stand and pray trying to speak to him but are missing the key “Piece”, and how every interaction we have with them is important.
it was a really good devotional, however I don’t really remember details right now as it is 1:20am two days later.

*today!*

We are placed in different groups each week with a team leader to help learn team dynamics and understand what our different skills are. So Today my group (Tamar (team leader), Rachel, Barry and I) were on dinner detail we cooked it and I thought it was very well made, details aside, something about the portion that I helped create, didn’t seem to be a big hit with people at dinner or at least that was my impression.

Time and time again so far on this trip different insecurities have been coming to light that I was unaware of. This happens to be one of them, so I found out tonight.

Being an artist when I work on a piece of art, if it is not well received it is a wound to my heart and soul since in my eyes it is a part of me, that I have poured part of myself into, no matter how small the project.

Rambling aside, I was trying to rebuke this insecurity after dinner because I find it to be a ridiculous and childish thing, (or at least the logic and reason side of me does).

In my life when insecurities appear or come to light, others that I am already aware of come back and they swarm me, so I start to think of myself as the victim. Which turns me into an introverted overly self analyzing person, who I don’t even want to be around.

And soon after dinner we are supposed to go speak with people about Y’sh’a. So I’m “trying” my best to rebuke these insecurities and we are soon leaving to go talk with people about our Y’sh’a, but I am attempting to keep myself stable.

Long story short G-d really provided as I didn’t want to talk with people tonight because I was trying to rebuke my insecurities, but my last conversation of the evening, went really well.

I spoke with a russian girl named Isabella, who told me a very interesting story about her going to an island just off Thailand, on a plane from a company who just had a plane crash 2 weeks earlier, and her jewish friend read to hear from the Psalms to help calm her down. She read that G-d will send an angel to guard you. So the plane landed, and they went to this motel, where this dog came and tried to Attack them. However another dog, came and interceded and protected them, but stuck around for 3 days at the door of their room just guarding them, it didn’t beg for water or food, it just sat there and guarded the door.

This led her to believe that there is something out there, but she doesn’t believe in G-d because she can’t see HIM. She had to run to meet someone but I just ask that you would pray for her and ask that Y’sh’a would reveal HIMSELF to her.

Thanks for your time and bearing with my rambling.

I know I say this every time but your prayers are very appreciated!

In HIS Sovereign Mercy and Grace,

~Jonathan

Please lift us up and ask that Y’sh’a and the Holy Spirit would help us overcome our cultural boundaries of jumping out of our comfort bubbles and talking with people. Also that G-d would show us the skills, giftings, and talents HE has sown into us that we may use them for HIS Glory! Todah Rabah!

*side thought*

Todah La EL (Thank the L-RD)
For putting this team together, and having your love and support on our Massah (Journey)
as we become broken and rebuilt in the mercy and grace of our L-RD Y’SH’A!

In case the title didn’t give it away the computer the Aleph guys were using, was broken, or so we thought. Aaron T. fixed it today for us, non computer savvy people.

I have been wanting to express my thoughts and revelations… but seem to have slowly forgotten them.

Hebrew is very hard! Or at least I feel that way, I learned the alephbet before I came but that is nothing compared to the Opon we are taking. I am learning alot but it is hard to grasp, I feel like a struggling 1st Grader, OY!
So that is one of my prayer requests that the Holy Spirit will help me grasp Hebrew quicker and more efficiently

Last week we did so much! it was jam packed! We met with a speaker who showed us places in the Old Testament, where we can find Y’sh’a and the Trinity, and encouraged us to search it out. We went to tents of mercy ministry and met Eitan and Marty, who told us all about what they do, and how the ministry started. Which is a wonderful ministry that is caring for the physical needs and the emotional needs of people. So often we forget to care for the physical things that people need. I know I am guilty of missed opportunities to help people in the physical. Meeting and hearing about their ministry was a blessing.

We also had a Sticker sortie where we went and placed stickers around the city, which was cool.
However I injured my toe, and dropped all my gum on the ground… so it was funny and lame all at the same time. That is alright it was still fun placing Y’sh’a Stickers around the city.

We also visited the Western Wall, which was sad, to see G-ds people think they are seeking after HIM, when they are missing the key component, Y’sh’a.
2nd prayer request would be that G-D would keep us bold, and clear a space for HIS word in the hearts of the people we encounter.

A few evenings ago, we had an amazing Night of worship after returning home from, traveling to Caesarea, Haifa, and Tents of Mercy. Which was full of worship and we also paired up and prayed for each other, I think everyone went to 2 or 3 people each for the prayer portion, which was Blessed, and Amazing, and then we continued to worship, what a wonderful and renewing time it was for Massah as a whole.

Thank you for the prayers thus far and the prayers you will offer up in the future as well!
We can’t thank you enough for your prayers! More prayer requests to come.

In HIS Mercy,

Jonathan

This last week has been a blurr. Our Hebrew started last Sunday, make that very intense Hebrew, with our teacher coming in and speaking only Hebrew to us. As someone who has no history in Hebrew reading, writing or speaking this was an intense two hour or so period where the information receiving center of my brain cracked a little. We also took a few trips to Jerusalem where we ventured through some 3,000 year old tunnels in calf deep water and saw some people praying at some kind of wall. We also saw other historical sites such as the place where this ancient Jewish kid beat up some guy and later became king. Which gave me hope for doing something great because I am Jewish too. We ate hummus and pita (not significant) where Samson probably slew a million people with a donkey bone (significatnt). I also got a chance to put my extensive medical knowledge to good use by helping out a friend in need (somewhat significant). We also escaped the heat by pioneering our way through ancient limestone caves that housed ancient Jewish pigeons.  Our last day of Hebrew (Tuesday) started with my excellent culinary ability shown by putting powdered chocolate into ice cold, delicious milk which expired a month ago (all of which was obtained from the J4J office, apparently fresh milk is the first thing to go in Israeli budget cuts). Any way after a day of vomiting etc. my fellow victim, Tamar and I recovered.

I noticed that our plight was posted on the blog several times by other members of our team and I just wanted to thank you all for praying that the bad milk would work it’s way out of our system as quickly as possible (it did).  I hope we can keep you all posted on other inabilities to properly digest. Can’t wait for India!

Today was the first day where we went out into the city and interacted with Israelis.  Wearing t-shirts with specific messianic wording in Hebrew was enough to make us a target for conversation.  My Israeli encounters led to some interesting dialog which I will get to after a brief explanation of my presumptions of the Jewish people in Tel Aviv.

Before arriving in Israel I thought religion would be a driving force in the daily lives of people here but soon found out the vast majority are secular. This realization begs the question of how Israelis justify fighting for and maintaining this land that they don’t believe God promised to them.  The answer, according to  some, is an identification with a Jewish state, primarily there was nowhere else for Jews to go after the Holocaust. The people that gave this answer were generally empathetic with the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and generally in agreement over the two (split) state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians. But ultimately had no real hope of a resolution and were noticeably tired of the constant fighting.

Unlike the Secular Jews certain members of the Orthodox community, which make up much less of the population, tend to make the most noise and often create the most influence in government. They are much less willing to compromise any part of Israel.

The motivating factor for me in being open about Jesus with Israelis is not the fear based reasons often given by some but more the practical benefits of adopting the values of Christ; service, sacrificial love,  peace, compassion  as well as dedication to ones cause.

I like to think of myself as a realist but in all honesty may lean a little closer to an idealist, while I don’t ultimately see an end in sight for this fighting I would like to think that by showing the characteristics of Christ and encouraging the acceptance of his Messiahship I am helping create a solution for the problem that has plagued the Land of Israel for quite a while now. So to answer the question, “what will change Israel” the only answer that i can possibly come up with besides one side giving up land is both sides adopting sacrificial love, service, peace, patience and kindness.

As of yesterday we landed safely in Israel. The weather here is hot and humid a contrast to Denver’s hot and dry weather. This summer I’m sure will bring challenges and adventures of which I can only speculate. I am however energized by the cultural differences of this environment and trying to be observant and sensitive to them. One aspect of the Israeli culture that I am looking forward to obtaining is the political knowledge that comes with spending any extended period of time in one country. The essential participation in politics here is in contrast with Americas allowance of political apathy, everyone has an opinion. I am very interested to see how the current Israeli/Palestinian conflict in regards to a split state unfolds during our time here. I will be sure to keep everyone posted on the events that our team will be facing hopefully from a safe distance.

-Barry