Quick update. As you may have read in the news, there is much craziness in Leh right now because of a “cloudburst”. We didn’t have a team in Leh at the time, we are all fine, and God’s grace has continually been shown to us in our travels. Everyone on Massah is doing great! Thanks for your prayers.

Aaron

Massah 2010 is beginning to unfold.

As Hebrew lessons with Noa become more frequent, along with bible lessons taken up by Jhan, there is a sort of pattern or routine that is beginning to form. unfortunately as patterns form, for me at least, interest wanes and my mind begins to dull from repetition. Fortunately for me I’m in Israel and I have the almighty God on my side. though it has been hard to focus constantly, consistent prayer is amazingly helpful. All the guys are beginning to get to know each other, different characteristics are making themselves known in an amazing way. We had a “guy night” the other night, which consisted of grabbing a bight to eat at a falafal joint, renting a movie, and watching it on our 13 inch computer screen, while the girls went shopping.

I am eager to see how God will Grow us and mature us as a group, using us to ultimately show God’s glory, and share the gospel.

Here we are in Israel! This last week was been mainly compiled of test runs, learning and eating. We started our journey in New York where the entire team met at the J4J office. We had our first real meal together as a kick off to growing relationships, faith in Yeshua and eating food. The group left New York on Friday the 4th, we spent the next day in airplanes and airports. We arrived in Israel on Saturday the 5th. It didn’t feel like Massah really started until Monday, then the preparation began! We learned about broad-siding and communicating with people, and how to deal with the difficult zealous and confused types. The most influential moments for me that week was during our visibility sortie (where we walk through a mall or place in our J4J shirts making our presence known) where I was able to share a little bit with a couple very curious people. I was so surprised to learn how little they knew about Yeshua.  Another moment where i realized that we are in the thick of it, was when i was handing out tracks on a corner and in all of 5 minutes three men change my view of broad-siding. One man decided to spit at me (luckily I have ninja like reflexes and I was able to dodge it). Another man didn’t like what I was handing out and decided to try and take them from me (when i did not comply he got impatient and pushed me)(it was at that moment I was given the immense pleasure to yell the wonderful words DONT TOUCH ME) so that man walked away to harass Jhan (leader of our sortie group). Then one more man REALLY wanted my tracks, and would have succeeded in obtaining them if it weren’t for Jhan who ran to my rescue.

I did not seem to be affected by these encounters until I went out with the campaigners later that day to hold banners on the street for passing cars to see. I was so anxious and afraid, it was only ,because of the people I was with and their encouragement that God is with us, that i found peace and could focus and why I’ m here.

I am so amazed and encouraged by the Lord and how He makes His presence known. We went to the wailing wall yesterday, and we got to talking to some orthodox Jews there. The only emotion I had walking away from those conversations was sadness and regret. sadness because they were so lost. The arguments they presented were so off base it was almost funny. yet it makes me want to weep for their stubbornness. I felt regret because I did not have the words that could show these men where they wrong, but also I know that I am here to plant seeds, and to push people a little bit by a little bit closer to the truth. It is not my Job nor my responsibility to persuade someone completely. That is something I need to work on, I need to focus on the bigger picture and know in my heart that changes are happening.