We began our initial Israeli journey in November of 1996, becoming citizens of Israel under “The Law Of Return”, more frequently known as making “Aliyah”. We came with 4 of our 6 children at the time, ages 1,3,5 and 14. We were later joined by our oldest son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, leaving only our oldest daughter, who remained in Denver. Jerusalem was our home for the next 16 years. Bess and I were convinced Jerusalem would be our “final resting place”…….Man plans, God laughs!

As 2012 rolled around, we both felt the Lord “wooing” us back to America. It was almost as difficult a transition as it was when we left for Israel. We had established life-long friendships, settled into very good jobs, and a solid congregational life.

The reason for the move became clearer as we settled into Calvary Chapel Aurora, where our oldest daughter had been attending for many years. Fortunately, I was hired by Promise Keepers as their Director of Finance, making that transition much easier.

Pastor Ed Taylor was open & willing to support a Jewish Outreach, which developed into “Beit Rachamim”, House Of Compassion, the vision being to establish a home in Israel, which would have the ability to host short-term mission teams from throughout the U.S.

In June of this year we took a “pilot” mission trip, 9 of us, plus a family of 5, on an 8-day adventure in which we served side-by-side with 7 different ministries. It was an opportunity to bless the local existing ministries in Israel, bless the people of Israel, and bless God. An experience that none of us will forget.

The next step would be to find a home that could accomplish the vision, and relocate back to Jerusalem. Through on-line searches we were were able to find a house that sounded like it would fit the bill. The Jerusalem neighborhood of Kiriat HaYovel would be our home for the next year, and we signed a lease, site-unseen, on a 5-bedroom home. We arrived in Israel on August 5.

We spent the first week reestablishing our health insurance, notifying the government of our return, establishing cell phone, water, and electricity. We rented a furnished house, what we didn’t know, was that there wasn’t any sheets or pillows, very little cooking utensils, so that also became a priority, since our shipment of personal goods would not show up for a few months. We needed to have the home be suitable to host 8 people, besides ourselves, so additional furniture and beds were also required.

I began experiencing some chest pains and shortness of breath upon arrival to Israel, as we walked all over Jerusalem, and all over our new neighborhood, so we can re-familiarize ourselves with our new home. I had convinced myself that I was just suffering some digestive issues, and was sure it would eventually disappear. I promised Bess that if the pain continued through the weekend, we would go to our old doctor in our old stomping ground of Tsur Hadassa and have him take a look.

It was actually a miracle that he was even there, we didn’t have an appointment, but he managed to squeeze us in Sunday morning. After hearing my symptoms, which would come & go throughout the day, he said to go home, pack an overnight bag, and go to the Emergency Room at Hadassa Hospital, and be sure you tell them you are experiencing chest pains during the examination.

We went straight to the emergency room, got admitted, and shortly was on an examination table, where they took blood samples, X-Ray, hooked me up to an EKG, blood pressure & pulse. I was not experiencing any discomfort. The reports indicated there was no visual problem. They were going to give me some Maalox and send me home. As the doctor was finishing his report, I began to experience very sharp chest pains. I told Bess to go get the doctor and tell him what’s going on. When he saw the EKG, which I was still hooked to, he immediately called a few more doctors in. Next thing I know I’m being wheeled on a gurney at mock speed through the hospital, up an elevator into a very scary looking room. The cardiologist, actually the head of Cardiology, “The Professor” was informing me that I had a heart attack, and they were going to do a Heart Catheterization.

Now understand, I’m 68 years old, and have never been in a hospital as a patient. I was wishing I had time to discuss some other options with them…..like coming back tomorrow if I’m still experiencing discomfort, OR, “I really have to pray about this Doc”, or the best option, a fulfillment of a Song Title I had written many years ago, “Yeshua, What The Heck Are Your Waiting For-For Crying Out Loud”………..but fortunately for me, he didn’t give me any options. About 45 minutes later, he told me he was finished and that I had one artery that was 100% closed, and the other 90% in which they inserted two stents to alleviate the problem. We spent the next 5 days in the hospital until they were convinced I was showing sufficient improvement, and was released on Thursday.

Prior to leaving, two young men were visiting the hospital rooms, and serenaded the patients with their favorite songs. I asked them to play something in Hebrew after they did their Beetles & John Denver impersonations. On their own they chose to sing “Lev Tahor”, and Israeli favorite song of Shlomo Carlbach. That translates to “Create in me a clean heart”…..The Hebrew translates more accurately as “pure” heart, which can mean not only “physical”, but “moral” & “spiritual”. God did all three!!! We got off to a little rough start but God is in the business of taking our “temporary minor afflictions”, and turning them into GOOD.

HODU L’ADONAI K’TOV..KI L’OLAM CHASDO-

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD, BECAUSE HIS MERCY IS FOREVER!!!

We are excited to be here- it will be our final resting place, but not until the Lord is done with us. Please keep our 3 children who live here in Israel in prayer as well. Jacob is 24, in the reserves, and is in security for the Ministry of Transport. Simmie will be 22 and is a “technician” with the Israeli Air Force, and Micah is 20, a lieutenant in a Combat Unit, currently stationed in Jericho. He saw considerable action in Gaza during the last conflict.

Thank you so much for your prayers….if one feels led to support our work here in Israel, your tax deductible donation:

DONATE HERE

Feel free to forward this newsletter to those who might be interested in hearing about our work in Israel.

larryandbess@gmail.com

Blessings From Jerusalem

Larry & Bess

And The Beit Rachamim Team