The Team from Calvary Aurora has gone home. I can only describe the entire 10 days in one word…….. WOW!

I don’t really know where to start, so I’ll start from the beginning.

The Team arrived Saturday morning, we picked up our 9-passenger van and proceeded to drive to Jerusalem where we visited the “Friends Of Zion, a new museum honoring the “Righteous Gentiles”, and the part they played in the establishment of the Jewish State.

Sunday morning, Day 2, we headed for Sderot to serve with “Hands Of Mercy”. A community bordering the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by the rocket fire from our friendly neighbors over the past several years. The ministry began serving the victims of terror, but has now expanded to feeding the poor, and assisting in employment opportunities. That entire day the “winter rains” made their presence felt, and took out its wrath on our Van which refused to start. About 2 hours later, we were on our way back to Jerusalem with a new set of wheels.

Monday morning, the Team headed to Bet Shemesh, to serve at the Joshua Fund, the humanitarian work of Joel Rosenberg. Calvary Chapel Aurora now holds the “world record” for packing 42 pallets of food, as well as 2 trips to individual needy families. Enough food was packed to feed 2500 families….a months work in about 7 hours!!!

Day 4, Tuesday, we headed to Tel HaShomer, a suburb of Tel Aviv, to visit rehabilitation patients at the Sheva Hospital, the largest in Israel. Everyone came prepared with their ‘stuffed animal’ (our pre-trip instructions) and our ‘contact person’ escorted us through the rehab ward, directly into the rooms of the patients. The patients were all told we were “Christians” from Colorado, who wanted to pray for them, which we did………in the name of YESHUA. These were mainly young men & women, victims of the latest wave of terror, mainly soldiers or police officers, who had been stabbed, rammed, or shot. NOBODY refused prayer. Very emotional, but very powerful.

Wednesday, Day 5 started with a one-hour training session from Be’ad Chaim, the Pro-Life Ministry based in Jerusalem in preparation of our outreach the following morning. Following the training we jumped in the van and headed for “Yeshua’s Bread”, a Soup Kitchen in Netanya. There we set up & served about 60 “older”(older than me) mainly eastern European immigrants, which included several holocaust survivors to a great home-cooked 5 course meal. They then had an opportunity to pick out clothes if they needed any. Several walked away with bibles, which were made available.

TheVan: The Tent Under The Bridge

On our way home from Netanya, in the cold & rain, and somewhere between Netanya and Jerusalem, van #2 decided to smoke like a chimney, and we soon realized we had no clutch or transmission. It was truly a miracle that we were able to get off the highway, take two uphill right-hand turns, and then another right into the entrance to a gas station. The street was blocked and lined with cars and people. We didn’t see any gas station, so we pulled on the curb and shut the van down. While I was on the phone with Eldan, the car rental company, several members of the team were checking out the “commotion” further down the street. There in a tent, rigged with lighting, tables, books, pictures, was a Rabbi offering a “Blessing”…..for 50 Shekels each. (We’re in the wrong business) Scores of people were on line waiting, as well as many cars looking for parking places. Several team members took the opportunity to share the “Good News” with several interested parties. There was quite a crowd of people engaged in conversation with members of the team by the time it was all said and done. I got my 2 cents in after I got off the phone with the car rental company with a gentlemen who didn’t think you could be Jewish & believe in Yeshua. As it turned out, we had broken down in Bnai Brak, a city consisting of predominantly ultra-orthodox . It was the “divine appointment” we had been praying for every day. As Hosea wrote: “as surely as the sun rises, he will show up and come to us, just like the winter rains came to us” (my translation)- HE SHOWED UP. Please pray for all the people that heard the “Good News” under the bridge that night. It was no coincidence, that shortly after we got there & the Gospel was being shared….the lights went out in the tent. The Rabbi was left IN THE DARK!!! Almost 2 hours later we were in Van #3….cold, wet, tired, but in awe of what God had done.

We took it easy on the “youngsters” on Day 6, Thursday. Distribution of the flyers for Be’ad Chaim was on the agenda. The team covered an area surrounding the Shuk (outdoor market) and distributed about 200 flyers in about 2 hours. Through the years, the distribution of these flyers have saved hundreds of babies from abortion. The ministry also helps support the mothers for one year for those that keep their babies. The team had time to shop, rest, and reflect….it was “Sharwarma Night” for the weary….most overindulged with about a half kilo of meat in a Laffa bread (Israeli Burrito).

Friday morning, Day 7 began with the Soup Kitchen at King of Kings Assembly. Close to 100 were fed a catered meal. King of Kings is now up to 3 days a week serving the poor. There was much more interaction with the ‘guests of honor’ than I have seen in the past. I’m sure the people are finally feeling more comfortable with King Of Kings, being their soup kitchen is less than a year old.

About 2 weeks before the team arrived, Bess and I checked out a Jewish ministry (Orthodox-Non Believers) in Jerusalem that feeds the poor. The director of “Hineni”, which means “Here Am I” in Hebrew, was more than happy to have us serve, even knowing we were believers. They also offered an escorted visit to the Kotel (Wailing Wall) and a traditional Shabbat dinner, with the ability to ask the host any question we wanted regarding our faith and theirs. This was too good to be true. They are “Here Am I”, We are “Here We Come”. The visit to the Western Wall was amazing, even though I had been there scores of times…it had been a long time since I was there on a Friday night. Despite the fact that they do not know the Lord (Yet), there was an excitement that was evident in their prayers and worship. I kept on thinking of Paul’s description of what it would be like when they come to know their Messiah…..LIFE FROM THE DEAD!

True to their word, after dinner (and actually during) the young man leading the Shabbat service fielded every question that we threw at him. Pray for Elad (pronounced El Ad). A former Yeshiva graduate now attending dental school. I know we made some headway, and he indicated to me that he wanted to stay in touch, and continue the dialogue. Please pray that door remains open. It was, again, answered prayer.

GazellePark

On Shabbat we traveled to Rishon LeTzion, a beautiful beach city (3rd largest city in Israel) south of Tel Aviv to serve Awake Israel. Shlomi & Miriam have been ministering to the poor of the city for about 10 years. Shlomi is a former bodyguard of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. They needed help in their warehouse, having just received 2 large containers of clothes for the poor from abroad. They were a short walk to the beach…I think we will go back :}

Also about 2 weeks before the team arrived, Bess and I visited a local municipal park, Gazelle Park. We inquired into the possibility of bringing volunteers to work. They were very excited to have our team participate. So on Sunday, the last day to serve, as they were leaving at 4:00am for the airport in the morning, we planted trees & shrubs, dug our hands, pick ax and hoe’s into the soil and helped beautify the park. We were doers of the word.

“And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food…..” – LEV 19:23

Great new relationships were forged that week, and many got to hear the “Good News”.

Please pray for more churches to catch the vision. Bring a team to Israel & be a blessing, and be blessed .

If your interested in supporting the work, your tax deductible donation:

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Contact us directly with any questions you may have: larryandbess@gmail.com

Blessings From Jerusalem

Larry & Bess Herzekow