Bethlehem

Today I was able to make my first trip into Bethlehem. We went a little late, so I was only able to get a limited amount of pictures, but it was still fun. As you can see the day pictures are of the, pretty much, border check between Israel and the Arab inhabitant Israeli areas. There's a huge wall divided them that was built only a few years, and due to it, has dramatically decreased terrorism in the country. It was a really cool time being able to spend in Bethlehem, we visited the catholic navitivity church(bottom left picture, "Jesus manger"), had fun in some of the arab taxis, saw some Christmas lights, and munched on some awesome falafel. Total good day in Him.

Worship at the Gates

Ps 9:14 That I may tell of all Your praise In the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation. One thing we wanted to do as an outreach was praise His name in spirit and in truth throughout the gates of the old city. So we were split up into teams of two and went to the gates praising His name. We weren't able to get to all the gates, but the original one were pretty much covered. My team got to go to the Damascus gate(one fo the arab gates), it was a blessing to be able to sing a joyful noise unto Him. God definitely opened doors for sharing in word as well. We got surrounded by tons of kids and different age adults. It's sad to realize the spiritual hold the enemy has on so many of those guys, but God definitely shined in wisdom, boldness, and protection. Praise Him for His faithfulness.

Operation Tel-Aviv Drop

We have continually stayed busy here in Israel. God continually opens doors for us to serve Him in all types of outreaches. With the team from oceanside, a different team from Horizon School of Evangilism, and the S.E.N.D. team here we were able to go out into the streets of Tel-Aviv and hand out His word. It's always a fun time in doing these New Testament drops, but no doubt they are fueled by prayer. We were able to pass out around the whole city and share with people His truth and love. God we pray for the seeds cast out, and ask that you would allow them to fall on good soil, and be obedient to You in faith to grow for your glory,-Amen.

Ceasarea Maritime

Pictures by Abel

One of the places I haven't been able to visit has been Ceasarea Maritime. It's the Herod's wonderful getaway beach resort, and where Paul was improsed for most of his ministry years. The place was actually really, really beautful. It was amazing to finally see the architecture I've heard so much about from the bible college classes. It was cool to just have everything click. It was a great trip and a blessing to be able to tag along with Pastor Able and the crew.

Tel Aviv Outreach

Pictures by Abel























When the team first came they did an outreach/salvation skit night in Tiberies. Then before they left, they did it again in Tel-Aviv. Both times, they did an amazing job, and both times, God showed His faithfulness and opened doors to share His Truth. These guys did an amazing job in being obedient to the Lord, please pray for their lives, and the lives God used them to touch.

Some Last Fun Times

Pictures by Abel

God definitely continually blessed us up in the North. It was such a blessing to be able to serve with the family there. God was so faithful in all the things He did. I was originally suppose to only be there one week for a non acredited class and God multiplied it into a month of internship with the pastor. When it came up for the end of the time theren in the Golan, we celebrated with a lot of great fellowship and food. They made us bleenchkies(russian crepe), it was delicious. The family was sucha blessing, thank you guys again for your awesome service in the Lord. God bless you guys!

Touring Around

Pictures by Abel

Being able to have the priviledge of serving God in remodeling was not the only blessing they got to enjoy in. The whole team was able to go and tour around the north and country. It was my first time being a tour guide, but it was such a blessing to be able to pour into His children's lives. The youth Pastor Abel shared something really sweet when they first came. He spoke about how the Holy Spirit fills us up with His greatness and then commands us to go and share "pour" the same wonderful fillings unto others. God has definitely blessed me in filling out here, and it was so cool to be used to pour unto others. It was a fun time, and God truly reminded of His faithfulness through knowledge and guidance, He is GOOD.

Hard at Work

For the five days the team was up in the north, they kept made sure to keep busy about the Father's business. It was really cool to see them hard at work on the sanctuary; cleaning, preparing, and painting. It was really cool to see the wonderful work God did in the remodeling of the house. God roacked it and blessed us in being able to see how much of a change prayer and alittle prayer does. Praise the Lord for His good faithfulness.

The Team

One of the main reasons the pastor had me come out to the North, was yes to serve, but also help with some teams coming out to do the Lord's work. This is the second team we've been able to work with out here, and they've already been such a blessing. They arrived Friday night and have already blessed the congregation in worship, word, and total re-design of the sanctuary church area. There right next door to Corona at CC Oceanside. We've been able to tour around alittle as well, in between services, and teach the team on location of Jesus' teaching at Capernaum and Mt. of Beatitudes. Please pray for the as they continue to grow and serve the people here in the land.

Da Nunez Men

It seems like just yesterday, that Nick and I were talking on Skype from Cali (me) and Philippines (him) about coming out here. Now it’s hard to believe but we’ve already been out here for 3 months and he is now returning back to the States. For the last couple weeks, his dad (Sylvester) has been out here spending some time with Nick and traveling from Turkey to Egypt. They’ve been able to tour pretty much all of Israel and some of its surrounding countries. God has truly been blessing them with favor and weather provisions. He has been able to use them and bless them in firsthand knowledge all throughout the land. Their trip ended Wednesday; Sylvester went back to Cali and Nick to New York for 4-5 days. God has truly used Nick in great ways out here. It’s sad to see my brother leave but I know God is going to continue to use Him in even greater things. Pray for Nick in guidance for the next semester/steps of life. Thanks Nick for being faithful to His calling, continue to be so and be enwrapped in His blessing brada. Love ya man, God bless you bro!

Hippy Fest(Gathering) 2009

Being up here in the North, one of my buddies from Jerusalem had the opportunity to outreach at a hippy gathering happening in the wilderness out here. So he called me up and invited me with. It was such a blessing to be able to meet him up after being blessed with a tram and with a good time. Once we got to the village it was going to be by, it still took about another hour to hike to the hippy spot and then more time to set-up camp, but it was all sweet. At the festival there one only a couple things they said you needed; you’re sleeping necessities, a bowl, and also a spoon. They feed you twice a day out there, hardcore organic vegetarian food, and then spend the rest of day enjoying time. It was kind of whacky with all the stuff happening around and different bad spirits leadings of things, but it was a privilege to be a witness of Him and shine His light. We were only able to pass out one New Testament, but we were able to show a witness with love that speaks louder than words, and get into some good small group talks. He was very good to us, protecting us out there in the middle of nowhere, keeping us dry in the rain, keeping from any animal attacks, and providing every other little thing as well. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness! May He continue to water those seeds that He planted, that they may grow and bring glory to His name in spirit and in truth-Amen.

Tram

When you’re found in Israel with no needs of transportation, and the bus for the day is already over, what do you do? You Tram! No, this does not mean that there is a train/street car that travels you around the country. It means you got to the town entrance/main road, and hitch-hike. I got to experience this last Thursday on my way to the hippy gathering, and was blessed with a ride, but I did learn something. Hitch-hiking in Israel is a little different then hitch-hiking in America. First of all you don’t use your thumb, but you just stick your index finger out as a sign showing you need a ride. Then second of all, you are way most likely to get a ride within 15 minutes here in Israel then in the States in this day and age. Here, most of the Jews try to pick up hitch-hikers to perform more mitzvah (good deed/God’s commands). In their thinking and in Judaism at the end of the year God weighs our you good deeds with the bad you’ve done and then sees if you’re eligible to have your name written in the book of life for the next year. Kind of funny thinking, some might say, but not far from the way most people think today. Remember as Isaiah tells us in chapter 64 that all our righteousness(good deed) are as filthy rags, we can only conclude that no matter what we do, we won’t be good enough. He is our Mitzvah, He alone is Good, and through His Good gift of grace through faith in Him, Jesus Christ can we then only have our names written in the book of life.

Back Again

One of the things God was doing in both Korea and Japan, was rocking in English classes. I have to say, its really an enjoyable thing to be used to teach English. Here it's a little different, we're not teaching ESL students but ETL (English as a Third Language). It's really interesting, but still a blessing to in being able to serve the Lord. Pray for the students, that as we basicly can only verbally share with them English, that God will make His voice heard. That they would hear Him and come to know Truth of who He is.

Shabbat Shalom

One of the biggest things for any visitor in Israel to get used to is definitely Shabbat. As God commanded in His word to rest and keep the Sabbath day holy, we can see Israel still trying to do that today. So starting on sun set Friday to star rise Saturday, pretty much, everything closes down. Then the day/night of the Sabbath begins. Usually this is supposed to be a less occupied time, but it turns out to be our busiest time of the week. It's really cool; up here we actually have 3 services going on in the on Sabbath day. This last week as well, some us got together after one of the meetings and celebrated the Shabbat dinner together. We all brought something to the table. As you can see in the top right picture I cooked some goood soup, and while cooking made some French fries as a before dinner snack too:). It's so beautiful to remember that it's not by our work of trying not to work, that brings us to obeying the Sabbath, but our rest in the Messiah Jesus that allows us to fulfill His Law. We don't have to do anything in our salvation; we just have to rest in Him. We can be lying in our beds, doing nothing, and remember that in our salvation there has been no need for us to do anything. For Jesus Christ has done it all, and by grace through faith in Him we are saved. He is Awesome and Mighty, and worthy of all honor-Amen.

40 days

Yesterday marked the 40 day mark untill my flight back to the states. I was able to just spend a lot of time with the Lord walking around. It's so funny, I thought I didn't know my plans for this trip before I came; and now more than half way, God is reminding me I still dont. I may think I do, but it's really all in His hands. It's amazing to see His faithfulness with the ministries and everything He's done so far, and those at hand. It reminds me with that cloud of witness alone, from this past time here; that He will continue to remain faithful and do even greater things in the time left. I know one of the sweetest things to remember, and an encouragement for all of us with the priveldge of serving Him in no matter where we are, is to always trust in Him. I love horses but after I saw them here and meditated on what the bible says about them, He brought Isaiah 31 to mind. Nothing against horses, nor my love for them as beautiful animals, but spiritually speaking, our trust can never be in the "horses" of our lives. We cannot trust in the physical things that bring us comfort and hope, but always keep the Lord God who is One as our contiual hope, comfort, trust, and Everything. Please pray for the ministry He is doing here. It is hard, but it is fruitful at the same time. Hearts are being loosed adn changed no doubt. Few that we can see, but if 1 can cause a party in heaven, then we down here can definitely rejoice in the few hearts changed we can physically see. Pray for the seeds to be falling on the good soil growing and being fed on the living water He only gives. He is working, as He leads you, join in the work with the prayers of the rest of the saints. God bless you guys!

Continuing the Ministry

God has been continually pouring down his blessings more and more. The visa trip was awesome and the short time being in Jerusalem again was a blessing. Looking back at the amount of doors God has opened up in ministry is amazing. Even to the point of now, in some areas, having to many ministry oppurtunities and having to let God place someone else to fill in those needs. He continues taking me forward on this journey here, He now has currently brought me back up to the north. I'll be here untill the 24th of November, doing different ministries with an orginization here, and setting up for short-term teams coming out. He has continually been showing His faithfulness in physical health of my family back home to even my blog page being back up and running. He is the faithfull God of the big things and the small. For the rest of the time being I don't know what the Lord has in store, but pray for diligence on my part to listen and obey. Thank you guys, God bless.

My Web Man

So I just wanted to make sure and stay to my word of saying a blog thank you to my brada David. He definitely is blessed in the area of computers and web management. He says fixing the site wasn't hard, but I know I wouldn't of been able to do it. Definitely a blessing to keep the background the way I wanted it, thought I lost it when the original layout host I guess took it off. Thanks again David Lord bless ya brada. Please pray for David as well, he is part of the S.E.N.D. team and continues to use his gifts to support the body in all areas. He really is a blessing here and no doubt will continue to be so on the remainder of his stay. Thanks again David, Lord bless you brada and continue to lead and guide you in all the things He desires to with you brada, love ya bro.

S.E.N.D. Ministry Video

Coming out here was definitely a full step of faith. I Didn't really know what I was going to do, or who I would be ministering with. It's always cool to see how the Lord answers prayer and provides all we need. Right away God started to unfold His plan of setting me with a foundation of ministry and housing in the land. He provided S.E.N.D, an organization like Y-WAM. God provided for them in allowing them to stay at the no longer in use, CCBC Jerusalem dormitory, which then opened doors for Nick and I to stay with them as well. For my stay here, I've been able to minister alongside S.E.N.D. full out for the Lord's glory. They're an incridible part of the family and have been a blessing to me as wonderful brothers and sisters in Him. They put together this video update for their half way point of the trip, we're in there a little too, so enjoy!