Many have been asking me when I will send out my blog. So, here we are.
As you all know I went to Israel from 3 November through 25 November. I went to a very Intensive Ministry Training called School of Ministry in Israel. It definitely was intense. Right now many things are still a blur since so much was taught us.
Some highlights:
We learned about Shabbat and had Shabbat meals. The word Shabbat means Sabbath. Most everything does shut down on that day. It is a great time with family and friends and focus on fellowship with God and people.
At every sight that we went, there was always some kind of a teaching. I cannot tell you what I have learned from each of these incidents because it will take too long, there was soooooooo much.
Places we went to include:
Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Haifa, Mt. Carmel, The Jordan River from Mt. Hermon south, various places in the Galilee – Capernaum, Peter’s home, boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, the Ancient Galilee Boat Museum, the Mount of Beatitudes, overlooking the Valley of Megiddo (Jezreel), Mt. Hermon, Tel Dan overlooking Lebanon, the Golan overlooking Syria, eating St. Peter’s fish, Caesarea Philippi ruins. We also went to the Caesarea Mediterranean ruins, saw the mode of transporting water 9 miles through a highly sophisticated waterway system called aqueducts.
We also went to New & Old Jerusalem – Mt. of Olives, Gethsemene, Mt. Zion, Wailing Wall (Western wall), Jaffa Gate, Herod’s Gate, The Eastern Gate (Golden gate), The shrine of the Book, Yad Vashem holocost memorial, Hebrew Cemetary, Via Delarosa, Christ’s burial place, the Christian Quarter, The Armenian Quarter, and the Arab quarter, the Dome of the Rock, Old Jerusalem Model.
Then we traveled south to Masada, EnGedi, Qumran, and the Dead Sea.
I may have left out some places from the Intensive Ministry Training.
Places I stayed while in Israel include: Beit Immanuel (Joffa – TelAviv), Christ Church Guest House – Old Jerusalem inside the Joffa Gate, Beit Yedidia – Haifa, Karei Deshi Youth Hostel – off the Sea of Galilee near Tiberias.
While in Israel I met up with the woman who discipled me 40 years ago with her mother. It was a great time. I also bought an extra Large Shofar. It has a great sound. I also found a place in the forest outside of Jerusalem called the House of Herarri. This is the only place in all of Israel which makes Levitical harps. The man is from the house of Levi and his wife is from the line of Aaron. I think it is interesting to meet wonderful Hebrew men and women who have a heart for the Lord. I purchased a 22 string Davidic Harp. They will ship it to me in about 6 months. They are in the process of making it for me. I’m truly excited.
After the Training I spent several days in the Galilee trying to rest and taking in other places that I didn’t get to see. On my way there I found some shepherds with their sheep outside of Jericho. They allowed me to hold a brand new baby lamb. They asked me if I could speak Arabic. I said no. I asked them if they could speak English and they said no. We laughed a lot.
I remember asking God if I could get on a camel and the Lord answered that prayer. I was able to get on a camel at sea level from a Bedoin man. It was wonderful. I visited the Jordan River Park, Betsaida, and Gamla as well as Bet She’an (Scithopholis). These were places that I wanted to visit. I also wanted to visit three other places: Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Jericho. However, because I had a rental car the agreement forbad me to go to these places because of the Palestinian Authority and the State of Israel Agreement. I did go nearby though.
Some things that I learned:
I learned quite a bit about how God has sustained Israel for so many generations. Any country which has gone through what Israel has no longer exists. I learned more about what it means to be grafted into the vine. I learned how Christians have persecuted the Jews. I saw how Arabs and Jews alike can get along. I saw how the men of old were very intelligent and clever in how they built structures. Even using today’s equipment it could not compare with what was accomplished 2000 + years ago. I saw how God really does Love and protects His people.
While in Israel I had some opportunities to share about Yeshua (Jesus) with some people. They had asked me some questions and we had a good conversation. One woman told me that God does not exist. She is in her late 70s and moved back to Israel because this is where she belongs. She is Jewish. She said that God did not take care of His people because of the Holocost. So God does not love and He does not exist. I spoke with a Jewish intellectual whom I gave a ride to. He had many questions about Yeshua and Christianity with relationship to the Jewish people today. One woman asked me to pray for her daughter who went to Poland on a class trip. However, since she has been home she has been racked with fear and is praying constantly. I gave her some Scripture to look at and prayed with them.
I also heard some testimony of people fleeing their country of origin i.e. Sudan, Ethiopia, etc. to become citizens of Israel. They were Jewish. Many of them walked from these countries even losing family members just to get to Israel. When they get to Israel they must start from nothing and work their way up. It is quite difficult since many of them have no job, no money, no place to stay, etc. Sometimes that forces them into prostitution and other things. The country of Israel is trying to help them. They get 6 months of free Hebrew classes. Some congregations help them to learn some kind of trade so that they can take care of their family.
Since I’ve been home it has taken me a very long time to readjust. I think I just about slept away two weeks. It will take some time to get my photos in order. I think I took almost 2000 photos. I'm going half crazy trying to sort them out. I took my laptop to Israel so that I could at least place them in folders. But that is not enough. Meybe by New Year I will get it done. I'll let you know. I did accomplish some things though. I finished typing the first reader for my Chinese Christian vocabulary book. I have two more readers to go, New Testament and Old Testament as well as a catch-all chapter.
I was able to spend some time with a woman by the name of Emma who is a Christian who is unable to go to church because of school and work. She even has an exam the day after Christmas. Christmas doesn’t mean much in this country except to give some gifts. Chinese New Year is the big holiday. It lasts for one week. It is a festive time and family time. Banks are closed for a week as well as all government offices, schools & many other jobs as well.
Prayer items:
- Today I am speaking to college students at the PingDong Commerce University. It is a Christmas message and the purpose of Jesus coming.
- 12th & 13th is large group discipleship at two different locations with about a total of 20+ people in attendance.
- 18th school Christmas party and two doctor’s appointments (Diabetes & bone problems)
- 19th Christmas program at Church with other congregations joining in.
- 21st in the morning U.S. ROTC will be coming to my Chinese school. I’ll be part of the welcoming committee. We desperately need more students. The economy has taken a great toll on people learning Chinese.
- 21st in the afternoon I’ll be speaking twice and PingDong Christian Hospital to the Doctors, Nurses, staff, patients, etc. for a Christmas chapel. Immanuel – God with us is the theme.
- 26th is discipleship Christmas party. One of my gir's husband has cancer and just got baptized in his home. His mother that day came to know Jesus. However, she did not want to get baptized.
-27th a.m. I’ll be preaching at the Nanze Higher Ground Filipino Church.
- 1/3/2010 I’ll be speaking at my church. I’ll be talking about being grafted in and what that means to us.
- It is possible that I will start another discipleship class with a touch of English added in at the PingDong Christian Hospital. I won't know for another couple of weeks. If so it will include chaplains, Doctors, Nurses, & staff.
- Please pray for continued health and safety.
- I want to be more intimate with God.
- I want more opportunities to share the Gospel.
- I want others to catch the vision of disciplemaking.
- Preparations to go back to the Philippines in May. This is a discipleship leaders camp for 5 days. Should be there for about two to three weeks.
Scripture:
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you.
Matthew 5:1-12 1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them saying:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
God Bless You all! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!
上帝祝福你們!!! 伸黨快樂!!! 信年快樂!!!
木小羊牧師 (Pastor Marianne T. Lambert )
Name: Xiao Yang Mu
