Catch Up: Highlights

This blog seems to have gotten away from me a little bit this last week, so I'm gonna provide a sort of highlight reel for you so that we can all be on the same page. :)

Highlight 1:
One of my first nights here in Israel, the International School threw a welcoming party for all the international students. They had a DJ and a dancing instructor come in and teach us a bunch of Israeli group dances, which was fantastically entertaining. :D Afterward, Daniel found me and asked if I had time to share with him my story of meeting and walking with Jesus. (we had agreed previously to meet up so that he could hear it) As we were walking off to find a great perch from which to watch the city, one of our fellow international students, Rachel met up with us. She asked if she could join us as she didn't want to stay in by herself, and also didn't want to go out to the pubs with everyone else. Although we both realized that our original plans would more than likely be abandoned, we gladly invited Rachel to join us. Daniel took us up to his favorite place from which to view the city, a top of a building that extends out over the edge of the mountain. When standing on this rooftop you feel as though you're flying over Haifa, the feeling is certainly comparable to the most famous scenes from "Titanic". The beauty of this city, from night or day, is simply breath taking, and the three of us just spent several moments in silent awe looking out over the city. (I learned in Hebrew class today that the name "Haifa" actually means "the beautiful" and it certainly lives up to its name!) In our following conversation, Rachel made a comment about God that was very anthropological in nature. I continued the conversation by pointing the distance she revealed in her comment, and asking her if she had ever had an EXPERIENCE with God. Not surprisingly, her answer was no. The conversation that followed was simply incredible. She was honest in sharing her questions and doubts, and both Daniel and I were so blessed to see how the wisdom and experiences we have both had individually were a perfect compliment to be used of God to meet Rachel right were she was at. Daniel shared with her the story of how he came to know Jesus, and when he had finished, I was able to share with both of them how God has constantly pursued me with His endless love. I was so moved to be able to not only share my story, but also to have Daniel standing there supporting me, praying in the Spirit and asking God to use my words to speak into Rachel's life. After I shared, I asked both of them if I could pray out loud as we stood there together looking out over the city. I cannot possibly explain to you the beauty of those moments as I was able to pour out my heart before the Lord, looking out over this city, in THIS place... The privilege of discovering God's heart for His people and sharing His love with them, be they native to Israel or from around the globe, is the most humbling and incredible thing. As we said good night that evening, Daniel said to me "God is gonna get her" :) And it is oh so good to be used of God in His process of pursuing her, but it is even more wonderful to be able to trust that He will indeed do exactly that. I am constantly amazed by how God orchestrates both the smallest details, and entire life stories to go after the one. How great is his love for us! Tomorrow, Rachel is going to accompany us to church for Shabbat, and I am excited to see how God is going to continue to show Himself to her. Please be praying that her heart will be softened to God's love and her eyes and ears open to His call.

Highlight 2:
At the end of last week it finally worked out that I was able to meet Simon and Daniel's "apartment"mates, who had been asking to meet me for some time. They invited me for dinner, and immediately upon introduction all of them responded with "Ooohhh... so you're Eleiah!" which, interestingly, is both heart warming and terrifying at the same time. I soon discovered that both Daniel and Kelsey had apparently been talking me up to all of them, thus their eagerness to meet me and their seemingly informed reactions to my introduction. No pressure... ;) Just watching them all interact is entirely fascinating. Of the apartment mates, three are Israeli, plus Simon and Daniel. One of the Israeli roommates is named Gil. Gil was born with deformed legs and has very limited mobility, yet he is one of the sweetest, most inviting and joyful people I have ever met. It only takes a few moments in this apartment to see that the other roommates clearly respect and enjoy him. Shortly after sitting down, Gil asked all the guys a question, "so...should we tell her what we decided?" ....silence....."should we tell her now?" all the while I'm looking around at them, getting absolutely no eye contact. They were all acting like little boys! So finally I said, "Well you have to tell me now!! You can't just leave me hanging like this!" Upon my demand, Gil began the following monologue: "Well... we have decided that you are to be Kelsey's replacement. These are the requirements: you have to spend as much time with us as possible, you have to talk with us and put up with us, you have to go to congregation (aka church) with Simon and Daniel. Basically.... you just have to honor us with your presence." As you can imagine, I was totally delighted. They were SO ADORABLE!! And I just had to laugh because even though they technically didn't even ask, rather informed me of their decision, they were still all acting as though they were terrified that I would deny them! I of course accepted their conditions, as well as assured them that it would indeed be an honor for them to have the benefit of my presence.:) Then they all breathed a sigh of relief, and we went on with our meal and a very lively conversation. At the end of the night, while we were all sitting around the table drinking tea (again, ADORABLE. nothing warms my heart like sitting around a table with a bunch of grown men drinking tea), I asked Gil why he had told me that they had chosen me rather then asked me to replace Kelsey, and he simply said "well... you already had Kelsey's blessing, so there was no real question." :) I went back to my room that night with a giant, stupid grin on my face. I call the men of apartment 111 the "Lost Boys", in reference to the Peter Pan fame, because this title captures perfectly the way that they act and interact with each other and with me. So, from henceforth, I shall always refer to them as the Lost Boys. Also, I cannot begin to explain how blessed I was by their invitation. Before I left, my Dad shared with me the passage from John 14 that talks about how Jesus is going before us to prepare a place for us. Dad told me that he felt that this passage not only applies to the after life, but to our lives here on earth, and he reminded me that Jesus had already gone before me to Israel and prepared a place for me. I have been BLOWN AWAY every day by how undoubtedly true those words are. Every single day I have walked into opportunity after opportunity, not only to be a blessing or an encouragement and to share the love of Christ, but I have also been overwhelmed by how God has doing a constant and, in my opinion, miraculous job of restoring my soul, encouraging my heart, and giving me peace, joy, and rest unlike I have ever known before. The Lost Boys are yet another reminder that God has truly come before me to Israel and prepared a place for me here, specific to my personality, wants, needs, abilities, and desires. A place where I can not only be blessed and feel at home, but also be a blessing and be used of Him to continue a work that He has already begun. The next week, I was able to share with Kelsey the invitation of the Lost Boys before she left, we were both highly entertained by them, and also touched in our hearts to see how God is so faithful to continue His work even after we must move on to another place. How great is God?! I AM ASTONISHED AT HIS FAITHFULNESS! Not only to me, but also to Kelsey, and Daniel, and Simon, and also to the other Lost Boys who so desperately need the healing and restoring touch of God in their lives. Daniel and I have both felt strongly to pray that God would do a miraculous act of healing in Gil's life, not only in his heart, but also in his physical body, and I absolutely believe that God desires, and is so much more than able to do exactly that. Please stand with us in asking God to make Himself known in the lives of these Lost Boys. Pray that through the relentless love of Jesus they would no longer be LOST, but FOUND.