Dear Family and Friends,
Let me recap what happened at the beginning of the month. On July first I started Ulpan (Hebrew classes). It is going amazing I am learning a ton everyday. However, it is getting hard to keep my motivation up right now. But I know this is something I need to do and I have a break in a week and a half so that should help.
The first weekend was the ELAV Conference for Youth and Young Adults hosted by Succat Hallel. It was great. We keep hearing reports of how young people’s lives were changed. You can now download or listen to the messages online at www.jerusalempraise.com under pod casts. It is very honoring to be a part of something that changes people lives.
After the conference we had our appointment at the Ministry of Interiors. It went well. It was an interview appointment for them to check and see if we are really a married couple. The lady we interviewed with said that we should just come in when we get the last paper and move forward with the next step. Hopefully we should be receiving that paper in the next week.
We went to a BBQ for staff of all four houses of prayer up on the Mount of Olives, hosted by Tom Hess. It was a time of fellowship, worshipping together, and Tom sharing.
Later that week we had a thank you dinner at Succat Hallel for helping with the Elav Conference
Then started the ELAV 24/7 House of Prayer Intensive. Jon Mark, who we minister with at Succat Hallel, has a desire to raise up an army of youth and young adults into the house of prayer. The intensive is designed to teach them about the house of prayer and then to train them in either prayer leading or spontaneous singing and to then do a watch in the prayer room with them and also to take worship to the streets. We are half way through the intensive and it seems to be going well. There is a good strong group that keeps coming and has a real desire to grow deeper. Thursday when we went out into the city we simply sat in a park and worshipped. It was very strategic because earlier that day the Gay Pride Parade walked through town. So we felt it was very important to go out and change the atmosphere over Jerusalem. As we worshipped 2 guys came and stood on the edge and listened. Some of the youth went up to the guys and introduced themselves. One guy was interested and is keeping in touch, the other guy didn't want to talk but I feel he was changed a little because he fought through his friends to be able to listen. Then there was a third guy who showed up who had been drinking way too much that night. We freely let him stay and join us. Whether he was touched by the Lord or not only He knows, our pray is that he will remember this experience in the Lord’s presence.
Then this weekend we had our Holy Spirit weekend. Four youth showed up, which was the number we planned for but it was not all the people we thought would be there. Nevertheless God had His own plan. We soaked, spent time with God, let Him fill us, we had times of prophecy break out, we had a time of prophetic art happen. The youth were happy with what happened. Stefan and I were hoping for more but for our first time, it was good. God showed up and I think that is what matters most.
Then after all of that craziness we had a birthday party for Stefan at a friend’s house Saturday night. We had a bonfire and roasted hotdogs (on the hottest day in history. And we are still in the middle of an insane heat wave.) We prayed over him and blessed him, we ate cake, and had a good time with friends.
Right now we’re in the process of looking for a new apartment. We have already had our hearts broken twice over losing some good places that were available and it is hard. Nevertheless He has the perfect place for us for this season so if those places fell through we believe it is because the Lord has something better for us. We believe He will come through. We have until the end of August to find a place. We simply want to find the place the Lord has for us.
We are also trying to get things ready for coming to the States in November. We are planning on ministering in Mexico and then around churches in CA. If you as a pastor would like us to come visit please let us know. If you would like to meet us or know someone else who would be interested please let us know. What we need prayer for is that God will arrange this trip. That we will speak where he wants us to and that we will receive the finance to move into full time ministry.
Blessings from Jerusalem,
Stefan and Samantha
Showing posts with label Update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Update. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
March started with a youth weekend. The youth worship team got together for a team weekend of bonding and practice. We shared our hearts with each other and then worked on music.
The month seemed to fly by and yet non the less we were very busy.
The second weekend we were able to bless a couple's union before they went to Cyprus to get married. The following weekend I was sick at home. I remained sick the whole following week and yet it Stefan made sure as much as possible that I still made it to Succat Hallel where a team from Bethel Church in Redding, CA was ministering. We got some good teaching and a good time with the Lord. That weekend I also attended a women's retreat with King of Kings. God opened the door for me to be able to go. I had been unable to afford it but someone paid my way. It was a great time with the Lord and an amazing time of fellowship. I got back just in time to relax an hour before congregation. Then after congregation we held a viewing of "Furious Love" for local Israeli youth and young adults. It is Passover/Pesach an amazing documentary/movie about God's love and about putting it to the test in the darkest places of the world. We highly recommend it. Afterwards a time of prophesy and prayer broke out.
Then at the end of the month came Passover/Pesach. We made a run for Tel Aviv for me to get some paper work done for my visa and we stayed and enjoyed the Passover Seder with Stefan's family. It was interesting to sit with secular Jews, who will still follow the traditional holidays. It was the fastest I had ever gone through the Haggadah (the book that goes through the dinner). Then came food, food and more food. I really enjoyed that we were able to be with family.
Pesach continued for a whole week afterwards. Through these days work places and stores were only open half days. And with all that came April.
The beginning of the month was hard, Stefan's paycheck was late and yet out of lack, God provided. We had a handful of dinners with friends, a good time of catching up and of encouraging each other in the Lord. We had come to a dinner feeling really down and through the whole evening we just kept sharing stories of what God had done in our lives or families and by the time we left we felt some much better knowing that God would take care of us. Speaking of encouraging dinners, one in particular was with a friend who is now helping us set up a real website. We will let you know when it is up and running. We are looking forward to all the things we can share with you through it.
The next holiday was Holocaust Memorial Day and it was quite a sight to see. Imagine this; you are on a bus in a city. There are cars driving by and people walking everywhere. Then out of the blue, at 10am a chilling siren goes off and everything stops. Buses stop, cars stop, people walking stop. Everyone in the car gets out and stands by the car. Everyone in the bus stands up. Then after a minute, life continues. It is one way Israel shows respect for the 6 million who lost their lives in the Nazi death camps. Now take this amazing sight and apply it to the whole country. Yes, 10am and the whole entire country of approximately six million Israelis stop for one minute! Definitely an amazing sight.
The next Sunday we went into the Ministry of Interiors for my visa renewal, or so we thought. When we went in were given an appointment for June 28th to move onto the next step in the visa process. That was a miracle. By then I should have all the papers they have asked for.
The next holiday to come was Fallen Soldier Memorial day with another siren, this one at 11am. As that day came to a close however, Independence Day started. On Monday night the 20th and Tuesday the 21st Israel celebrated it's 62nd birthday. It was a blast to take part in the celebrations. Monday night we went down town and ran into friends. The streets were packed with cheerful Israelis and many vendors ready to sell whatever they could with the national flag attached to basically anything. There was much popcorn and cotton candy to be seen(and eaten!), as well as party foam cans spraying everywhere and inflatable hammers and baseball bats again with the national flag imprinted on them. I don't know why but Israelis love to spray each other with white foam on Independence Day as well as hit random strangers and friends on the head with the inflatable toys. National pride! There were live concerts, dj's, traditional circle dances to be seen all around town. And there were even 2 small fireworks shows. The following day, Tuesday, was a day spent again with family and friends but this time in the park grilling and picnicking. It was a wonderful 62nd birthday.
The month came to a winding end with a trip to Tel Aviv with the Youth band from Succat Hallel, Elav 24/7. We were invited to play at the Gospel Cafe in Tel Aviv for a worship night. It was good time of worship and a fun time to get to know the youth better.
Our needs focus right now...
· We our selves need people to commit to intercede for us daily. (please respond if you have not yet to let us know)
· We need faithful monthly financial supporters.
· The CD Project (Stefan and friends are working on producing 2 cds, we've mentioned before)
· We need prayer coverage! They started meeting with people this week and I was supposed to babysit but I got sick and then the 3 other babysitters either got sick the day of or their kids got sick. Needless to say, it was no coincidence. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy and especially when we're hitting something right on target for the Lord.
· Finances; if anyone is interested in sowing into this project or know of someone who would be interested please pass the word on.
Thanks again for your time. Have a great month.
Checks can be made out to Hearts in Mexico with a note for Stefan and Samantha and mailed to Hearts in Mexico
7727 Eisenhower Street
Ventura, CA 93003
USA
The month seemed to fly by and yet non the less we were very busy.
The second weekend we were able to bless a couple's union before they went to Cyprus to get married. The following weekend I was sick at home. I remained sick the whole following week and yet it Stefan made sure as much as possible that I still made it to Succat Hallel where a team from Bethel Church in Redding, CA was ministering. We got some good teaching and a good time with the Lord. That weekend I also attended a women's retreat with King of Kings. God opened the door for me to be able to go. I had been unable to afford it but someone paid my way. It was a great time with the Lord and an amazing time of fellowship. I got back just in time to relax an hour before congregation. Then after congregation we held a viewing of "Furious Love" for local Israeli youth and young adults. It is Passover/Pesach an amazing documentary/movie about God's love and about putting it to the test in the darkest places of the world. We highly recommend it. Afterwards a time of prophesy and prayer broke out.
Then at the end of the month came Passover/Pesach. We made a run for Tel Aviv for me to get some paper work done for my visa and we stayed and enjoyed the Passover Seder with Stefan's family. It was interesting to sit with secular Jews, who will still follow the traditional holidays. It was the fastest I had ever gone through the Haggadah (the book that goes through the dinner). Then came food, food and more food. I really enjoyed that we were able to be with family.
Pesach continued for a whole week afterwards. Through these days work places and stores were only open half days. And with all that came April.
The beginning of the month was hard, Stefan's paycheck was late and yet out of lack, God provided. We had a handful of dinners with friends, a good time of catching up and of encouraging each other in the Lord. We had come to a dinner feeling really down and through the whole evening we just kept sharing stories of what God had done in our lives or families and by the time we left we felt some much better knowing that God would take care of us. Speaking of encouraging dinners, one in particular was with a friend who is now helping us set up a real website. We will let you know when it is up and running. We are looking forward to all the things we can share with you through it.
The next holiday was Holocaust Memorial Day and it was quite a sight to see. Imagine this; you are on a bus in a city. There are cars driving by and people walking everywhere. Then out of the blue, at 10am a chilling siren goes off and everything stops. Buses stop, cars stop, people walking stop. Everyone in the car gets out and stands by the car. Everyone in the bus stands up. Then after a minute, life continues. It is one way Israel shows respect for the 6 million who lost their lives in the Nazi death camps. Now take this amazing sight and apply it to the whole country. Yes, 10am and the whole entire country of approximately six million Israelis stop for one minute! Definitely an amazing sight.
The next Sunday we went into the Ministry of Interiors for my visa renewal, or so we thought. When we went in were given an appointment for June 28th to move onto the next step in the visa process. That was a miracle. By then I should have all the papers they have asked for.
The next holiday to come was Fallen Soldier Memorial day with another siren, this one at 11am. As that day came to a close however, Independence Day started. On Monday night the 20th and Tuesday the 21st Israel celebrated it's 62nd birthday. It was a blast to take part in the celebrations. Monday night we went down town and ran into friends. The streets were packed with cheerful Israelis and many vendors ready to sell whatever they could with the national flag attached to basically anything. There was much popcorn and cotton candy to be seen(and eaten!), as well as party foam cans spraying everywhere and inflatable hammers and baseball bats again with the national flag imprinted on them. I don't know why but Israelis love to spray each other with white foam on Independence Day as well as hit random strangers and friends on the head with the inflatable toys. National pride! There were live concerts, dj's, traditional circle dances to be seen all around town. And there were even 2 small fireworks shows. The following day, Tuesday, was a day spent again with family and friends but this time in the park grilling and picnicking. It was a wonderful 62nd birthday.
The month came to a winding end with a trip to Tel Aviv with the Youth band from Succat Hallel, Elav 24/7. We were invited to play at the Gospel Cafe in Tel Aviv for a worship night. It was good time of worship and a fun time to get to know the youth better.
Our needs focus right now...
· We our selves need people to commit to intercede for us daily. (please respond if you have not yet to let us know)
· We need faithful monthly financial supporters.
· The CD Project (Stefan and friends are working on producing 2 cds, we've mentioned before)
· We need prayer coverage! They started meeting with people this week and I was supposed to babysit but I got sick and then the 3 other babysitters either got sick the day of or their kids got sick. Needless to say, it was no coincidence. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy and especially when we're hitting something right on target for the Lord.
· Finances; if anyone is interested in sowing into this project or know of someone who would be interested please pass the word on.
Thanks again for your time. Have a great month.
Checks can be made out to Hearts in Mexico with a note for Stefan and Samantha and mailed to Hearts in Mexico
7727 Eisenhower Street
Ventura, CA 93003
USA
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