From Israel

Hello from Israel…

Well I am finally here and slowly adjusting to the higher altitude. When I first got here just climbing a flight of stairs made me remember my days as a smoker. That extra 2000 feet of elevation really does make a difference.

One of the other things that I have had to get used to is the security that is everywhere. You have to go through security just to go grocery shopping. It is something we back in the states take for granted. That no one will blow you up while you are shopping for food.

I almost got caught up in the middle of the latest sad attack here. I was walking home from Succat Hallel on Tuesday afternoon. I am still learning the shortcuts and when coming home I started down the wrong path. When I realized it, instead of turning around, I cut through the woods to another path that would lead me to where I needed to be. When I was walking back up the hill on this second path all of sudden I see all these police and military people all around me running down the path I just got off of. None of them saw me, so I continued up the path I was on and then cut over to the path that would lead me to my house.

On my way back I could see more and more military and police, guns ready, running all over the area. About half way home I run into a group of women coming the other way. One of the women’s brothers is in the police force and she informed me that there was another incident with a tractor outside of a hotel just up the street. Fortunately I made it home okay. I was very glad that the police did not notice me, as I was cutting through the woods and considering the circumstances this could have looked very suspicious.

Yet another vital thing I learned this week was the difference between should I go and may I go. I had the opportunity last Sunday to spend the night in Jericho when I ask the Lord Jesus if I should go I was told no. This was upsetting to me as in my flesh I really wanted to go.

A few days latter I again have the opportunity to go to Jericho this time for a few days. I again was asking should I go. I did not get anything from the Lord. I just felt that I should wait and when we went to Jericho on Tuesday for Church I should pray with Pastor Steve, who I would be staying with, about it. When I got down there and had the opportunity to pray with Steve, I clearly heard the Lord say to me why you don’t actually ask me if you may go. When I did this I received a clear answer from Him that I may go to Jericho.

When I was praying should I go, I was assuming that I had His permission to go. This was presumptuous of me to do so. I need to ask not just assume I had the right to go into a place and minister without first asking if I may do so. Thank you Jesus for letting me learn this lesson and for allow me the great honor of being in Jericho for the next couple of days.

By the way if you are wondering why I am not going to Jericho permanently, the ministry may have me go to Bethlehem for a while to help out with the children’s program there first before I move to Jericho.

~ by mjwakema on July 23, 2008.