Issue 31 (Rez 13), April 2002  www.blessingisrael.com IloveIsrl@aol.com
 

   
 www.blessingisrael.com
   

 

As many of you have already heard, a suicide bomber blew himself up in our neighborhood at the Karnei Shomron shopping center on Saturday night, February 16th. He deliberately placed himself in the center of the crowded outdoor pizzeria and falafel eating area that serves as a gathering place for scores of teenagers on Saturday nights. Two teens in our neighborhood were killed instantly and a third held on until succumbing to her wounds twelve days after the attack. Many others were injured by hundreds of nails that were packed in the explosive device for the purpose of maximizing the killing and maiming effect. Many of the injured required surgery to remove nails from just about every part of their bodies imaginable from head to toe.  Walking around the shopping area a few days after the attack, Ellen (my wife), Gini Detry and B.J. Houk (Isaiah 40 Ministry) and I saw many nails that flew with such force that they embedded themselves in several of the concrete support columns in the shopping area. 

 

Since that attack, tens of others have been killed and hundreds injured by numerous suicide bombers in various parts of Israel. The pain and sorrow is so great that our emotions are numb. We are living through the most difficult period of time in the twenty years that our family has been living in Israel.  All we have to draw on for support is our faith in God and our friendship with you. Without this, we are left alone and isolated in the world. Let us pray that the situation changes rapidly for the better and that as it says in the Bible…” God will deal with those who curse Israel.”

 

Despite the every day fear of being victimized by indiscriminate terrorism, we try to maintain our morale and pray for a better tomorrow. There are times that in the span of two or three day of the same week, we cry as we bury a neighbor or friend on one day and rejoice and dance at the wedding of another friend or neighbor on the very next day. It is a challenge to maintain our sanity and equilibrium when experiencing the most extremes of emotions from one day to the next. It is also difficult to speak about the future not knowing if we will be alive tomorrow. I want to take a few lines to express my deepest appreciation and love for my wife, Ellen and our four children, Ami, Hadassa, Rivka and Tehilla. They need me at home during the ongoing conflict but understand the absolute necessity of Shuva Israel’s mission with Bible believing Christians. My family puts Israel’s national interest before their own emotional well being. There are no words to adequately describe the unselfish behavior of my family. Without their support, I would not be able to spend so many months away from home.    Eliezer Braun-International Director Shuva Israel

Report on Faroe Islands

I recently returned from Shuva Israel’s first trip to Faroe Islands. I had no idea what to expect. The Faroe Islands is a two- hour plane ride North of Copenhagen. It is a series of Islands populated by approx. 50,000 re../side2nts of which some 75% identify themselves as believing Christians. Moses Hansen (well known Christian leader from Denmark) recommended that we begin a campaign in the Islands. Much to our delight, the response we received in just three days in Faroe Islands was extremely encouraging and we have already booked two return dates together with Moses Hansen in June and November of this year. While officially incorporated in to mainland Denmark, the Faroe Islands maintain a distinct identity, culture and language.

Some 400 people participated in 4 different receptions and contributed generously through monthly commitments to Shuva Israel.  Shuva Israel is now maintaining a separate database for Faroe Islands through our Scandinavian office in Norway (Director Hjalmar Svennevik). 

The last three years have taught us that our friends are sometimes not in the places where we expect them to be and are frequently found in areas that we least expect to find them. 15 months ago, I never would have anticipated that our largest base of support (out../side2 of REZ fellowship in Colorado, Pastor John Stocker) would be in Norway, Faroe Islands and Canada. With the shinning exception of REZ fellowship, Shuva Israel received more monthly commitments in three days in Faroe Islands than in three years of efforts in the United States. The same is true of our recent trip to Canada.

Shuva Israel urgently needs to purchase a bullet-proof van to transport our new immigrants, staff and visitors to the area. The cost is $100,000 USD. If you can help, please email us at “IloveIsrl@aol.com”

MEET THE PITRENKO FAMILY. GET TO KNOW WHO YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS ARE GOING TO HELP!

Anatoly & Masha Pitrenko made Aliyah to Israel 14 months ago from the former USSR.  The couple is 55 and 50 years old. Within days after their arrival, they joined Hebrew study classes.  Despite difficulty with learning their new language and his health problems, they gradually picked up enough elementary Hebrew to accomplish basics such as shopping and traveling on public transportation. While in the former USSR, Anatoly and Masha dreamt of having a Jewish wedding in Israel. They were unable to have a Jewish wedding in the Ukraine where they were married in a civil ceremony thirty years ago.  The absorption staff in Shavei Shomron prepared their Jewish wedding but Anatoly had a heart attack.  Other medical problems resulted from years of poor medical care in the Ukraine and the wedding was delayed several times. Months later, the wedding date was re-set and Anatoly had another near fatal heart attack. He was confined to intensive care for several weeks. After a month, he was released from the hospital and the couple again set a date for the wedding. Last month, the wedding finally took place. Their son (in picture) flew in from the Ukraine to join the celebration.  An ambulance was parked out../side2…just in case. All the participants felt a sense of joy when Anatoly pronounced the ancient Hebrew words under the marriage canopy (Harei At Mekudeshet Li B’tabaat Zu K’dat Moshe V’Yisrael) “Behold you are betrothed to me through the placing of this ring on your finger according to the law of Moses and Israel.” Your generosity made it possible to have a small wedding reception for the Pitrenko’s. It also allowed us to afford to have an ambulance waiting out../side2. Fortunately, it was not needed! All of us want to say a collective “THANK YOU” for your generosity!

The world media has repeatedly portrayed the Jews who live in YESHA (what the world calls the West Bank) as militant and arrogant and this attitude has been picked up as truth by many people, even by many Christians and Jews.  

Over the last 3 years we have visited many of the Jewish settlements in Samaria and have come to know and love the re../side2nts of these communities.  We have been deeply impressed by their humility, courage and faith. 

On February 24 & 25 two of us from Isaiah 40 Ministry visited Karnei Shomron which is located in the very heartland of biblical Israel, in Samaria.  Our plan was to produce a documentary that would show the true character of the people who live there.   Proverbs 14:25 tells us that, "A truthful witness saves lives."    We had interviews set up with the Mayor and with many community leaders.

On February 16th, one week before the scheduled interviews were set to take place, a suicide bomber infiltrated the community and blew himself up in the local pizza restaurant - killing himself and two teenagers and wounding 29 others.  One more teenager has died since then.  This tragedy changed the tone of the documentary but ended up proving even more conclusively that the Jewish re../side2nts who live in the settlements are peace loving and G-d fearing people. We interviewed the family of one of the girls who was murdered in the bombing, the principals of 2 of the community schools, the community social psychologist, the local librarian, the director of the senior center, a shop owner and the Mayor of Karnei Shomron.

What struck us the most was that, even in the midst of their pain and loss, not one person we interviewed called for revenge against their enemies!!  The father of one of the suicide victims even mentioned his concern for the Palestinian Christians who have been suffering under Palestinian Authority control.

This horrific situation only seemed to strengthen the faith of the people of Karnei Shomron in the love and promises of Ha Shem, the G-d of Israel.  It is time for Christians and Jews throughout the world to take a stand in faith with our brothers and sisters who are living in the land and believing the promises. (If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this documentary, "Let My People Know - the Heart of Samaria", please contact Isaiah 40 Ministry through Eliezer Braun of Shuva Israel at “IloveIsrl@aol.com)          

Gini Detry, Isaiah 40 Ministry/Wisconsin, USA

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