Love For His People: Back To The Future...

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Back To The Future...

Ben and I leave Saturday, Nov. 2 at 11 am, for our annual fall Ahava Adventures trip to Israel. (This is my 11th trip. Ben's 2nd.)

These trips are part of our Love for His People ministries, which Laurie and I started in April, 2010. We are committed to go each year to meet with those we support on a monthly basis with contributions received. These are either Christians working as volunteers in ministries there, or believers who live in Israel. We have been doing this even beyond the three years of the ministry.

On this ministry trip we will be joined by our good friend, 70 yr old pastor friend from India, John Ebenezer. I went to India in Feb. 2010 and spent four days teaching 75 pastors, that he oversees, on the importance of blessing Israel and the Jews. He is so excited about coming and getting baptized in the Jordan, among other events on his 1st time to Israel.

Pastor John Ebenezer from Hyderabad, A.P., India

(on the left)

Pastor John praying with one of his pastors in training.

Steve at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv

We land Sunday afternoon (Israel time) in Tel Aviv, are picked up by our friends from Christian Friends of Israel, and then drive to Tiberias on the Sea of Galillee. Supper is with a Messianic Jewish couple who moved there from Cleveland many years ago.

We are also delivering 40 lbs of bandanas form the USA for the IDF soldiers (Israel Defense Force) which fills an extra suitcase I am bringing. Imprinted on the bandanas (scarves) is Psalm 91, both in Hebrew and English. We will personally give some of them to the young men and women on Monday when we visit a base in northern Israel.

IDF (Israel Defense Force) soliders. Typically 18-21 yrs old.

Young women in the IDF.

Other highlights include dinners at five Israeli homes, again of those families/ministries we support; my meeting with the head pastor of Kings of Kings (for 30 years) in Jerusalem) and the Producer/Editor of Israel Today magazine, Aviel Schneider - both in Jerusalem.

Steve with Aviel Schneider

of Israel Today magazine - Jerusalem

On Shabbat, Friday night, we will be with a young Jewish family of six, with another child due in 2014. Their apartment in central Jerusalem is less than 700 sq. ft. Packed, but full of love and hospitality!

Ben and I enjoyed a Shabbat meal with them during our last time in Jerusalem in 2010. We (Love For His People) send them $200 a month in regular support. We hope you join us in supporting families like these in The Land.

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Another most important aspect of the trip, in addition to being with our friends, is to pray at the Western Wall (The Kotel in Hebrew). I will again place names in cracks in the Wall. Be blessed and send me your name and family members via e-mail (loveforhispeople@gmail.com). I will do it.

In order to keep our costs down, we only stay one night in a hotel. The other nights are with our friends. We walk a lot, and/or take the city bus and train to historic and spiritual locations. Keeps it cheap, and adventurous at the same time. We meet more of the local people this way, and share our ahava (love in Hebrew.)

Please pray for us as we journey to the Promised Land. Our solid commitment is to give strong, ongoing support to the Lord's Chosen people. It grows in our hearts every year. We love His provision, connections, and protection always.

Shalom and ahava! (Peace and love in Hebrew),

Steve, Laurie and Ben Martin

P.S. I am taking my camera (of course!) and laptop. Expect to see photos and videos on this blog and Facebook pages nightly! (Did you think otherwise??!!)