Yehuda Hochman with Hannele Pardain
(CFI-USA 2008 - photo by Steve Martin)
“Coffee In. Coffee Out.”
Yehuda was such an enjoyable Israeli tour guide. When he wasn't
speaking Hebrew, Russian, or any of the other four languages he knows, in
addition our American English, he would say some quite catchy phrases as he
escorted our tour group across the Promised Land.
Having had the privilege and honor of being on three
Christian Friends of Israel tours, I truly enjoyed Yehuda Hochman on my last
one with CFI. He was the one guiding our "air-conditioned last days camel
bus" back in 2008. That camel bus carried 40 men and women on the
wonderful excursion.
If you recall that famous picture of the four soldiers
standing at the Western Wall in 1967, after recapturing it in the Old City of
Jerusalem, from neighboring Jordan, he is the one standing behind the other
three more popularly known ones. You rarely hear of him though. At least I hadn’t
before that trip.
It wasn't until the last night of that May 2008 travel, when
we had our "last supper" (I love the Israeli dinner buffets in the hotels!)
that the majority of us only then discovered who he was. When I saw a book with
that historic photo on it, and he being asked to autograph it, my curiosity
arose even more.
"Why is he signing that book?" I asked Hannele
Pardain, USA Director of CFI-USA (or was it Mark DeVito, Chairman of the Board,
my roommate?)
When the response was "That is him on the cover",
I was disheartened that I didn't buy that poster on that trip, which I could have had him sign.
The title of this Now Think About This edition,
"Coffee in coffee out" is one of his most famous sayings I am sure.
When the bus made several needed scheduled stops, his words held true. What
goes in must come out! Yehuda to this day is a great tour guide. I hope to meet
up with him again on one of our trips, and introduce you to him.
The Aroma brand Israeli coffee, with cafes in and around
Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beersheva, had outsold Starbuck's drink
offerings. Our bus load was one of the reasons.
In November of 2010, after my then 24 year old daughter
Christen walked down the aisle, and joined in holy matrimony to Andrew Blade (I
got the honor of being both father and minister!), Love For His People started
doing our annual Ahava Adventures trip to Yeretz Israel (Land of Israel.)
Primarily meant to connect our travelers with believers in
Israel, we limit the numbers who go with us to just a few at a time. Because going
in some sections where "no tour bus
has gone before", on foot, bus or train, enables us to touch the land and
people in a more impacting way for each life. We do a lot of walking in the
capital city of Jerusalem, where we spend most of our time. It is also a joy to
have special meals with friends, building on those relationships established
over the decade.
Whether you go on any number of wonderful annual Israel
tours, with Hannele Pardain of CFI-USA, Cathy Hargett with Highway To Zion, Jonathan Bernis of Jewish Voice, Barry
Segal’s Roots & Reflections travel delight with Vision for Israel, Myles
and Katherine Weiss with Zola Levitt Ministries, Peter Wyns and Christians For
Messiah Ministries, or on our special Ahava Adventures with Love For His People
– plan on going to Israel soon, for a life changing experience! Walk where
Yeshua (Jesus) walked, and on those places that you know from the Bible.
For your own spiritual and uplifting good, and to especially
show your support for our only true friends in the Middle East – the good
people of Israel – make it one of your life priority goals to go. As it is
said, “You will never be the same again.”
Blessings will be on ye heads,
Steve Martin
Love For His People, Ahava Adventures
P.S. My 5th book in progress, Now
Think On This – The Inspiration Continues, will feature many photos of
that Israel tour. I am planning on an early 2014 summer release date.
Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian
organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.
If these letters minister to you, please
consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to
help us bless known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our
humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt
for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.
Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People If you
don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account
(where available).
Contribution checks can be sent to:
Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box414
Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you
very much.)
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This with your friends.
