December 2005

2005 Mercy Mission

You touched the "Apple of God's Eye"
with your love and $105,505.54
in Love Baskets and Donations to Israel!

Dear Jewish Jewels Mishpochah (Family),

It all began in the Tapuach (apple) meeting room at our hotel in Jerusalem a few hours after our arrival at the airport in Tel-Aviv. We asked our group to bring a portion of the gifts that they had packed in their extra suitcase so that we could begin to organize them in the order of our mercy missions. One after another unloaded suitcases of toiletries, toys, scarves, socks, sneakers, kitchen towels, handmade doilies (by a holocaust survivor), baby clothes, pretty accessories of all types, etc. The center of the room was piled so high with gifts that we all began to laugh. These were the extra gifts that supplemented your love baskets! It looked like we had emptied a Walmart! As instructed prior to the trip, this group of extremely generous believers also brought beautifully colored gift bags and tissue paper in which to wrap the gifts. Since our first "mission" would be to holocaust survivors, we made up individual bags of gifts that would bless each of them, as well as one for the precious German believer who provides a home for the survivors.

Our group arrived at Ner Ya’akov (Light of Jacob) at around 2:15 PM (8:15 AM EST) on Tuesday, October 18, 2005. We were delighted to see some familiar faces: Inge (the directress) as well as Raja and her husband Sachar, Michael (who is now 70, but still looking for a girlfriend), and Avraham, Golda Meir’s former body guard who is now a Messianic Jew! We inquired about the beautiful lady with the white hair who appears on the "Noon" Alef-Bet program, and were told that she passed away this year. This brought home to us the reality that the survivors of the holocaust are beginning to leave us. We must love and embrace them while we can! This particular group of survivors stands out for their sweetness and genuine warmth. Inge told us that none of them is bitter, but thankful to God for providing for them. Jesse, our younger son who joined us on this Mercy Mission to lead us in praise and worship with his guitar, was struck by the fact that the survivors were speaking different languages – German, Yiddish, Russian, Hebrew, Polish, French. At first, things seemed a bit chaotic to him but when the music began with Jamie at the piano and Jesse on the guitar, everyone became as "one" as we sang songs such as Am Yisrael Chai and Heveinu Shalom Aleichem. Our mercy mission group danced the hora with the survivors, gave them gifts, hugged them, and shared the refreshments that they graciously provided. Their gifts included Love Baskets, socks, hats, gloves and scarves to keep them warm in winter. Because of your generosity, we were also able to give Inge a donation to help with the expenses of the home.

Two members of our group, both Jewish believers, were particularly moved by our visit. Sandra shared the following with us: "Having holocaust survivors in my family that are deceased, I felt like I was able to touch them again through you. We gave the survivors entertainment by singing and gave them gifts, but I received friendship from them and great fellowship. The Russian lady who hand wrote a picture post card to each one of us wanted to be a hostess and serve us just like my deceased grandmother would have done. She and the others had a chance to give to us – and I loved it!" Bernie, a new believer at 79, blessed all of us by singing songs and sharing with the survivors in Yiddish, the language of Eastern European Jews. He had an instant bond with the survivors at Ner Ya’akov.

We left Ner Ya’akov at about 5:00 PM (11:00 AM EST) so those of you who prayed from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM EST were in Jerusalem with us in a very special way. Thank you!

Wednesday, October 19th was a very full day! We felt your prayers, and really needed them. We (Neil and Jamie) ministered at a Sukkot Celebration at 9:30 AM that morning (3:30 AM EST). Thank you to the "green beret prayer warriors" who held up our arms as we spoke to believers assembled from all over the world on the subject of Shalom (peace). We had no idea as we ministered on the biblical meaning of peace that a tropical storm was positioning itself to become a ferocious hurricane that would head for our Ft. Lauderdale, Florida home! We were, in fact, preaching to ourselves without knowing it, as we cited Jeremiah 29:7 and encouraged people to pray for the shalom of their cities, as well as for the peace of the city of Jerusalem: "And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace." When we heard, a couple of days later that Hurricane Wilma would probably go through our city, we clung to Ephesians 2:14, "For He Himself is our peace...." and Philippians 4:6-7, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace (shalom) of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Messiah Yeshua." Our prayer was, "Lord, we’re taking care of Your house. Please take care of ours." He did.

The more pressing need that morning was met by the prayers of the believers (God’s consecrated children) gathered at the Sukkot celebration. As we spoke, it began to rain. Normally the rains begin right after Sukkot. This rain was earlier than usual, and a sign of God’s blessings. However, our mercy mission for the day was outdoors at the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem with 38 children who were very excited about this special outing. God answered prayer! The first part of the day’s outing which you sponsored was held in the zoo’s indoor auditorium. The fun had already begun as our group joined the children.

Boys and girls ages 6 to12 were wearing the special blue and white baseball caps that you bought them. They were singing songs with the musical entertainer that you provided. As our group mingled with the children and the few parents who were there, a clown arrived to entertain them. He was great, and we all enjoyed his antics. It was later reported to us that many parents who were not at the zoo called to say that when the bus brought their children home, it was the first time they had seen them smiling and excited in months. The children were from very poor Orthodox families, families of the Gaza disengagement, and abused children. One of the directors of the program told the story of one family in which the children saw two hard boiled eggs in the refrigerator and asked if they could eat them. The mother’s response was, "No, I’m so sorry, I’m saving them for Shabbat." We told the children that believers in Yeshua in the U.S. had provided for their day at the zoo, but that the One who loves them more than we do is God. Then we distributed the gift bags filled with toys, candy, T-shirts for the boys and little purses with goodies and $20 in shopping coupons for each girl. The boys also got new sneakers, and the organization that helps the children received a generous donation from our Jewish Jewels family to continue their good work.

Many love baskets were given out at the zoo. We were there from around noon (6 AM EST) to 2:00 PM (8 AM EST). Jamie gave a love basket to Yaffa, a single mother who has a very hard time making ends meet. Yrena had a very intense encounter with Rivka, a 19 year old from a very poor family. Rivka clung to Yrena’s hand during the entire program in the auditorium. Starved for affection, desperate for help for her siblings who have asthma, Rivka poured out her story of family trauma, including a father and mother who are severely depressed. Many of the children have deep needs. We gave love baskets to these families.

Aviah, the beautiful young woman who helps coordinate assistance for them asked Jamie about our spiritual beliefs. Jamie shared our testimony with Aviah from about 1:00-1:30 PM (7:00 - 7:30 AM EST). She wanted to know the source of all the love that our Mercy Mission group poured out to these hurting children, most of whom live in Jerusalem but had never been to the zoo before. After a delicious pizza lunch which you graciously provided, the children spent the rest of the day enjoying the animals. What about the rain? It stopped when the program in the auditorium was over. Glory to God.

Our Israeli guide for the 2005 Mercy Mission was D’vora. Petite, funny, giving, gracious and 100% with us in our "mission." When D’vora received Yeshua in the 1980’s in Chicago, she thought she was the only Israeli who believed in Him. Then, flipping the TV channels, she found Jewish Jewels. We were speaking about the Song of Songs, D’vora’s favorite book. She wrote to Jamie, who answered her. On a subsequent program, Jamie was reading a letter from a viewer. D’vora recognized her own letter! We met once in Chicago at a Messianic synagogue. Then, years later, we met again at a Messianic service in Jerusalem. The year was 2002. Tour guides were out of work. You were ministering mercy to them. We gave D’vora a love basket. She was very touched and wanted to thank us but had no address for us. Two years later, on our 2004 Mercy Mission we ended up on a boat on the Sea of Galilee at the same time. D’vora was ecstatic, and so very glad to finally be able to communicate what the love basket from 2002 had meant to her family. As we prayed about a guide for this year’s mission, the Lord impressed on our hearts that D’vora was His choice. She was a great blessing to our group, and we believe that we greatly blessed her as well!

As we drove to the Dead Sea on Thursday, October 20th, D’vora was enthralled with our new Alef-Bet series which we all viewed in the bus on the DVD player. As she later explained to us that two-thirds of the nation of Israel is desert, we realized that our Mercy Mission group was in Israel to help the spiritual desert blossom. You, our Jewish Jewels family, made it possible for us to carry life-giving water with us wherever we went. When we passed barren hills, dotted with sheep and goats, D’vora shared with us the difference between sheep and goats: goats will bite the shepherd; sheep won’t.

At the Wilderness Tabernacle by the Dead Sea we were able to bless a precious Arab Christian brother with a love basket as well as a DVD of himself on the Zayin program. Later Thursday night at 9:30 PM (3:30 PM EST), Neil overheard two young girls from the Sukkot Celebration calling home and mentioning that they hadn’t been eating lunch because their money had run out. You supplied their need. Wherever mercy was needed, our Mercy Mission team tried to be sensitive and obedient to the prompting of the Ruach HaKodesh.

Our mercy mission for Friday consisted of pre-Shabbat visits to the individual homes of Ethiopian immigrants. Ten homes were visited; eight were homes of believers in Yeshua. Each home received a love basket plus two gift bags loaded with all kinds of goodies. We also loaded a huge duffle bag with gifts for the Ethiopian congregation, gave additional love baskets to the translators who accompanied our group, and a generous donation to Project Sheba, the organization that works with the Ethiopian families.

One of the Ethiopian families shared their concern that they would have trouble getting jobs and assistance if the Israeli government found out they believed in Yeshua. Their story was touching. The wife in this family came to Israel alone 5 years ago. She was pregnant at the time. Her husband walked from Egypt to Israel. It took him 2 weeks! He is now trying to get permanent residency in the country. Please pray for this and for the wife’s mother who does not know Yeshua and is still in Egypt. The Devines, who visited this family, prayed for them and their children – especially for the children to be strong in facing their problems. Their final comment: "If we just went to visit these Ethiopian families, it would have been enough to be blessed by them and to be a blessing."

We (Neil and Jamie) asked to return to the home of a family that does not (yet) believe in Yeshua. We had visited this particular home last year, right after the husband’s wife had died in a bus bombing. This time we took our son, Jesse, and Eric (a 16 year old from California) with us. Last year we all wept. This year we all laughed. As Jamie emptied a large gift bag and handed gifts to Tekele, Tsadi, and Abel, Jesse played his guitar and spontaneously made up songs about each gift; Eric joined Jesse on the bongo drum that sat nearby. The children knew English and thought Jesse’s original lyrics were hysterical. It was so great to see their father smile! Before we left, we gave Tekele a love basket, prayed for the family, and then we noticed that they had a computer (the one luxury item in the otherwise poor home). We asked if they would like to visit our living room, and sure enough, we found Jewish Jewels on the internet at 4:45 PM (10:45 AM EST) and left them watching Zayin (one of the new Alef-Bet programs!).

At another Ethiopian home, Charlotte, Sharon, and Sandra met a 71/2 year old boy whose name means "God answers" in Amharic (the Ethiopian language). He had prayed that God would give him a soccer ball. Guess what? Orva, a member of our Mercy Mission team was led to buy 10 soccer balls and pumps. Each Ethiopian family received a soccer ball! Isn’t God great!

Our Mercy Mission team arrived at our hotel in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee as Shabbat drew to a close. Tal, a young father who owns the gift shop in the Caesar Hotel, remembered us from last year. He had letters for us from very needy Arab Christian and Israeli families who received your 2004 love baskets via Tal, and wanted to thank you. We gave Tal more love baskets to distribute for us. Pray for this precious man and his wife Tali who are expecting their second child in January. May they have a life-changing revelation of the love of God through the Messiah Yeshua and find their true destiny in Him!

Our mission on Sunday, October 23, 2005 was very special. We invited the families of the victims of terror from the area of Afula, Israel to join us for dinner at our hotel. Before dinner, at 5:30 PM (11:30 AM EST), we met in a meeting room of the hotel for an hour to hear the heart-wrenching stories of parents who have lost children, and wives who have lost husbands – even one family that lost loved ones from three generations. Our friends from Afula (you blessed them last year also) showered us with framed plaque certificates, an exquisite miniaturized Torah, and lots of heartfelt hugs. After dinner we presented each family with a love basket and gift bags filled with lovely gifts. A huge duffel bag full of fleece blankets and all sorts of gifts, as well as at least 20 more gift bags, were also given to this organization for distribution to other families and those in hospitals. Our meeting was from 6:30 - 9:30 PM (12:30 - 3:30 PM EST).

Our mercy mission group was deeply touched by Michel, Yaffa and their organization. Keith and Julie from Oklahoma had this to say, "The people of Afula have paid such a high price, yet they remain solid. We’ve learned much from them and consider ourselves blessed by them." You gave Michel and Yaffa a generous donation for their work with the families who have suffered so much. Michel was enthralled with Jamie’s seashells and asked if he could hand them out to all the families. After dinner , he carefully put them on a plate and went from table to table letting people choose a message from God.

The next morning, Monday October 24, 2005 we left the hotel to travel to the Golan Heights to visit an IDF (Israel Defense Force) base. This was our first ever Mercy Mission to soldiers and we had no idea what to expect. It was Hoshana Rabba, the last great day of the Feast (see John 7:37), the day when Yeshua promised us rivers of living water. What a glorious day it was. We arrived at 9:30 AM (3:30 AM EST) with a suitcase filled with gift bags of candy for the soldiers. Each bag had a Hebrew blessing for a sweet new year attached to it. We had already sent some of your money ahead of us to buy the soldiers of the Gaash Tank Batallion something they really wanted and needed: special Leathermen plier sets ($70 each!). We also found out that there were four needy soldiers whose families had little or no furniture. You bought some for them. The skeleton crew of soldiers who greeted us on Monday morning were thrilled to be remembered since they were the ones left on the base while all of their fellow soldiers went home for the Sukkot holiday.

Our group began to share with the 12 or so soldiers and before we knew it, we were climbing on top of the tanks (prepared tanks, armed and ready to roll!). Then the commander suggested that some of us, i.e. Jamie, should climb inside. Jamie couldn’t believe he was actually suggesting (or permitting) this, but she decided to go for it, took off her sandals and descended barefoot through the hole on top of one of the tanks. She emerged wearing a tank helmet!

In the meantime, beautiful ministry was taking place. Soldiers were being prayed for by our team, and one of them was sharing that he was a Messianic Jew from Russia, brought up in a Messianic believing family in Tiberias. Ron asked to be prayed for to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. He was filled with joy as we prayed that he would be a mighty warrior for the Lord.

The next morning, Tuesday October 25, 2005 at about 9:30 AM (3:30 AM EST) our group walked from the hotel to the Galilee Experience, a Messianic gift shop on the waterfront of the Sea of Galilee. Neil had a series of divine appointments there. Surely some of you were up praying in the middle of the night!

First, Neil met Yishai of "Hands of Mercy," an Israeli relief organization that provides comfort and support to injured Israeli soldiers, children, and victims of terror. Yishai, a Messianic Jew, bases his outreach to needy Israelis on such portions of the Bible as Isaiah 61 and Psalm 41. The vision of Hands of Mercy: "God’s love is the only power that brings courage and renewed hope in the face of tremendous loss!" We say "Amen!" to that (Neil blessed Yishai with ten love baskets from you for hurting families).

Neil talked to Eric of The Galilee Experience about three Messianic Congregations in the Tiberias area. He was able to give him ten love baskets for needy families in each congregation. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:10

Neil also had a divine appointment with Brookie (whom we had never met) at The Galilee Experience. She showed Neil a copy of our April 2002 Jewish Jewels newsletter which included a part of a letter that Brookie had written to us. "My parents (both Jewish) both watched and really enjoyed your show! They both came to their Messiah before they left this life! I know your show touched them, and the fact that Jamie was Gentile and knew so much really impressed them!" Brookie said to Neil, "Thanks to your seed planting my parents are now home with their Messiah." Thank you, Yeshua!

Hillel took us to the office of the organization that helps feed the most needy in Israel. You gave a generous donation to help them package the donated food in aluminum containers. You fed Yeshua: "...Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matthew 25:40 Pray for Hillel. We left him with a copy of the entire Bible in Hebrew, and hope to do more mercy missions with him in the future.

The stories of patients at Tel Ha-Shomer were heartbreaking. Almog, a 28 year old former Medic soldier had a car accident in Lebanon, one month before going home. He was left totally paralyzed, and has been in the hospital for 8 years. Yaffa donated a kidney to her husband, Abraham, four months ago. His body has rejected it. Yaffa and her daughter Florence, 11, read their Bibles daily but are very discouraged. Yaffa said that Abraham will probably die unless God miraculously heals him. Jamie and Shoshana spoke with Yaffa about Yeshua and prayed for her and Abraham. Jamie gave her a special seashell which she said she wanted to wear around her neck. (The 100 seashells that Jamie made with messages from God in Hebrew were welcomed all over Israel as if they were manna from heaven. People clung to them and profusely thanked Jamie for them. They were tremendous door openers!)

Please pray for Almog, Yaffa, Abraham, Florence, and the other patients at Tel Ha-Shomer. Pray also for Zeke and Carrie who organized this mission for us, Eitan, Yeriel and Gabriela, who helped get the food coupons and made the Biblical Zoo mission happen, Jennifer, who coordinated the Ethiopian home visits, and Tisha who connected us with the IDF soldiers. Love baskets went to each of the organizations who made our mercy missions possible. You blessed many, many needy Israelis (more than we can mention!) and your gifts will keep on giving in the months ahead. God will continue to multiply the seed that was sown! Two members of our Mercy Mission group stayed in Israel after we left. We gave them the remaining love baskets and "goodies" (2 bags full!) and asked them to continue blessing needy Israelis.

Last year we had to depart to Israel from another part of the state to escape hurricane Jeanne. This year we had to land in another part of the state upon returning from Israel. Hurricane Wilma forced us to land in Orlando and rent a car to drive home to Ft. Lauderdale. We found our home in good shape with only minor damage: one window, one large tree, and the fence around the house. We had no electricity upon returning so we got some good sleep. Two days later our electricity was back on. We praise the Lord for His faithfulness and His mercy both in Israel and in Ft. Lauderdale.

We pray that our guide D’vora’s experience on the 2005 Mercy Mission was multiplied many times over in the lives of the people you touched in Israel. In her words, "I experienced LOVE on a totally new level." Amen!

While we were in Israel, we visited our favorite jewelry factory. It’s in Katzrin, on the Golan Heights, and is run by a sweet man whose wife succumbed to cancer early last year. We prayed with him again, and then had him help us pick out a sterling silver menorah pendant to bring back for you, our Jewish Jewels family. We added a gift box and an 18" sterling silver chain when we got home (Limited quantity).

We also purchased some "Stormy Sea" prints by Israeli artist,
Amy Sheetreet. This is one of her series of "mosaic" prints that features scriptures in Hebrew and English. This 18 by 24 inch print reminds us that: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe." (Prov. 18:10)

Joel Chernoff is founder, composer and lead singer of Lamb, the group that pioneered the sound that has become known as "Messianic Praise and Worship." Joel has teamed up with Ted Pearce to produce a brand new album, "The Sacrifice." We think you’ll really enjoy it!

Every year, you, our Jewish Jewels family have helped us close out the year with all of our TV airtime bills paid. Will you prayerfully consider an extra end-of-the-year gift to help us again this year? The recently passed Katrina Law created special tax advantages that are only available this year. Please call our staff at 1-800-293-7482 if you need more information about this unique situation.