Comfort, yes, comfort My people! Says your God. – Isaiah 40:1
Neil and Jamie see Psalm 102:13 as an end-time rallying call for the people of God to stand with Israel and the Jewish people: “You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come.” Until the year 2,000, Neil and Jamie led yearly tours to the Land of Israel, but during the Intifada, when buses in Jerusalem were being blown up by terrorists on a regular basis, and tourism was at an all time low, they changed from TOURS to MERCY MISSIONS.
The Lord began to show them ways in which they could touch the people of Israel in a warm, personal way, to minister the truth that God has not forgotten them.
The Mercy Missions began with a luncheon for tour guides who were out of work, Many bread-winners could no longer support their families. One tour guide had already committed suicide. Jewish Jewels sponsored a luncheon for tour guides and gave them each gifts and food coupons for their families. The guides were visibly touched. So were Neil and Jamie. That was the beginning of some wonderful outreaches, each led by the Holy Spirit, and warmly received by both secular and religious Israelis.
We seek to comfort the People who God has chosen, and who Satan hates. The Jews have been persecuted throughout the centuries, not because they are “Christ-killers” as some would say, but because they are “Christ-givers”! Finally, restored to their own Land, they just want to live in peace. But the enemy does not let up. The agenda of radical Islam is to rid Israel of all Jews. Israelis therefore, live daily with the knowledge that someone is trying to destroy them and their country. The message that we bring is: “God loves you, and has a future and a hope for you. He has not forgotten you.” We pray that the Ruach HaKodesh in each of us brings comfort to each Israeli that we meet.
Click here to see our 2013 Tour/Mercy Mission brochure!
2010 Mercy Mission Photos
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Effie, 2010 Mercy Mission, looked like she needed comfort. Jamie presented her with $100 in Food Coupons (to be used for other things in the Supersol as well). On each Mercy Mission we distribute these coupons as the Ruach HaKodesh leads.
Some of our Mercy Missions have included visits to the Tel HaShomer Hospital and rehabilitation center for wounded IDF soldiers, and victims of terror attacks. We have had parties with live music and refreshments, dinners under the stars at night, visits to patients, observing wheelchair basketball games, and even participating in wheelchair dancing . Food Coupons are always part of these missions, as well as donations to the Israeli organization.
Many of our Mercy Missions include a mission to poor, underprivileged, orphaned or handicapped children. One year we sponsored an outing at a beautiful nature center outside of Jerusalem where an entire day of activities was planned, including ATV rides for all the children. Our Mercy Mission group mingled with the children and made pita bread with them which was baked outdoors Bedouin style. Of course, each child received a bag full of gifts. We love to give gifts!
Every Mercy Mission includes a visit with our dear friends Michel and Yaffa who founded the Organization of Victims of Terror in Israel following the tragic death of their daughter in one of the first terror attacks. During our first visit to their center, Michel and Yaffa were moved by the fervent prayer of our group and sensed “something” that led them to contact us again. Since that first encounter, this precious couple has been greatly comforted by the Ruach HaKodesh, and has had a supernatural revelation from God of the Messiah of Israel. This is cause for dancing, which we did during a Shabbat service in Tiberius for both believers and pre-believers alike.
Our 2010 Hanukkah Mercy Mission focused on children. One-third of Israeli children live below the poverty level. Our friend Eitan arranged a fabulous Hanukkah party at a bowling alley for children going through chemotherapy, or recovering from the treatment. What a great time everyone had!
Our son Jonathan really clicked with all the kids, especially with a little boy named Yonatan (Jonathan). Lots of Joy that day.
During the Lebanon War, Haifa was hit hard. The Lord spoke to Jamie that we needed to bring JOY to Haifa, and directed her to contact the Bnai Zion Hospital there to propose a Baby Shower in their maternity ward. Our 2010 Baby Shower was our third and most exciting one yet. There were miracle answers to prayer, and babies born while we were there. We call the showers “Geshem B’rachot” (Showers of Blessing) since baby showers, as we know them, are not customary in Israel.
The mothers are always shocked and delighted, since they have no idea that they have been selected (by God) to be given a huge bag of beautiful gifts for their newborn child, simply because they “happen” to be in the hospital on the day that we come! Our Jewish Jewels partners send beautiful hand-made blankets, booties, hats etc. with us to give to the mothers who are always very touched by this expression of God’s Love.
“You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come.” Psalm 102:13
With each succeeding Mercy Mission, we sense a greater relevance of the phrase “set time to favor Zion,” since we see the nations of the world turning against the nation of Israel in ever-increasing dimensions. We, as Bible believers, must take a stand for God, and what His Word says concerning Israel – who still remains the “Apple of His eye”. The Israeli Defense Forces are especially vilified in the U.S. Media, being portrayed as aggressors, when in fact they are defenders. We make a point of having a Mercy Mission to the IDF, to let the soldiers know that we love them and are praying for them.
Our Mercy Mission group was on the top of Mt. Carmel at a very “set time” to favor Zion – exactly at the time, and right near the location, of the biggest forest fire in the history of Israel. We were able to get Food Coupons to the families displaced by the fire while the fire was still raging. On the same day, under the statue of Elijah on Mt. Carmel, our group prayed for much needed rain to fall in Israel. We prayed in faith, with an open umbrella. The rains began before our group left the country.
One of the ways we favor Zion is with gifts – baby gifts, gifts for children, gifts for soldiers, gifts for single mothers, gifts for Messianic believers in the Land, gifts for secular Israelis, gifts for Orthodox Israelis. Gifts are sent to us from our Jewish Jewels supporters from all over the U.S.A. We bring lovely hand-made bracelets as gifts, knitted scarves, cosmetic bonuses and other toiletries etc,. etc. Each member of our Mercy Missions comes with an extra suitcase (no charge for international) with 50 pounds of gifts. It is great fun to give, and give, and give!
One of our favorite Mercy Missions was a wedding that our Jewish Jewels partners sponsored for an ultra-Orthodox orphan bride in Jerusalem. The Lord put this incredible mission together in an amazing way, and our Mercy Mission group had the experience of a lifetime as guests at a wedding where the men and women were separated during the reception – including the Bride and Groom. Men rejoiced with men and women with women. Lots of joy.
We have maintained our relationship with Micaela and Eliyah, the very sweet bridal couple, who now have a baby girl – Ayelah – so Jewish Jewels now has a grand-daughter! Eliyah is studying to b e a scribe. Please pray for this special couple as the Ruach leads!
Seashell messages from God in Hebrew are a part of each Mercy Mission. Jamie paints the shells and writes Hebrew messages on them such as: “ You are special to God.” “Expect a miracle. Nothing is impossible with God.” “Fear not. God is for you!” “God has not forgotten you. Receive His love today.” “Love never fails. God is Love.” Approximately 100 shells are given out to individuals as we travel around the country of Israel on each tour. It is not unusual to see one of Jamie’s seashells hanging on the wall in a gift shop – some from up to ten years ago or more! The Israelis love to choose their own shell – to read a few and decide which message from God is for them.
On some of our Mercy Missions we hand out key chains with a verse of Scripture on one side – actually a blessing or “b’rachah” – and some symbol of Israel on the other side. In 2010, we handed out 500 of these to individual Israelis as the Spirit led. Our Mercy Mission group receives key chains and Food Coupons each day, so that they have the opportunity to follow the leading of the Lord in sharing the Love of God with the people of Israel. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Yes, we explain that we are believers in the Jewish Messiah Yeshua, but we love believers and pre-believers alike. We are asked about our faith all the time, and then we share. The rest is up to God. His Love never fails!
Tal, the owner of a little gift shop in Tiberius, surprised us in 2010 by showing us a key chain that we gave him in 2007. He has kept it on his cash register since then , and prays the blessing on the key chain every day. It turns out, that we gave him two key chains in 2007. The other one was in his wallet! You never know what God will use to touch a heart! Now Tal has a new key chain with a new blessing. Please keep Tal and his family in your prayers…to know that LOVE which never fails!
