Succoth

Shalom my friends!

It’s update time, yay!!! I’m not sure where to start; hopefully I can get it all in without writing a book ;)

I have moved in with my host family. They have five children ages 6 and under (one set of twins).  Please pray that God give me wisdom in working out my schedule as I will be helping them with their children in exchange for room and board.

I have recently learned some interesting and important information that you won’t be hearing from the media!!! For several weeks the Arabs have been sneaking young men into the city and forming groups of about 100 each. These young men were brought in as preparation for what the leaders were calling the Al-Aqsa War (not sure how to spell that in English), which is the name of their mosque on the Temple Mount. These leaders were broadcasting in surrounding Arab nations that Israel was going to shut the Temple Mount down and take away the control of it, so they were trying to get all of their people in place.  Just in case you didn’t know, Israel technically owns the Temple Mount but they allow the Jordanians to run the Temple Mount and have their people on it as security.

 At the beginning of Succoth (Feast of the Tabernacles) these young men actually started a riot in which people were injured. Since then the police have found a number of wheel barrows full of stones hidden away on the Mount which the Muslims were going to throw down on the people praying at the Wailing Wall.  Right now the police have the Temple Mount shut down to all Muslims except men over 50 and women.    Please continue to pray for covering over Jerusalem and that the plans of the enemy would be thwarted before they can be acted upon. Praise the Lord they were stopped before they could stone those praying at the Wall! The relative calm in Israel and Jerusalem can be changed very quickly into a war zone, so it is important to pray regularly for God’s protection and covering.

The last thing I want to share is in regards to Isaiah 19:18-25. I have been praying specifically for Egypt and Assyria (Iraq, parts of Turkey, Syria, Jordan, parts of Iran as well as a few other areas I’m not sure about). God is beginning to do a major work in Egypt in particular. He is drawing them to Israel! One of the main things that has hindered the relationship between believers in Egypt and their brothers in Israel is the belief in replacement theology (basically states that Israel is no longer relevant and that those who believe in Jesus replace Israel completely and that the promises God made to Israel which have yet to be fulfilled were really made to Believers, and Israel has no part in it). This theology is completely against the teachings of the New Testament! In Romans 9-11 we are told that Israel has everything to do with it! We become “Joint Heirs”, one not better than the other, but together a mighty force.  I have been praying over this issue and speaking into it. There are a number of believers in Egypt who are finding that this theology is not the truth, but since it is so heavily rooted in their congregations, along with a hate for Israel, it has been difficult for them to overcome it.  But they WILL overcome it!!! Pray for God to remove it by the root!  The youth of Egypt are the ones beginning to see this truth, and it is difficult for them since the older leaders have not had this revelation yet.

Thank you for standing with me and supporting Israel!  Well, I think this email is long enough! I love you all and miss you, please continue to pray for me, that I will be right where He wants me at all times and also for His continued provision for the costs of being here.

Pictures - #1 Me in front of one of the waterfalls at En Gedi (oasis in the desert where David hid from Saul).
#2 Me standing in front of the Succah we built for Succoth

~Lydia