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June 30, 200523 Sivan 5765Dear Praying Friends,
Glory to God. We are witnessing the Lord moving in the most amazing ways. Thank you all so much for your prayers. He is taking us through on dry ground. We are beginning to pack. What a time this is. What a testimony of grace. We want to tell you about our new landlord(s). They are a father and son. The father, T., came from Iraq in the 40’s and is one of the founders of the moshav. In the beginning, through rain and snow, they lived in tents on what was then barren and rocky land. They got work for one day a week planting trees for the Israel Land Authority. Today that barren land is beautiful forest as far as the eye can see. They did a good job. This man and his wife have so opened their hearts to us. In our very first meeting, much to our surprise, the Holy Spirit led us to share who we were, what we believed, what we have been doing for the last eight years, and what we hope to do in the coming season. Frankly, in retrospect, I (arni) was amazed at how far I went. We spoke so freely, even in spiritual terms, about our work and the Lord. It seems the more we speak the more they are drawn to us.
A few days ago they came to visit us in Tel Aviv. We showed them where we live and where our offices and worship center were. By the end of the visit they could not stop saying how impressed they were. It’s not just the physical magnitude and the outer things that they have been responding to, but the things of the heart and the spirit. We explained how we make no decisions except that we all sit together as a team and come to peace in our hearts. He later boasted to his son about our manner of procedure as not being according to the way that is common in Israel. Another such instance was when, in conversation about our taking a ten-year lease on the property, the father asked what assurance we could give them that we will be able to pay the rent. (They know that we live by faith and depend on offerings. Can you imagine that the Spirit led us to share THAT?????) Well, we told them we had no money for assurance. We shared with them that since the way we were brought together with them was so supernatural, we knew that God had made it happen and would be faithful to complete what He began. And furthermore, we said that we would not try to convince them but that they need to follow the peace in their hearts. Can you believe it? It was enough for him. He and his wife leaned back in their chairs, laughing and nodding. This is the work of the Lord!
Their son is building the house that we will live in. It has a room on the roof that will be a dedicated space for the Lord. We can already feel God’s Presence there. At one point, as we stood in the space, we told him that he was not building it for man but for God. Somehow, even in their present spiritual blindness, these children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are able to relate to our sharing. They so want us to be there. They are doing everything they can to encourage us take all the space and property we are able to handle. Yesterday T. talked to us about the possibility of one day turning his five-hundred-meter chicken coop into a Tabernacle of worship. He speaks of the needs we will have as our community grows. We have even talked about having music festivals for young Israelis. Beloved, this is not the way believers in the Land have been dealt with…we see it as an outright miracle from God.
They are literally begging us to rent more space and we haven’t even gotten there yet. It’s not as though they would have trouble finding tenants. It’s truly a Garden of Eden. But they explain how we have “entered into their hearts.” For years Yonit has prayed for the Lord to raise up Cyrus’s that would give us (the believers) safe passage and aid in the building of the Kingdom (see Nehemiah). This family is truly an answer to that prayer. This is a man of considerable influence in the municipality and beyond. For ten years he served as what would be equivalent to Assistant Mayor. Please pray with us for the salvation of this whole family. May there be a revival on the moshav. Already we have begun speaking about having a concert at the end of October when the worship team of our friends from TOS Ministries in Germany will be in Israel. The potential is limitless. God has opened a door that no man can shut. The enemy has already tried, but God turned it for great good.
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Please pray pray pray for our move. It will take place from July 28 through August first. Once again a team of about six will be coming from our incredible friends in Germany to help us. We are moving five households into four spaces and one of them might not be ready until September. We desperately need prayer for the sale of some of our furniture and wisdom to find and arrange the storage space we need.
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In the midst of all this we leave for Germany this afternoon...Yonit for six days and Arni for twelve. A number a meetings have been arranged for us to share the message on our heart and what we see the Lord doing with us and in the Land. We believe that this will be an important time of making new contacts and deepening existing relationships. Needless to say we would appreciate your prayers during this period.
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Arni’s time in the States two weeks ago to move his mother into assisted living went awesomely. In three days of work, her new place looked like she had lived there for years. As good as it is, it’s still a radical transition for her at 86 years old. On top of it all, yesterday she tripped and broke the upper bone in her left arm. Please pray for her speedy healing. She needs to be in a sling for three weeks. May she come to know and be comforted by her Father God and Messiah Yeshua.
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We trust that God will provide for all that He has birthed. With all the wonderful doors open before us for growth and expansion, we are all working very hard not to get out beyond where the Lord has brought us at this moment...neither in deed nor in thought. There is no question that a foundation is being laid. But God must be the one to come and build the house according to His timetable. Along with our faith we still have the need to pray for the necessary financial provision and continued favor. Your participation will surely make a difference.
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Brian and Kari will be in the States for two more weeks, speaking and being with family. Please pray for continued health and favor. Pray especially for complete healing for Bri’s back, which went out and requires rest, which is sometimes difficult to find in the busyness of travel. Also pray for good connection with family. May the Lord be glorified.
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Many of you have asked about my (Yonit’s) health. All my follow-up tests came back with a good report, except that there is an elevated cancer marker in the blood test. Since this test is known for having a high rate of false positives and false negatives, we’re thinking that I will simply have another blood test in a couple of months. In the meantime, I am continuing on the Halleluyah Diet (www.hacres.com), doing daily aerobic exercise, and believing God’s promise that by His stripes I am healed. It almost seems like a dream that just one year ago I was given such a verdict, entered into treatment, lost all my hair, and felt myself to be approaching death; and now I can say that I have never felt better in my life. The Lord lives, and blessed be my Rock! I cannot tell you what it means to me (and to us) that you are praying and standing with us in this and all the challenges we face. Let us all be encouraged together that God hears and answers prayer.
May God bless you from Zion!
Your servants... For the Glory of His Name, Arni and Yonit |