Door of Hope

The Door of Hope is located in the worst part of downtown Tel Aviv. Where the old central bus station use to be located. In that area are more then 200 brothels. The first time I walked through this part of town I had no idea where I was, but the atmosphere made me pull my coat in a little tighter and walk a little faster, as I was walking alone.
Later I found out about Dave, Ohad, and Faith work in the center of this neighborhood . A small team volunteering in a bomb shelter, providing warm meals, a shower, clothing and a bed to the prostitutes on the streets working to support their addictions. So these three provide a safe place for these girls to feel humane again, cared for and loved, and pray hard for opportunities to get these girls out of this life style.
I heard several times, from many different people that these girls are at the bottom of the bottom of the pit of destruction. It took some time to understand what they really meant.
My first night of walking through the area with a group of people I saw two young guys walk out of a brothel. They looked at us, lowered their heads and walked away quickly. It was like a jolt to the core of me, as I tried understanding how common this is, and the condition of girls inside that building, and those young guys that just walked past me.
I stayed with Faith for the week I spent in Tel Aviv. Since I didn't speak the language I didn't feel of much use, so I found myself just checking things out in order to learn how to pray. And listening a lot. Because working with broken and abused women is one of the first things that drew me to coming to Israel. There is more to it then that but that is the only way I know how to say it at this point.
Two sundays ago, so February 22nd Calvary Chapel had a women's conference. Several of the girls and women from the streets came. I was sitting in the middle of the sanctuary when I felt like I needed to be in the back praying. So when I went in the back I saw a row of four of the street women and began praying for them all that was on my heart. The next thing I knew I heard Abba point out one of the girls to me, and He told me "I am calling her out of lifestyle. She is stronger then the others, and I am calling her out and will use her get her friends out when she is ready"
I wasn't really sure what to due with that. But I felt like I was to tell her. When she stepped outside for a smoke, I followed her. I told her, but I am not positive she completely understood. As her English is good, but there are some gaps. Either way, we began talking and her name was Sarah too, so we connected on that and other things as well. By the way for those that don't know I have been going by Sarah on this trip, hence why I include my middle name on updates. Anyways, we had a lovely rest of the evening together. Two days later Sarah showed up at the church for the clothes distribution, saying she wanted off the streets. I came by at the end of the event, and was able to go with the small group that took her to a refuge home up North. The ride was heart breaking as it walk like I felt her heart breaking and racing as she was leaving a life style she's known for who knows how long, and stepping into total unknowns. Thankfully I will be able to call her once in awhile to see how she is doing. Many of us are praying hard that Abba's strength and grace will carrie her through withdrawls, and rebuild her life and soul from the foundation of her being.
I don't know what will come of all of this, but I know I am not leaving the same person. I long for the day I will be back in this land...

little moments of fullness, oh and the change of plans...

You know those moments where time freezes even though you keep moving. It's when you get perspective on your life, or what it is that you are doing and you realize how very happy you feel and how glorious life has the potential of being.
I get these moments frequently while working on the farms, doing the most simple of tasks like planting seeds or sprouts. Or harvesting a bunch of veggies, or even while weeding, or painting a building.
I don't know how I will return to Huntington Beach California. But that is the current plan. I am returning home early due to a family situation. I am pretty grieved to be leaving but excited to be returning to my family. I will be flying out of Ben Gurion on Monday morning, 5am and land in Seattle at 2pm.
I plan to stick around there for probably about a week and then drive down to Cali. Enough time to gather my things and say goodbye to friends. Anyone want to join me?
I am hoping to find farmer friends at the farmer markets and make a way of staying connected to this style of life. We'll see...

ORGANIC FARMS ROCK!!!

Ahh where do I begin?
So the first farm I went to was such a sweet, peaceful, refreshing time!
I worked on some projects around her farm like putting a roof on her barn, windows in the space where her volunteers stay, picking and peeling oranges, weeding etc. This lady is all out organic. She leaves the doors and windows upon all the time encouraging being one with nature. At first it was uncomfortably cold considering it is the dead of winter, but as I adapted I found it incredibly refreshing and rejuvenating in the freezing early mornings!
She also had about 5 huge banana trees, with the most beautiful tropical flowers. I couldn't stop touching this unique flower, such a firm unique blossom. Even weeding was therapeutic, especially when the winds picked up and nestled through the long grass and weeds. Heaven to my ears. Yeah I just want to be a farmer, or botanist, or at least have my own abundant garden.
The second farm has been funny. This guy definitely just grows this organic vegetables for a living. It's a major bachelor party house and I am surprised I have lasted two weeks here. But everyone is incredibly warm and welcoming! I have been sleeping in a tent in the garden and absolutely love it. I am all about being one with the garden! Also he has this huge Russian dog, I cant remember what type it is, but her name is Jeff and she has no ears. Jeff and I love to wrestle, though her kisses are a bit painful as she jams her mouth into my face. That is another dream come true, coming home to a huge dog tackling me! YES!!! Dani (the owner) says when she has puppies he'll mail me one, ahhhh that would be so incredible!
So this last shabbat God really led me to Calvary Tel Aviv and it turned into such a blessing! Met and connected with a lot of great people. I may help with the ministry that is trying to get prostitutes off the streets here in Tel Aviv this coming week. As well as an outreach and woman's conference this weekend. The fellowship has been really refreshing considering some of the places I have been staying.
Oh and I shaved my head, and I've decided to be vegetarian since leaving the foster home.
HA! yeah this has definitely been a life changing journey! So Good!!!

Today, This Community, Understanding Giving is truly richer then recieving

So today a handful of the youth, our Pastor and us leaders went to a single Mom's home of 5 children. They just moved here from Dallas Texas. The yard and house needed some fixing up and prep work for their soon arrival in a couple of days. So our Pastor gathered the troops. For this community this was typical. But for me I couldn't help but be rocked to the core in a simple way. The fact that our Pastor, a father of soon to be 6 children, a man who is too often torn in several directions at the same time by the needs of those he has been honored to sheperd, took the time to help this single mom feel more at home, welcomed and cared for upon arrival with all her little one's. I have really grown to love and respect this community, though from the outside looking in it often looks or feels like that the congregation is sleeping, the fact of the matter is they love, serve and honor their Creator and each other in a very quiet simple way.
One of the richest treasures I have found here is within the home of a dear friend by the name of Yona. She is the mother of three little boys. Her nature is complete selflessness. I have been going to her home almost every Wednesday since I arrived to help, and to give her a brake once in awhile. She says I will never understand how much I have helped and blessed her until I am married and have children. Maybe this is so, but from my current perspective all I can see is how much she has added to my life and time here. You see they have very little, but she has never failed, not once to care for my needs and feelings. She knows I love coffee, she has always made sure to have coffee, and when they didn't have milk, she'd have one of her little boys run to the store for my stinkin' cup of coffee. There was nothing I could do to stop her. One day when we went into town when I first arrived here I wasn't sure exactly how to get back, she forced me to take a taxi, not allowing me to pay, even though I knew her resources were very scare. It was completely foreign to me at first. It has grown to be the warmest care I've known. She has given me a deeper understanding of what it looks like and takes to give freely, to give with complete joy and trueness. I have found a secret within many people I have met here, when you have less it some how creates the space to give more. Somehow in that simplicity you know and truly understand that it is not yours, so you share with your neighbor, as though what is yours, is already theirs. In all of this enjoying the truth of giving is better then recieving because of the pleasure it brings to others, and the beauty of caring so deeply to please and delight another.
She homeschools her boys, it's like they don't have a clue of the coldness this world is capable of, all they know is the warmth of their mothers love and arms. Though I slightly fear for the day the world out there will hurt them, I also slightly envy the safety they've been raised in. I tell her every day she needs to pray for their wives, that God will unite what ever distance it takes for them to find such another rare human.
These are the other reasons I am grieved to leave this community. But thankfully I will visit somewhat regularly.
I will have to write about the garden yet again; another time...

A little update

So New Years was pretty quiet here in Arad. Especially since the Jews have their own new year, I didn't even stay up until midnight, which was perfectly fine with me!
I finally made it to Masada, a national park that is basically within the backyard of Arad. It was fantastic because I just happened to catch a ride with a guy who worked there, so I not only got in free but he and his partner made me a little VIP pass to go on the cable car! I got hooked up! An adventure that would have cost me about a hundred shekels was FREE! So sweet! I really think God is hooking me up through these hitchiking experiences doused in prayer, particularly because I am having to get even more creative with the finances!
Well I am preparing to leave this home a week from Sunday and onto the organic farms I go. I am really excited about all that I will learn but a still a little nervous to feel even great depths of loneliness. But I am praying, hoping and believing for contentment and A LOT of joy!
I am struggling with the fact that baby Daniel has entered a new depth in my heart in the last couple of months, and now I am just leaving? How does one do this? Thankfully I will be coming to visit during shabbat once or twice a month. We've just grown quite the attachment to each other, and OH how I will miss coming home to him running into my arms with the widest smile full of laughter, and arms spread expentantly ready for a full embrace. GAH!!!
So I haven't really shared the full reason as to why I am SO drawn to go work on these farms and learn as much about agriculture. So I will have to take the time to put that on a post of it's own as I have to head out the door now.

" hi this is Randy! I stole the computer from sarah palin, bye"

yeah he really wanted to add something to this blog. He is definitately in the role of a little annoying brother, even though he is 21, but I guess that is still little. Definitately makes things a little more fun at times (ha! as he is repeatedly tapping me on the arm to leave)!
farewell for now...