Back to Israel in December 2023 - Day 2 (Tel Aviv)

Updated: Dec 23, 2023

Shalom! This post is several days late, as I’ve been processing my experiences.  It still doesn’t capture everything I want/need to share, but I don’t want to delay any longer in sharing.   There will certainly be more to come. 

The rest of my time in Jerusalem was spent going into the Old City, visiting the Western Wall again, and reflecting on the seasonal time frame (the end of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights) seeking the Lord. I also couldn't pass up the opportunity to enjoy my favorite gelato chain in Israel…Golda….

As I walked by the Prime Minister’s residence, the air was filled with echoes of a protest—a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle and pressure to secure hostages held by Hamas. There’s a delicate balance between political unrest and the desire for peace.  Pray for wisdom for Israeli leadership.

As I made my transition from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, alone this time, 

I reflected back to the last time I was in Tel Aviv in October.  My family and our FaithWalk group were all with me then, hearing and seeing the very beginning of this war against Israel, with so much uncertainty of what was going on, what would happen next, and where we should go, yet having complete certainty we were where God wanted us at the time.   We truly were walking in the Shadow of the Almighty on that journey. This is the same feeling I have this time, though this time I knew where I was headed the next day. 

It was a very surreal moment for me as I prepared for the next day, to witness the result of the horrific, demonic evil from October 7th.  I was heading to Southern Israel by the Gaza Strip to Kibbutz Be’eri - home to over 1,000…. Of whom more than 100 men, women, and CHILDREN were murdered and ~30 men, women, and CHILDREN taken as hostages on October 7th.

I had the opportunity to join Dr. Billye Brim, her son Terry, daughter Shelli, and the Aliyah Foundation for an escorted visit to Kibbutz Be’eri, shedding light on the resilience of the Israelis amid unimaginable darkness.