Love!

Today was an incredible day to say the least. I woke up with little idea on what the day would hold. I did know that we were going to spend time with Holocaust survivors, but i was anxious because i didn't know how i was going to communicate to them because they speak Russian and German--But more importantly i was trying to figure out how i could convey my love and respect to them.To me they are heros, and i wanted to treat them like they were heros...

I grew up being taught to love the Jews. From a very young age i was taught about Corrie Ten Boom and her family. My parents never hide the Holocaust from me--So you can only imagine how i was feeling this morning when i woke up knowing that i was going to be able to LOVE and CARE for these people...it was a wonderful feeling!

We started driving, and i asked where exactly we were going, they answered to a town in Southern Israel. I was completely shocked when we got out of the car and my friend told me we were in a town that was a mile away from the Gaza Strip, and that the town i was in has had over 10,000 missiles sent into it over the past 8 years, and this very town has experienced some of the worst terrorist attacks. I was shocked, i immediately thought..."im glad my mom doesn't know im ONE MILE AWAY FROM THE GAZA STRIP"...!!!!

Anyway, the reason why we came to this town is because there are alot of Holocaust survivors who live in it. They live in this specific town because it is very cheap.
We came to put on a post Hanukkah party. We(Chosen People) brought gift bags full of food and tea and chocolate to give each person. The Party took place in a middle eastern restaurant that was very small and very run down...

Before the Lunch took place we walked to a ladies house named Esther(picture above), she is a holocaust survivor and oversees all the holocaust survivors in the town. She is a Large, Loving Russian Lady.Right when i walked in her apartment she was tending to our needs, i learned a lot of hospitality pointers from her. I asked her to tell us her story, i was curious, i needed a translator--she agreed!!

She was 5 when her story began, the natzies took her mother and father and murdered them both right in front of her eyes...!!! They plastered her mother alive against the wall until she died, then they shot her father. After this they took a large group to the forest where they had holes dug out and would shoot people into the holes.Her grandma was with her and told her to act dead and fall into the hole, so they both acted dead and fell amongst the dead bodies. They waited until night fall and escaped out of the hole and left for the nearest safe town. Once they reached a safe town, her Grandmother changed her name to a Christian Armenian name and shipped her off to a safe town...years later she was reunited back with relatives and she continued on with her life...She is now living in Southern Israel. She also told me that three missiles have entered her apartment, she pointed to the window right behind me and said they came through that window...

Sitting next to Esther was one of the most moving moments of my life...there i was, a 20 yr old Christian girl, sitting next to a weeping grandmother,who has seen EVIL. She has witnessed her parents murdered right in front of her,she spent the night in a hole with dead people, and she has had her apartment terrorized 3 times. I wanted to kiss her feet, kiss her head and hold her. My heart was breaking for her. However,most wonderful thing is this, she is saved and loves the Lord. She struggles with the goodness of God,but she lays that aside and puts her hope and trust in him!!!

After the meeting with Esther we left for the luncheon. It was so sweet to see all these elderly people come and eat. To them todays luncheon was a BIG deal, i could tell alot of them put on their nicest clothes. I smiled and greeted each of them as they walked into the restaurant-- they were so HAPPY!!During the Luncheon i was wanting to communicate to them so badly!!

They asked me to sing, so i ran out to the van and grabbed my guitar, as i was walking back i was thinking what song do i sing? I decided i would sing one of my songs"In your hands"...

I had the translator translate the words before i sang and then i said,"It is my honor to be with you today, my family back in America respects you and loves you, this song speaks about feeling alone and forgotten, but then its says "I'm in your hands and you'll never let me go"...i know some of you struggle with the goodness of God, but im here to tell you today, he LOVES you and you are in his hands, he has not forgotten about you..He sent his son Jesus to demonstrate his deep love for you and for the world...God is Love-- man is not perfect,man sins,man is sometimes very evil..but God is love..." then i sang them my song.

I really cant tell you how much of an honor it was to sing to a room of holocaust survivors...i will always remember it and hold it close to my heart!!

I told Esther at the end of the Luncheon that i would have lots of people back in California praying for her and for the group, she cried. Please pray for Esther and the whole group of Holocaust survivors...they need our love and prayers.

At the end of the luncheon as each person walked out i hugged and kissed their cheek, i wanted them to feel my love for them!! As i gazed into their eyes,i could see their was pain...

Working alongside Chosen People was an honor--they show such love and they serve the people so wonderfully--Chosen People knows what they are doing in Israel, they work hard to love and care for the Jews. I told the Men i worked with today that i was proud of them and watching them love the people was beautiful.

We then returned to Jerusalem, i joined a family for a real Shabot dinner.The mother sang the blessing and lite the candles. It was such a wonderful experience.THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD. Chicken and mushrooms, a huge salad, and mash potatoes and bread...It was the perfect way to end the day.

My soul is being blessed and ministered to. I'm beyond grateful for this experience...

I love each of your comments...it brightens my day, thank you for posting them!!!

Remember this verse as you go about your day...

John 14:12

"This is my commandment,that you love one another as i have loved you..."

Love eachother today..

I love you all..

Sarah