New Year Travels שנה חדשה שנסע

My name is Jonny, i am attending Israel College of the Bibles Year in Jerusalem program I came to the land back in September 2009.

The course covers a wide range of subjects and presents me with an amazing opportunity to study in Israel for a year.

The programme's purpose is to enhance study of the Scriptures and knowledge of the Jewish roots of the Christian faith.

Recently, Israel has received a great deal of rain which is very important and a huge blessing during this season. The Negev recently had the majority of its annual rainfall in one night, which was unlike anything it has seen for hundreds of years! It was enough to wash away at least two main bridges along the Egyptian boarder, one of which was British built during the time of occupation. We have just returned from our archaeology tour, an intensive course that falls in between the two semesters. It consisted of both excavations and surveys in rather remote locations. The timing of which was fantastic, to see the desert come to life with grasses and small flowers and streams running through the baron ground was wonderful.

We were blessed to stay for some of our tour with a guy named Abishai, a Yemenite Messianic Jew who along with his family run a small hostel. His testimony was astounding and was such a blessing to hear. He spoke of how when he came to the Lord very much like Noah, he was told to build his small hostel in preparation for many orphans. So from the back of his house he put together basic accommodation and a Bedouin style congregation tent with a small fire and stocked up on mattresses, blankets and pillows without any clear purpose. Before he had finished he was housing 80 SudaneseJonny in the Negev refugees! Many of these people flee the Sudan to Egypt however Egyptian boarders laws often mean many are shot at when crossing into Israel and sometimes, tragically killed.

Despite the pressure from the government, military and some of his neighbours he housed them for two years finding the men jobs whilst providing beds, clothes and food for their families thanks to the Lords provision. He explained how he argued with authorities saying not long ago, the Jewish people were refugees in the land and it was down to the generous support and love of many Christians that helped their settlement. His testimony and selfless faith wasn't only encouraging and challenging but a blessing as well!