Living in Arizona affords us proximity to some great deals in dental, eyeglasses, and pharmaceutical needs, just across the US border with Mexico. Up to this point, it has been worth it to drive the 3+ hours to the Mexican border town of Algodones to get dental work done.
This time, however, I received the news that a long-festering infection had invaded two of my upper teeth with such a vengeance that I would need to have one extracted and one was blessed with a root canal. Unfortunately, these enjoyable procedures could not even begin until the infection was under control. Infection severely inhibits the effects of numbing agents, and the doctor predicted that it would be excruciating.
I’d have to drive back to Phoenix and return after the infection was under control. Five days later, I made the three-hour drive again. This time, we went ahead with the procedures. The magnitude of the pain of those two procedures made my previous sufferings feel like a mosquito bite.
It was mind-numbing. It would seem the infection had not been sufficiently curbed, and although they tried 15 times to “deaden” the tooth to the pain, it was ineffective.
Today, I am so grateful for antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and pain medications. They have been some of my very best friends the last few weeks.
Last week Adi Ban shared a letter from a Romanian pastor in Northern Israel with me, detailing what his ministry has been like over the past few weeks. You might be interested in the pain that he and many other believers live with just because the Lord called them to minister in Israel.
Pastor Daniel (last name withheld for security) has been ministering in Israel since 2007, about 16 years. He has to work a second job as a tourist guide to feed his family. You will recognize his care for the people of Israel when you read what he is doing in this highly volatile country.
Shalom, our dear collaborators, and supporters in prayer.
As a result [of the conflict in Israel], the Christian and Messianic people are now called to unity in prayer and to financial support.
Our assembly, together with several organizations in the area, organize[s] fundraising for:
1. Soldiers from the Northern Sea - already for 2 weeks we have 2 cars that go every Sunday and Monday to the Golan Heights area and carry tents, underwear, socks, toothpaste, raincoats, flashlights, sweets, and New Testaments. The need is weekly, and our church collects money every Shabbat in this direction
2. Refugees from the Israeli Gaza Strip - 28 villages that were destroyed by terrorists and cities destroyed by bombings. Hot meals, water, juices, coffee, clothes are delivered to these areas. People have lost everything and are in hotels where the state only pays for their accommodation, the rest is up to them. Monday will be the next transport in that direction. Now we are also looking for Messianic Jews who have been affected [so we can also] help them.
3. Soldiers’ Families - The families of soldiers who are reservists and left their homes and left their children and wives behind, we give a surprise to these families every week to let them know that they are not alone.
4. For us as a family we have supplies and everything we need until the end of October, maybe another week in November, but I have been on unpaid leave [and little tourism will be happening for quite some time]. We [are] still [expected to] pay taxes to the state ...[from past tourism efforts and there is no sign of the State freezing these payment requirements].
My dental discomfort, our Western world discomfort, is nothing compared to what life is now like in Israel. This is a God-given opportunity to show His love and provision to Jews, Palestinians, Christians, and faithful, godly pastors consumed by this throbbing, mind-numbing pain.
God has promised to bless those that bless Israel, I am hoping that ITMI and all of you will stand with these believers on the ground and in the trenches in Israel who are seeking to demonstrate Jesus in a time of great need, great anger, great anxiety, and even greater eternal opportunity.
I am asking you to consider what God would have you do, above and beyond what you already do for all the ITMI partners and projects, to come alongside and bless those on the ground who are meeting the greatest needs in The Promised Land.
Thank you in advance for your sacrificial generosity and obedience-driven help. Blessings on you!
In His Service,
