Face-to-face Once Again

May 3, 2022

Dear Friend,

Over the past several months we’ve faced several challenges, but our biggest has been caring for our family’s emotional and personal needs. Heidi just returned from a trip to New Jersey where she helped her sister prepare to sell their mom’s home. Heidi’s mom, Barbara, entered a Memory Home on the first of February as her memory has deteriorated significantly.

Heidi, Mom and Lori

While away, I cared for Sasha. She chose to watch some scary videos on YouTube which has triggered early childhood memories. She is once again wanting a light on at night and, in spite of being able to talk rationally, she finds is hard to fall asleep at night. This comes on top of her experiencing increased problems at school. Thankfully, she is scheduled to return to counseling for the issues she has been facing.

During Heidi was in New Jersey, Hannah called her and asked for help to close up her home in Alaska. We made a three-way call and she agreed that it would be best for her to return home to Israel for now. I’ve arranged to fly out, help her with paperwork, deal with her possessions and get home. The last few months she has spent too much time isolated. She needs to return to a place among people who love her.

At the end of January Shay left his position as Communications, Media and Volunteer’s coordinator at Beit Eliyahu after serving three-and-a-half years. It has presented us with challenges and a need to clearly define what we need done and who we can hire to meet that need. Unfortunately, we’ve not really been able to develop an updated job description due in part to the “tyranny of urgent” which seems to drive too much of our focus at Beit Eliyahu.

While Shmuel was out of the country, the congregation celebrated Purim indoors for the first time in two years. It was deeply gratifying to finally be able to interact as a community, to see people have fun and worship together. The first Shabbat in April we were able to have a “Community Day”. We rented an outdoor facility where we were able to host the entire congregation. Over 320 attended!! We encourage people to get to know one another through small group activities, worship and a meal.

The Shabbat before Palm Sunday I was in the car ready to drive to the service when I got a call from Shmuel. He had just been told that his good friend, Hanan (father-in-law of Shay), had passed away while on a trip to Italy. Two of his sons-in-law were with him. Shmuel was to break the news to the family. When Heidi and I arrived, Shay’s wife, Naomi, was weeping with Shay in the office.

I found Naomi’s sister and her husband and brought them to the office. Then they all left to inform Hanan’s wife, Vibica, and the rest of the family. Heidi and I handled the two morning worship services. I directed the service and give a spontaneous message on the Scripture passage (Exodus 3:1-15) Shmuel had been planning to speak about.

Closing the Service with the Aaronic Blessing

Restrictions on gatherings have slowly lifted over the past several months. And this week we finally had our first service in over two years with no restrictions whatsoever! People have returned and in fact there are a lot new faces. People are showing interest in joining small groups and in getting involved in the life of the congregation.

I’m unable to communicate directly with some of these new faces. The war in Ukraine has resulted in a huge uptick in individuals making Aliyah. And there are also several refugees. Several who worship at Beit Eliyahu have ties to either Ukraine or Russia. Alona’s family was evacuated to Israel; Diana’s family recently escaped to Poland while her father, pastor of the local Baptist church in Sumy, stayed behind.

As you pray for us here, please be asking the Lord to:

• Give us strength, energy and wisdom as we seek to help our family members deal with emotional needs.

• Help us move beyond caring for urgent needs in order to put strategic plans in place for adding to the Beit Eliyahu team, allowing our members to discover their spiritual gifting and enabling them to express those gifts effectively in service.

• Supply the needs due to an expected shortfall of imported raw grains and food products from Ukraine and the influx of new immigrants and refugees here in Israel.

• Bless Shay and Naomi as he launches his business, as well as comforting them in the loss of her father.

• Give Heidi relief from the trigeminal nerve pain which continues to limit her, especially in these time of personal and family stress.

Especially remember Heidi over the next days and weeks. Today we spoke with the 9th graders at the Reali school about Abigail as the country prepares for Memorial Day. I’ll be leaving this week to help Hannah move, leaving Heidi to care for Sasha. Somehow during this time she’d really like to organize an event for the women of our congregation to be held by the end of May.

Your prayers are very much appreciated as you hold us up while we run through the hurdles and try to make the most of every opportunity. Thank you for taking the time and investing in our lives and ministry so faithfully! May the Lord continue to give you His blessing as you seek to diligently follow Him.

Yours in the Messiah,