May 29, 2008

Shalom!

Israel is going through very hard times. We are faced with the daily threat of terrorism as well as ongoing poverty. When I visit families in Israel who are in desperate situations, it breaks my heart. Yet when I am able to look at them in the eyes and tell them that they are not alone - that The Fellowship will be able to help them - it truly lifts my soul.

The Fellowship has played a huge role in the ingathering of God's people by bringing Jews home to Israel from all four corners of the earth. But our work does not end there. Thank God, we are able to provide for thousands of people in emergency situations, as we were able to provide for Ingra, a woman whose story I would like to share with you.

Ingra and her husband, Aaron, immigrated to Israel in 1970 and worked very hard to provide a good life for their family. Aaron went to school, learned Hebrew, and eventually got a job teaching science at a local university. Ingra focused on raising her 3 children and worked part time at the local grocery.

When their youngest daughter, Chaya, was born, it was a bittersweet occasion. Ingra and Aaron found out that Chaya was mentally disabled and would need lifelong care. They vowed never to neglect any of Chaya's needs.

Then, when Chaya was 18 years old, tragedy struck. Aaron died from a heart attack and Ingra was left alone. She was forced to live on a tiny government stipend of less than $500 per month, which barely covered food, rent, and medicine for Chaya. Ingra's heart was broken, yet she kept a brave face for her daughter, who relied on her for everything.

A year after Aaron died Ingra woke up to find that her refrigerator did not work. "I had no money to fix it, and nowhere to turn," she told me. It might sound like a minor problem, but for Ingra it was a real crisis - the refrigerator is where she stored not only food, but all of Chaya's medicine as well. With no money to fix it and nowhere else to turn, she went to her local government to ask for help. "If it was only me, I could have lived on bread and cereal," she explained, squeezing my hand for support. "But Chaya deserves better, and must have her medicine to stay healthy."

I wish I could communicate to you how the expression on Ingra's face changed from one of sadness to joy as she continued her story! "Then the social worker told me that The Fellowship would have a refrigerator delivered to my home the next day," she said. "All of a sudden this problem was solved - it was truly a miracle from God, a ray of hope when I least expected it!"

That experience changed Ingra's life forever. She asked me to pass along a message to you, the friends of the Fellowship who made this possible: "I work as hard as I can to provide for Chaya, but life is still difficult. Knowing that Christians in America care about her and would never let anything happen to her, helps me to go on. You saved us in a desperate time and we are so grateful."

I too want to thank you, Fellowship friends, for all of the generous support you have given to Israel and the Jewish people. I can tell you firsthand that you have saved lives and changed lives, and given hope for a better future to the most hopeless people in the Holy Land.

Yael