September 3, 2009

Shalom,

I will never forget the warm and loving welcome I received from Fellowship friends during my recent visit to the U.S. For years I have been speaking on the phone from my home in Jerusalem to Israel's many supporters in the U.S., Latin America, and Canada. But to finally meet some of these amazing people and experience firsthand their sincerity, devotion, and respect for God's people, was truly a blessing.

For many people, having the opportunity to meet a resident of the holy city of Jerusalem was God's way of getting them to feel a little closer to Israel, and therefore to God Himself. I remember entering a Fellowship supporter's beautiful house in suburban Toronto and starting to take off my dirty shoes at the door. With a smile, the woman of the house requested that I leave them on. "I want the dirt of Jerusalem all over my carpet," she said with a smile. Now that is what I call devotion!

I, too, had a powerful sense of God's presence when I met with the Fellowship's many donors. I looked at it as God's way of reminding me that Israelis will never again be alone; we will always have hundreds of thousands of Christian friends worldwide who genuinely love us and will stand by our side through thick and thin.In the short three weeks that I spent in America and Canada, I met with over 250 of these wonderful people. Their concern for Israel and her people leaves me in awe. When I told them about the positive impact they are making on Israel and Jewish people worldwide through their support of The Fellowship's many projects, I was met with tears of joy, hugs, and thanks. I had arranged these visits to communicate my gratitude to them—and yet, here they were thanking me for the privilege of being able to support God's people! It was truly a humbling experience.

Because I live in Jerusalem, I am able to witness firsthand the blessings that God has brought to Israel through The Fellowship. I see the hungry people being fed, the elderly people who no longer have to live in poverty and isolation, the sick people who finally receive the medicine they so desperately need, the orphans finally getting the loving homes they deserve, and so much more.

But, as I told our wonderful supporters during my visit: Even if you cannot see the impact of your generosity, you need to know that it is indeed changing countless lives in Israel and around the world for the better. You have accepted the task of helping Israel in her time of need and for that you will be blessed, as God has clearly told us.

Thank you for welcoming me and all the children of Israel in your hearts. Whenever I think of you, I recall the stirring biblical words: "See, I will beckon to the Gentiles, I will lift up my banner to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders." (Isaiah 49:22)

God bless you,
Yael