Last day in Israel, really.

Inside nativity church in Bethlehem

I was wondering why the Lord would have me wait a couple extra days in Israel instead of taking off when I thought I would.  Maybe there is a big spiritual purpose and importance of me being in the land.  Or maybe God wants to do something even more out of the ordinary while I'm here.

Olive tree at or near the garden of
Gethsemane

But sometimes Yeshua likes to do the smallest things for his people because he loves them.  The first time I was in Jerusalem, which was about a week ago, I wasn't able to visit the Temple Mount or go to the garden of Gethsemane or to the top of the Mount of Olives.  It didn't bother me at all that I couldn't go but it was a shame for me to be so close and not have gone.

From the top of Mt. of Olives

Yesterday, I was able to go to Bethlehem and the church that is built around the supposed manger site.  Later that day I went to the Mount of Olives to another church built around the supposed garden where Yeshua came to pray with his disciples before he was betrayed by Judas. I say "supposed" because there are multiple sites where different groups claim Yeshua was.  Then I walked to the top of the mount where He ascended into heaven and will return one day.

Today I had a chance to go to the Temple mount where now a Mosque is built.  It's usually closed off to the public after 10 am for their prayer time so I started off early.  This is where the Temple of the Lord was built and destroyed and has not yet been restored.

All in all, thank you Yeshua for even orchestrating this small part so that I could see the Temple mount and Bethlehem.  It really has been a faith journey and you have been so faithful to me.

Back in Jerusalem for now.

Tonight I watched as my friends from this team left for Kona, HI.  For me this was it, all or nothing.  I felt like the Lord told me to go to the airport and try to get on a plane.  So I got in line to check-in but it's not like in the states and other nations where you can get in line and just check in, there is pre-security security.  They screen you so that people that aren't passengers can't get in.

First, they stopped me and then I went around to try and buy a ticket.  But a one way ticket just to Bangkok was $1500 and a round trip $1400.  Neither of which I could purchase.  So I got back in line and told them I was on my way to Bangkok, hoping that God would miraculously provide the ticket as I got to the check-in counter.

The airport authority was really nice to me.  They allowed me to be screened first and then they escorted me to a separate counter to check in because the flight was only an hour from departing.  Even when they couldn't find my name on the list they were very polite.  They told me they would watch my bags as I tried to call someone to figure out if it was the right airline, day, and time.  At this point I realized that it probably wasn't going to happen.  So I quietly prayed as I walked around the terminal and then grabbed my bags.

All day I was feeling weak from worry about how I would get to Australia, but now there was a strange peace that started to flood my spirit.  I knew that I did all that I could in obedience to what I felt the Lord was saying.  The team and I said our goodbyes and they went through security to get to their gate while I headed for the exit to get back to Jerusalem.

Now, so late in the night or early in the morning, I write with the encouraging words that I have a plane ticket to Sydney, Australia.  My friend Julie McManus saw my status on Facebook and bought my ticket with frequent flyer miles.  Praise the Lord.

I am still in need of a plane ticket to Kona.  Please continue to pray for me as I continue this journey.

If you would like to donate online you can do so here:  http://goo.gl/hPWTB.

Stuck in Israel

Night shot of Jerusalem

We have about 2 days left in the country of Israel.  In this last week we traveled around the country.  We walked around the Old city many times.  I had a chance to lead a worship time with a friend I met in the UK at a prayer house that looks out to Mt. Zion.  Before we left Jerusalem we were invited to another prayer house that is located in the City of David.  It was a really refreshing time as the people prayed for us and spoke life over us.

Kristi, me, Chantal, Shawna

Currently we are in a town called Carmi'el with some of Shawna's family and we are about to travel to Haifa.  We traveled to Haifa yesterday and visited one of the applicants to an upcoming school.  It was nice to meet a potential student before they even arrived in Kona.  The girls on the team have a flight out Sunday morning at 1 am back to Honolulu.  So we are glad to be together for the next 2 days.

As for me, I will be stuck in Israel.  Whenever I tell people I entered Israel with a one way ticket, they ask me how?  I guess I needed a round trip or exit ticket to get into the country but thanks be to God that I was able to come with a one way ticket.  The plane ticket I am looking to purchase is from Tel Aviv to Sydney.  I am trying to get to Sydney, Australia for a conference that my Rabbi friend Mathew will be speaking at.  Please continue to pray for me and the Journey God has put me on.  I am thankful for the prayer and support I have received so far and the help I will continue to receive.

So my time in Israel is coming to an end...or is it?

Yad Vashem

Israeli soldiers in front of the
museum's entrance

Today we went to the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem.  I haven't really thought about it but I've visited a lot of memorials and museums that have to do with the holocaust.  When I lived in Germany I visited some concentration camps turned exhibits. One I remember that we went to was Dachau.  Last fall I went to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.  But this visit was very different from the other times.

Being in the country where the Jewish people came to after WWII was all too real and it hit home.  The re-population of Israel and the people in this country is a testimony of God's faithfulness to the promises he made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The amount of suffering and persecution the Jewish people endured was unimaginable.  The pictures and stories of survivors were so heartbreaking.

The fire burns in memory of all who
perished in the Holocaust

One of the things I remember was that the Jews living in Germany had assimilated to German culture and then the people in the country turned on them leaving the people with an identity crisis.  I wonder what would happen if America one day just turned on Korean-Americans or Asian-Americans.  What kind of position would the second generation be put in?  Where would we place our identity?  If we say we are Americans, our own country is persecuting us and if we say Korea or Asian, we are labeled to be persecuted.  But this was a reality for Jewish-Germans and as time went on for the Jews in the surrounding nations.

The stone structure quotes
Ezekiel 37:14

The museum was very intense with Israeli students and soldiers also going through the exhibit to learn about their history and learning again about where the world fell short.  It was hard to swallow the fact that the church had started antisemitic behavior because they wouldn't convert to "Christianity".  Hitler would later use this as not just a religious position but a racial one.  The surrounding nations failed to let the Jewish people in their nations as refugees for many, many years.  Then following the refusal, certain groups joined in the persecution.  Even the USA refused refugees at the beginning of the Holocaust.

But there was redemption for the nations.  Finally, starting with Denmark I believe, the nations started turning to aide the Jews to hide them and protect them from being taken to concentration camps.  And there will be redemption for the church as we walk together as one new man.

At the end of the exhibit they have a room of names.  It is a circular room with volumes of books.  These books are filled with the names of the people who died in the Holocaust.  This is not a small room and the books are not thin, its purpose is to not forget what happened so that it will not happen again.

Say cheese.

These are just a few pictures we took in Tel Aviv.  

Ocean front

From left to right: Kristi, Shawna, Chantal, and me

The building with the tower is St. Peters church

Kite surfers at the beach

Sunset

Yerushalayim

Just arrived in Jerusalem about an hour ago from Tel Aviv.  It was an hour drive in a schrute.  A schrute is like a shuttle system that seats about 13 passengers.  I already feel a connection with the land here and it seems that there are different people that say maybe we'll meet in Jerusalem. 

Earlier today we went to Netanya.  We met up with a congregation that also does work as a distribution center for holocaust survivors.  From about 9am to 9pm we set up tables and things we would give away.  Things from coffee to soup mix to hand towels.  It was really nice to be able to serve those that have endured so much hardship and suffering.  Serving the holocaust survivors was also rewarding in itself because of the joy it brought to them in a practical way.

One road block that I have ran into is that some of the money exchange places won't except Scottish pounds which are the same is British pounds.  So hopefully I'll be able to take care of that in the morning.  One of the girls on this trip has family in Israel and we are staying with them for the time in Jerusalem. 

I'm writing this from their little netbook because we don't have the internet password yet.  So hopefully soon I will have pictures up on the blog.  Please keep praying for our finances.  We are still short on ground fees and I am still in need of plane tickets to Australia and Kona.

Tel Aviv, pictures coming soon.

I'm here in Tel Aviv, Israel with Chantal, Kristi, and Shawna from Kona, HI.  I arrived early Sunday morning, really early.  Today was my second full day in Israel and it is amazing.  On the first day, even though I was jet-lagged out of my mind due to my flight plan, we toured around Tel Aviv and old Joppa.  These 2 cities are right along the Mediterranean sea.  If we walk five minutes out we are at the shoreline of Tel Aviv.  Today we had a chance to visit a ministry and talk to the Executive Assistant about planning a future trip with a larger team.

My brain is starting to shut down because of jetlag.  There is more that I am discovering and seeing in the land.  It is exciting times that we live in.

One thing that I am praying for still is the plane ticket.  It was much easier getting into Israel than into England.  In  England, they wouldn't have let me in with a one way ticket but in Israel it was fine.  I need to purchase plane tickets from Israel to Australia and then from Australia to Kona.  Please continue to keep me in your prayers for safety and provision.

Support letter: it is what it is

Dear friends and family,

The Lord has been leading me around the world on a trip to what he is doing in the earth.  The past trip that I was on led me to the UK and Turkey.  I visited the Korean Church in the UK and also some other groups that were in missions.  The next phase of this journey is to Israel and Australia. 

In Israel, I will be scouting with a DTS team, scouting the land and getting the Lord’s heart for the Jews and Arabs in the land.  I believe that God still has purpose for his people and that he has not forsaken nor forgotten about them. There a number of ministries that we will be working with and getting a feel for what the trip will be like later.

In Australia, I will be attending a Torah conference and connecting with the believers in the land.  On the last trip, I saw the group of Korean-diaspora in the UK and I believe this is a continuation of that.  After Australia, I will go back on staff in Kona for about 2 months before returning back to Maryland for school.  There is also a possibility for me to do a 5 week school in Kona during that time.

So, there are many needs, I need anywhere from $2,500-$3,000 for the next 3 weeks for flights and ground fees.  Later on I’ll need ground fees for Kona and possibly for the school.  I’m currently writing you because I am in need of some money for the next journey.  Let’s be honest, this is a support letter and these always seem so unappealing no matter how it is written. 

I know there will always be needs and there are many places to donate and support.  But I am one of those people you know and as you support you reap the blessings of this journey.  I already have the ticket for Israel and most of the ground fees.  This has been a faith journey so I believe with each step, more will be revealed.

Your consideration is greatly appreciated,

Sam

Back for 8 days

I just returned from my trip to the UK on Tuesday.  It's hard to believe that five weeks have already passed and gone, for the whole month of April I was traveling throughout the UK and even to Turkey for 4 days.  Already, it has been less than 2 days and I've already booked a ticket for my next trip.

Traveling around with Mathew was an amazing experience.  We spent much time with the Korean community, with different groups focused on missions, and people that just wanted to partner with the local church in their neighborhood.  It is fascinating to see what God is doing in the nations; the similarities, differences, and expression of the spirit of God through a different culture.

So now I'm getting ready to head out in about a week.  I'm in the process of raising funds for the trip and planning out my time.  As of now I'll be in Israel from May 13-28 and then fly to Australia from May 28-June 4/5  and then flying to Kona to staff for a little while before I start school.

It would have been nice to be able to meet up with more people but it seems that my time is really short here.  Maybe next time as the Lord allows.