Letter From Emily 10/28/23

Shalom Good Hope Family Fellowship,

I hope you are all doing well. Writing this letter is the first time I feel I’ve been able to think about you guys this month. Know that I’m lifting you all up in prayer now as I write. 

The first week of October, we celebrated Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). This has been one of my favorites of the holidays so far! (Please bear with me as I try to do my best to describe it and feel free to check me on the information I provide). Everyone sets up their Sukkas (a simple square frame of wood covered in palm branches on top and blankets and sheets on the sides). They are all unique in size and decor depending on the family. During  Sukkot, they have dinner in these tents every night. Aside from the natural excitement of putting up a tent and eating with friends and family in it, there are deeper joys it brings me. This is the 7th Feast, the one feast that is not only a celebration of God’s faithfulness in the past (guiding the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to freedom in Israel), but a celebration of God’s faithfulness in the future. Sukkot is preparation for the Wedding Feast. One day, the joy of this holiday will be fully experienced as what we’ve been celebrating comes to pass. We eat in tents during Sukkot as a reminder that this is temporary. We have a greater joy to look forward to. 

Another important event we celebrated here this month was my birthday! My concerns for having a birthday an ocean away from my friends and family feel silly now. I had no idea before I came that I would find friends and family here. We had some of my favorite food, watched good movies, and they were even able to surprise me with a party in the evening. I felt very seen and celebrated. 

I don’t tell you these things to ignore what’s currently going on— the war, Hamas, sirens, rockets, etc.. But if I’ve learned anything from the people of Israel, it’s that life goes on. Celebration, mourning, joy, desperation— it can and does happen all at once. The people here are amazing. Of course they aren’t known for their southern hospitality and I have apologized to people saying, “I’m so sorry! I totally Israelied you just now,” after I’ve pushed past or cut someone off. But they have a resilience that is unmatched. It reminds me these are God’s chosen people. There’s still traffic on our way to work. All the shops we frequent are open. There are more Israeli flags and banners up than ever before. And at the same time, people from other parts of Israel are fleeing their homes, mourning loved ones who’ve been captured or killed, dealing with the unimaginable. And they all stand together.

For me personally, I can honestly say I’m okay. Yes, it’s heavy. Yes, my heart drops every time the siren has gone off. Yes, I miss you all, especially my family so deeply. But I’m where God has called me. I’m safer here inside of God’s will than I ever would be back home outside of God’s will. I have His peace that surpasses understanding. 

Thank you for your prayers. It works. It gives me strength to know y’all are praying. Keep praying desperately. If God leads you, give to Bridges for Peace. You guys are a part of this story right where you are. I miss you all.

Emily

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Follow Bridges for Peace or Zealous 82 for glimpses of Emily at work like this one!

Sunrise in Israel

“Praise Yah!

Praise, O slaves of Yahweh,

Praise the name of Yahweh.

May the name of Yahweh be blessed From now until forever.

From the rising of the sun to its setting The name of Yahweh is to be praised.

Yahweh is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens.

Who is like Yahweh our God, The One who sits on high,

The One who brings Himself low to see The things in heaven and on the earth?

Who raises the poor from the dust And lifts high the needy from the ash heap,

To make them sit with nobles, With the nobles of His people.

He makes the barren woman of the house sit As a glad mother of children.

Praise Yah!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭113‬:‭1‬-‭9‬ ‭LSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/3345/psa.113.9.LSB

My Daughter is in Israel and War Just Broke Out

Our first two kids have graduated and moved out and I couldn’t be more proud. The first went to work for a mission organization and travels all over the country. In her first two years of adulthood, she has logged more air miles than I have in TWENTY-two. We have fielded many questions and concerns about her travels—“Aren’t you worried about human trafficking?” “What if she misses a flight and can’t get home?” “What if she meets someone and moves there?” “I don’t think I’d get any sleep if it was my daughter.” Then comes the next daughter, and she applies for and is accepted to an 11-month service internship in Jerusalem. Now they really thought we were crazy. She landed in Tel Aviv on September 1, 2023 and on October 7, Hamas launched the largest and deadliest terrorist attack on Israel in fifty years. Now we’re getting more questions, and I have some thoughts I’d like to share.

First of all, Emily was called to this. She has had a strong walk with the Lord for years and has developed a sensitivity to His leading voice. She didn’t go to Israel on whim or for a sightseeing vacation. She followed the call of God to live among and serve His chosen people. Had I known that war would erupt a month after her arrival, I might have found a few Christian college brochures to lay around the house, but we didn’t know. God DID know and He still called her to go. I’m reminded of another young girl living in a foreign land when hatred for the Jews boiled over. Esther acknowledged in spite of her difficult situation that she was most likely uniquely positioned for a purpose for “such a time as this.” What better time to be in Israel to serve the needy than at their greatest hour of need?

Secondly, Emily belongs to Him. While her mother and I have made a significant investment in her life, only Jesus could pay the price for her and she belongs to Jesus. We have known that her whole life. Our role as parents has been that of stewards of a precious daughter of the King. We were not trying to press her into some mold we designed for her. Rather, we have been equipping her to recognize how God made her in His image with plans and purposes of His own. If Israel-during-conflict is a part of that plan, who are we as stewards to argue with the King? Besides, His purposes for her will be far more fruitful than anything we could dream up.

We are only 2 days into this conflict as I write this and for now Emily is relatively safe. In fact, during the first few hours after I learned what was going on, I was unable to reach her because she was napping so deeply that she didn’t hear 4 text alerts or 2 phone calls. But there are no guarantees that won’t change. I would be lying if I told you the thought hasn’t crossed my mind that she could be killed or captured while this conflict continues. I can’t pretend to know how that will feel if it comes to that. But I do think of Job from the Old Testament. He was a righteous man (a title I could not claim) who lost everything in a day including his 10 children. His wife encouraged him to curse God and die, but Job said, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” I want that kind of faith. And I know Emily aspires to have the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who said “our God is able…but even if He does not…” God is able to shield her from harm no matter where she goes in the world, but even if He allows her to suffer, we still choose to follow Him.

For now I will leave you with one last thought about how my perspective has been shaped by this already. The news of this attack on Israel has, for obvious reasons, struck me a little differently than it would have in the past. But I think maybe it shouldn’t. Emily has already been learning so much about Jewish history and how Christians ought to find their roots in the same story. Their history is our history. We all have daughters and mothers and brothers and sons being killed or kidnapped by terrorists in Israel. Paul explained to the church at Rome (and to us today) that we have been grafted in to the family tree of Israel. This terror is not against “them”; it’s against “us.” Now is the time to stand with Israel, to pray for Israel, to be a blessing to Israel—because they are our family.

Bridges for Peace is an excellent organization working to be a blessing to Jewish people in need. If you have ever considered how you might be a blessing to Israel, please consider starting with them. They have been actively meeting needs for over 50 years and are rightly positioned to help where it is most needed. https://www.bridgesforpeace.com/learn/bridges-for-peace-in-action/

Yes, please pray for Emily. And pray for the whole family there in Israel. And if the Lord leads you and provides you with the means, be a blessing to Israel.

Blessings to You,

JP Jobe

Psalm 46

September in Israel

Shalom Good Hope Family Fellowship,

I hope and pray you are all doing well. I miss you all and am always encouraged when I’m able to join the livestreams on Sunday. Know that I’m in prayer for this church, especially for Richard and Eveleen (and Miss Betty), and Dominic and Windy.

I cannot thank everyone enough for the financial support, prayers, Scripture, and the encouraging notes and text messages.

God has truly watched over and provided for me every step of the way so far. My anxieties for navigating an airport alone, potentially losing my luggage (my guitar especially), and missing my family have subsided as God has shown up in ways He doesn’t have to, but does out of His incredible kindness.

My traveling here and all that entails could not have gone much smoother.

I’m able to FaceTime throughout the week with my family, which eases my missing them more than I expected it to. Even more than that, I’ve found comfort in praying for the people I miss and that brings about a peace and hope that can only come from God.

I can honestly say my apartment mates are easy to get along with. Not only that, but I can already see some of them being long term friendships.

Now for living in Israel:

There are random things that are very common here— cigarettes, cats and roundabouts. This doesn’t have any significance other than I want to help paint a picture of everyday life and these are things that have stood out to me. The cigarettes obviously can give you an idea of what Israeli streets tend to smell like. It is almost impossible walk on these streets and not see at least one stray cat. And finally, if your bus is going to turn left or right, a roundabout is the solution.

While I’m on the topic, I must say it takes great faith to move all the way to Israel for 11 months; it takes a whole other level of faith to trust the bus drivers here. The rides are anything but smooth, but I’m adapting and honestly it’s kind of exciting to me. At least one of the girls I’m living with does have a bruise from riding the bus though.

I enjoy the volunteer work I’m doing at Bridges for Peace. They have a food bank that makes deliveries to different people and I’ve gotten to be a part of that. For Rosh HaShannah (Jewish New Year), I got to help pack honey and apples (it’s a tradition to have these things to start your new year off sweet) and deliver them to people in Israel.

My volunteer job title actually has nothing to do with the food bank floor, however. I work at a computer, planning and putting together the various excursions and events that I and the Zealous team take part in. I also help with the finances for the Zealous team and putting together the posts for the Zealous social media page. The job involves details and, as I said, planning which are things that do not come naturally for me, but it is a great learning opportunity.

Our monthly excursion for September was in Galilee! The sunrise on the Sea of Galilee was incredible. We visited several places around the Galilee where Jesus had been. The one that stood out to me was Capernaum. We saw what was left of potentially Peter’s mother-in-law’s house, where Jesus may have stayed when He settled in Capernaum. As we walked down from there to the edge of the Sea of Galilee I knew I felt something in my spirit. I wept there as Jesus became so real and near to me. Safe to say, the excursion was an amazing experience.

We’ve gotten to meet with many people, including Jews, and learn so much about the Jewish culture and their hard history. My eyes have been opened in so many ways already— more ways than I could list in a letter. I’m excited to be able to share all of it when I come back.

Blessings,

Emily