Israel // Part Two

On May 1st we traveled to Nazareth where we met the warm-hearted people we were going to spend the rest of our time in Israel with. We quickly got to know the city and it's strongholds. During our time in Nazareth we worked with the local Baptist School where we got to play athletic games, preform dramas and worship with the kids.

We also spend time at the English Hospital where we visited patients from the pediatric, maternity, dialysis and psychiatric words. We sang songs, prayed and spread joy to the patients.

While visiting patients in the hospital, we had the opportunity to play music, share stories and bring smiles to their faces even if we didn't speak the same language. We went to the maternity ward and I had the chance to sing for a Muslim woman and her 2 day old baby. At the end of the song she said she saw something different and wanted me to pray for her and bless her child. It was so cool to openly pray and declare life and truth into such a small and precious new life. 


- T I N A   H A Y S




On May 7th we went to Nazareth Village which is a section of land that is a replication of a 1st century Nazarene Village. Some helped out in the gift shop by cleaning while others dressed up in 1st century attire and acted like people living in the same surrounding as Jesus.

       

 In the evening we went to a mountaintop to worship and pray for the city.

                        


We also took a day trip to the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River in Tiberius. While at the Jordan River, Jonathan and Alisa were baptized.

We also had times that we ministered through various ways in Tiberius...

On the first night in Tiberius, our team and the Finish YWAM team split into smaller groups to go out into the surrounding neighborhood and speak with people. This specific night was the Jewish holiday ***talk about custom and bonfires*** . I myself came across a group of young boys who were gathered around a Bonfire, and made conversation with them. Majority of them were school aged children between 13-19, so personally it was easy to talk to them. Through asking questions about their culture, the boys became interested as to why I was in their country and wanted to know about me and my up-bringing. I told them, respectfully to their culture, as much as I could about my faith and they were all amazed that I could go to a 'school' that allowed me to travel the world getting to meet and talk with new people. So we sat and ate food that they made, had marshmallows, and then I taught them how to play rugby (Australian pride!), which was awesome! Most of the boys wanted to talk about going into the Israeli army because they were headed there within the next few years... This brought up topics about conflict and injustice. They talked about how they had mixed feelings about joining the Army. Some wanted to serve their country, others found it quite intimidating and unfair that it was more of an obligation rather than a choice to join. Other boys were just quite unsure and confused about it and didn't want to have to think about it until they were older. Through this conversation I had the opportunity to talk to them about peace, grace and what I believe because of my own relationship with God. None of them had arguments to make and were only hungry to hear more about what I had to say. Most of the group believed in the same God as I, but they didn't understand why He would make the sacrifice of Jesus for them. I know this was an incredible appointment because the Holy Spirit worked and allowed me to speak out the answers to the boys questions that I know wasn't human knowledge or just my words! I was able to add them all on Facebook and exchanged emails which was pretty incredible, and I can see how valuable contact is. Whether this was a one-time appointment, or a chance for me to make longer lasting relationships, I know it was a major God moment and an opportunity to speak truth into the lives of these boys.    

 - H E C T O R   S M I T H 

On the second day in Tiberius we split up in pairs. I was in a group with Sandra, a girl from the Finish YWAM team. On our way into the city we hung out magnetic signs with “Jeshua” on them. After our walk we decided to start at the promenade directly at the sea.

We sat down on a bench and asked God what He wanted us to do. After praying, both of us felt like we should talk to the guys at the boat dock. We began to talk to them and they asked us how a Finish and German girl met in Tiberius. So we told them about YWAM and our DTS. We talked about the different nations in our team and how we are all united because of God’s love. They were really interested and liked the idea of being together with a lot of people from different countries, traveling together and have an amazing community.

After we talked to them, we sat down and enjoyed the view over the Sea of Galilee. Surprisingly, the one guy offered us a delicious ice coffee and invited us on a 100 sheckle speed boat trip on the sea- for free! It was an amazing experience and it showed how incredible God can bless us.

- A L I S A   H I N D E R B E R G E R 

During our time in Nazareth we got to serve and help a lot of different people. We got to experience how God works through different nationalities and how when we tried to bless others we ended up just as blessed. God's grace is amazing and it's been encouraging to meet other people who are just as in love with our savior Jesus.