Nessim Muse News April 2009

Shalom again to all our friends in every part of the globe,

This has been again a very packed month with events almost colliding with one another, but because a number of you have written to ask about the eye operation, we’ll start with that. It seems to have been a success, and I now have a stint in both eyes, and no more pressure in either of them. The sight is slowly normalizing in my left eye, though still somewhat blurred, but I am improving all the time. The right eye was badly damaged two years ago during a cataract operation, so I am thankful that the left eye is doing that well. I thank all of you who were praying for me.

Last night we celebrated the Feast of the Passover. Arabs and Jews celebrated together, and for many of the Arabs, it was the first time that they had participated in such an event, so apart from the Hebrew readings, there were also many explanations in Arabic. It was great fun as Esther and I took bowls to symbolically wash the hands of many of the Arab participants, but a great surprise when afterwards Pastor Najeeb and Bishara, insisted on washing our feet! It was really a feast of love and reconciliation. Every one understood the point that just as the Children of Israel were delivered by the Blood of the slain Lamb sprinkled on the door-posts and lintels, so we have all been saved through the Blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and who, as our true Passover, has been sacrificed for us. Among those present was one of our Russian Jewish congregants who is not yet a believer, but is very much interested in Arab-Jewish reconciliation, and a former Arab drug addict who is now rejoicing in the Lord! Given the political situation, we believe that there was great rejoicing in heaven as Arabs and Jews rejoiced together in Haifa. Afterwards, two Arabic waiters expressed their astonishment at Jews and Arabs celebrating together, and Pastor Najeeb was able to speak to them and give them the Gospel.

You may remember that in our last letter we mentioned Cindy, who told us she obviously preferred her darkness to the Light, and would not not come to the meetings again. She did miss one meeting, but next week she was back again listening intently! Keep praying please. And for those who remember Shoshana (the now very old holocaust survivor,) she insists that I visit her regularly. One evening , she made me a very nice full meal, and then we sat and looked at the pictures of the new book on Passover for children. She looked at the pictures very carefully, and while saying that she would not live to see the return of the Afikoman (the hidden Messiah!),she loved the book, and wished me all the best for it, and kissed me so many times, it was unbelievable. While not yet accepting the truth, she was obviously so touched , she hardly new how to express herself. I had to go again last week and got another lovely meal as we discussed the things of God.

Maybe one of the biggest surprises of the month was when our local Jewish “Jehovah’ s” Witness, Dinah, showed up at our Shabbat meeting at the invitation of a Dutch girl who got to know her while they were both distributing literature! The sermon was on the first three verses of 1Corinthians 13, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not love” etc.. She was very impressed, but it is is very difficult for her to break free after many years with the witnesses. The weekly Shabbat meetings have been very well attended and very blessed.

In our last letter we also told you about the family from Jenin whose child, Issa, has been ordered to go to his grandparents. The mother, Manar, and her present husband were refused a visa for France, and are now preparing to flee by another route,and we can only pray that they may find a safe haven so that they do not lose their eight your old boy because of Greek-Orthodox and Islamic Law which gives the parents of a dead father the right to take the child from the mother. Please take this family upon your hearts.

Staying in the territories, once when we visited we saw ABDM in Bethlehem, and we asked him what he needed most. He told us he needed a driver’s license, as there is work available for drivers. So when we saw him last time, we provided him with the means and were please to hear on the Eve of Passover that he has passed his exam, and will get his license next week! We hope shortly to renew our application for him to visit us here, as there are many people who would like to meet him.

On a more serious note, the news from our daughter Debbie and son-in-law Yakim in Arad, is not good. The harassment is increasing, and they have even hired a horse to intimidate the believers. They are abused on the streets, their children are chased through the streets, and they are continually threatened and photographed as they enter the meetings. The report is too long to include with this letter, but it is shocking, and we would be happy to forward it to any one who is interested, and sends me an email, Another couple, Eddie and Lura Beckford, are also harassed and the husband is under house arrest for more than a year, while the wife has to stay home to make sure he does not stray from his house arrest. So they are both confined in doors for more than a year!

We trust you will have, or will have had, a wonderful Feast of the Resurrection, and thank you again for your prayers and gifts for this work.

With our greetings in the Messiah, Yeshua,

Avi, Esther And Ruth