Nessim Muse October 2008

Hi Everybody!

If I have been out of touch with you, it is because I have just returned from a 19 day trip to England where a team of five Israelis, comprising three Arabs, the Russian Jewish fiancée of one of them, and I were  invited to speak at a conference arranged by CFI England.

The aim of our trip was to call for prayer for the Arabs of this region, not from those who hate Jews, but from those who already love and pray for Israel. We thank God for every one who has a heart for the Jewish people, but at the same time are mindful of the fact that almost twenty percent of the population of Israel is Arab, and most of these also need to hear the Gospel. The Arab churches are growing as well as the Messianic Assemblies, and we are much more aware of each other and the need to work together.

Many Moslem’s are also coming to believe in Yeshua, (Yasua), and we need Jews to take the good news to Moslems, and Arabs to bring the good news to Jews! We believe that the conference was a blessing also for us, and rejoice at the response of the people. Several hours each day,I was translating for the other four Israelis, which is quite strenuous, but it was also very enjoyable, and we all laughed a lot and cried a lot, as we recounted how the Lord had brought us all together from different backgrounds through the death of my beloved Albert, and the shooting of a Hamas member(by the Fatah) which landed him in the next bed to Albert. God’s ways are mysterious.

We were all hosted by Kath Hall, who sends out the English letter by mail, and at the conference I shared a room with Fiona Lindsay.  Pat Smith also came to see us. We were all trained at Redcliffe College, so it was very special to meet up together.

A few days after my return, the annual Jewish-Arab picnic was held in the Lavi forest near Tiberias. Again there were about a thousand Arabs and Jews together, and we were joined by Ethiopians and Sudanese refugees. Even some Moslems came and joined in the proceedings. Both Jewish and Arab pastors spoke, but I have to confess that the Arabs sang much better that the Jewish groups. I sat with them for a while and at one point I could not stop crying, A number of Arabs greeted me by name as we have been friends for years. Also among the group representing the Nahariya Assembly there were two Lebanese ladies, two Arabs from one of the villages who come to our meetings, and one Arab lady from Cfar Yasif who is not a believer, but knows she should be! We also had two non-believing Jewish friends as well as the others. Things are changing, and even the Jewish non-believers accept the Arab believers. Pray on friends for a mighty harvest.

Today was Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement. It was one of the quietest days I can remember, with almost no traffic. Most of the believers would have been praying for the Jewish people today, and also alongside them, that they will indeed have their eyes opened to the true Atonement. Times are very serious with both threats of economic disaster and war hanging over our heads.

After the Jewish holidays, Pastor Najeeb is going to try to get ABDM a visa to visit Israel for further teaching and a visit. Please pray that God will make the impossible possible. He is hoping to visit him in Bethlehem shortly. Also please pray for Shoshana, whom I am meeting for lunch in a few days. She is 85, knows the truth, loves us much but is as stubborn as ever, Cindy is also holding out, though she comes frequently to the meetings, as is also Tammy who is serious but not yet committed. Maya and Ariela, seem to understand little to nothing! However, they come! Dina, our local Jehovah’s Witness, came to see us before I left. She was glad to see us and told us she loves us,and we will see her again shortly because Elisabeth from Holland is going to spend three weeks with us, and Dina loves her dearly!

Avi and Esther moved into their own apartment at the end of September, but they are not far  away, and we shall continue our work together by God’s grace. Avi has taken over he treasury(!) and continues to teach on Wednesday, and mow we have an Arab brother who will help with the mid-week Bible Studies. Maarten continues on alternate Shabbats, but we hope to start a second Shabbat meeting so that we will be meeting every Shabbat. We are meeting to discuss this on the coming Shabbat.

We thank all those who have prayed for us, and give to the work, We are supporting some desperately needy families, and more are in need than we can give.

God bless you all, and keep on praying for the Peace of Jerusalem.

With our warm greetings in Yeshua,

Avi, Esther and Ruth