~ Going Deeper ~

This has been difficult.  Writing and rewriting several times struggling to phrase without somehow leaving limp the spiritual depths that were touched.  I knew it was coming when the Lord directed prior to leaving Israel and I wondered if I would be able to put this into words.  I will tell you in part, but not in whole, because I just cannot. 

Last spring, the Lord put upon my heart to retrace the steps of the Jews during WWII ~ it took me quite by surprise, but I felt Him confirming that it would ultimately help in the outreach to Israel.  And though I already had read, studied, seen documentaries, visited a holocaust museum, and heard from holocaust survivors, still He pressed that I needed to go to make this a part of my life.

~ PLEASE TAKE NOTE ~ Viewer Discretion ~

 Some of these links are difficult to view.

They are attached for your convenience if you want to know more

Leaving Israel early July, I stayed with friends in The Netherlands.  During this time I visited the Ten Boom Home  and Anne Frank’s place of hiding.  My friends also took me to their church, shared much of their ministry work, and introduced me to many who help with and who receive the blessings of the outreaches.

Still working on my itinerary, I left for Poland where the Lord provided friends of friends of friends (!) who with great care and concern escorted me from: the Jewish Quarter in Krakow's Kazimierz District to the KrakowGhetto where Nazis had forced the Jews to relocate ~ stopping also to visit the Oskar Schindlar’s Factory in the ghetto. Afterward, we passed briefly by the Plazow Concentration Camp ~ a forced labor and death camp near Krakow which has since been torn down. A testimony of one of the survivors is here.

Gate to Auschwitz I

It was a rare blessing to share morning devotions for several days at the homeless shelter ministry of my new friends.  They insisted on showing me many places around town and watching over my travel needs (their care was over the top!) and when it was time to leave, took me to the train station where I left to the next location: Oswiecim (Osh-vee eh tcheem) ~  a small town, where prior to WWII the citizen majority was Jewish.  It is where Nazi Germany determined the sites and buildings of what is called in German Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II – Birkenau, and Auschwitz III Manowitz

After first arriving in Oswiecim there were more friends of friends who met me at the train station and took me to my lodgings.  That day I took the tours available for Auschwitz I & II ~ there was no tour for III. A survivor’s testimony of Birkenau is here.

The next day Sunday, my friends insisted on escorting me; to their evangelical church for service, on a tour the town of Oswiecim, to visit the last remaining synagogue (19 destroyed in the war), and to just spend time together for the remainder of the day getting to know one another.  The day was topped with a traditional Polish Sunday evening meal.  I thank the Lord for the fellowship as I was really needing it at this time.  That night when alone in my room I could hear the local train in the distance clickity clacking down the tracks with its rolling wheels and screeching brakes.  Unable to sleep, I was haunted by the sound as I envisioned what it would have been like for both the townspeople as well as for the terrified Jews carried to this place 70 years ago.  So wretchedly heartbreaking.

Boxcar Transport - Birkenau

Taking a train from Poland, I then went to Czech Republic to visit Terezin, (or Teresienstadt) a 1790 fortress used by the Nazis to receive and transfer Jews from all over Europe to send them to concentration and extermination camps.  At that time this fort was itself transformed into a concentration camp and ghetto where nearly all prisoners sent off on trains to be ‘relocated’, perished.  

The Red Cross, once allowed to visit was shown Jewish prisoners dressed in normal street clothes play acting a lifestyle that would distract the viewer from seeing the real life horrors going on behind the scenes.  Store fronts and bank facades, worthless money tendered, a soccer game, women knitting, men sharing coffee at cafe and carrying on of a simple life were put on for show.  There were also a number of talented Jewish symphony musicians and composers imprisoned who performed.  The Red Cross believed this was how they indeed lived not knowing the Jews were forced to act and 'play along' in fear for their lives.  Recorded on film for propaganda, the world was conned into believing the Jews were being treated well. Nearly all those in these films, including the ghetto children were sent to the gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau shortly after the Red Cross left.

I could not help but wonder if the train tracks I road on from Poland to Czech were the same tracks the prisoners were on from Terezin to Auschwitz.

Conference Rest

The Lord is mindful of our frailties. It was at this time in planning that I thought a time of fellowship, Bible messages and worship would refuel my heart to complete the journey.  Two Calvary Chapel Bible Colleges; one in Hungary and the other in Austria were hosting conferences back-to-back. With these countries in relatively close proximity I took advantage of the opportunities (and the trains).  After the second conference I was blessed to accompany a wonderful missionary couple, who had also attended the conference, as they returned to their home in Italy, staying there for a few days. 


There was the blessing of shared fellowship, Sunday service and a concert in the park by a Christian worship band!  My hostess also made note two additional Jewish ghettos nearby ~ one in Padova and the other in Venice, both of which I visited.

Sachsenhausen, Berlin, Germany

“Go, therefore make disciples of the all nations” Matthew 28:19 ~ a sweet friend I had mentored in Biblical discipleship in the US two years ago while she was an international student had since returned to her homeland in Germany.  Early in this trip she learned I was in Europe and invited me to visit her if possible and to stay with her. She was in need of fellowship, encouragement, friendship and prayer.   A short flight north brought me to Berlin. While there I was also able to meet her parents who are not Believers.  My friend and I visited her church and spent that day seeing a few historical locations around the city.  On my own I went to Sachsenhausen (‘Youtube’ part 1, part2) another concentration and extermination camp located in the north of Berlin.  A visit to the JewishMuseum and Checkpoint Charlie was made on another day. 

From Berlin, another train returned me to my friends in The Netherlands where we shared; a few days of fellowship, a Shabbat dinner with many others who also support Israel, and where I caught my return flight to Israel.   

Throughout all of these encounters the Lord opened many, many doors to tell others of Jesus Christ;

§         ~ Waiting in line to Anne Frank’s Museum the Lord put a Jewish couple from Jerusalem right behind me.  We talked of the Jewish Tanakh and the fulfillment of Scriptures by Jesus Christ for nearly an hour. 

§         ~ In downtown Amsterdam the Lord led me to witness to street performers, one of whom appeared quite convicted

§         ~ Bible tracks were handed out to homeless in Krakow and Prague

§         ~ Witnessing and opportunities to sing worship at a homeless shelter also in Krakow

§         ~ A beggar approached me at the train station in Budapest and before the conversation was over I had given him a Gospel of John.  When I told him how much the Lord loved him and that this book was priceless, he seemed truly touched as though his heart was melting and his eyes lit up “Priceless?” he asked.  When I affirmed he happily assured me he would read it and gently tucked it into his bag as a treasure

§         ~ Two beggars in Venice, sadly both missing portions of their feet and legs responded as I tried my best in letting them know Jesus Christ had not forgotten them and that He loved them very much.  They were interested and seemed to understand.

§         ~ Praying with a beggar in Berlin who was missing much of his hands and unable to control bodily movements. He knows the Lord and welcomed prayer. 

§         ~ The Lord led me to dine with a man who ministers to Romanian Gypsies, a very interesting person and am praying for his work. 

§         ~ Praying for so many that I have seen on the trains and in the stations ~ many other encounters as well along the way.  Shaved heads, rainbow hair, multi face piercings and ‘tats’, pants with Nazi iron crosses embossed, fear and uncertainty, alcoholics and the broken, the lofty, the proud, the humble, the meek, struggling parents, lost young people, business men and women, the elderly struggling to get around, tourists, so many different languages, so many searching, to reach that place of peace ~ a peace that only comes from the Lord.

Father gave me so many assurances that He was with me.  Through the train and airport stations as though a red carpet had been laid out, the moment I felt lost there would be someone beside me to help or what I needed would just ‘be there’.  He brought so many who were lights along the way even before I asked they stepped in to guide.  It has been so amazing, so, so, so amazing!

It has been a life changing two months and I am forever grateful to God Almighty who held me close, soothed my stunned heart and gave constant assurance of His great love for mankind.

I humbly ask your prayers for the Lord to use this in me to minister to the Jews that they would come to know Yeshua HaMashiach, their Messiah and ours, the One they have been waiting for. 

• He was born in Bethlehem as foretold by Micah 5:2

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, [Though] you are little among the thousands of Judah, [Yet] out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth [are] from of old, From everlasting."

• May their eyes be opened to the B'rit Chadashah (New Testament), the new covenant spoken by the Jewish Prophet Jeremiah in chapter 31, vs 31.

• Ezekiel 36:27  says

"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do [them].”

               May they repent and ask to receive His Holy Spirit so that they will know His ways and be saved.

•  Salvation comes only from the Lord and beside Him there is no Savior (Isaiah 43:11, Hosea 13:4)  

• That Yeshua is the suffering servant of Isaiah 53. 

• That Yeshua calls out the Trinity in Isaiah 48:16 ~

“Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I [was] there. And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit Have sent Me."

• That the Messiah is called out as the Son of God in Psalm 2

• For anyone who desires to have Christ take away their sins and to be able to walk with God, all they need do is ask Jesus Christ to come into their lives.      

The Lord bless you in all you do to "Go, and make disciples" or to help those who do go and may you receive the many blessings and promises of the Lord.

Please do not hesitate to let me know how I may be praying for you.  

Love and blessings ~ Pamela

A Short Note ~

Just a quick little wrap of the time between January thru June this year.

The Lord is faithful to answer prayer with either a ‘Yes’ or ‘I have something else in mind’.  My continuing prayer was for an open door to return to Israel to help any way possible.  One such opportunity came through a volunteer program to help on an Israeli army base doing simple tasks required behind the scenes and would free soldiers to go take care of securing the country instead of these odd jobs.  I enrolled, was cleared to go and left in mid-January. 

The program brought me into contact with a variety of people who came from other parts of the globe to also lend a hand to Israel.  I enjoyed meeting so many of them and learning of their heart to serve. 

After the program an opportunity opened to come along side a small church to help in a small community.  I was asked to help with English translation and teaching English which I thoroughly enjoyed.  Joining in prayer with home visitation was a blessing to lift prayer needs for those in need.  There were also several weekly prayer meetings and prayer with groups where we would go to various areas of Israel to pray along the boarders for protection of the land and wisdom for Israel’s leaders. 

We also had a clothing distribution one day which was a huge success and very welcomed from the families, many of whom mostly Jewish.  It was wonderful to help.  When time would allow there was the sweet blessing to lend a hand with the soup kitchen in Tel Aviv. 

As is the case in every event where we thoroughly enjoy what we are doing, the time just slips away.  Having spent nearly six months already in the country, I found I needed to plan leaving for an extended period.  But where to go with such limited income?  The Lord had made a way to live humbly here, but with all the travel I did last year, I was not very keen on doing it again this year.  It was nice to be quasi-settled and developing friendship ~ faces that would become familiar faces and elicit a smile when we would meet. 

And there were so many threats, so much saber rattling going on with those who hate Israel.  My heart’s desire was to be available to help Israel in any way possible.  I did not want to leave.

Arise, Shine!

He has helped, comforted and lifted my heart more times than I can count.
He is so faithful.

Just a little behind in my blogging, so let me give you an overview for 2011.

Most of the work was pointed to Israel, to help the Israelis in anyway possible and to bring the love and word of God, to tell them of the love of Yeshua, Jesus Christ, to all who would hear.  Also during this time the Lord provided another outreach to Uganda.

The six months spent in Israel afforded opportunities to come along side to help in a soup kitchen and assist many others aside from the kitchen.  It is impossible to tell you how many times the Lord opened ways for me meet, help, counsel, teach, pray for, and to share the love and word of God with such a variety of people; Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Israelis with no faith commitment and many from outside Israel who were visiting.  To mention a few of the opportunities, the Lord opened ways to witness on the bus, bus stations, beaches, restaurants, buying meals for the homeless, engaging in conversations with Muslims and Jews in the Old City, and youth demonstrating for socializing Israel in downtown Jerusalem. These were opportunities the Lord dropped in my lap as I was out doing other things, but He had other plans.

God has shown me in my current circumstances of homelessness many of the struggles associated with this, however He has been most gracious in providing a roof over my head and a safe place to sleep.  For this I am more grateful than I can express.  Living situations kept changing as the limited income set the standard of what I could rent.  The Lord blessed with reasonable and safe housing for five weeks here, two weeks there, six weeks, one week, etc.  But it required constant moving as the situations changed.  All in all I moved eight times living in various areas of Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Jerusalem, and in Samaria.  Hauling what is left of my worldly belongings in two suitcases, a carryon, plus my guitar only makes me want to reduce them more (they are so heavy, but the guitar stays)!   

I can only trust the Lord has had me learn these challenges for His purposes 

knowing it will work toward His good.

The Lord had once again opened a door for me to teach in Uganda at the National Women's Conference slated for August.  I had been praying during my entire time in Israel for a place to quietly seek the Lord and compose notes and messages.  In June, a friend offered her place to me to rent while she traveled.  I could have it for the two months remaining on my visa. My main duty was to care for her plants.  It was in a settlement community where the language is almost exclusively Hebrew and Russian.  Oh, I was so grateful for this!   

Never in my life have I been allergic to any flora, however when dealing with one particular plant I succumbed to a horrible anaphylactic shock that nearly sent me home to Jesus.  It rendered blistering and bleeding sinuses, bleeding and burning bronchi, lung capacity near zero, cramping  muscles, confusion due to lack of oxygen, blisters on eyes and eye infection (essentially blind), and no voice. 

After three days and getting worse, I lay in bed wondering how long it would take for someone to find me.  Yes, it was a bad thought, but honestly when you are alone much of the time that is something that runs through one’s mind if one should ever fall or get hurt and not be able to get to help.  I had been praying and asking the Lord many things in this time; am I coming home today? ~ is today the day that I see Your face? ~ please watch over my son ~ I love him so much ~ this is going to be very hard for him ~ how was I to minister to the ladies in Uganda? ~ “Do I go there blind? ~ Because if that is what You want then blind I will go, but I do not know how to minister to them ~ I cannot see to write notes and even if I could would I be able to read them or do I just stand before them and You will speak through me something that You want me to say at that moment?” I honestly felt that even if I had to crawl to the plane I was to go to Uganda. I could feel Him hold me very close and softly tell me “Rest.  Just rest…. and when you are better I will help you”

This put my heart at peace and gave me hope because He said “when you are better” which meant I was going to get better! So I snuggle into Him as close as I could and rested, really, really rested.

About a week later I could sit up for an hour or so and tried to make notes with many eye washes and naps throughout the day.  I did manage to break my toe while stumbling down the hall to wash my eyes.  Please, are we done now?  Three weeks later and somewhat ambulatory I was able to visit the soup kitchen, though was not much help still very weak and suffering with what appeared to be a painful partially collapsed lung. However, was able to continue work on my notes for the conference.  A couple weeks later I was able to function almost normally and finish the teachings.  About a week after and somewhat stronger it was time to go to the conference.

The theme of the conference was:

“Arise, shine; ” Isaiah 60:1

Thirsty Hearts

Oh!  How good is the LORD!  How promising is His word! This fit perfectly for all the women struggling with so many difficulties ~ living on so little, but seeking and trusting in Jesus in everything and the Lord making a way.  Yes ~ God is so good. 

Having met so many at last year's conference and seeing them now really blessed my heart.  They were so happy to see me and I them.  It was a grand reunion!  The Lord comforted my heart during the teachings at the conference and the churches and villages where I also taught. 

With Henry & Mercy

After the conference I went to Mukono to visit Pastor Stephen and his wife and little Henry and Mercy, two children supported by this ministry, who are really getting big now.  They are so beautiful. Henry is sweetly shy and Mercy is very straight forward in her questions ~ not very shy at all, but very engaging.  Pastor Stephen had lined up a few churches and villages for me to speak at and the Lord blessed all these meetings. 

Teaching In Villages

In all of this I could see that the results of this were without doubt total glory to God.  He blessed with power in His word and it was evident every day. 

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, 
in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions,

in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, 
then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

Teaching in Churches

This is so true!  I had been so weakened in the illness and so reliant on the Lord to guide my writings that all I could do was gratefully bow to Jesus for giving me strength to endure and giving me His word to teach.  It is so hard to explain times like these.  All I can do is praise God for helping and healing and being there to lean upon.

After the conference I returned to Israel to continue volunteering, however Israel Customs determined I had spent enough time in the country for the year.  They gave me two weeks to gather my things and go back to the USA.  Mentally worn out, tired from traveling all night and now emotionally devastated that I could not return, the Lord spoke to my heart again and told me that it “is necessary for you to return” to the States.  As soon as I heard that, relief swept over me and I was comforted to have received this direction.  It was “necessary” to return.

The next four and a half months were spent in San Diego’s North County with several loving families who opened their homes to me and much help in many needs including transportation for the time I was there.  Again I moved eight times as I sought the Lord on how to return to Israel to continue helping in some way.  It was in this time that I applied to Volunteers for Israel who cleared me to work as volunteer for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).  I was to begin after the first of the year.

The Lord our God has been gracious through all the challenges.  And I admit there are times I do not think I can do all He asks, but then He reminds me:

“Have I not commanded you? 

Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed,

 for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

I pray the Lord will open many doors for you too.  Please tell me how I might pray for you and encourage you.  It is a long road for all of us and I would like to be able to help you in any way I can.

 And may the glory of the LORD rise upon you