God cares about our general needs too...

oh man. i just noticed that this is my official 100th blog.
i must make it special...
happy post, blog.

i think i blew it....... poof.

i am, at the current, super blessed.
i am staying at the base in dharamsala. surrounded by swedes, eating porridge in the morning, and at the base of beautiful mountains.
wie bin ich so gesegnet?

it is cool learning of the different ministries that are taking place here, as well as other location in northern india. tomorrow i will join a couple indians in teaching young ones english. these kids are so bright. they well correct older ones who may make a mistake in english, ha! they'll probably correct me tomorrow.
friday i will join the other in going to the camps/slums to play with the children.
the following day i will again join them in returning to these camps, but with the joy of cleaning the kids, clipping finger nails... and other such appropiate hygenic work. how great is it that christians still do practical work as well as preach.. more so preaching through actions. and a pretty hefty message too. God cares about our general needs too!

the rest of the time here is not decided as of now, but april 1st i will head to palampur to meet up with my friend ankur. we met in january in delhi. he invited me to visit his family with him in april after his studies. well.. it seems like forever ago, but the date is coming and i am stoked.
i pray that his exams will go super good and our time together will be a witness to the greatness of God.

shortly after, i look to head back to kullu and visit kamal and learn more of the work they are doing there.. then shimla with the same heart/goal. then off to delhi and the BERLIN!

jmem berlin, if you read this, i miss you and love you guys. everyone in berlin, i am more than ecstatic to see you all again. may we again stand side by side worshipping together, and spreading the gospel over germany!

needs:
prayer for the workers here in india. there are so many great things going on, but so much opposition from the enemy too...
breakthrough.
bondages of caste to be demolished.
more supporters for those here.
and more workers here!
plenty of work, just needing the right hearts!

to all!
thank you for the prayers. i am swimming in grace from your prayers.
much love to everyone at mbc, destiny, new heights, christus gemeinde, tim and sal, schönstedts, my mom and dad, bro and sis, bev of mbc... and all those who have ever said a prayer for those abroad and in our backyards giving it all for Christ!

thank you.
may our hearts burn with a flame to consume all nations with His Holiness!

viel Liebe, israel

up on a mountain our Lord prayers for You!

i think i completely understand why Jesus went up the mountain to pray. i am sure though, that He didn't hear horns honking and probably had a bit more concentration than i had.

thank you all beyond thanks for all the prayers lately. it had been so good being up north and connecting with the bases here. the entire trip from varanasi was long... but great.

my friend and i spend 28 hours on the first train, followed by 6+ hours on a toy train in the mountains to shimla. the town was amazing felt more like europe than india. i met just a bit with a friend there, then early the next morning we were off on a bus to kullu. it was about 8 hours in all. there we stayed a night with kamal and was more than blessed by his family's hospitality. we heard story after story of how God has blessed their lives.. from big things too! kamal contacted the base in manali to let them know i was coming, which served as more than a huge blessing! the next day we left on yet another bus to manali where i met up with the base leaders and heard their hearts as well as explained my reason for visiting. it was a great time and they invited me back the next day to join them for worship. they all introduced themselves to me, but i cannot remember names so well here... :) zach and i took a couple small treks, one of them being under a waterfall.. which is unexplainably gorgeous! the other, we were joined by a dog for the entire time.. from the village to the top. i parted ways near the top for alone time. God has been blessing me so much lately and yet i feel that i should be doing something more... it seems this way, from being alone to having a companion to travel with, i get distracted. so maybe pray that my hunger for Him would out weight everything else! that my eyes would be open to what He is doing.

during my time up there, i also got some leadings towards the future. as for timing and money, haven't got a clue. that's more than ok.

Papa, may my thought be overwhelmed by who You are. that i would be reminded everywhere i look of Your greatness. i pray for breakthrough in this valley. for the work that is being done here would grow and the place will be filled with truth! thank You for making me part of Your plan... open up ancient gate, open up you ancient doors... and let the King of Glory enter! who is this King of Glory? the Lord strong and mighty... the Lord invincible in battle!

this is a battle! so let's wage the biggest war we have ever known as one body!

Jesus, we need more of You. please fill us up that we can fight this battle of love and know who we are in You. thank You for freedom and salvation! i am Yours and You are mine!

all in Jesus name and in His victory! amen!

today i look to spend time at the base here in manali and build further relationships. tomorrow may be spent heading to dharamsala and connecting with the people there.

oh, a praise to God. last night i got sick.. with sharp pains in my abdominal... i was sms ing my friend who i met in delhi. he said he would pray for me and not to worry, because tomorrow morning i would feel all better. as i layed in bed, tossed and turned from the aches, spend most of the night sweating, i started to wonder if i had something bad.. or where it came from. i was evaluating everything i ate over the past days.. but.. ... as morning came, i was better. it was incredible and at the same time, how could i expect anything less than my Papa taking care of me.. the making it evident that it is Him who does it. so, thank You Daddy.. as well as thanks ankur! Mein Gott ist gross!

i am sure that's enough to take in for now. sorry for not writing sooner. much love to you all keep them prayers coming.

viel Liebe, israel

corn flakes, cold milk.. and a new friend!

so....

i am more than certain it is getting more warm here day by day. so i am relieved to think about myself leaving the day after tomorrow. it will be a long train ride.. and that's ok!

no kiddin.. God answers prayers.. take this for example...

(and i write with glee and eagerness to tell you all of this crazy good thing that has happened!)

a couple days back, i really felt... like i wanted someone to talk to. someone i could travel with. someone... a man... to just spend time with and be in india with. being here alone is not impossible, and is bearable.. but can be lonely at times, especially when being sick. (i am feeling much better physically.. so thank you all for the prayers!)
so i took a walk, but had a certain joy about it. kinda like a free-ness, lack of concern. it may have been because it was the first day i was feeling better and i ate some muesli that morning. music to my taste buds!
i made my way to some places that hold pleasant memories and made my way back down the ghats. in search for an internet cafe with a camera for skyping, i fell upon no such luck. but in the process, i met a north american, and we started chatting, speaking of travel plans and internet cafes. i shared my knowledge with him.. and within minutes, we had tickets booked together and planned to meet for breakfast the next day.
to make it short and more to the point than i could.. God placed him on my heart that night, and the next day, we chatted. not peanut chatter.. but deep, good conversation.

grew up catholic, and searching for.. truth. i am blessed to be me and may i represent Him well!

we travel to the north friday together, and Lord willing look to do some trekking.
(if nothing else, please pray for his mother. she is sick and needs prayers.. urgent.)

ok, ok... enough of this gleeful rambling...

i will miss the family i am staying. they have blessed me so. the city will also be full of memories, but i would rather not return until it has cooled down..... a lot!

funds, i am down to a couple hundred dollars to put me over for the next month here. i am pretty sure it isn't enough.. not to mention funds needed for being in germany until i get a job.. but i am more than certain... DOCH.. MORE THAN CERTAIN that God will continue to hook it up! so all praise goes to Him in advance and for everyday that i have been here and else where. it is all because of His hand of provision and heart of love and grace.

so, i will now skype. much much much much much love and thanks to you all for keeping up with me and the prayers, encouragement.. so on, so on...

viel Liebe, israel


so i did have corn flakes and cold milk for breakfast... today, and yesterday. and dinner the night before last! ha!

i pray because He hears me!

have i seriously not blogged for a week already. man oh man! the time flies regardless!

i am very excited to announce... God is good!
for endless reasons might i add... and i shall not create that exhausted list just yet... but i will state that i was extremely blessed yesterday and... yes.. today too. ah hey.. i have been.. but it twas not until yesterday that a dam of joy broke.

Halleluja! and thank you all for your prayers, skyping, emails, and thoughts on me while i am here.

i would argue recently that doing what i am doing for the Lord is barely a task.. with the hardest part being the departure of new friends... but more recently i have been faced with more struggle than is perhaps really there. for example loving the people here regardless if the only reason they talk to you is because they think you have money and want you to spend it on their boat ride, rickshaw or in their shop.
it shouldn't be as hard as it has been... or maybe it is completely normal.. which i won't argue against. either way, God has shown me once again His grace to love those around me. so, once again i thank you all for the prayers.. they are certainly heard!

i pray because i know You hear me, o Lord. bend down and listen as i pray!

i will say this to all of you in another place other than i am at right now....
take a deep breath and feel the fresh air running through your lungs.
take a deep breath for all the people here who breath dirty.. disgusting air everyday for their whole lives. if nothing else... think on them once while you breath the air where you are.

i have forsure felt the effect from the air here as i have mentioned in past blogs, but it is still foreign to me that i cannot go anywhere to get a clean breath. at least not walking distance.
not yet.
but thanks ok. for where God calls, He hooks it up.. whether it be fresh air, support, joy, hope, health... or a plane ticket to berlin.
oh..
great transition... hehe
speaking of that last hook up,
as of now, i will be leaving (of course Lord willing) on the 12th of april back to berlin via moscow. i am super stoked and thank you all for the continual support. today i purchased some insurance for some of the time i am there..
so please keep the support/prayers coming.

near plans...
i look to get a ticket very soon to the north of india... the mountains.. to visit some whom i have meet at the 50th celebration conference in delhi. and i really hope to spend almost a month there, seeing what they are doing, being of any help or service i can be, and spending time in prayer for and with them.
i'll let you know more as it unfolds.

my health fluctuates. i am feeling the effects of indian food and was nearly dehydrated yesterday. of course i am drinking fluids like crazy along with electrolytes.. but a had and sometimes still do, a rough headache after standing or moving quickly.
um... muffling my breathing for cleaner air...
not coughing much..
not sneezing...
still kickin it...
yep. blessed.

so, finances are doing good... in the sense that i am super blessed to be staying with the family i am with. it is helping me save much moola. but as i get ready to travel again, that may change.
so, any and all support is more than appreciated.. and regardless of whether you give or not, i know that my God will continue to provide however He feels it be the best. so thank you, and thank You Papa for always taking care of me.

der Herr ist mein Hirte.. ich habe alles, was ich brauche!
the Lord is my Shepard. i have all that i need!

this is very literal.
very true.

so thank you for your prayers.

viel Liebe, und bis bald an die Leute von Berlin und boxi!!!!!!!
israel