warum haben wir vergessen?

it's funny how last week we were teaching kids about some characteristics of God... including being stronger than lions... faithful to save... and loving enough to give it all.
well it should be of no suprise that over the last days i have been questioning His faithfulness and love.... WARUM? WHY?

is it so easy to forget what He has done for me... for my family... for all those around me???
i have been reading about moses leading out the israelites from slavery and everytime they start complaining i think to myself... what are you forgetting what God has done.. or who He is? just the chapter before He saves your butts from the egyptians and now your are wishing you could be back under their cruel power...

but look at me... look at me.
i am finishing up the end of outreach.. that i had no money for, from a city i technically never would have been able to go to... speaking a language that i thought i could never learn... i can talk to a mom that i never expected i could ever have a relationship with again.. wake up everyday with breath in my lungs and grace in my soul.... and none of it is from me. none of it is because of me.

i can and will proclaim.. WE SERVE A GOOD GOD! und wir haben ein super toll Gott!
es ist Wahr. Doch! ich hatte schwierig zeiten... und werde nochmal. und ihr wirt auch... aber Gott ist immer gut! immer.

Father.. all the places that i have been questioning.. the times when i don't understand and complain or fight Your will... i am sorry! help us to see Your everyday goodness. the small things. may everywhere we look, we see Your Face! Oh You are soooooooo good! Danke Herr!
help us understand the Love You have given us!
in His name, Amen!

Er ist super!

i smile because i know He is good... and laugh because His goodness is in me!

blessings.. and thank you all for the prayers.

much love and covered with grace, israel

well... should i hitchhike?

there are now officially less than two weeks left.
we finished up the week yesterday with laughs.

i wrestled with the kids for a while which ended with me being covered in sweat and dirt. as we waited for the bus, crossed the street to buy a water from the small store. our contact was with his children getting icecream and we were talking. a large truck blocked me from the the rest of my group across the street, and i figured i should head back to them...
walking around the truck gave me a shock, for when i searched my teammates, they were missing... gone..
the first words were,
"you've got to be kidding me."
i walked halfway across the street.. and stopped. they were no where in sight.
i crossed back and told the contact... we discussed whether they had gotten on a bus or not.. and i didn't see one while i was getting my water...
completely.. wacko!
throughout this whole time, i had a complete peace and my heart leaped as i scrolled through the possibilities how i could get back...
"now.. do i hitchhike and get in trouble because we were told we are not allowed to... or do i....wait?"
my mind now reacted as if i were a child in a toy store with a sense of adventure.. the contact told me he would give me a ride..

just then i hear a "hey israel!" from across the street. it was my small group leader. my first thought was maybe he was also left behind.. but it was then clear to me as i saw the rest of the team file out from behind a house...
again i say, "you've got to be kidding me." and sure enough..

"i didn't think that you would go through so much trouble to play a joke on me.. but that was amazing."

we discussed for a little while about how funny it was and that i loved them for doing it!

i would gratefully say that i have the best team that i could possibly have!

Thank You God!

today is free, and tomorrow we travel to the orphanage. however, as in latin culture and ywam.. we are now traveling to a different orphanage.. just north of managua, the capital city. the weather will be hotter, and the location is not as scenic.. but if this is God's will..... it's for a reason.

still hard to believe that outreach is close to being over.

may God do all that He wants to in these lasts two weeks. thank You Lord for all that You have done and are continually doing.

with the finances.. i now owe 359 euros, $511. it is a miracle how He has brought in support.. and thank you all for your blessings of giving and prayer.
still a little to go.. and about two weeks for it. don't stop praying now!

much love, israel

not much left!

i apologize for the lack of blog... but here it is!

in an hour, we will have a team meeting and get feedback on yesterday as well as chill with God and talk about today's activities.

this week we have been doing programs at a church for the community.
half of us are doing a vacation Bible school... and the other group are talking with the adults about discipleship.. a much needed topic and tool here!

our topic in the VBS has been.. God is...
it really is a good question.. and today...
we talk about "God is...

Love!"

if only we knew how much He loved us...

that would change everything.

last weekend i spoke at a youth camp... about God's love.
It was so good!

thank you for all the prayers.
we have two more days at this church.. and on sunday we travel to Jinotega!
there we will be working and staying at an orphanage until friday. after that, saturday is packing and sunday is traveling.
we will finish up our outreach over the following couple days and fly back to Berlin on the 4th arriving on the 5th at Tegel.. (8:00ish in the morning).

it's crazy to think that the outreach is almost finished... or.. our time in nicaragua is coming to an end. as much as i wanted it in the beginning.. it brings a sadness knowing i may never see any of these people again. all the kids we have worked with... or the hugs shared with strangers... the families that freely invited us in their homes for prayer... the kids at this school on the ywam base... i may very well never see them again in my life...
but as one worker sows.. another waters and yet another reaps... God is the ONE who makes it grow... so i believe that He will continue to do His work in this place.. that it is not hopeless. He has a plan and i have been blessed to be part of it!

thank you for all the prayers and following me on this journey...

it has truly just began...

as for other things..
i am not sick anymore.. i spent 4 days miserable in bed and walking around.. then on the fifth, we finally went to the lab... which in itself was an experience and the cheapest place i have gone to for help!
no time to explain it now though...
(i'll update)

God has provided in miraculous ways in the finances.. so thank you for the prayers.
i still owe about 400 euros... 550 USD...
please continue to pray...
i'm excited to see how God provides the rest!

thank you again for following and praying!

ich muss gehen!
Father thank You for providing and blessing us in so many ways!
Thank You Jesus!
please bless all who are reading these blogs and have sown into my life.
Du bist gut! we pray in Jesus Name, Amen!

we shall talk soon!

much love, israel
bakerys are great!

krank

ja... achso... ich bin krank.

due to some celebration pizza (to celebrate our last day with toby before he left) a few of us got sick. yesterday... our freeday... was spend in bed and in the bathroom. i think i can go without eating pizza for a few forevers!

today, my stomache is feeling better but still sensative. not too much of an appetite except for water and crackers... sometimes.

thank you all for your prayers.

we finished up our ministry at the nehemia school in santa teresa friday.. and again.. i will miss the children there. i can only guess how much more God loves those kids...

this coming week we will be working with the church doing something like "vacation Bible school".. but for the adults.
a major problem in nicaragua is the lack of discipleship. so we will be teaching them about it.

i don't remember the full plans for the next four weeks we are in central america... but in two weeks we will be headed to an orphanage in the mountains of north nicaragua to spend a week with the children...
i look forward to that!
we all look forward to that!

as for other things...

i look forward to being back in germany and eventually back in the states too!
i look to continue studying german.. and paying off school loans and building support to move back to berlin to staff in ywam.

we have less than four weeks left on outreach. the time started so slow.. and i admit, i wanted it to be over.
i did not like costa rica.
it was way to westernized and... ugh... hot.
but since we have been in nicaragua, i can really sense that God wants to do something big here. He loves these people... and i can see why...

thank you again for all your prayers.. and i will do my best to keep you all updated frequently.

Father.. thank You for healing our bodies, and giving us rest. also, thank You for showing us Your heart for Nicaragua. may Your AWESOME will be done here. please keep us strong in You as we finish out this outreach and lead us in Your path to reach those around us.
thank You for this team... and may we be build in Your unity!

thank You most of all for sending Jesus.. and helping us proclaim His glory here and everywhere.
i love You.
In Your son's name, amen!

ich muss gehen....
Your prayers have kept me going.. please don't cease.
thank you for joining me on this life!

God bless you all with His highest good!

-i look forward to Christmas!... hehehe... snow!


much love, israel

zurueck zu berlin... nicaragua

our time ended in boaco... and as normal i did not want to leave. too many kids have taken my heart. i have never had so many hugs in my life.. they are both wonderful and a blessing.

we are now back in berlin(g) in diramba, nicaragua.
a few night back we had a short summary about nicaragua and the reasons why it is covered in poverty. i am encouraged, however, to see God work in this place.

this week we have been working with a german/nicaraguan school. today we shared devotions with the teachers and over the past days we have painted, made dramas and shared testimonies.
of course the days are filled with much conversations sometimes lost in translation.. but blessed nontheless..... and mucho hugs!

prayer requests:

• the team has been getting sick often and so health could be a huge blessing.

• there has also been some tension between some of us occasionally. i believe God is doing some awesome things and the enemy will do whatever he can to destroy us and anything good.
• 
  

• i would like to spend more time.. or at least have more concentration while i pray. i have been having hard time really understanding prayer... i know it is communicating with God.. but it seems silly that we ask Him for so much then... say amen. i would like to go deeper with Him.. on a relational level.

• family. that they would be living for the Lord...
  

• finances. i am still short on funds for the outreach. please keep praying. God has a plan.

• and then that our team would continue to seek His face in all we do...!

Father, may our time here be about what You want to do. take us deeper with You and may we keep You first.. above all!
thank You for all You have done. You are good!
Du bist gut!
and may Your message be spoken boldy and with love.
You have showered us with blessings.. may we return the praise!
all glory and honor is Yours!
In Jesus name, amen!

random beauty... watch the sunset tonight!

much love, israel

Boaco

blogs can be fun sometimes... and at others, they can be a forced need.
however, God is so good and i have been blessed to experience these last few days.

we are in that town i was talking about.... but now it has a name... Boaco.
it is referred to as the cowboy town of nicaragua. haha... but with reasons i suppose.
nothing that really makes it amazingly obvious.. but they do ride around town on horses and we drove by a rodeo a couple times on the way to a kids camp.

it is a mountain town though. i still haven´t found a super market...
we are staying in a home with dorms... i believe our hosts are the pastor and his wife of the church on the hill behind the house. the stairs are steep and there are many of them... but the view is more than breath taking.. it takes it.. them refuses to give it back for a few minutes.
the thing that has been happening the most lately is more of a personal thing between God and i. not so much as a.. go out and preach or do dramas.. but a simple and yet difficult realization that i am loved by God!

did i hear that...

i am loved..
by..

God!

sometimes it is better to just step back from duties or responsibilities and just think..
to think about His glorious creation...
to think about all He has done...
about who i am...
about what He has brought me through.. and why...
and to think... to try to know... that He loves me.

i have realized that dts outreach is not just about helping others.. helping them grow... making dramas.. or doing programs... it is about growing. about growing deeper with Him!
i suppose i have taken the motto.. to know God and make God known.. and put the first part only in the lecture phase.. meaing the outreach has to fulfill the latter of them.. but what i am finally realizing is that both are about both... it is a constant grow cycle...
in order to make Him known.. He must be known.. and that must grow for the other to grow!
so here i am... learning and growing.. and i can only hope that that will be what takes His message to the world. as my heart gains His blessings of growth.. of love and is taken to new levels of intimacy with Him.. then so can those around me.
oh God, take me deep with You. i want to know You!
thank You for everything so far... help me see You for who You really are.
no more standards, or silly preceptions..
ich liebe dich!
Danke Vater!
In Jesu Name, amen!

our base leader flies out of berlin tomorrow and we will meet with him in a couple days. please pray for him. also... my finances are still under the cost.. but God is encouraging me. hehe...
i am filled with His joy and know that His plans are good!
Amen and amen!

as for events.. we joined a kids camp the last two days..
today was our free day and tanja and i went hiking... oh how i have missed it!
we met some people out and about and their smiles were a blessing... along with the stunning scenery.. i will someday put the photos up... don´t you worry!
as far as i know.. we are doing a program for kids tomorrow night.
there are questions among the team as to why we are here.. so please also pray for the team.

God is good and thank you all for the prayers!

blessings and much love, israel

Belin zu Berling

wir sind in Nicaragua.. in Berling...
aber ist es nicht gleich.

we are now in Nicaragua in town called Berling.
how is it that God brought us from germany, from berlin, across the world to another town called berlin. it is obvious that He loves this place just as He loves Deutschland.

i am very glad to be here. costa rica was... hard.
ich bin gluecklich zu hier sein... costa rica war... schwierig, und mag ich es nicht.

it was very westernized mixed with poverty and pollution. there were times it was more than enjoyable but most of the time i found myself wondering why i was on outreach.

God has been so good though..
Gott ist immer gut!
He was preparing me for this place. though my spanisch is still minimum to none, there are ways of communicating with the locals and we have had some amazing opportunities to speak and pray with some.

the first day here, we walked around Berling and took it all in. this is my first time in a district that is considered third world poverty. a dog tried to bite a couple of us, lack of cement... i don't need to go into detail. however, as we approached one ladies home, she invited us to pray with her. we prayed for her son, pedro (peter).. and it was incredible to see her heart about her family and God. as soon as we started she started crying and speaking in tongues... but as she was praying, she was speaking german words.. meine kinder, danke... it was crazy good. es war toll! as we left her home, we stopped and talked to her neighbor... he was poorly bandaged on his right foot.. and after we inquired, we found out he had cut himself with machete a few days back, possibly when he was drunk.
we prayed with him, and after we left, i looked back a few times to see him with his face in his hands.. sitting.. some of our team saw him the next day and he had gone back to the hospital (the first time he was turned away... possibly because he was... drunk...) and they bandaged him up and was gonna give him some more supplies to take care of his wound.

i wish i could tell of all the experiences here.. but to sum it up, it has been far past blessed being here.

thank you for all your prayers.

heute und gestern haben wir viel drama gemacht.
we have done many dramas and interacting with kids and people lately.. which is a change from the practical work we mostly did in costa rica.
it is so good to see all the children smile and laugh.. or the teachers singing along with the songs. hallelujah!

the other night we held a prayer meeting at a local church.. and encouraged the people to strengthen each other.. their families, neighbors... strangers in the community... and to act out their faith...
much to do with the paint vision in the last blog.

we are staying at the ywam base here since sunday evening and leaving for another location tomorrow for a week.

the food here is super good... even though there are onions.. hehe..
and the temperature is much cooler than costa rica.
the people are very friendly too.. but almost all of them don't speak a common language with us... Thank God for translators!!!

as for finances... i am still missing the needed funds to be here. please continue to pray for this. God is better than what we can imagine... but i know that He is faithful... i believe He called me here.. so it comes to praying and waiting on the Lord.

it has been 4 weeks today. 6 more, and i know they will be good ones!

ich muss gehen..

Father, thank You for bringing us here and all that You are doing. please keep our eyes on You and hearts after Your own!
we love You.. use us for Your glory.
In Jesus Name, Amen!

much love, israel