The trip to Israel was awesome! I really appreciate Father’s House Foundation for a very organized itinerary. Moshe was a blessing to us. I could sense his heart and passion for more people to come to Israel and experience God. What struck me was Mount Karkom, the Shepherds’ Field and the Sea of Galilee areas. I’m amazed how God has preserved those places that we visited. Everything that happened, starting from the garden of Eden to the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land, the birth of Jesus and His ministry all pointed to the work of Christ on the cross – salvation for all mankind. Personally, my trip to Israel made me more enthusiastic to become more passionate for God and have more compassion for the lost. I keep encouraging Christians here to visit Israel… for there’s no other place like Israel. The Land of Israel is awesome!!! I would like to share that I cried when the EL AL airline touched down in TelAviv. The Jewish passengers clapped their hands and I felt that “I’m Home.” I felt God’s presence. What an awesome experience! Again, thank you for all the support from Father’s House Foundation that was extended to me and my son, the Lord will prosper you all. I’m thankful to God for the lives of Bro Byron Stinson and Tammy. They are an awesome couple. We pray for their ministry in Israel.

The trip Father’s House arranged was way far and above anything I expected. I came home with an enthusiasm to learn to read Hebrew for a deeper understanding of the Bible I have been reading for most of my life and accepting at face value. The Father’s House team took us places off the beaten path where archeological current findings authenticate and place the written Word in perspective with the people’s lives that were writing it down. This helped me link a lot of teachings to my daily life. I came home knowing this time in Israel had been time that will open up new opportunities for me.

My 10 days in Israel. it was awesome! Our tour guide was a general in the Israeli army during the six day war in 1967. He was intense, but he got us into some pretty amazing places.

I was so blessed by being able to go to Israel. I have always had my own idea of what Israel was and is today. That view has been enhanced and changed forever. Being able to walk where Jesus walked, seeing Peter’s home, walking in the Garden has given me a new understanding of Israel. It was awesome to be in the land where Jesus was born, grew up, left this earth physically, and will one day soon return. If you ever have the opportunity, you must go to Israel. The experience will change your life.

Part of me wants to say a hundred ways how much Mom and I love each one of you and how the journey with each of you (sovereignly chosen by God) has forever imprinted our lives.  And, and part of me, on this quiet day back home, just wants to simply say, “Thank you!”  Thank you for all your prayers and acts of kindness towards Mother and me. John and Roxie called us to meditate of Psalm 91 in anticipation of our trip and this morning I read it again, and I thank the Lord for who He is.  Join me in praising Him. “…He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”…If you make the Most High your dwelling– even the Lord, who is my refuge– then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;…”Because He loves me,” says the Lord, ” I will rescue him [her]; I will protect him [her], for he [she] acknowledges my name.  He [She] will call upon me, and I will answer him [her]; I will be with him [her] in trouble, I will deliver him [her] and honor him [her].  With long life will I satisfy him [her] and show him [her] My salvation.” And He has…and He does…and I thank Him. Thank you, again, for your prayers and acts of kindness.  Know you each remain in our prayers for God to give you rest and refreshment, and for God to sweetly whisper His truth and grace to you…to lead you in His path all the days of your life.  We’ll never be the same, will we, since this journey.  He is good and you are beautiful.

I knew a year ago that I wanted to go on the Israel trip. I saw the transformation in Roxie that I knew that I wanted to go if the opportunity came about. When we arrived in Israel we were greeted with welcome home. This is really appropriate since Israel is the birthplace of Christianity. Our family roots are there. My heart seems tied to Israel in a way I can’t really describe. For me the trip has really created more of a hunger to understand God’s Word and pay attention to every jot and tittle. I’m having fun seeing connections that I’ve never seen before. I loved seeing the covenant signs Israel having fun seeing passages about covenants. We stood at the gate where Boaz gave his right sandal to redeem Ruth. We learned that right is right and left is wrong. Right is clean and left is unclean. Then in Gilgal where the children of Israel had their camp when they crossed in to the Promised Land there is a huge outline of a “right” foot/sandal in boulders in the midst of the camp. What a reminder that they were in a conditional covenant with the Lord. If they obeyed they would be blessed if they disobeyed they would be cursed. Now go with me to The Cave of John the Baptist. You go into the cave and then descend steps that lead into the water. Before you get to the water you find a deep impression of a foot. Those coming to be baptized would put their foot in the depressions cleanse and anoint it and then go into the water to be baptized. Afterwards, they would come out of the water and break the jar against the wall of the cave. What a picture of no longer being a slave to sin that would have been for them. They have entered into a new covenant written on their hearts. Now picture us at the wailing wall. What a visual of Israel breaking covenant with the Lord. They are standing on the outside of a broken wall to worship. I was so moved standing at the wall, touching it, and praying for Israel and the Jews. What a privilege to be a Gentile believer and to be in a covenant relationship with the Lord. Our sign of being in covenant is the seal of the Holy Spirit that was given to us when we believed in Christ.

Cindy and I shared pictures and our thoughts about our trip to Israel with our congregation tonight.  It made me appreciate all over again the blessing that the trip was and is for us.  I just wanted to express my gratitude for the Lord’s work through Father’s House and to you, Byron, John and Roxy in particular.  I hope that God allows our paths to cross again this side of heaven.  Grace and peace to you all in our wonderful Lord.

I have been challenged in several areas spiritually and will be using this next year to work through some of the spiritual truths that were shared on the trip. On my first trip to Israel two years ago, I felt like it was more learning about the places and what happened there, but on this trip I really sensed a greater connection between the places we visited with the spiritual themes being emphasized. The repeated spiritual truths and connections were great. I am so grateful John got to share spiritual insights I could grasp. He greatly increased the spiritual growth experience and was always ready to answer my many questions. Ron was also easy to understand and I appreciated his teaching as well. I thought it was great how well they worked together to help us understand the spiritual truths related to what we were seeing. All the materials and suggested readings before the trip really helped. The trip increases your desire to learn even more. I loved having specific Scriptures to read and information to research. I can’t wait to go back in 2013. I definitely want our youngest to have this experience too. I’m praying our whole family will be able to return Christmas of 2013.

Dear Father’s House Educational Foundation, Thank you SO MUCH for your contribution to the Hannah House ministry. we appreciate your generosity and support! May God bless you, Kellie A, Hannah House girl