Good Soil

Sitting here with our 2015 Hesed Project team in Ben Gurion airport, ready to take the 12 hour flight home to the good ol' USA, I think back on what has transpired the last couple of weeks. My fingers freeze on the keyboard. What can I write? There are too many wonderful people and too many moving experiences to express in a few mere words.

Last evening, for example, our entire team delighted in participating in Shabbat meals provided and hosted by staff workers from Kaplan Medical Center. Our team was divided into six groups of various numerical sizes. My group consisted of three. We took a 30-minute drive to a moshav where we met Dr. Kobi Habib, his wife Yael, their sons Jephthah, Jubal, and Jonathan, and Kobi's parents, Shlomo and Tikvah, both originally from Iraq. Jonathan is in the Israeli army, along with a fourth son (who was away at the time). Kobi himself has a high-ranking position at Kaplan Medical Center. And no wonder. Prior to taking this position, Kobi had been the head of all the medical services in Israel for the Israel Defense Forces, and then was Israel's military attache for three years in Russia.

For my two Hesed teammates and me, the evening was fabulous. The food was abundant and delicious, with one massive serving plate piled high with Iraqi style rice and chicken, along with other dishes. The conversation was equally inspiring. Kobi made a passing comment that indicated to me how the Lord can use little things to reach people's hearts. Kobi said that everyone at the hospital see that no matter what kind of job the Hesed team is given, we do it with smiles on our faces. My teammates and I silently gave God praise for using us for His glory, even when we are unaware of it.

As the night progressed we discussed a range of topics, from the upcoming election in Israel, to the intents of Vladimir Putin in Russia, especially in relation to Israel, and the growing threat of the nuclear-bomb pursuing Iran. When Yael expressed that she feels no hope for the future, I asked where do they get their hope. Yael mentioned the upcoming elections, while Kobi focused on the fact that Israel is back in the land and growing. I then asked if I could share with them where their hope actually comes from. When they said yes, I shared that their hope is found in what Psalm 124 says to Israel. They knew the psalm well, it having been put to tune in some previous time. Kobi and his family proceeded to sing the psalm for us in Hebrew, and I followed by reading it in English.

What I remember most about the evening was hearing Yael say that when Israel was engaged in Operation Protective Edge last summer, defending themselves from the barrage of Hamas rocket attacks, the world turned against Israel. Yael sadly said, "I felt so alone." My teammates and I expressed to Yael and her family throughout the night how we love Israel and the Jewish people, and that there are many more people besides us who feel the same. Plus, God is on Israel's side, as Psalm 124 indicates. At the end of the evening, Kobi said to us as we got ready to leave, "Your support helps to make us feel strong."

Hesed 2015 is over. I must go to the gate and board my flight home. But lives here in Israel have seen our smiles, heard our hearts, and know our love. They have also received our gospel witness, both through our deeds and through our words.

We pray, dear father, it may all fall on good soil.

Bruce Scott
Hesed Project Director