His love is an action

It is hard to believe that we are halfway through our time with the Friends of Israel Hesed Project in Rehovot Israel!

The work of the Lord through our group has been, in my opinion, a beautiful thing to behold. In just one week's time, the twenty-four members of our Hesed team have bonded together while serving our Lord in His beautiful Israel. We have begun to establish friendships with each other as we learn how each one of us came to have a heart for Israel. We've also learned how God has given each of us a desire to show God's love through serving and building friendships with the Jewish people in Israel.

The twenty-four of us participating in the Hesed Project work in different areas of the Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot. Different locations, different duties, and different staff workers. Yet there is a key repeated phrase which we have all heard from the hospital staff where we volunteer. A simple and heartfelt Hebrew word from our new friends - "Todah" ("Thank you").

Throughout this past week we have shared stories with our Hesed team members when we have gathered for evening debriefing meetings. We share stories of the thanks we have received from the hospital staff for us being here in Israel, and specifically for our volunteer work. "Thank you for coming," "Thank you for your support, it means so much to us," and "Thank you for volunteering" are some of the words we have been blessed to hear from a number of the hospital staff.

I praise God for the work He is doing in and through us, as we endeavor to show the people of Israel lovingkindness. The Lord continues to remind me that His love is an action. Our Hesed team members are all of the same heart and mind - to be imitators of Yeshua our Messiah, the Savior of the world. We desire to serve God. We love God. We desire to walk in obedience to God's word of truth. God loves Israel. We therefore love Israel and want to walk in this biblical truth that God has proclaimed throughout the pages of scripture. We love what God loves and He has told us He loves Israel (Ps. 132:13; 135:4; Isa. 44:21; Ps. 94:14).

Tonight we received yet another blessing from our friends at Kaplan Medical Center. A wonderful meal was provided for us. It was their way of demonstrating their gratitude and affection for us. We broke bread and had fellowship around a large table at a local restaurant. A very special evening to remember and cherish.

As we begin the last week of work here at Kaplan, I am confident that the Lord has more He wants to do in and through His twenty-four servants who make up this year's Friends of Israel Hesed Project. Our hearts' desire is to bless Israel and serve our Lord and Savior, Yeshua. I know we all look forward to seeing what He has planned for us this week and we praise Him for using us for His kingdom.

"Praise be to the LORD from Zion, to Him who dwells in Jerusalem" (Ps. 135:21).

Lisa Ronco
Missouri