Joyful yet poignant

Hesed 2016 is officially in the books. Seventeen days in Israel, plus two travel days, added up to a spiritually refreshing, albeit physically exhausting, life-changing adventure of serving, fellowshipping, and seeing a variety of biblically significant sites.

On this last day, our team had one more opportunity to fellowship with our Israeli brothers and sisters in the Lord by attending the services at the Rehovot kehilah (congregation). The conversation among us was joyful yet poignant because of the knowledge that this would be our last time with each other for this year, and that we would have to wait a whole year before we could worship our Lord together once again. Our songs of praise were lifted high, and our hearts were open to the good messages from God's Word given in Shabbat School and also the morning message. To top it all off, after the service, the congregation gave us t-shirts to commemorate our attending their services. On the front of the t-shirt there is a map of Israel with the words, "Someone from Israel loves me." On the back of the t-shirt John 3:16 is quoted. Tears were shed as we closed the service in prayer.

As we prepared that evening to go to the airport and return to the States, we reflected on the morning. It was a wonderful way to conclude Hesed 2016, because the Hesed Project is ultimately not about us, or even Israel. It is all about Yeshua ha-Mashiach (Jesus the Messiah). All of the conversations we had with our Israeli friends - including those at Kaplan Medical Center, those at the kehilah, those we met on our tour excursions, and those we met just randomly - are only meaningful within the context of Who makes them happen and Who gets the glory.

I thank God for each Hesed 2016 team member and all that the Lord did to make Hesed 2016 a great success.

I wait expectantly to see what God will do for our Hesed 2017 trip and whom He will lead to be a part of our team.

Bruce Scott
Director of the Hesed Project