PASSOVER 2010
David, Ami and myself arrived in New York City on March 20, which was actually the two year anniversary of the attack. We didn't even remember the date though, as we count the time by the Purim holiday as it is done here in Israel. We were picked up at the airport by our long time faithful friend Mary Jean. Mary Jean has been an adopted Aunt to my kids for more than 20 years, and has made many trips to Israel to visit and help us. She is an extremely experienced nurse, and shortly after the attack she flew over to help us with Ami's care when we were still in Schneider Hospital. She has been nursing for more than 30 years, and she said that in all of her experience in hospitals, including emergency room care in inner city hospitals, she has never seen such severe wounds as Ami's. However, she was also an eyewitness to the healing that was taking place so rapidly and miraculously, as she stood by Ami's bedside while the bandages were being changed every day. She said that in the 10 days she was here, the improvement and healing of the wounds was nothing short of supernatural. We can only praise God for His marvellous answers to prayer from all over the world during those terrible days after the attack.
We stayed with our good friends in Brooklyn, Jerry and Jessica Park, who together with their two young daughters, hosted us with an outpouring of love, warmth and generosity. David's brother also came to be with us from Florida, and among the many exciting things we did in NY, which the "city" is always very invigorating to visit, David's cousin Henry Ortiz and his wife Milly organized a meeting of family, and old friends from our first fellowship in NYC whom we hadn't seen in 30 years!!! Henry is the Pastor of a congregation in Brooklyn, and we had an amazing time of fellowship, testimonies and authentic Puerto Rican food. It was an historic event and we were greatly blessed.
David and his brother took Ami on a day long trip to all the boroughs of NY where they had lived growing up. The next day, we packed up and headed down to Florida to see my mother, and my brother and his family. David and Ami stayed in Florida for only a few days, and then flew on to Puerto Rico to see David's mother and sister and her family for a few days. I stayed behind in Florida and my older sister came in from upstate NY, to have Passover Seder together with my Mom. My sister who is also a believer in Messiah, and I, arranged the readings and prayers for the Seder to make the amazing salvation story of the Passover Lamb as clear as possible without rocking the boat too much, and we chose passages from Exodus 12-14 to read instead of some of the traditional readings from the Haggadah. The family loved it! They said they had never understood the Passover like they did that night, and we do the Seder every year - it is a major landmark in every Jewish family's life. Whenever my sister comes to visit my Mom, she prays for her every night before bed. It was beautiful to join them, and to hear my 87 year old mother, herself not yet a believer, join in and pray as well.
David, Ami and I then met in the airport in Atlanta Georgia, and flew to Nashville Tennessee where we were picked up by Tommy Waller and Tim Pearcey. We drove an hour and a half to the Family Week/Passover Camp which is organized and led by the Waller clan, in Kentucky. There were over 100 families - around 500 people in all, at this fantastic gathering. Words can't express the heavenly fellowship we had there, and the power of the meetings. Ted Pearce also came for two days to minister in song on the night that we spoke. The conference is held in a state park, and everyone was camping. Tommy rented us an RV to ease the camping experience for us city people! We had breakfast, lunch and dinner with a different family each day, getting to know the families of many of the young people who come to work in the vineyards with the Wallers. Many families are making great sacrifices in order to be able to spend more time and energy here in Israel. Our lives were deeply touched by Family Camp, and we felt like we came full circle, meeting all the wonderful believers here in the land - and the whole family in the U.S.
As we have met more and more people who have prayed for Ami and our family, both in the U.S. and when you have come to visit us in Israel - we've been amazed at the bond the bomb attack has forged between us in the spirit. It is an amazing last days phenomenon, which will help to prepare us for the coming of the Messiah! He's coming for a Bride that is without spot or wrinkle, that has been tried through fire and purged.
Revelation 22:11-13
11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteousa]'>still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." 12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
AMI NEWS
When we returned home, we had two important hospital appointments - the first was the geneticist the Marfan's Syndrom. We were seen by two doctor's, Ami was measured and checked, and the diagnosis was that he doesn't have the primary manifestations of the syndrome and so he just has to follow up on a few tests in the coming years because other indications are there. We needed this c heck up for our next appointment which was with the hand surgeons -
We arrived early at Tel HaShomer hospital, and as we walked into the office of the specialist who has become a friend, he asked, so is the season (basketball) over? We proceeded to spend the whole day in the hospital arranging the next hand surgery. After the primary check up - we were directed to the next surgeon, and when we came into the room, he looked at me and said - you look familiar. Then he said - was your son in Schneider hospital? Then he looked at Ami and said - Are you the boy?? He was one of the plastic surgeons that took care of Ami in the very beginning two years ago and he is now working in Tel HaShomer hospital in hand surgery!! He said - I have goose bumps - this is amazing. He processed Ami for the hand surgery, and then unofficially looked at the scars and skin grafts- it was a divine encounter - he told Ami that he has doubled in height since he last saw him, and kept on exclaiming that fact for the rest of the afternoon. After that meeting we had to go for x-rays, and then go before a committee of doctors, including the head of the department. All of these meetings were preceded by lengthy waits, but the committee decided on which operation to do, which will be fusion of the joint, and the date of the surgery which will be May 19th.
We finally left the hospital at 4PM, but we ask for prayer for this surgery, and the ear drum transplant which will take place on July 11th. The ENT surgeon doesn't have much hope for the total success of the ear surgery, but we know that with prayer all is possible - we are believing for continued miraculous intervention, and for the continuing healing power of Yeshua in Ami's life.
TRIALS AND NOIA
Our court hearing which was supposed to take place in March was cancelled because Yakov "Jack"Teitel, the perpetrator of the crime against our family, is undergoing psychiatric testing in a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. He is still there, and will undergo testing until May 2nd - at which time we have a tentative hearing on May 5th at 9:30 AM Israel time to hear the results and the decision of the court - whether he is psychologically capable of standing trial. Our lawyer said that if he is deemed incapable, that he will be in a jail for the criminally insane, and treated until he can stand trial. He will stand trial one day - we know, before the King of Kings and Lord or Lords - Please pray that this trial will be able to proceed, and for Teitel himself, and his family, to be redeemed and to come to repentance.
Psalm 51
12 "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be turned to You."
The last appearance in court for Howard Bass and the lawyers for Y'ad L'achim and the chief Rabbi of Beersheva will take place on April 15th. The purpose will be for the sides to try to come to an agreement and final settlement. An important report was done by CBN's Chris Mitchell recently - it's very important to see - the link is: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2010/April/Beer-Shevas-Messianic-Jews-Await-Trial-Outcome/?cpid=EU_CWN_2010_99
Many have asked us about Noia's continuing recovery - she is slowly recovering - it is very hard for her to sleep at night however, and Moran and Melissa her parents, are very tired. Please continue to pray for full recovery in every area of her life and for strength and much grace for the family.
I also saw Abby Hilton at the Family Week conference in Kentucky, and we had some moments to talk and pray together. Please keep her in your prayers, she is recovering slowly from Lyme's disease but still suffers from strong headaches and lack of strength. She is 20 years old, and very much desiring to get on with her life and service to the Lord, and this sickness is very trying and painful.
We thank you for being who you are in our lives.
In the Messiah,
Leah
David, Ami and myself arrived in New York City on March 20, which was actually the two year anniversary of the attack. We didn't even remember the date though, as we count the time by the Purim holiday as it is done here in Israel. We were picked up at the airport by our long time faithful friend Mary Jean. Mary Jean has been an adopted Aunt to my kids for more than 20 years, and has made many trips to Israel to visit and help us. She is an extremely experienced nurse, and shortly after the attack she flew over to help us with Ami's care when we were still in Schneider Hospital. She has been nursing for more than 30 years, and she said that in all of her experience in hospitals, including emergency room care in inner city hospitals, she has never seen such severe wounds as Ami's. However, she was also an eyewitness to the healing that was taking place so rapidly and miraculously, as she stood by Ami's bedside while the bandages were being changed every day. She said that in the 10 days she was here, the improvement and healing of the wounds was nothing short of supernatural. We can only praise God for His marvellous answers to prayer from all over the world during those terrible days after the attack.
We stayed with our good friends in Brooklyn, Jerry and Jessica Park, who together with their two young daughters, hosted us with an outpouring of love, warmth and generosity. David's brother also came to be with us from Florida, and among the many exciting things we did in NY, which the "city" is always very invigorating to visit, David's cousin Henry Ortiz and his wife Milly organized a meeting of family, and old friends from our first fellowship in NYC whom we hadn't seen in 30 years!!! Henry is the Pastor of a congregation in Brooklyn, and we had an amazing time of fellowship, testimonies and authentic Puerto Rican food. It was an historic event and we were greatly blessed.
David and his brother took Ami on a day long trip to all the boroughs of NY where they had lived growing up. The next day, we packed up and headed down to Florida to see my mother, and my brother and his family. David and Ami stayed in Florida for only a few days, and then flew on to Puerto Rico to see David's mother and sister and her family for a few days. I stayed behind in Florida and my older sister came in from upstate NY, to have Passover Seder together with my Mom. My sister who is also a believer in Messiah, and I, arranged the readings and prayers for the Seder to make the amazing salvation story of the Passover Lamb as clear as possible without rocking the boat too much, and we chose passages from Exodus 12-14 to read instead of some of the traditional readings from the Haggadah. The family loved it! They said they had never understood the Passover like they did that night, and we do the Seder every year - it is a major landmark in every Jewish family's life. Whenever my sister comes to visit my Mom, she prays for her every night before bed. It was beautiful to join them, and to hear my 87 year old mother, herself not yet a believer, join in and pray as well.
David, Ami and I then met in the airport in Atlanta Georgia, and flew to Nashville Tennessee where we were picked up by Tommy Waller and Tim Pearcey. We drove an hour and a half to the Family Week/Passover Camp which is organized and led by the Waller clan, in Kentucky. There were over 100 families - around 500 people in all, at this fantastic gathering. Words can't express the heavenly fellowship we had there, and the power of the meetings. Ted Pearce also came for two days to minister in song on the night that we spoke. The conference is held in a state park, and everyone was camping. Tommy rented us an RV to ease the camping experience for us city people! We had breakfast, lunch and dinner with a different family each day, getting to know the families of many of the young people who come to work in the vineyards with the Wallers. Many families are making great sacrifices in order to be able to spend more time and energy here in Israel. Our lives were deeply touched by Family Camp, and we felt like we came full circle, meeting all the wonderful believers here in the land - and the whole family in the U.S.
As we have met more and more people who have prayed for Ami and our family, both in the U.S. and when you have come to visit us in Israel - we've been amazed at the bond the bomb attack has forged between us in the spirit. It is an amazing last days phenomenon, which will help to prepare us for the coming of the Messiah! He's coming for a Bride that is without spot or wrinkle, that has been tried through fire and purged.
Revelation 22:11-13
11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteousa]'>still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." 12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
AMI NEWS
When we returned home, we had two important hospital appointments - the first was the geneticist the Marfan's Syndrom. We were seen by two doctor's, Ami was measured and checked, and the diagnosis was that he doesn't have the primary manifestations of the syndrome and so he just has to follow up on a few tests in the coming years because other indications are there. We needed this c heck up for our next appointment which was with the hand surgeons -
We arrived early at Tel HaShomer hospital, and as we walked into the office of the specialist who has become a friend, he asked, so is the season (basketball) over? We proceeded to spend the whole day in the hospital arranging the next hand surgery. After the primary check up - we were directed to the next surgeon, and when we came into the room, he looked at me and said - you look familiar. Then he said - was your son in Schneider hospital? Then he looked at Ami and said - Are you the boy?? He was one of the plastic surgeons that took care of Ami in the very beginning two years ago and he is now working in Tel HaShomer hospital in hand surgery!! He said - I have goose bumps - this is amazing. He processed Ami for the hand surgery, and then unofficially looked at the scars and skin grafts- it was a divine encounter - he told Ami that he has doubled in height since he last saw him, and kept on exclaiming that fact for the rest of the afternoon. After that meeting we had to go for x-rays, and then go before a committee of doctors, including the head of the department. All of these meetings were preceded by lengthy waits, but the committee decided on which operation to do, which will be fusion of the joint, and the date of the surgery which will be May 19th.
We finally left the hospital at 4PM, but we ask for prayer for this surgery, and the ear drum transplant which will take place on July 11th. The ENT surgeon doesn't have much hope for the total success of the ear surgery, but we know that with prayer all is possible - we are believing for continued miraculous intervention, and for the continuing healing power of Yeshua in Ami's life.
TRIALS AND NOIA
Our court hearing which was supposed to take place in March was cancelled because Yakov "Jack"Teitel, the perpetrator of the crime against our family, is undergoing psychiatric testing in a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. He is still there, and will undergo testing until May 2nd - at which time we have a tentative hearing on May 5th at 9:30 AM Israel time to hear the results and the decision of the court - whether he is psychologically capable of standing trial. Our lawyer said that if he is deemed incapable, that he will be in a jail for the criminally insane, and treated until he can stand trial. He will stand trial one day - we know, before the King of Kings and Lord or Lords - Please pray that this trial will be able to proceed, and for Teitel himself, and his family, to be redeemed and to come to repentance.
Psalm 51
12 "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be turned to You."
The last appearance in court for Howard Bass and the lawyers for Y'ad L'achim and the chief Rabbi of Beersheva will take place on April 15th. The purpose will be for the sides to try to come to an agreement and final settlement. An important report was done by CBN's Chris Mitchell recently - it's very important to see - the link is: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2010/April/Beer-Shevas-Messianic-Jews-Await-Trial-Outcome/?cpid=EU_CWN_2010_99
Many have asked us about Noia's continuing recovery - she is slowly recovering - it is very hard for her to sleep at night however, and Moran and Melissa her parents, are very tired. Please continue to pray for full recovery in every area of her life and for strength and much grace for the family.
I also saw Abby Hilton at the Family Week conference in Kentucky, and we had some moments to talk and pray together. Please keep her in your prayers, she is recovering slowly from Lyme's disease but still suffers from strong headaches and lack of strength. She is 20 years old, and very much desiring to get on with her life and service to the Lord, and this sickness is very trying and painful.
We thank you for being who you are in our lives.
In the Messiah,
Leah