I didn't want to be anywhere else at that moment!

7 October was approaching and I really wanted to be in Israel to experience it with Israel, to feel the pain and grieve with her and to encourage.

The 3 weeks in Israel have been very special. Yes, I have felt the pain, grieved and been encouraged, but I have also been very encouraged myself. That is always so rich in God's Kingdom: He always gives you more than you think, expect or can even imagine. In answer to the question I am usually asked: ‘Is it safe? Anyway, I know that wherever I am, I am in God's hands and nothing happens, which He does not allow and which He cannot use for good. And further, during this trip I have experienced tremendous God's protection and peace around me. For instance, there have been terrorist attacks close to places, where I was supposed to go, but they took place earlier or later, than I was there. And when I was with my friends near Haifa, there hasn't been a single air alert in that village. Even though those did take place daily before I came and air alarms did go off in the places around us. But the most miraculous thing is the inner peace and joy, which I was allowed to experience all the time and to witness to Israelis. And that is a testimony received, Hallelujah!

The best moment for me was the massive missile attack from Iran on 1 October. Before you think now that I am completely off the mark, let me explain. I was attending a service of a Messianic congregation that evening, where we also celebrated the Lord's Supper. In the sermon, the pastor spoke from 1 Corinthians 11:24-26. Here we are called to remember and this remembering is a proclamation of the Lord's death. The pastor explained clearly, that it is not only a proclamation of Yeshua's death, but also of His resurrection, His ascension and thus His kingship (for He is seated at the right hand of the Father from then on) and His return. A few minutes later, as we

the Lord's Supper, the air alerts and alarms begin on our phones and a little later the sounds of explosions from the anti-aircraft guns. We decided to just stay in Christchurch chapel and continue celebrating, remembering, proclaiming Yeshua's death, resurrection, kingship and return. I was in full shalom and truly experienced: this is what we are called to as the Body of Messiah. We are called, in the face of and even in the midst of destruction, death, destruction, hatred and brokenness, to proclaim the victory of the Lamb of God. I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else at that moment! It was a piece of heaven (God's kingdom) on earth....