Aftermath of a kassam rocket; Sderot visits.

On Thursday, February 26th, we went to Sderot to visit several families that live in constant fear of kassam rockets. Kassam rockets have defined the last eight years of Sderot's history. Approximately 30 minutes before we arrived a kassam had landed in a Sderot neighborhood. Thankfully no one was injured but the family was treated for shock. We found the neighborhood and were able to bless the family with 2000 shekels of food vouchers. Below is a photo of the house where the kassam landed in the front yard. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8.

This is the view of the neighborhood where the kassam landed from the Ministry of Social Affairs department. A journalist from ynet news gave us directions to the afflicted home. "Go up this street ... take a left ... take another left at the swimming pool ... then you will be close". We drove right to it.

The kassam landed by that pile of dirt. On the left in the shadows is a clothes line pole that was full of clothes drying in the sun that morning.

The clothes ended up as "ornaments" in a Christmas Tree.

The other tree was adorned with a chicken coop and a washing machine. I was amazed how they were up in the tree limbs.

With kassams, the force of the blast always takes the windows. Not just this house, but the one behind it too.

Neighbors looking in at the damage.

Varya, our translator, talking with the neighbors and security personnel. A lot of the discussion was regarding the "lack of assistance" they receive when tragedies like this occurred. What a privilege it was to be able to say "We represent Christians from around the world and are here now to bless you". May the Lord Jesus be glorified! Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 29:2.

From inside the porch looking out.

From inside the bedroow window looking out. I took a video with my camera and you can hear me walking on glass.

Again from the bedroom.

The family was pleased that this picture of their grandfather, a Rabbi, was not damaged. You can see the shrapnel damage surrounding the picture.

I believe these were items that were burning or smoking. It looks like the firemen brought them outside to extenguish.

One of the neighbors wanted to show me a chicken that did not survive the kassam. I'm not sure how many times I will have the opportunity to photograph a chicken killed by a rocket.

Part of the kassam landed on a neighbor's roof.

Another visit that day was to a lady who needed 3000 shekels of medicine for a treatment. She wrote us a thank you letter in Russian stating that we may have "saved her life". Not us, but the Lord Jesus who touches hearts of Christian donors around the world. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things (the Jews), their duty is also to minister to them in material things. Romans 15:27.

Another visit was to a single parent who's sister had recently died. In addition to her two children, she now is also taking care of two nieces and struggling financially. We were able to provide enough food vouchers to fill her cabinets and refrigerator for several weeks.

A basketball court in Sderot where a roof is constructed to protect from kassams.

Sderot neighborhood with bus stop bomb shelter on the left.

This gentleman lost three fingers in a work accident. The wife is legally blind. They had a son upstairs with the IDF who was wounded in Gaza recently. They also have two young teenage girls that are traumatized by the rocket warnings and attacks. We had a wonderful visit and prayed for their specific needs before leaving. “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’S hand
Double for all her sins.” Isaiah 40:1-2.

Springtime in Sderot.

After our last visit that day, it was time to head towards Ashkelon which is certainly mentioned in some prophetic passages. Ashkelon shall see it and fear; Gaza also shall be very sorrowful; And Ekron, for He dried up her expectation. The king shall perish from Gaza, And Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. Zephaniah 9:5.

On Thursday, March 5th, during our trip to Sderot, there were three alerts that day for incoming kassam rockets. On this day all three rockets missed Sderot. One alert occurred while we were eating lunch. We said a quick prayer for our safety and continued eating. Across the street everyone had gathered at one of the bus stop bomb shelters.

This object tacked up on the wall of one of our visits is the Sderot kassam alert beeper.

There is an elementary school beneath the arching concrete. Last summer, there were giant construction cranes present getting the school ready for the new year. Only in Sderot.

Children's playground in Sderot.

I may have posted the catepillar bomb shelters before but they are defintely unique. You can see the opening for children to run quickly into should the alarm sound.

Looking inside the catepillar.

Actually there are two catepillars on this playground.

About one year ago, a kassam landed in the bedroom of the home of this 80 year-old Morrocan lady. She was in the living room at the time and suffered nect and back injuries. She was hospitalized for two weeks and then began rehabilitation.

She did not speak Hebrew and sometimes we had to double-interpret thru her daughter. English-to-Hebrew. Hebrew-to-Moroccan.

If your home suffers a direct hit from a rocket, Israel's Ministry of Defense builds you a bomb shelter. This one is not complete yet but they wanted to show it to us anyway. We did pray for their protection. Not via bomb shelters but by the God of Israel. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD! Psalm 106:48.

Flowers on the road from Ashkelon to Sderot.

I took this photo of my neighbor's flowers while I was taking out the trash before leaving last Thursday morning for Sderot.