Visits During the Gaza Conflict

On Thursday, January 15th, the IDF Coordinator, Karen, and I went on a CFI outreach trip to deliver some fleece jackets for the cold, winter nights in Israel. Our first stop was in Tel Aviv to pick up the fleece jackets directly from the manufacturer. This was the same day United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was in Tel Aviv asking Israel to do a "unilateral cease fire". However, we did not run into him. After picking up the fleece jackets, we drove south to a junction (highway intersection) near Beersheva. There we met three officers of one of the Tank Units currently in Gaza.

The fleece jackets were going to the same Tank Battalion that we had visited on the Golan Heights last fall with care packages. Since the "bad guys" may not be far away, you might as well keep your M-16's close by.

Very appreciative to receive these quality jackets, one of the officers insisted that Karen try one on. The soldiers really like it when Karen has their unit logo sewed onto the jackets.

After exchanging good-byes with the IDF, Karen and I headed a little further northwest towards Sderot. This was my third trip to Sderot, the small city of 19,000 that has been consistently in the line of fire from Hamas. Over the past 7 years, Sderot has seen at least 7000 kassam rockets launched towards it. Earlier this morning, there were 25 rockets fired at southern Israel. Three or four of them were directed at Sderot.

On the road to Sderot, you could see the smoke coming from Gaza City. Historically in the Bible, Gaza has always been trouble even back in the days of Joshua when the Israelites failed to drive out all the inhabitants of the Land as instructed by God. Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the LORD said to him: “You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed. This is the land that yet remains: all the territory of the Philistines ... the five lords of the Philistines—the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; Joshua 13:1-5.

Zooming in on the photo below you can see the proximity of Gaza City and the white town of Sderot on the right. The western border of Gaza is only one kilometer from Sderot. Samson's problems were in the area of Gaza. And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. Judges 16:20-21.

The main road off the highway leading to the City Center of Sderot.

The besieged town of Sderot is displaying their patriotism by flying the Israeli flags.

Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?” Judges 1:1.

In addition to Israeli flags, blue and white balloons were abundant.

Sunlight coming through Israel's Star of David Flags.

“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you ... ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’ Deuteronomy 20:1-4.

A business that received damage from a kassam rocket.

Israeli youth were stopping cars in the street and passing out bumper stickers that said "Am Yisrael Chai", the "People of Israel Live".

There were plenty of television camera crews in Sderot. None of them seemed to be very far from a bomb shelter. This crew was on the east side of one shelter near the City Center.

This crew was on the west side of that same shelter.

Sidewalks displaying Israeli pride. The citizens of Sderot have been waiting seven years for the government to authorize the IDF to protect them from attacks.

Despite the terrifying morning in Sderot, when we arrived it was a beautiful, quiet afternoon. Being my third trip, I do know which restaurant has very good schwarma.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has setup a temporary location in Sderot. When we walked in, the journalists were looking at us like we should be someone to interview.

This television crew seemed to be interviewing the "man on the street".

We went to the Municipality of Sderot searching for one contact name that I had. We were told that she was working up the street in a bomb shelter. Having just walked from that direction, I described one shelter that we had passed. The gentleman informed us "no, not that one, the one on the left, across the street". I wonder how many cities in the world give directions according to their bomb shelters?

We did locate our contact down inside the bomb shelter. When we introduced ourselves and Christian Friends of Israel, she went over and got the Mayor of Sderot. He sat down and we had an impromptu meeting in the bomb shelter about how CFI could help. He quickly arranged for us to visit four needy families. The Mayor said the 3-room bomb shelter, complete with pc's and telephones, was operating 24 x 7. His house had received damage just that morning (windows blown out) from a close kassam rocket. It was the second time his house had received damage. The Mayor pinned Sderot/Israel Flag Pins on us for our efforts. Below, the Mayor is shaking Karen's hand after she got her pin.

One of the families we visited that afternoon had recently experienced damage to their home.

The kassam missed a direct hit on the house by just a few feet. The blast, however, blew out all the front windows shattered part of the patio.

Plastic sacks covering the windows from the inside.

The lady of the house was still cleaning up the glass.

Just a few feet from the kassam, flowers were undamaged.

The kassam hit just the other side of this patio support.

Kassams are usually packed with steel balls or ball-bearings that shoot out upon impact trying to inflict the highest amount of damage.

For this family, it was their third time to be hit.

As we drove away, children were playing just trying to be "little boys". At this moment, they were more concerned about us running over their soccer ball than kassam rocket attacks.

It was a long, but very successful day just following the Lord Jesus as He directed our paths. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. II Corinthians 1:3-4.

These purple flowers have nothing to do with Sderot. They are growing in the middle of winter just outside the entrance to my apartment bulding. They were on the camera when I uploaded.

Christmas in the Desert - Part 2

I really enjoy the desert mountains. This is down by Sde Boker.

This is Ein Avdat which is a white-walled canyon with a small waterfall and pools of water. You can see the road leading down to it. The pictures of walking in Ein Avdat will be posted later.

Before leaving Jerusalem for holidays in the desert, I had hoped to see some 4-legged creatures. Sde Boker has a large herd of Ibyx close by that are used to being photographed.

No doubt this must be a grandfather Ibyx with his grandson.

These little guys looked like they wanted to play.

Ibyx coming over the mountain edge.

The Ibyx just kept walking past me. I actually took a little movie but was unable to upload it.

Desert hills surrounding Sde Boker.

Looking southeast from Sde Boker.

Most of these guys would stop and pause for their photo then continue on their journey.

This is the little town of Mitzpe Ramon where I stayed the first two nights. Mitzpe Ramon sits on the northern edge of the Ramon Crater about 20 kilometers from Sde Boker. The English translation of the town's name would be "Ramon Lookout". I stayed at a nice little hotel designed for families. There was an indoor swimming pool, fireplace in the lobby, and in the evenings the local alpaca farm would bring one of their animals to sit in the lobby. The kids had a big time petting the alpaca and having their picture taken.

This is the road that leads down into Ein Avdat.

The view from Sde Boker.

Desert blooms in December.

The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; Isaiah 35:1

Kay would have figured out a way to hug these little guys.

Another view from Sde Boker.

Sunset at the Ramon Crater. It was pretty hazy and affected the sunset photos.

This is Eschol National Park over by Gaza. I drove through there on my way to Mitzpe Ramon.

There was a 4x4 back road out of Eschol National Park. It was very windy and hazy.

While driving on the backroad out of Eschol National Park, I passed an enormous orange grove. If I was in the states, I would have said it went for "miles". Since I am in the Middle East, the orange grove went for many kilometers. Notice the "cactus fence" that was planted all around it. The cactus fence probably keeps many night time critters out of the orange grove.

While on that back road I came across Israel's only suspension bridge.

Had the bridge collapsed with me in the middle of it, this would have been the last thing I saw.


Just to prove that I made it across the bridge, you can see the parking lot from this side.

This is the quaint home of David Ben-Gurion in Kibbutz Sde Boker. Ben-Gurion was the first Prime Minister of Israel and loved living in the desert. He thought the desert was the best future for Israel and the Jews. So did Isaiah when he prophesied about John the Baptist: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3.

The entrance to Ben-Gurion's home.

This is the actual tape recording in 1948 when Ben-Gurion declared "the Jewish state shall be known as Israel". Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children. Isaiah 66:8.

The desert blooming.

Ibyx close to Ben-Gurion's gravesite.

Another view from Sde Boker.

Ben-Gurion's study. In his will, Ben-Gurion asked that his house be left "as is".

This room contained many gifts from world leaders. It was shortly after taking this photo that someone told me "No Photos". The sign by the door must have been written in Hebrew.

Part of the drive home went by the southern portion of the Dead Sea. You can see how low the Dead Sea is in some portions. It looks like you could walk to Jordan, which are the mountains in the background.

Towards the southern end of the Dead Sea is the traditional site of Sodom and Gomorrah. So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” ...... Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place. Genesis 18:26, 32,33.

This rock is called "Lot's Wife" even though it is not a "pillar of salt". Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:24-25.

On Sunday, the 28th, while driving back to Jerusalem, I stopped for gas in the desert. A bus load of young IDF were also there taking a break. This was the next morning after the Gaza Conflict began not too far from here.

The IDF does conduct drills and target practice in the desert.

Next week's posting will reveal more of the beauty of the Arava Desert where I spent two nights after leaving Mitzpe Ramon.

Israel's nuclear reactor in the desert. Not yet within grad rocket range.