Day 17 of Israel's War to Defend Her People

Report From Day 17 Of Israel's War To Defend Her People
Monday, January 12, 2009

The Israeli army continues to push deeper into Gaza city, in a fierce battle to defend innocent men, women and children from the deadly rocket attacks that have rained over Southern Israel for the last seven years. And while a million innocent Israeli civilians stand on the front lines of the war, watching their homes, schools, and communities destroyed by Hamas rockets, their morale has not been destroyed. The people in the war torn areas of Israel continue to hope that the IDF will bring an end to the incessant missile attacks, and that they will once again be able to live a normal and peaceful life.

The Fellowship staff in Israel has worked tirelessly to bring relief to the many cities across southern Israel hit hardest by the war. Your contributions have funded food for bomb shelters, food stamps for the elderly and emergency equipment for shelters including heaters and radios, as well as games for the children and other small electrical equipment. The Fellowship has also funded emergency transportation to hospitals for people hurt and traumatized in the attacks, as well as for the elderly and the infirm who must now travel miles from their homes for their dialysis and other life-saving medical treatments.

As we travel across the many areas in Israel that are still threatened by a daily barrage of rockets attacks, the people living there are eager to share their stories with The Fellowship’s donors who have offered them a ray of light at the end of the tunnel. We meet the men, women, and children who are living in the bomb shelters that are funded by The Fellowship -- people who, amazingly, continue to have hope amidst their tragedies.

During our travels, we have heart some heartbreaking and chilling stories. We met Shoshanna, who narrowly avoided death when a rocket hit the room she had been sitting in just seconds before. We heard the story of little Inbal, a deaf girl in the third grade, who must stay in her bomb shelter day and night because she cannot hear the “Code Red” siren. We met Smadar, who spends all her time in the shelter with her children because she is too afraid to leave.

They are ordinary people thrown into extraordinary circumstances who continue to live their lives as best they can and pray for a lasting peace. They have the same hopes and dreams that we all have. “We want our children to be able to go outside and play,” says Maria, a resident of the town of Okafim, which was recently hit by rockets for the first time. “We want them to be able to go back to school. We want them to be able to have a normal childhood. We’re ready to pay the price.”

The battle, however, is one that they are not able to fight on their own. The Fellowship staff in Israel continues to work in areas hit by the terrorists, supporting their increasing critical needs. Israelis are extremely grateful for this life-saving assistance. But there is still much work to be done. We continue, for example, to work in areas like Ashkelon and Katzrin, renovating their bomb shelters to the highest standards, and giving them a place to run when the rockets fall.

The Fellowship staff in Israel feels extremely blessed by the outpouring of support and generosity from Christians in America – by their love for Israel, and their willingness to stand with her during this war. Throughout the years, your donations have helped renovate the bomb shelters that many Israelis are now living in, and continue to fund their many arising needs. The people in Israel know that they can trust and rely on their Christian friends. Thank you.