Luke 21:28 "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
Beloved Brothers and Sisters,
We are living in the days of fulfillment of Matthew 24 and Luke 21. So much has happened since the beginning of this year it is almost impossible to keep up with all the facts. Since we left home on March 1st, there have been 3 catastrophes in Japan- the earthquakes (which are still continuing and in other places around the world, including Arkansas) the tsunami, and the damage of the nuclear power plant on the east coast of Japan (all six reactors which still have not been brought under control). The earthquake, rating 9.0, left 23,000 people dead or missing. Water in Tokyo, 250 kilometers (about 155 miles) from the plant, has tested to be more than twice the safe level for consumption. The population in Tokyo is 13 million people. (Please see the latest report from our ETH Ruth who is serving in Japan later in this prayer letter).
And though our tour was peaceful, all around us there were people that were suffering because of terrorist strikes against Israel. On Saturday, March 12th, in the early hours of the morning when it was still dark in the Samaria region, a family was attacked by unknown assailants and the father, mother, and three children were left for dead. A boy and his sister were not harmed. They are living with their grandparents now.
On Wednesday of this week, just 24 hours after the last of our tour group left Israel, a terrorist left a bomb in a brown bag near one of the bus stops in Jerusalem by the Convention Center. This bus stop was only about a ten-minute walk from where our group stayed in Jerusalem. There were 39 people injured, some critically, and there was one casualty in that bombing - a British student, Mary Jane Gardner. We were told that she had translated the New Testament into the Togo language. She was here to study Hebrew so she could translate the Old Testament. This was the first serious terrorist bombing in the city of Jerusalem since 2004.
Rockets have been fired into Beersheba and Ashkelon. Israel is promising to retaliate.
All these things that have been happening in Israel this week have been happening around the Feast of Purim.
All around us, the nations are raging. There are uprisings in Syria, Jordan, Bahrain, Yemen, Tunisia, Iran, and there is still trouble in Egypt. We received a report from our ETH in Egypt earlier this week asking for prayer. What initially meant to be a revolution for more freedom and democracy has turned into great persecution against the Christians. Sharia law is a very possible reality when elections take place in September. Our ETS Chris Mitchell, attended our prayer meeting Wednesday afternoon at the House of Peace. He gave a report on his experience of being in Cairo when the demonstrations turned from peaceful to dangerous. Our beloved, Keith Wheeler will be flying to Cairo on April 1st. From there, he plans to go by car to Alexandria and then begin walking with the cross westward towards Libya, please keep him in your prayers.
Pray for Doreen and myself as we fly to Berlin next Tuesday. The rest of our staff who stayed behind to really get the feel of life in Israel, Bill Devlin, Larry Groves, Betty Bazzle, and Grace McGonigle will be flying back to Arkansas next Tuesday also. Please remember them in your prayers as they travel.
God has placed His End-Time Handmaidens and Servants strategically around the world to serve Him. From being on the front-lines in Egypt, to being a light shining in Japan, walking the length and breadth of the Holy Land (as our tourists did), walking while carrying a Cross to Libya, or an intercessor in our prayer houses in Israel to those holding down the fort from our home base in Engeltal. Now is not a time to crawl and hide. It is a time to take your place in the Kingdom and stand strong in the power of His might.
I'll be ministering five days in Berlin, Germany - Wednesday, March 30th through Sunday, April 3rd. Pastor Andres Bauer and his wife Adelheid of Jerusalemgemeinde Berlin · Spreeufer 5 · 10178 Berlin. Call 0049-30-28389144 for directions or e-mailberlin@jerusalemgemeinde.de. Revival is coming to Berlin.
From the House of Peace in Jerusalem,
Sister Gwen
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