Hazon Yeshaya

O.K, here I am writing about the “Hazon Yeshaya” (Soup Kitchen) again…you can again click on the tittle to access their web site and get more infos…
As I said I got really impacted by those people who are living their lives in behalf of others, serving and loving those in need…
The one who founded this work, Abraham Israel, was a refugee himself in Paris, and he promised God that if He would help him and his family he would one day help those who have to go through the same as they were then…
And so he did…he started in 1997 feeding 17 Jerusalem residents and now through 38 distribution points across Israel he’s providing around 8000 meals a day…
“Hazon Yeshaya” is not only about feeding the hungry but it’s proving a range of humanitarian support services and vocational training.
Unfortunately, poverty in Israel is increasing. 23,6% of the population were classified as poor. One in 5 families live below the poverty line.
YOU CAN ALSO HELP WITH DONATIONS, VOLUNTEERING, SHARING WITH OTHERS AND PRAYING FOR THEM…

I really enjoyed the atmosphere… we were received by Beyla, an amazing young woman who introduces every volunteer to the work of “Hazon Yeshaya” and also does a bunch of other things…she’s the “welcome card” of that place, she really makes every one feel comfortable and she always makes sure to compliment all the volunteers for their work…
In the Kitchen we have the “chef”, Tamir Israeli, who is also an amazing person…he’s the one who knows what needs to be done in the kitchen, and we often see him helping everywhere and also serving the ones who come to pick their daily food …

There are also other “permanent” volunteers like this guy in the picture
, which name I don’t remember (sorry, too many to my mind), who’s always making sure if the volunteers want some water melon or water ☺ Yes, we are really well treated !!!
They are aware that all this happens because volunteers come and they are really grateful for all who come…

And this other cook was also an amazing guy…
he was showing me his tattoo after seeing mine…people really like tattoos here…it has been a motive for nice conversations everywhere ☺

sOuP kItChEn...

I will post more about this , but HAZON YESHAYA is one of the soup kitchens in Israel that is serving around 8000 mealsa day all over Israel... they have also shoes and cloth shops so people can choose with dignity what they need, and they have also now dental clinics so people can treat their teeth... "Shoes and dentists are not luxuries", that's one of the logos I remember from one of their posters...
I went there yesterday with Judith and Maren and I was impressed with the people there...
we could feel Love everywhere... the chef of the kitchen was not only commanding or asking for things but he was serving and loving ... and it was not a superficial Love... I could see that they really cared for everyone...including the volunteers who they really honour and respect...
click on this title and check their web site... and share it with others...
but I would like to post more about it later when I have more time...

lEt pEaCe cOmE...

we just heard the war is over...
we danced and shout at a garden in front of Jerusalem's walls...
It was just a continuation of a party we were having already...celebrating a girl's baptism :-)

God is Good !!!

SHALOM

iNtErEsTiNg pOsT cArD...

Kerstin Hack just gave me this post card in Berlin...I found it great !!!
I could say many things about it, but I'll just leave it like that !!!

iN jErUsAlEm...

10th August

we just started our trip and we have already a story to tell ☺
I’m with Maren, Judith and Pale, they are all from JF…I met them last year at the rainbow …
Simone (Berlin) took us to the airport and as we came to the check-in desk we face our first incident… we only had a one way ticket so they didn’t want to let us in… Ups !!!

We only had one chance to get on this flight…book our return ticket somehow…so we did it…Pheew!!! The girl at the air company was a blessing from God (I told her that in German “Du bist ein segen” ☺ ) and she patiently booked our 4 flights back to Germany for 100 Euros each… not bad… but I had to think quickly when should I go back…28 of September sounded cool…so that’s it !!!
Now we don’t know what to do with the tickets… me and Maren wanted to go to Turkey after Israel, but we’ll see what God has in mind… we can also give our tickets to another person and they would only need to pay 30 euros to change the name…We’ll see…
We’ve put all things in God’s hands… even our lives ☺

12th August


Shabbat Shalom – resting day !!!
We’re in a nice hostel (The Petra) close to the Tower of David, in the “Christian quarter” of the old city (inside the Walls)…we’re still resting and trying to discern what should we do… but we’re not stressing about it…
We just got here yesterday around 10am… we arrived around 3.30am in Tel Aviv airport and waited more than one hour for a public bus that would take us to Jerusalem …
it was not hard to find this hostel as I had some tips from Emma… we’re paying 25 shekels (+/-5 Euros) a day to sleep on the roof ☺, which is cheap for Jerusalem … we all preferred that than paying 40 Shekels in a room ☺ … But we’re still looking for a cheaper way to stay here longer due to our low buggets ☺… maybe wild-camping or someone who would host us ☺
We didn’t really sleep much during the day cuz we had to move constantly out of the hot sun… but it was good anyway!!! We just needed to lye down and rest…in the night was ok and the breeze felt really nice…


We had already nice introductions to the city from different people who are also in this hostel… Morgen and Ruben, both Canadians … Morgen took us on a walk to the “Wailing Wall” where the Jewish start their “Sabbat Shalom”…I don’t know yet what to say about that… we went for a pizza afterwards (all the Jewish food places were closed because of the Shabbat) and it was nice just to seat, talk and eat after all the travelling☺…we were ready for our sleep under the stars☺
Here we can hear everywhere a lot of different perspectives and opinions about this city, about the temple, about God, etc…There are many people who deeply study the different Scriptures and also simple followers of the different religions…
This is the main worship place for the 3 biggest religions in the world...Each of them trying to prove they are the ones holding the “truth”, or the ones who know the best “way” to worship God...

We can follow what is Truth for us, but I think we can never say we hold it...
The church many times falls into this as well… and tries to convince others of that... when are we going to understand the teachings of Jesus?
my opinion is that that is what leads many to war or divisions... I’ve seen enough of that to even think about pursuing it :-)

I came to this conclusion in my thoughts :
I Love God and I know God Loves me… that makes me Love God’s creation and all peoples, without exceptions (ok, that’s the supernatural part of it ☺ )
But that’s enough for me I guess ☺… I don’t want to lose this childlike simplicity ☺

What we most need is Peace and Love…
SHALOM !!!

sOoN i WiLl bE iN iSrAeL...

Finally I'm heading Israel/Palestine this evening.. I will go with Maren, Judith and Peter (Pale)...I met them all last year at the Rainbow family and they're also from the JF family here in Germany...
Our first stop will be Jerusalem and there we'll meet the others who are going with vans by road... their journey has been exciting and blessed and after not being sure if they would be able to cross Syria, finally they felt the doors opening and they are now heading Jerusalem...
Be praying for us :-) we are available for whatever God wants to do in us and through us ...

tImE iN bErLin...rEsT...

I've been having great times in Berlin, just being around nice friends and getting to meet new ones...
I'm at the "princess castle", where Simone, Tirza and Maren live...there are 2 more princesses, Steffi and Conny,but I don't really know them so well... they are all part of the Jesus Freaks family here in the city :-)... I love them...like Tirza said, it seams like we know eachother for long time, but actually I just met them last year, first here in Germany and then they went to Portugal to visit...I feel a special connection with the Berlin Freaks... most of those who will go to the land in Portugal to spend the winter are also from here...including Simone :-), I really feel we'll be really good sisters :-) (we are already, eh, eh)
It was wonderful to meet Wolfgang Frenandez as well...
I'm adding his blog in "My relationships" in my blogs right side if you want to have a look:-)... He's from Venezuela, but he's also one of those persons who have a hard time answering the question "Where are you from" :-) Amazing guy, an apostle who goes all over the world encouraging and supporting young people to start christian communities... he's now focused particularly in Asia with underground young people and he lives between Jakarta in Indonesia, Bali and other 2 places around that area which I forgot the names :-)... I learned a lot with him just by hearing his many stories and testimonies of what God is doing in those places and in his life... Definitely a person worth to get to know... I was really blessed and encouraged...
I notice he also likes to take pictures of interesting things from the places he visits...like this picture !!! a bit strong for sensitive people !!!


We had much fun in the house having meals together, sharing around the table, worshiping in many different ways ... Being church :-) !!!

tHe bOrDen's...

This is going to be long, but they deserve it … If you don’t know them, maybe it’s not even interesting, but I assure you they are really worth to get to know :-) …
I’ve been trying to write this for quite a while, but I’m finding it hard…I feel I don’t have enough words, and it also brings a lot of emotions out…So let me share my idea… I just want to honour this family, THE BORDEN’S, because I love them and they mean a lot to me… and I also believe they are worthy to be honoured for who they are…
They have been my real family for the past 3 or 4 years in Lisbon, and they will leave Portugal in September to get ready to go back to Africa next year…
I already said good-bye when I left for my trip coz I’ll only be back in October, but I just wanna dedicate this post to them…
IT WOULD BE A NICE IDEA IF ALL OF YOU WHO KNOW THE BORDEN’S WOULD ADD YOUR OWN COMMENTS HERE ...
for me this family has a lot to be honoured for...
and as a portuguese I would also like to thank them for the time they spent in Portugal and how they blessed so many portuguese (like me :-) )

Well, if you don't know me or the Borden's, here's a little back up story... I met them 3 or 4 years ago through Jasmin who told me "You have to meet the Borden's "... And soon I realized why :-)... They are just an amazing family... they were having this home-group at their house that I started to attend and I started to know them more... I was in Love already :-)... They were in Africa, in Kenya, for more then 10 years, among the Massai people group, and that made me admire them even more... I felt the Africa connection there :-) ... And I always wander what were they doing in Europe, coz they don't really fit here... I always picture them going back to Africa, just by the way they speak about it, the way they are used to it and their many African friends there...so now the time came...I'm really happy for them in that way, but a bit sad to see them going so far from me :-/ (a bit of selfishness here)...
Yah, It's been hard to imagine since they told us they would leave... hard to think about it without feeling I want to cry...
But one thing is good about all this...I realized I truly love them, as I never did before... and these are not just words...
I 'm really thankful to God for this feeling...

O.K., I don't wanna make this too corny :-), but I do wanna present you each one of them now... I'll just share a few things that will come to my mind at this moment...


I was going to start with Jesse but Byron just came here to interrupt me so I'll start with him (I started to write this the last day I was at their house)…he's cleaning up the rest of the mess from the barbecue last night...What a good man...Lisa, you're the luckiest woman :-)...
Do you know Macgiver, it was a Tv show long time ago...Byron is that kind of guy, he always finds a solution to every problem...he likes to fix things... and he's very much used on "fixing" people as well...he’s very humble too…he has no problems to ask others to help him, coz he does recognize and encourage other people’s gifts and talents…
He's such a gentle man...he's a kinda guy who cries and doesn't care about what others might think... I remember one day when he was so exhausted from his trips that he couldn't hold his tears saying that he was missing having time for his kids...yes, he loves his kids and his wife... he really loves Africa and the African way of living, maybe more then Lisa and the kids, because he grew up there ... one time I heard him saying to someone why wouldn't they go back to Africa, and Byron said that one thing that was making him stay was because he knows that in Africa Lisa could never have the same opportunities to use her gifts as she was using here...like teaching or speaking... in many countries in Africa women are not really heard, even among Christians...
Wow, is that love or what?!!
Byron loves God so much as well...in a way that he really feels frustrated for not knowing Him more, or experiencing Him more... I could imagine him fighting with God like Jacob till He gets blessed :-)...
He wants to see more of God around Him as well…more of God in other people’s lives…more power and glory…He questions that a lot !!!
I loved many of our conversations around the Bible and about how God wanted us to be church…
I learned a lot with him…in many ways…
He’s a man with a great vision and a soft broken heart…




O.K, lets move to Jesse now, he's the oldest son...he’s in University now, in California, and he’s happy that he can go around driving already …he has an amazing intimacy with God…he’s a man of prayer and full of compassion…a servant heart…he wants to see this generation standing up to be who God wants us to be…he wants to see God doing great things…
he has many gifts and talents as well…plays bass in a punk rock band, “Front Door” (barefoot of course)…plays djembe, didgeridoo and other percussions, which he makes himself…amazing!!! He’s a wild guy, grew up playing in Africa with his Massai friends, but at the same time so sensitive and sweet ☺… He loves birds and photography, that’s his late passion… among other things he also surfs, skates and he’s into rock climbing now…what else…hum…I love his hugs !!!


Trevor comes next (guy on the right with his beautiful smile...he's here with Dane, his best friend)…what an amazing guy!!! Loves music, specially his acoustic guitar…I love when he plays it…he composes great music as well …I loved the last music he was recording…beautiful lyrics and what a beautiful voice he has…he needs to be more confident though, coz he never recognizes how good he is…he also plays in the same band with Jesse…electric guitar of course… he’s more careful with his outfit as well…he likes cool stuff…but not fashionable things…
He makes his own things as well, he’s a great handicraft guy… he’s too hard on himself though and is always trying to get better and better… a perfectionist I guess… he doesn’t give up till he reaches his goals…he has nice dreams, like crossing Africa on a motor bike with Byron…or touring around Europe on a Vespa (Italian scooters)… I would join him !!!
He has a really beautiful heart as well, and I just love when he expresses his desire to see his friends getting to know Jesus for real…he often came with good insights some of the times we would discuss about being church…
And he’s always open to learn… he often goes to Byron to ask a lot of stuff… he ‘s that son that has his dad has the super hero and role model…( I would say all the 3 boys have that☺ ) and what a great model they have to follow …
Oh, I love Trevor’s humour as well…he’s a goofy !!! I love it…


Colin is great !!! he always has a different way to see things… he often shows perspectives no one would ever think of…I love that in him… he thinks a lot I guess, coz some times he just gets distracted when we’re speaking…definitely a smart guy…a good learner as well…he likes to understand things…he’s not the kind of guy that accepts everything he’s told…he thinks about it till he gets it…well, that’s my impression at least… his passion is soccer, without any doubt…he just loves it…soccer players, different teams, he knows all about it and he’s a good player as well…he’s an amazing skater as well…I never saw him surfing though, but he might be good as well...
Oh, and he plays so well djembe or other drums…he’s amazing…I never forget one time that we were praying and worshiping and he picked the djembe to play… he never played much before and we were all admired how he was playing so well…then he shared how he had asked God to help him play the djembe and He actually did…he’s a guy of faith, that is sure…I love the way he prays as well…simple and straight…
He’s an honest guy…he says what he has to say…he’s not worried about what others may think… I like that sincerity in him…


Heather is lovely, and really goofy too:-)!!! And she’s so loved by all her brothers… for me, she’s my little sister as well…what can I say about her?!!
She loves pink and purple…loves horses too!!! Loves swimming and goofing around…she makes me laugh a lot !!! she loves singing and dancing as well…and lately she just wanted to play games…oh, and she surprised everyone when she went rock climbing for the first time…growing among her brothers, who play with weird things, like snakes and fire bombs, I guess she will not be “normal” as well ☺…
wow, I’m amazed with how much she has grown this past year…she’s a beautiful little girl… a sweet heart…gentle and tender…she’s shy when she doesn’t know someone so well, but she has a strong personality as well…she fights for her things…
I love her smile and how she would run to hug me when I was coming…
She often reminded me of how to be a child…and simply be… and she showed me a lot of love…
Oh, I loved painting with her too…so many times we did that…sometimes I would draw and she would colour…she loves colours…yes, she loves a lot…things have to be intense with her ☺…



And finally Lisa…I knew this bad feeling in my throat would come as I mentioned her… it’s hard for me to speak about her without crying…she’s a wonderful mom of her 4 kids and she was a mom to me too…even though I’m only 10 years younger and she could never be my mom…but that’s how I feel she is to me…it was like these years she has been carrying me…well, all the family did, but there’s something special about mom’s for me… she’s an amazing woman…and a wonderful friend…a great teacher ,speaker and writer…quiet, gentle, full of love to give…wide arms full of grace… very intelligent and wise… strong, but also not afraid to show her weaknesses…literally, a sweet heart… and very “cheeky” as well, a “silly goose” with great sense of humour…I loved when she would just crack herself laughing…(I feel I’m making a lot of spelling mistakes here…but anyway, Lisa finds it sweet and often doesn’t correct me ☺ )…
I love her hugs too…so tender and full of love…
she likes good atmosphere…loves candles !!!
I love her intimacy with God as well and the way she just loves to get in His presence…she loves dancing and singing to Him… she likes being wild sometimes…and she loves when God touches others ☺ …she’s a nurturer…here I go to the mom again…
She loves Bono (U2) and Brian Houston…these are the 2 rivals of Byron… ☺ Always a joke in the house !!!
Oh, how she loves Byron…
When all the others are active and wild, Lisa is taking care of everyone’s needs in the back…
I loved when she would leave written instructions when she was away…she knows what the family needs…
I loved when she would prepare my bed for me to come…she made me feel so at home… and she was always making sure I would feel part of the Borden family…


And I do… I love them all very very much…and I was so honoured by them so many times… they make me feel special…and I want them to feel special too…
because they are !!!
I spoke of each one of them separately, but they are wonderful as a family…I cannot really separate them…They bless anyone around by simply being the family they are !!!
They are not perfect, they are humans :-)…but they are amazingly balanced !!!
I lived with them day after day for 10 months when I had no where to go, so I could see their lives…on the good and bad days…
I learned a lot about what it means to be a family!

Thank you Byron, Lisa, Jesse, Trevor, Colin and Heather…
I love you more !!!
God loves you the most, and He's really proud of calling you His children :-)

GOD BLESS YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO !!!

fReAkStOcK ...

O.K., I'm finally posting about Freakstock...sorry for taking so long, but I was not in the mood to write and I've been having amazing times in Berlin just enjoying people around...
So, from Czech Republic I just got a ride with Monika and Tomas (Jesus Freax-Czech)...we were 10 people in 2 cars and left Hradec KrAlovE (North East from Prague) around 7.30am to arrive at Freakstock venue (Gotha-mid germany) around 3.30pm... But these are perfecT opportunities to get to know people better... We had time to speak about many different things on the way :-)...
I don't wanna write much here as well... I already posted about Freakstock last year and don't wanna sound repetitive...But I would advise you to check Andrew Jones' blog at
http://www.tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/
he has 4 nice postings there...
also Hajo and Rebecca http://www.flie-wa-tuet.blogspot.com/
So, I'll just put some pictures with comments :-)


My first divine appointment was with Jasmin...she just found me at the entry when I arrived !!! we had a really nice time updating eachother's stories along the Way and had a cool time praying :-)


As I enter it was not hard to realize Ben was there :-) silly guy !!! I was looking forward to watch Triplet performing, my little brothers and sister :-)


I met Kerstin Hack(Berlin) there and had a nice time hanging out and praying...she just came from her Holidays in Portugal in my sister's flat in Porto...




The Roundtable was the highlight for me this year... they named us the "real aliens" as you can see in our badge :-)...and it was also something new at Freakstock (not the aliens :-) )which use to be more about gathering the different communities in Germany and german speaking Countries...but besides that I had many other amazing times with a lot of friends I already knew from last year...
There were 26 nations represented, from all continents...

Besides Andrew Jones you can also check Hajo and Rebecca's blog
http://www.flie-wa-tuet.blogspot.com/
and also Wolfgang Frenadez's
http://wolfhowler.typepad.com/wolfhowler/
sorry but I don't know how to make a link when you just click it :-/


there was Gosia (Poland), the gipsy apostolic woman :-) ...a woman without a home or a nation...going as The Wind blows...walking like Jesus...walking with Him... :-)


Mama Tina and Papa Al (in the picture) were also there, and of course "brother Bear" next to Al in the picture (Eric's Rainbow name...just for fun, eh, eh)...it was great to be with them again...part of my rainbow family :-)...many others were there as well, like Ulli and Steffi and the kids...Pale, Judith, Johaness, Clara and the other Johaness, Hajo, Sasha (now married), Maren, Norbi and Kerstin, Tabea and of course Hajo and Rebecca, they were part of the Roundtable too... so nice to see them all...even if it was for short time :-)


Andrew Jones was there with his family...I loved meeting his wife Debbie, even though Freakstock is not the place to have quality time with any one...well at least for me , who had so many special people there with whom I would have looooved to spend more time with :-/
Lucy from Speak network (UK) was also there...she's next to Andrew in this picture..well, next to Andrew's son...


My butterfly friend Uli, who I mention at Slot Art Festival was there as well and here she's next to Ute, a sweet german girl who lives in India and hangs out mostly with travellers there...It was nice to get to know her and maybe I'll visit her someday for some more shantii time in India :-) I would like that :-) or maybe she will pass by in Portugal for some rest in the land :-)


My Czech friends were also part of this Roundtable...The Jesus Freaks with whom I took a ride with and here in the picture is Jumper, an anarchist punk who cares about environment, social and justice issues...a nice guy...and also Sirki, the reggae Dj I also met at Slot... good guy as well...he might come down to Portugal with his family...he dreams about learning to surf :-) ... and maybe I can organize some reggae parties with him as well :-) that would be fun !!!


Alexandre and Marie were there from France...well, they actually live on a bus, so they can be from wherever :-) Next to them in the picture is Maureen, wife of Denny Hurst who are in Italy...they went with their kids...great family...I would like to get to know them better as well... Triplet was with them in Italy after Rock on The Rock and they told a lot of good stuff about them...actualy Maureen told me that that's one of their passions, to minister to bands as they pass by, encouraging them and mentoring them...and I could see through Triplet who gifted they are on that...


In this picture are different leaders from underground churches in Mexico, Paraguai and on the right side is Sam from Lebanon... I was really impacted by this guy and to hear his cry for his people in Lebanon... he's into the metal scene...he said how usually christians just think about going to muslim countries to reach out for muslims, but they are not aware of the great underground movements in these countries... they are growing more and more...and they are rejected by the muslims and rest of society in general... and also christians...who is caring for them ?!!


This was also a touching moment, in the last day when we were praying for all nations there represented, and Sam from Lebanon was praying for the Americans...


Also after that, a guy who has Jewish blood asked if we could all pray for peace between this two people groups, jewish and arabs...there was a guy from Israel who was suppose to come but couldn't make it, so we did it that way... it was powerful... the lebanese guy blessing the jewish and vice versa...it was touching for all of us, and I believe it touched the spiritual realm too... THERE IS PEACE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD !!!!


I had a really good time worshiping with "Obadja"...they really flow with the Spirit... I love them !!! some of them will go to the land in Portugal to spend the winter :-) I'm excited for that !!!


And it was really fun to watch Triplet playing...they seamed to have fun and people enjoyed it as well... I hope they play next year more then 30 minutes :-) They just rock :-) Check their web site, they might have cool pictures and video reports...www.tripletrock.com
It was really cool to be with them there and I hope they will take some new things to Portugal... and that they share and motivate other young people there...they are the pioneers of what God is doing in Portugal :-)

sToPiNg iN pRaGuE...

What a beautiful city!!! you probably notice I'm taking time to update my blog with all the latest news...yes, I'm resting in the beautiful city of Prague, with Jane and Martin Hasik, part of our Matrix extended family... Jane was in Portugal for few years, working with "Young Life" (school kids), and was part of our Matrix family in Lisbon...she got married last year with Martin, a nice Czech guy, also from "Young Life", and now they live here, having a lot of young Czech friends :-)

It was nice to walk around Prague yesterday with Jane... I was actually "plugged in" her Czech class while they went for a touristic tour around the city :-) It was fun, I never did that before...

My highlight was the singing fountain...Amaaaaazing!!!! we could seat under the fountain and really listen to the music of the water...beautiful !!! I was also impressed with all the beautiful doors everywhere...here's one example !!!
I had nice conversations with Al, also from "Young Life", about how church should look like...well, we got no answers... it's like raising a child... we can listen many people's stories and opinions, but in the end, we just need to go and do it :-)



Now I'm really looking forward to go to Freakstock...I will spend the night today with Monika and her husband Tomás, part of Jesus Freaks Czech, and we'll drive tomorrow at 7am heading Gotha...