Newsletter #43 June, 2013 Sea of Galilee Sunset Dear friends, It has been four months since our last newsletter, for which I apologize. These months have been a time of seeking the Lord as we have been facing many challenges. I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth. (Ps. 121:1-2) Sometimes our problems can appear to be so insurmountable that we lose sight of the Lord. Some time ago Yaffa and I were driving. She was resting on the passenger side and I had put on some worship music. I had been burdened about some problems when suddenly the Lord spoke to me: You have made the problems too big and Me too small. I realized that this was true. Too many times we move out of the place of trust and begin to worry and even agonize over things. However, the Lord God of Israel, maker of heaven and earth is in control and He loves us. He will not fail. Praise His glorious name Beit Hayeshua: Beit Hayeshua has been going through a time of severe financial testing. This problem has been developing over a period of time and by the end of May reached a point where we had to do something radical. As a non-profit organization we cannot get into debt. I realized that I had to lay off the entire staff and possibly close Beit Hayeshua. On the other hand I knew we had to hang on at least until December when our rental lease would end and, more importantly, all the men in stage two will have finished the program. However, the staff, who have been laid off and have had to find other jobs, are still desirous to keep the center going. Though this work is 24/7, the counselors have decided to work for free as a sacrificial offering to the Lord until more money can be raised. Halleluyah! I believe that with such sacrifices the Lord is pleased, and so we shall continue the work and trust God to provide more finances so we can again pay salaries. If any of you feel a burden on your heart to help this work financially, especially on a regular basis (it could be $30 or $50/month), it would be a blessing. Now about developments in the program itself: Stage one of the program has been full for a while. Now however, many of the men have moved on to the second stage, leaving room for new men to enter the program. We now have 8 men in the second stage (which is a record number). There are only two men in the first stage, so we are doing more outreaches into the Tel Aviv areas where the drug addicts hang out, as well as some other cities such as Nazareth. We have seen a change the last few years in the whole drug scene in Israel. Years ago, heroin was the drug of choice among addicts. However all that has changed. Something called Haggigat has entered the market strongly the last few years. It is called bath salts in the United States. This substance is based on a mix of synthetic amphetamines. The ingredients are constantly being changed in order to keep ahead of the law. The results of Haggigat use are dreadful. This drug can cause psychosis and real damage to the brain.
It is much more dangerous than heroin and many of the addicts on the street have already died from it. It is very cheap to purchase and readily available sold through local kiosks. Though illegal, the police do little to stop its trade. Now most of the drug addicts are either on methadone (which is far more addicting than heroin, which is given by the government to registered addicts), or on Haggigat, which they inject. Many of the men who come to us now are in a terrible mental state with infected sores all over their arms and legs. Please continue to pray as we reach out to these desperate men. Photos from Beit Hayeshua Zvi) Praising God Guys in the Salon (with Purim Party Purim Party Abraham and pregnant Sarah
Congregational Passover Meal A Good Fish Meal Congregation Yeshuat Yisrael: Since our last newsletter, there has not been too much new. The weekly prayer meetings are still greatly blessed with a large number of people attending. A few new people have joined and of course new students from Beit Hayeshua are always giving the congregation freshness of new believers. As usual, the congregation celebrated Purim together. Many in the congregation dressed up in costumes as is customary and rejoiced at the Lords sovereign deliverance of the Jewish people. The next month we also celebrated Passover with about 50 people eating together in the Beit Hayeshua facility. It was all a great time to fellowship and remember the stong hand and outstretched arm of the Lord in delivering His people out of Egypt, as well as sending the Lamb of God to save us from this present evil world. A week ago three people were baptized in water at a place located not far from the old city of Jerusalem. Two of them were students in the rehabilitation program while one was the mother of a young man (Avi) who had gone through the rehab program some six years before. She herself was deeply involved in New Age as well as Jewish mysticism. Through the testimony of her son and the changes she saw in his life, she eventually came to realize that Yeshua was the Messiah. Praise his wonderful name. Family: As we had mentioned in a previous newsletter, our oldest son David, with his wife Maki and three children, had moved to the United States last August. They are doing very well there with a good job, fine school for the kids, and a congregation they feel at home in. Our second, Nathan, is still working and living in Tel Aviv. He works at a company developing programs for mobile phones. Our third son, Aaron, is living in Jerusalem in his own apartment and working in high tech. Our fourth son, Daniel, finished the army in September and has been working at a classy Jerusalem hotel. Our youngest, Yeshai, is just now finishing high school. He has gotten into the paratroop brigade and will be beginning his army service this summer. In July, my (Zvi s) mother will be celebrating her 90 th birthday. She has decided to fly all her immediate family (children and grandchildren) to Miami Florida for a reunion and celebration at a Miami Beach hotel. It s going to be great. We haven t seen all the Randelman family together since my Dad s funeral almost 30 years ago. Please pray for blessing, protection, and above all that my mother may open up her heart to Yeshua as her Messiah and Savior. Israel:
The Northern Border: The situation in the North has steadily become more dangerous. The civil war in Syria has become more bloody and it seems that the odds have tilted in favor of the Assad regime. Which is better for Israel I am not sure. Many of the rebels are extremists associated with Al Qaeda. However, Hezbolla is no friend of Israel, and neither is Iran. Today both Hezbolla and Iran have troops helping Assad along with weapons pouring in from Russia. The West is doing nothing. Over 80,000 people have been killed so far. Now the war threatens to spill oer into the Golan Heights in Israel. At times, mortar fire hits Israeli farms or military positions. Almost a month ago Israeli planes hit munitions which had entered Syria and were destined for the Hezbolla. The weapons were destroyed, but Assad has vowed now to make the Golan Heights an active front against Israel. Finally, Iran continues its race to build nuclear weapons. The sanctions have not stopped the Iranians and the centrifuges continue to spin. Most intelligence forces estimate that Iran could have a nuclear weapon in a year if they choose so. Such a weapon would put Israel in existential danger, which Israel will not allow. Behold He who keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. (Ps 121:4) Prayer Points: 1) Beit Hayeshua: Pray for strength for the staff as they continue to serve sacrificially. Pray for new desperate men to enter the program. Pray for finances to continue this labor of love. 2) Yeshuat Yisrael: Pray for the discipleship of the young leaders. Pray for greater and greater anointing upon all the services. 3) Israel: a. Pray for God s wisdom and guidance for government and security leaders. b. Pray for God to pour out His Spirit and reveal Yeshua the Messiah to many Israelis c. Pray for God to break the power of Islam among the Palestinians and bring a great salvation to them Yours in Messiah s Service, Zvi and Yaffa Randelman
Donations to the drug/alcohol rehab project or to the congregation may be made out to our non-profit organization: Beit Hayeshua Ltd., and sent to: P.O. Box 25, Maale Adumim, Israel.Please let us know if the donation is for the rehab center or for the congregation. Wire transfers for Beit Hayeshua (drug rehab center) or to Yeshuat Yisrael congregation may be sent to the account bearing the name Beit Hayeshua at: Israel Discount Bank, Ramot Eshkol Jerusalem; Branch No. 109, Account No. 340790 Swift Code: idblilit, IBAN: IL27 0111 0900 0000 8340 791 For tax deductions in the USA, donations may be made out to: Makor Chaim, PO BOX 25925 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80936-5925 and earmarked for Beit Hayeshua For further information and to receive prayer bulletins, please write to: P.O. Box 25, Maale Adumim, Israel 98100 Our e-mail address is: zvir@013.net.il You may also visit our website at: www.beit-hayeshua.org