HalleluYah!

Well, we didn’t fly out to Israel on the 17th of February—and I’m glad we didn’t. Abba has been teaching us so much during this time: how to wait on Him, and how to be joyful in the waiting.

We had about twenty bags packed (not including musical instruments and the clothes we were wearing) when God spoke to us about living this journey one year at a time. We were a little taken aback at first, but after about five minutes we realised that this was actually wonderful.

I immediately unpacked all the bags and removed everything that wasn’t truly necessary… including about fifty kilos of books! That alone made everything feel so much lighter.

During this time, we also celebrated Hanukkah, Purim, and Passover. Hanukkah was a season of good food and learning more about the time of the Maccabees. There is so much to take from that period of history, especially knowing that history has a way of repeating itself.

We also celebrated Purim for the very first time. Two days beforehand, I spoke with a dear friend who gave me a crash course in the spiritual aspects of Purim. It turned out to be a really amazing celebration—and, as with every feast, it included plenty of good food! The children dressed up as well. Lana made a cardboard horse costume, which she wore, and David came in riding on her horse. It was spectacular.

We had hoped to celebrate Passover in Israel, but since that wasn’t possible, we did our best to make it as meaningful and joyful as we could.

Around this time, the government was also beginning to talk about how to exit lockdown gradually, and they announced a provisional date of the 12th of April for Cornwall to reopen to tourists. This meant we had to leave the holiday cottage on the 2nd of April to give them time to redecorate. (We would have had to leave around then anyway, even without lockdown—possibly even earlier.)

And so, once again, we found ourselves celebrating Passover with our bags packed and ready, unsure of where we would be going next. It turned out to be a wonderful Passover. In the ten days leading up to it, we acted out one plague each night, which was lovely because all the children were fully involved. I think their favourite was the plague of grasshoppers. We bought three packs of penne pasta and scattered them across the floor and table. Between the seven of them, they ate almost all of it—I don’t think they had any dinner that night!

Our Seder was also lovely, and all the children stayed up and completed the meal. It was a truly blessed time.

After Passover, we began looking for somewhere to stay. Pete contacted Tremore Christian Fellowship and Dovetail Shalom Ministries to see if they could help. Tremore CF has a large house used for retreats, but it wasn’t available due to major building works. However, the trustees kindly offered us the use of the old schoolroom, where Christian education had once been run.

There is a kitchen and toilets, and it’s close to where our friends live. There’s no shower and we’re very much in “camping mode,” but there are beautiful gardens for the children to play in, and the hall is surrounded by lovely trees—which I adore.

So during the week of the 2nd of April, we packed and cleaned, and on Friday, with everything loaded into our two vans, we headed for Tremore. Because it was Shabbat that evening, we unpacked what we needed and went to the supermarket to buy food. We set up our Shabbat table in the dining room—and voilà, we were home again.

I love that so much. It doesn’t matter where we are: a white tablecloth and two candlesticks can transform any place into home.

The sleeping arrangements are wonderful. The children have a room with four couches, and the two middle boys sleep on mattresses on the floor. Havah sleeps in our room next door in a travel cot, and Pete and I have two camping mattresses on the floor.

Our bags are lined up neatly against the wall, and there’s a really useful shelving unit for odds and ends—perfect. Cornwall Services, about three miles away, has two self-service washing machines, and if those are in use, the next service station just two minutes further on has the same machines. How good is God!

The first week here was a whirlwind of seeing friends and meeting with one of our supporters. We also drove to Devon to meet a family we’ve been in contact with through HaYovel. The only day we didn’t go out was the first Monday, when we unpacked all our bags onto the dining room tables (very convenient), repacked them, and removed anything that wasn’t truly necessary.

Pete said we’ve come to realise that there’s no longer space for the “I wants” or the “might be usefuls.” We’re really getting down to what’s essential—though perhaps our definition of essential has had to change. It looks like we’ll manage with twelve bags, one guitar, and one keyboard as hold luggage. Maybe thirteen bags… But that’s really good, and we’ll be able to fit everything into our static caravan in Israel.

After about a week, life slowed down again. The little ones caught up on some much-needed sleep, and we enjoyed spending time in the beautiful garden. It’s gorgeous here—the daffodils have put on a stunning display of yellow, and as that fades, whites, pinks, and yellows from daisies, campions, and dandelions are taking their place.

Slowly but surely, the bare trees are beginning to shimmer with new green leaves, and before long we’ll be surrounded by every shade of green imaginable. Spring is such a beautiful season. With the sun rising earlier, we’re also woken by the dawn chorus of birdsong outside our windows.

Of course, it would be wonderful to be in Israel right now, but we praise Abba for giving us this time to fulfil His purposes.

Now, every Saturday there is a gathering in the hall, and we felt it would be best not to be around during that time. On the first Saturday, we headed up to Devon to meet a family who had got in touch with us after seeing our YouTube video. We had a wonderful time getting to know them, and the children played together so well that it felt as though they’d been friends for years.

On the second Saturday, we went to see friends in Redruth. On the way, our van started making an unusual noise. Pete slowed down, and we drove carefully to their house. We decided it wouldn’t be wise to drive it any further, and our kind friends lent us their seven-seater to get back home in two trips.

Pete returned on Sunday to help his friend fit something to his car and to sort out our van. The RAC towed it to a garage and, thankfully, also managed to get us an eight-seater van for a week. The bad news was that the timing chain had gone wrong, and even if repaired, there was a risk that the pistons or valves might be damaged—meaning a new engine would be needed. After much prayer and trying various doors, we decided to sell it as spares and repairs and let it go. The good news is that Abba is in control, and He knows best. We’ll be able to hire a fifteen-seater for a few days to get packed up and take us up to London.

As restrictions began to relax a little around meeting up, we wondered if we might be able to stay for the Saturday gathering—especially as finding somewhere else to be for three or four hours would have been tricky. We were able to stay, and it was wonderful. We saw some old friends we hadn’t seen for a long time and met some lovely new ones. They have a huge heart for Israel, prayed for us, and blessed us—it was so encouraging.

Another enjoyable focus during this time was gardening. After a conversation with the lady who oversees the Manor House and Hall, we were given some jobs to do in the garden. I was especially excited, as the brambles were growing very freely and definitely needed taming. I may have missed out on the landscaping gene, but I do love clearing brambles.

As soon as the sun came out (I really don’t enjoy gardening in grey weather), we got stuck in. We all worked together—children included—and I found it quite addictive. I loved heading down to the gardens in the afternoons with the children. The middle ones kept themselves busy pushing the younger ones around in the pushchair, so everyone was happy. When Lana and Anya ran out of steam, they started making stick people and dressing them with flower petals—very pretty.

So, during all of this, I did sometimes wonder whether we were truly going to make it to Israel. I know we are—but sometimes you still wonder. Then, on the 30th of April, HaYovel finally sent us some positive news. We would hear early the following week. Finally!

So now it’s a matter of ordering COVID tests for flying, packing up the bits and pieces we’ve been using, tying up loose ends, and getting excited. We had hoped to fly on Thursday, but because Monday is a bank holiday, the COVID testing kit won’t arrive until Wednesday, which doesn’t leave enough time for the results to come back. So, if the Ministry of Interior gives permission by Thursday or Friday, we will fly on Sunday.

God has come through in every area. Our support limit has been exceeded—praise God, He gives more than we need. Our faithful Support Team has been amazing, as have our friends who are praying for us as we go. And while we know that life won’t always be easy, we know with all our hearts that this is where Abba wants us to be. We will walk out our purpose there day by day, with joy, gladness, and thanksgiving.

What a mighty God we serve!

*****UPDATE ON THE 9TH MAY*****

On Thursday the 6th of May, after packing all our bags into a fifteen-seater minibus—with no boot—we left Tremore to stay with Pete’s parents for a couple of days. The plan was to pack our final bits, do some shopping on Friday, rest on Saturday, and fly on Sunday.

Then everything came to a halt. We received a message saying there was a hitch with the permission process. The person at the Ministry of Interior who issues visas is not the same one as last year and is unfamiliar with HaYovel. A meeting now needs to be scheduled—next week, after Jerusalem Day.

So that means a little more time. Time for the children to be with their grandparents. Time to settle into a better routine. Time to do whatever Abba places in front of us. And, honestly, time to enjoy a comfortable bed, a bathtub, a washing machine and dryer, good company, and a fully equipped kitchen.

Yes, we are sad not to be in Israel just yet—but God…

1 Thess 5:16-18 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.