A Tour Of Roses Israel, Day 6

 

Dear Friends Of Improbable People Ministries and A Tour Of Roses,

Who is that singing on the outdoor baby Grand? Who just plopped down on the stool in the middle of Hostage Square in Tel Aviv and started belting out a worship set without fear of condemnation or reprisal? Why, it’s our very own Fearless Leader–Sally Klein O’Connor, that’s who! You thought maybe it was Sophie Tucker? Oy! How this happened will become apparent in just a few minutes. Meantime, back at the ranch, we have some long and meaty testimonies today. So let’s get right to them:

TESTIMONIES

LURA:

I just want to give you a little praise report about our day yesterday. It really was a glorious day. We had some misgivings about things and some wonderings about things when we first started out because we went to Holocaust Square yesterday and our first outreach was there.

At first we, were a little disoriented, but a group of students were walking on the sidewalk and Sally asked them where the Square was. They said well we’re going there–follow us. So we did.

Sally walked on ahead of me because I move a little slower than she does.  Actually, three or four of us were a little bit slower. As we’re walking, all of a sudden, we heard piano music. Well, we’re carrying Sally’s keyboard, so we knew it wasn’t her keyboard, but David said, “Well, is that Sally singing?” Because it sounds like Sally singing. and it was Sally singing. When we came into view, here she is sitting at a grand piano and it’s sitting right close to an entrance or exit.

The acoustics were just wonderful right there. There was a big tree with lots of shade and so we gathered under the tree and most people dispersed with roses throughout the whole area two by two and we had made an agreement before we went to keep it one another in sight because we didn’t know what kind of an atmosphere it was going to be.

But it turns out it was a very peaceful atmosphere yesterday. There were groups of students been coming to see the Holocaust Memorial, and they were from school, so they were coming in groups, and they had a guide. So they were wandering about, and as Sally was singing, I started dancing.

And, oh my goodness, the Spirit of the Lord was just there; it was so glorious. And she wasn’t singing at first; she was just playing when I got there. So, I’m trying to remember the words to the song because that’s sometimes how I orient my choreography is to words rather than music. The Lord just gave me His Words. And I found out later that they were her words.

I just began dancing with the Spirit. And I had the blue flags with the white dove on them that Pamela had gifted me. And I’m dancing and it was so wonderful. I didn’t have any trouble dancing and I had lots of energy .

Sally sang probably five or six songs in a row, and I just danced. It was so wonderful. We began to have people gather around and listen for a little while, and then they’d go. Finally, one of the groups of students came and this was the last stop for them on their way out,Their teacher asked if Sally would play more softly and. I went and sat down. The teacher began to explainthe piano was called Adon’s piano and it is dedicated it to his memory.

There were little parts of the piano that were painted yellow, and they said that all throughout the city, they have pianos painted yellow, and that if anyone who could play would happen upon one of his pianos, please stop and play a song in his memory. And it was that was such just so beautiful to honor this young man who lost his life. And it really blessed me to be part of that worship.  The Lord was truly in our midst.

This morning I looked on the internet and there is a picture of the western wall on Thursday night and it was filled with thousands and thousands of people. They were there praying for peace. They were praying for comfort for the hostages. They were praying for peace and mercy for all of Israel. And that was what we were dancing and singing and proclaiming with the roses yesterday. For me personally, that was fruit from our ministry in that Hostage Square–that all those people came to pray for that very thing.

Thank you for praying for us so diligently. We do feel your prayers.

YARA:

Yesterday at Hostage Square it was quite sobering. I mean, you see the news about the war and you hear about the hostages, but it was really quite different being there.

Right there in the Hostage Square. It was kind of hard for me to be there. It was really sad, felt kind of heavy, and my heart just really felt for the families of those hostages, and what they must be going through, not knowing if they’re loved one is dead or alive.

What’s going to happen to them? It will be a year on October 7th. I can’t even imagine what they’re going through.

So, I just prayed for them that don’t know how, for God to intervene on their behalf. And it was hard. But at the time I also saw God’s grace in the midst of all of that because people were really touched by the free gift of the rose .

A lot of people were reading the card when we’d hand them the rose, they were reading the card and after they read the card, they’d look at me and say thank you.  Many would ask why are we doing this and we were able to tell them because God loves you, we love you and we’re praying for the situation and for the people of Israel. And we just want to let you know that and people were very touched by that. It was also really amazing that when we got to the Square there was a big ol’ piano there, right in the middle. We didn’t even need to bring up the keyboard.

And Sally was able to play worship music in the midst of a hard place there. And people were drawn to it, and they were sitting, and they were listening to it. I know that God was working there. And it was just amazing. That part was amazing. Thank you for all my prayer partners for praying love you guys, especially my Dad.

 

ERIC:

Yesterday, as we went for a two -our ride to get to the city North of where there was a group of survivors from World War II concentration camps, they were having a gathering. There were conversations about our being there and how much it meant to them. and also the ministry that was supporting them. I was struck by the friendliness of the different people that we met. There was a definite language barrier because they were mostly Russian. Some spoke Hebrew, but most spoke Russian, so we were translating through two different people, in three different languages.

It was difficult for people to concentrate and be able to keep their focus. But it worked out for Sally who was able to tell her story and to bring some reconciliation to hearts. It was a nice time of worship and of storytelling, There was a real spirit of receptiveness in the people. You could see their concentration, their countenance change as they heard the story and were able to absorb it. And as it was being spoken in Russian, you could see the expressions change on their faces.

We got to meet quite a few of them and had a wonderful time being able to minister the love of God.  We were able to bring the roses along with the message and the love of Yeshua to the people of this beach city north of Tel Aviv. We had a wonderful time and went out to dinner afterwards.

We had served the people their dinners prior to the ministry time. They got to eat some chicken and potatoes and green beans and they had a nice meal. We got to go out as a team afterwards with the ministry leaders from the other team that hosted this event. We got to pray for the ministry team as we parted.

DAVE:

Yesterday we were able to go to a dinner for children of Holocaust survivors. I met a man whose name was David and I introduced myself as David and he thought that was funny that we had the same name. As I sat there, my heart began to break for him. Then my heart began to fill with love for him. I then knew that this must be the love, the father feels for him.  I thought about his life and what he must have gone through and I couldn’t wait to hand him a rose.

Sally shared with music and testimony. While Sally was ministering, I would just look at him and it would make me smile because of the love I felt for him. After, Sally had all of us on the team to give out roses to the people who were there.

I kept thinking, I hope I have the opportunity to give him (David) a rose. I got my opportunity and I handed him a rose and told him God loves you and I love you. He only spoke Russian.

So, through a translator, I was able to tell him how I felt. I told him that my heart is filled with love for him and I know that’s the love of the father has for him. I added I love you too and I asked if I could hug him. He said yes, and we had a good hug, and we were able to bless him.

Earlier in the day we went to Hostage Square and we were able to give out roses to the people there who were mourning and coming to learn about what happened to the hostages in captivity. I was able to pray with a lady after I told her why we were there and giving roses.

There was so many hearts that were touched. At first, there were many somber faces, but after they received a rose, their faces lit up, and began to smile. There were also a lot of surprised faces that we would come all the way from the United States to give them a rose to tell them we love them and we’re praying for peace. It’s amazing to see how God. loves his first chosen people.

The day before yesterday, we were able to give roses out down the street from where we’re staying. I was on the corner and there was this man on a motorcycle and he asked what we were doing. So I told them we’re here to pray for the peace of Israel.

To remind everyone that God loves them and that we love them. He took off his helmet and took the rose that I offered him. And he took off his helmet because he wanted a hug from me. It was so amazing because he seemed like a man that wouldn’t be prone to show affectionate.

He seemed like a rough kind of fellow, but we had a great big hug. I told him I love him, that God loves him, and we’re praying for the peace of Israel. Then I found myself surrounded by newly discharged female soldiers.

They were in plain clothes, and they worked for the Ministry of Defense. They alluded to their job now–it was watching other people to make sure that they were doing what they’re supposed to be doing. I told them that we’re here from the States to remind them that God loves them, that we are praying for their peace, and that we’re praying for them, and that we love them,

 

And their faces lit up and they were happy, they thanked us, and it was overwhelming for me because of how a simple tiny act of giving a rose can make someone so happy. And that was very meaningful for me. I have a heart for soldiers, whether they’re male or female.

Anyone willing to serve their country is a hero to me, so I really appreciate what those young soldiers said to me and they received the roses with happiness.

KHAHLIDA:

We were giving out roses at the memorial for the hostages in Tel Aviv. And I gave a rose to this beautiful family, a mom, dad, and a little baby. The mom said, she named her son with a Hebrew name that means in English,” if I forget you, Jerusalem, may I forget my right hand.” We had a special encounter.

However, as we were leaving, we saw one of our team members going into the tunnel, which is a tunnel that they have built to show where the hostages were held and to experience their situation. When I saw the tunnel, it triggered negative emotions and I started crying. I just wanted to mention that the Lord is healing me from being Muslim for so many years and I think that coming to Israel and serving other people, the Lord is healing us too.

ANNIE:

Yarmulke is a Yiddish word that sounds kind of like “yah-ma-kah.”

This Jewish gentleman wore one, as did his son. They were so touched that I would come from America, not even a Jew, to pray, to share God’s love and pass out flowers. We had a warm conversation in front of his outdoor market and gave each other a big hug. Later I was told that the Jews in Israel that wear them don’t hug women. I think God broke down another wall.  (Annie and this man pose in the first photo below)

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PHOTOS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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COMMENTS:

Mary Jane Neri

I was so blessed being apart of this team as a prayer partner, your dedication is truly inspiring me. How God works in his mysterious ways! The impacts you guys making on people’s lives is a testament of your faith and perseverance. I KEEP ON PRAYING TO YOU ALL! GOD BLESS !

Ed & Janie Changus

I started writing & lost it. We praise God our Father for taking care of all of you. God loves you & the people you are ministering to.  God has gifted all of you with His words & His love for all you are coming in contact with. Praise God for His love & protection for you & all of the people you are speaking to. You are glorifying God in so many ways. Get rest & share our Lord with all that you meet tomorrow.  Love in Christ.

Gary Peyrot*

This is a great method for getting the reports done. I really feel connected in a special way. This is a beautiful trip. Thank you to Sally and the team for going and for all who made this possible.

*Gary is a valued member of our Improbable People Ministries Board of Directors. Our other long-serving and dedicated Board Members include Dawn Kotzen, Steve Chesser, Paul Bradshaw (Chairman), Elaine Stover and Dusty Rose (O’Connor) Tsalkova. Our Board is not only in place for legal reasons but offer us valuable spiritual insight and guidance. Without these dear folks A Tour Of Roses Israel–a questionable pursuit of the face of it– would never have been green lighted. They are our earthly accountability and we are grateful for their wisdom in our lives. Thank you, dear friends!  –Michael O’Connor

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ITINERARY