My Mom's Video Testimony a Few Months Before Her Death.

Dear Friends and Family,

You already know from the last post that Paula Bellow, my wonderful mom, peacefully went home to be with her loving Savior on Tuesday, December 21st, 2010.

But what you may not know is that earlier last year, my mom had the opportunity to share about her faith, terminal cancer, and even about her death.   It is very encouraging and comforting.  Please watch and share this with others. You never know who might be blessed by her testimony.



The video can also be found on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ckBCd1PL24
or on my facebook page.
   
My mom fought hard until the end not wanting to leave her family behind – a true mother's heart. Her faith and love for the Lord and her family remained unwavering throughout her battle with cancer.

The service for my mom was beautiful and it was just how my mom wanted it - praising Jesus that she was with Him now. And with God's grace, our family had a nice Christmas despite the sadness. Thank you for all of your support and especially your prayers - past, present, and future.

And thank you Jesus for defeating death and giving us hope! Thank you Holy Spirit for comforting and guiding us! We love you God and praise your Holy name forever! Amen.

Love in Christ,

Misty Laenger (on behalf of the entire Bellow family)

"Death is a sad thing but it is not a bad thing."

That is what our mom always taught every one of us from the very beginning because that is what God told her (and tells us) in His Word. This truth was the last lesson that God gave to us through her while she was still on this earth. By God’s grace and provision, she taught and prepared us all well because she not only loved us but, above all, she always shared God’s truth with us (and everyone else) any chance she got. We will continue to learn from her – from both her life and her death – until God calls each of us home too.

Her life, as well as her death, was painfully beautiful. I never thought I would use that second word about death but we all had (and still have) sadness AND joy. She had her Jesus, her husband, and ALL of her kids with her. It was not scary or frightening. We were not worried or anxious. Everyone from our mom to our dad and all the way down to our youngest brothers had a peace that passes all understanding. This is the wonderful peace that can only come from knowing Jesus, the Prince of Peace and having a personal relationship with Him.

We will grieve a lot but we do not grieve the same as those with no hope because we still have God’s Holy Spirit within us through it all. It comforts us with God’s promise that my mom has only passed from this earthly life to an eternal heavenly one and that we will all be together again one day with the Lord and will remain with Him forever because our entire family believes that Jesus died and rose again.

Our mom was a strong woman of faith. It was because of her LIFE of faith that we are confident in her death that she IS alive with Christ. We will always miss her and remember her. We will never forget.

We could go on and on about our mom but whenever we praised her she would always say “It’s not me – it’s God.” And she is right. All glory and honor and praise belong to our heavenly Father – the Lord God almighty. The most important thing in life, death, and the life to come is Christ and knowing Him.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior – now is your time! The Bible tells us that all anyone has to do is: ADMIT that you have sinned and repent of it; BELIEVE that Jesus died and rose again for your sins; and CONFESS Jesus as both the Lord (Master) and Savior of your life.

My mom knew the Lord, her family knows the Lord, but do you know the Lord?

Our mom loved God and her family with all of her heart, soul, mind, body, and strength. At 10am this Thursday (December 23rd) at Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont, TX we will not only remember and celebrate her LIFE in Christ but we will also rejoice that our mom is now in the presence of her God and Savior, seeing him face to face, full of Glory and great joy. There will also be a reception at her daughter’s home (123 Selman St, Lumberton, TX) following the memorial service. If you would like to visit with our family before then, we will be at Broussard’s Mortuary tomorrow (Wednesday, December 22nd) from 5pm – 8pm on Hwy 96 in Silsbee, TX.

Thank you for all of your prayers and support.

“May the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; may the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace;” now and forever. (Numbers 6:24-26)

We thank You Lord God our Savior for our mom and praise Your Holy name forever! Amen.

My Mom's Cancer has Spread.

We ONLY NEED 1,000 people to give $25 for my (Misty's) mom to have enough for her initial treatment costs! JUST $25!!! That is not much and our family knows way more than 1,000 people! So look at it that way friends and know that EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS! Please give...and soon! And ALWAYS REMEMBER TO PRAY!!!!

Ways to Give:

1) Online at PaulaBellow.ChipIn.com

2) Send checks (payable to me since I'm helping w/finances) to:

Misty Laenger
514 That Way St, Apt 1625
Lake Jackson, TX 77566

The cancer had already spread to several places over the past 7 years including her bones and both lungs but now it has spread to her brain. She needs to receive brain radiation and begin treatment at the Burzynski Clinic soon but doesn't have the funds to cover the initial up-front fees & deposits.

Also, to raise funds, we are hosting a Benefit Garage Sale & Silent Auction at 1st Baptist Church of Conroe TX on Saturday, November 13th. We are collecting items for the garage sale all across southeast Texas.

So please come and/or donate items for the garage sale and silent auction!

For drop-off locations in your area, please contact Misty at:

theLaengers@hotmail.com

or

(720) 273-9397

You can follow my mom's progress by joining the facebook group "Support Mother of 10 in Her Fight Against Cancer" or by becoming a free member at www.carepages.com/carepages/PaulaBellow.

My family especially asks for your prayers during this difficult journey and thanks you ahead of time for your support!

Love and Prayers,

Misty (& Aaron) Laenger

Where in the world are the Laengers now? And how is Misty's mom?

Hi Friends,

Sorry it took us a while to post an update. Thank you so much to everyone for your concerns and prayers and for asking how Aaron & I are and how my family (especially my mom) is doing. It really means a lot to us to know that we have friends and family who care about us.

To answer your questions about us...Aaron has received his commissioning papers to be sworn in as 1st Lieutenant in the Army as a Reserve Chaplain and is also teaching Bible (apologetics, world views, etc.) at Brazosport Christian School to upper level high school students. He is doing what God has gifted him to do (teach) and loves it! Even though the job search was long and hard, we know that this is the opportunity that God wanted Aaron to wait for. Sooo...we moved...again...but after almost 2 years of being nomads (ever since we began preparing for Bethlehem), we have finally moved to a place that we can settle down in, unpack all of our stuff, and call home (at least for a while). We even have furniture again! God continues to bless us!

We moved to Lumberton, Texas from Denver, Colorado at the beginning of this year to be closer to my mom and family; and after this move in August to Lake Jackson, TX we are still within 2 1/2 hours of my family - and Aaron's. It is close enough that I have been able to drive to my parent's house every week, visit my family, stay a night or two, help out with whatever they need, then drive back home! All of the children live within 2 1/2 hours now so we all visit frequently and help my mom, dad, and little brothers (ages 8 & 14) as much as we can so that is great!

To answer your questions about my family...my mom is not doing as well (at the moment) as she has during times in the past but she is still doing better than expected considering the circumstances. Despite having cancer throughout her body, she is still a loving mother to her children and a wonderful wife to her husband - always thinking of us more than herself. You wouldn't know (based on her physical appearance alone) that she has fought and is still fighting such a long and difficult battle with cancer. And, let me tell you, she is putting up a heck of a fight especially since it's been almost 7 years now (Praise God!) and she wasn't expected to live past 2 years tops. So you see...God has been answering our prayers!

Like I said, if you were to just see her, you wouldn't know she had cancer throughout her body. That is how good God is! But even though she doesn't show it much, she has not been feeling well off and on lately. She is usually in some sort of pain from mild to severe and has trouble sleeping because of the pain. She still tries to exercise, do daily chores, take care of her family, home school my youngest brother, complete her daily treatment regimens, and travel for treatment and to see family although all of these things are much harder on her nowadays. The discomfort and pain are more frequent and more intense but she is a strong woman - physically and spiritually - and I know that her faith is what's causing her to persevere each day. God is giving her a good quality of life still when things should be worse...much worse...according to the doctors! It's a good thing that they aren't God!

She is trying to go to a town about 45 minutes away nearly every day for mineral treatments, vitamins, and other alternatives which has probably been helping with the pain, keeping her going, and slowing the spread of cancer. This is the one treatment that is giving her positive results and yet, the insurance won't cover it. She has had to miss treatments due to lack of funds. But despite all of that, God is still giving her life and we are so thankful!

God is also sending people into our lives who are going out of their way to willingly help my mom on their own initiative and upon their insistence. The most recent person is a sweet massage therapist who is giving my mom a special lymphatic massage at no charge 3 times a week. This wonderful lady carefully massages my mom's aching sore body giving her some relief from the hurt and helping remove the toxins that are trying to take over and destroy her. She often cries and prays over my mom as she is massaging her. This is no a small gesture to us. Her kindness and generosity touches our hearts and we are more grateful than she will ever realize.

My mom is still looking into a few targeted laser or radiation treatments but as you know, there is no cure - except for a miracle. There is also the well-known Burzynski Clinic in Houston that deals with gene therapy which is what my mom desperately needs...soon (since it is a gene mutation that is causing this cancer) but there are several steep up-front deposits. Even with all of our funds combined, my family is not able to come up with that kind of money so quickly. And insurance probably won't cover much - if any - of the treatments. But luckily our hope is not in insurance - but in the Lord Almighty who is generous and merciful!

Please pray that God will provide a way for my mom and dad to continue to pay for the current treatments and the new ones that she needs. My dad is still working hard at his job and all the children are contributing any way we are able - including financially but it's not enough to pay for the medical bills (past, present, and future). We aren't going to give up though! God is in control though and His will be done! We will continue to rely on Him for our large needs as well as our everyday ones!

My parents are trying to sell a vehicle though to help pay for my mom's treatments. Anyone want to buy a car or know anyone that does? =) Seriously though...it is a good car! Contact me if you want to know more about it. Also, we are trying to plan a fundraiser event soon but that takes time to organize and we need a faster solution in the mean time. Any ideas? Time is of the essence but all the money in the world belongs to God and I know that His timing is perfect.

The cancer is in her sternum and has cracked the bone in several places (the bone is not there anymore in certain areas) and it has started to spread to the surrounding bones. Her lungs have cancerous masses and pleural effusion (build-up of cancerous fluid in the lungs). She has lost lung capacity which is causing her to cough more and take more breaths. The cancer is also in both ovaries, as well as, her spleen along with a few other places. My mom is not dying from cancer though...she is living in spite of cancer - by God's grace.

With all of that, the doctors are surprised that my mom's is physically still able to breath (because the cancer has left her lungs and heart very little room)...but I am not...I know it is the Lord who gives the breath of life and keeps a heart beating - despite it being perceived as not possible. Nothing is impossible with the Lord Jesus Christ! Even though it is not yet the miracle that we are desperately asking for (which would be complete healing) it is still a miracle, He is still keeping her whole, and it is equally as powerful.

I kept asking God why he doesn't heal my mom though when I know He can and He finally answered me. He simply said "Because, Misty, my grace and comfort would be a thing of the past instead of here and now." And I get it! My mom is literally a walking miracle each and every day that she is alive. We have to daily rely on God's Holy Spirit to get us through and to give us peace. That is a great testimony to God's provision, comfort, goodness, & grace. Thank You Father!

The Lord has sustained her thus far and can continue to do so for years to come - even with a diseased body because He is God over everything!

I have many prayers but here are a few of them...I pray that I would always honor my God in life, as well as in death. I pray that I would never forget to be passionate for the Lord and willing to stand up for God (and possibly be hated) even when no one else will. I greatly admire my mom for always being a Godly example of a bold and courageous ambassador for Jesus. I pray that I will not forget the truth that my parents have taught me and the love that they shown. And, of course, I continually pray for God to heal my mom and refresh her each day.

There is so much that I pray, no, plead for. Sometimes grief comes on unexpectedly and suddenly about the situation that I, my mom, and our family are facing but I know that He loves and cares for her (and all of us) even more than I do. And it is comforting to know that not only is death powerless over Christians (because of Christ conquering death through His resurrection) but it is nothing more than a mere servant that God uses to usher His children into His presence. My mom has always said that she wants so much to be here with her family but she also wants to run to God - straight into His arms - when He calls her home because although death is a sad thing (especially for those who are still here), it is not a bad thing if you know Jesus Christ as your Savior. So true, Mom! 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Please continue to plead (with us) to God on our behalf. Maybe you could even fast even if for a short while during some of the times that you are praying for my mom. Thank you for all of the prayers, encouragement, and support that you already give to us. I know some of you are facing hard times as well and our prayers are with you also. Don't get discouraged!

Love and Prayers,

Misty (& Aaron) Laenger

Our new address is:

514 That Way St, Apt 1625
Lake Jackson, TX 77566

All of our other information is the same. Hope to hear from y'all (that's Texas talk for you all or all of you)! =)

Bethlehem Presentation - Sunday, November 15th

Misty & I will be sharing about our time in Bethlehem on Sunday, November 15th at 10:45am in the fellowship hall at GracePoint Community Church in Littleton, CO. There will be fantastic photos, momentos from the Middle East, & tasty arabic treats! As we reflect on our experience in the Holy Land, we particularly want to bring awareness to the difficult situations that many face there each day - especially our Brothers & Sisters in Christ. Hope to see you there!

Update on Paula Bellow (Misty Laenger's mom)

Thank you for all of your prayers and support for my mom and my family! My mom's most recent tests showed that the cancer in her ovaries and abdomen/bladder area was completely gone! PRAISE GOD! Tests also showed that the polyps that had always been in her colon had dissappeared as well! This is a huge answer to our prayers and a great miraculous healing especially when the doctors said she didn't have much of a chance at survival even if she did choose the radical and harsh traditional treatments (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) - which she decided not to do and because of that decision, she looks great and feels good (for the most part).

But please continue to keep her in your prayers because she is still battling cancer in her breasts that had spread to her lungs as well as to the fluid in her lungs. Although the cancer is still in these areas, it seems as though it is not growing or spreading which is a miracle as well! The fact that she is still alive and has been fighting for the past few years is also a testament to God's power because the doctors had told her that she wouldn't live long since she has such an aggressive cancer.

She is in Phoenix right now but hopes to go home at the end of August if she can get set up at a clinic in Dallas. This is great news because it means she can be home in Lumberton at least every weekend with her husband and two youngest sons (7 & 12 years old). Things still need to be worked out and finalized but please pray that it will be a smooth transition, that she will be able to be transferred without any problems, and that the process won't worsen her condition.

God has given my mom more life here on this earth for which we will praise and thank Him. But my mom often reminds us that although death is a sad thing, it is not a bad thing. And that God IS able to save her but even if He doesn't - He IS still God and she will worship, praise, and obey Him with the life that He has blessed her with until she sees Him face to face. Knowing this, we can seek comfort and rejoice in the times of healings, as well as in the times when it is not apparent that God has yet healed her.

To God be the Glory,

Misty Bellow Laenger

If you want know more about my mom's situation and to receive more updates, please sign up at www.carepages.com/carepages/PaulaBellow.

Upcoming Cancer Fundraisers & A Newspaper Article About My Mom

Hi All,

Here is a flyer about upcoming benefits to raise funds to help my mom fight cancer. I've also attached an article printed about my Mom in the newspaper since I thought you might be interested to know a little more about her. I know many of you don't live close enough to attend these events but there are many other things that you can do to be involved besides attending, helping with, or donating items to these events. You can first and most importantly continue to pray. You can also tell others our story. You can donate funds as you are able. You can also stay informed about my mom's situation by signing up for free to be a member at www.carepages.com/carepages/PaulaBellow. Thanks for all of your encouragement already.

Sincerely,

Misty Bellow Laenger


Cancer Treatment Fundraiser
RUMMAGE SALE and Silent Auction

Friday, July 10th 8a-5pm

Saturday, July 11th 8a-2pm

Faith Assembly of God

570 S Main, Lumberton, TX 77657

Benefiting Paula Bellow

Paula Bellow was diagnosed with breast cancer about 5 years ago. She had targeted radiation and a lumpectomy and she was cancer free for about 4 years. In the past 1 or 2 years her cancer has come back. She has received many treatments since then but it has still spread to at least 6 places in her breast that we know of (including the chest wall and cavity), to the fluid in her lungs, to both her ovaries and to her bladder and abdomen. Paula and her husband have ten children. We ask that you first and foremost keep Paula and her family in your prayers. We also ask that you please donate any amount that you are able to help pay for medical treatments to fight her cancer.

Rummage Sale Item Donations accepted. For drop-off or pick-up call:

Theresa 409-960-4175 or Pauline 409-751-4644.

You may also send financial donations to FivePoint Credit Union

604 South Main, Lumberton, TX 77657- Account# 4057241-0

Or mail donations to Paula Bellow 230 Beech Dr, Lumberton, TX 77657

Also Link Sale and Car Wash Saturday, August 15th @ Market Basket


Lumberton mother of 10 faces mom's death, battles breast cancer

By JANE MCBRIDE – Beaumont Enterprise May 2006 Article

LUMBERTON - This is the place where Paula Bellow held her babies, sang them lullabyes and taught them the things a child needs to know. Photos of the four girls and six boys - seven of them now grown and gone, three of those with babies of their own - hang in places of honor. Hand-painted rainbows and clouds float across the ceiling and walls of the upstairs bedroom, where four of the babies she wasn't supposed to have slept soundly. It's a nice house. Large, solid, comfortable. Unlike the shacks she lived in as the child of a migrant worker. But Paula has known since she was little that houses don't make homes and homes don't always last forever. Even a mom can disappear without warning. Pauline "Paula" Bellow was one of nine children born to Pauline and Raymond Wright, of Akron, Ohio. Both parents worked to help the family get ahead. Dad was a switchboard operator during the day; Mom waitressed at night. Things began to look up for the family. They arranged to move into a bigger house. Late one afternoon, they loaded up two cars with kids and furnishings and headed out to pick mom up at work. Paula's dad and older sister were in the first car. As they neared the corner where their mother was waiting, she saw them, waved and headed across the street. A drunk driver hit and killed her. He thought she was a cardboard box, he told the police. It was a week before they told Paula her mother wasn't coming home. She was 4.

The family moved into their new home, but it wasn't long until the welfare folks showed up, Paula said. "Back then, Welfare would not allow fathers to raise children. It just wasn't done," Paula said. "They didn't think it was proper." Early in their marriage, Paula's parents had talked about what they would do if anything ever happened to one of them. Both her mother and father had been torn from their homes as babies and grew up in children's homes. No matter what, they promised each other, their family would remain intact. "Dad sold everything we had. He chose to become a migrant farm worker so we could work with him and stay together," Paula said. "We left in two cars, because there were so many of us. We had room for only one two-foot by four-foot box in each car."The family left Ohio, working in the tomato fields in Indiana, following the corn, cotton, potato and grape crops from Florida to California. Everyone worked, even the babies, mostly during the summer months. "We couldn't stay there by ourselves," Paula said. In good times, they lived in one-room shacks with an outdoor toilet. In lean ones, they slept in the car or in a family member's back yard shack. "I wouldn't change my childhood for anything," Paula said firmly. "I learned that family being together is more important than Christmas and Easter and birthdays and stuff like that, which we didn't have. It didn't bother us. We had what we had and didn't mind." Paula said some people talk about faith. Others, like her dad, live it. "He was always singing hymns and reading the Bible and was full of the joy of the Lord," Paula said. "We never saw him in any way act like it was someone's fault, blame it on God, or pity himself. When it comes to being strong, I saw him live it out, in bad situations and in good ones. He played with us and prayed for us."

Paula and her siblings watched the world divide people into haves and have-nots, blacks and whites, educated and ignorant. She knew better. "In Indiana, we had to go to a school that was for migrant farm workers' kids. We had to ride on the back of the bus. We weren't allowed to go to the public school where regular girls and boys went." The bus driver would drop off the public school kids, then let the migrant kids get off to cross the street to the migrant school. "We got rocks thrown at us and were called names, but it just made us stronger," Paula said. "We never held a grudge against the people who did that. We knew they needed help, not us." The migrant kids looked out for each other, bound by circumstance and need. "Everybody worked in the fields, the Hispanics, blacks, whites," Paula said. "You all become one big family. No one was ever better than the next one. We lived the same and worked the same and ate the same." There were days without food, sometimes two in row. But there also were days with root beer floats. No matter how strong the example their father gave, surely the rocks and names hurled at her must have stung? "Nothing could match the hurt of my mother's death. Nothing could be as powerful as that hurt, that young, when you are looking out the window waiting for her to come home."

Paula left at home at 16 because she didn't want to burden her father, who made very little money. He didn't want her to quit school, but she did, moving to the YWCA and getting work at a car wash as a cashier. "It provided for me. I had everything I wanted. I wasn't brought up to want anything. What I had in life, I was satisfied with, no matter what it was. That was how my dad was." Paula said she and God did fine. He even sent her a husband. "I saw my sisters abused by their husbands at a young age. I didn't want that. As I prayed for my sisters, I prayed for God to send me a good man, believing that he would answer my prayers." Michael, Paula's husband of 32 years, was an only child. When she told him she wanted at least a dozen children, he wasn't fazed. The first two babies came easy. The third birth was complicated, with the baby in distress during delivery. Doctors performed an emergency C-section and told Paula she should consider a hysterectomy. She said no. The next two babies also were C-sections. Doctors told her three C-sections were the limit. She had eight. When she wanted to continue having children, one doctor "quit her," she said.

Five years ago, Paula was diagnosed with breast cancer and was positive for the mutated BRCA1 gene, which gives a person a higher risk of cancer. The normal gene suppresses cancer. She wasn't surprised, having watched two of her sisters die from the disease. Her doctors wanted her to have a double mastectomy and undergo radiation and chemotherapy. When the oncologists wouldn't consider other, less-aggressive treatments, Paula told them she would go elsewhere. "They were putting fear into my life and not letting me make my own decisions," she said. The doctors, worried about her, cut to the chase. "How would you feel if you died and left 10 kids behind, because that's probably what is going to happen," the doctor said. Bellow gave her answer. "I have lived that." Paula chose a lumpectomy and a five-day form of radiation from a hospital in Louisiana that encourages patients to be involved in their own treatment, she said. She has been in remission for four years, but last year, found a new breast tumor. She again chose lumpectomy. "Many of the procedures nowadays have just as much of a chance to kill you as the cancer," said her oldest son, David, 24. It's not as if his mother is someone who says, 'God will take care of me so I'm not going to do anything,' David said. "My mom has really studied and looked into many types of medical procedures to deal with different types of cancer in a safer way. "No, it might not be what people normally do, but it's a known, solid choice." Paula doesn't say God will keep her from getting cancer again or that he won't let her die. She says she trusts Him to help her make the right decisions. "When you die, you want to die with peace, knowing you did the best you can, raising your children the best way you can," Paula said, adding that her husband, a shift worker, has been a true partner in raising their family. The Bellow children include teachers, business men and women, small business owners and students. So far, six of them have attended college, five earning degrees. Paula doesn't hide the truth from her children about the potential for cancer to return. "I talk frankly with them. I tell them dying is not a bad thing. It's a sad thing." Paula, who went back to school and earned her GED when she was 22, plans to attend Lamar University when the kids are all grown. She hopes to become a teacher or nurse. Whether she is able to be cancer free or it one day takes her life, Paula believes her kids will be all right. "I raised my children so that they will help each other and live through it, like I did. It made me want to be the type of mom for my children that my mother didn't get to be with her children. That's what I want to do for my mother, to let her live on in me," Paula said. Faith is only as deep as your roots, Paula believes. "My roots go to my mother and father. They live on in me and I will live on in every one of my children and hopefully, in their children and their children. The roots will grow deeper, like a tree planted by the water that cannot be moved."

Changing Seasons

Well, our time in Bethlehem came to a close at the end of March. We spent the first three months of 2009 getting to know some of the most incredible people that we have ever met, and we have a few new heroes. We have many stories to tell and many pictures to share. Ninety days in Bethlehem went by fast – especially the last week we were there. This season has been challenging and rewarding in many different ways. We are certain that God called us there during that time for a reason or many reasons for that matter. Though we may never fully know why, God reveals to us a little more each day about what He wants us to do now with the experience we had there. As we attempt to tackle the question of “What now?” a few paragraphs down, we both feel confident that our time at Bethlehem Bible College and with the Christians in Palestine was well spent, and it goes without saying that we are going to miss our new friends.

But we also know that God is leading us to yet another season in our lives. And although we are not sure what that season looks like, we know this for sure – God is faithful. This is how good God is: We had no long-term place or even somewhere to store our stuff just a few days before we were supposed to head back to Colorado. Two days before we left, we had a long–term month to month apartment beginning mid-may as well as a place to stay in the mean time. Both are work for rent situations which is exactly what we needed coming back from four months of not working When we arrived, the Lord provided a free storage place for all of our items just a day before we had to move it all. God perfectly orchestrated it all – as only He can. As of right now, we plan to stay in Colorado for some time to work and search for jobs. Anyone got some ideas for us?

In the following paragraphs, we take some time to answer a few questions that you might have, but first and foremost, we wanted to say thanks to all of you who were praying for us during our time there and to all of you who have supported us financially. God bless you all! We hope that our blog has been informative and enjoyable for all you who have kept up with us. Keep checking! We are going to be adding some reflections and photos on our time in Palestine. Blessings!

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE YOU LEFT BETHLEHEM?

To explain it shortly – home hopping! We have not stayed in the same place for over a week for the last month and a half. Whew! It is now close to a year that we have been nomadic! When we left Bethlehem, we stopped in Italy to visit Aaron’s cousin whose husband is in the Navy and is stationed on the coast south of Rome. It was a great time to visit family that we haven’t seen in a while and to transition from Palestine to the U.S.

After leaving Italy, we were home with our families in Texas for Easter which was a very significant event for us since we had just returned from living in the place where Christ was resurrected. We stayed the week after Easter with Misty’s family and took care of her little brothers while Misty’s dad went with her mom to get her settled in Phoenix, Arizona where she has been having targeted chemotherapy. Misty’s mom will be there until mid-June at the least. She is doing well spiritually and physically but we won’t be sure yet if the treatments are actually working on the cancer for another few weeks. Thank you for all of the prayers, cards, and support you’ve sent her these past weeks. Every little bit has helped tremendously. Please continue to pray for her while she is not only receiving treatment but is away from her children and husband as well. And pray for her husband and children while they are missing her at home and trying to adjust to the changes.

Following the week after Easter we drove back to Colorado, have been working at least two jobs each (so way more than full-time) and have been home-hopping until our more long-term apartment was ready – it was being remodeled. Needless to say, we've been pretty busy. During all this, Misty went to Phoenix to stay with her mom for a week. It was a good mother-daughter bonding time for Misty and her mom. A little over week after Misty's return, our apartment is now ready, for the most part, so we will be moving in this week and getting settled. While we are deeply appreciative to those who graciously gave us a home when we had none, we are so excited and ready to move in to a place of our own and sleep in our own bed. AAHHHH! Roaming, moving and living out of two small suitcases is tiresome!

WHAT NOW?

Well, that is a great question for all of you who are asking. We have made arrangements to be in Colorado through the summer until the fall – with a few side trips to Texas (and maybe Phoenix again). We both have jobs right now but Aaron is looking for full-time professional employment in his area of training (minister, Bible teacher, or ministry of some sort –in the church or in a Christian organization), and until we know what that is and where it is, we will be hanging around the Rockies. We are planning on making the most of our time by catching up with our friends and family both in Colorado and Texas; hopefully, we will have a chance to visit with you. We will also be taking some time to reflect on our journey. Overall, we have over 3,000 pictures and seven hours of video from our time there – not to mention several pages of journaling information.

HOW WAS PALESTINE?

Wow! That is a big question that merits more than a few paragraphs, but we will write what we can now and elaborate more along the way as we process through our time there. Palestine, Bethlehem, Bethlehem Bible College, the Palestinian Christians, the other local Palestinians (non-Christian), the ex-patriot (non-Palestinian) Christian volunteers – were all absolutely wonderful! We did everything from cleaning toilets, to driving the van for mail runs into Jerusalem (since most Palestinians could not travel beyond the separation wall), to greeting wayward travelers as they arrived at the guest house (giving people a first impression of the College while being an ambassador for Christ), to being “dorm parents” for the young men since we lived on the same floor as them (this was exciting to say the least and we really enjoyed spending time with each one of them), to creating a new website for the college (this is not up and running yet – Misty is still tweaking a few things on it), to helping in the gift shop, and last but certainly not least, to encourage the Christian church wherever it was.

Encouraging the Christians – getting to know them and hear their hearts – was by far, our favorite experience there and possibly the most important thing we could have been involved in.

Our friend, Rhonda, told us of a recent time that a Palestinian Christian called her and asked her to come and visit them. They said they could really use some encouragement and that they were exhausted. Rhonda said she would be there as soon as she can but that might not be for another month or so. To which the weary Christian said, “No, we need you now. Please come.” So she dropped everything and flew there immediately. When she arrived she sat down with this man and his family, and her heart ached for him as he described his spiritual and physical situation. What he told Rhonda is what we have seen in the eyes of many of our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Christ. What he said was very simple yet profound.

It went something like this (Laenger paraphrase), “Rhonda, I am so tired. I feel like I am Moses – that I have been extending my hands to win the battle. And as long as my hands are up, we are winning the spiritual battle, ministering and witnessing for Christ, but I am getting tired…so very tired. I need someone to help me hold my arms up – especially now.” The heartfelt and sincere request for encouragement was the same cry that we heard from many. Not in the same words, but the heart of what they expressed was the exact same. We will all lose the battle as Christians if we don’t take to time to recognize that there is a global body of Christ that all Christians are a part of who could really use some encouragement and help holding their arms up – to simply be there for them in their time of need. As Yohanna (a Palestinian Christian and a good friend) reminded us, “If the body of Christ suffers in one area in the world then the entire body of Christ suffers (even in the U.S.) – for we are of one body, spirit, and mind – that which is in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.”

WILL YOU BE GOING BACK TO BETHLEHEM LONG-TERM?

Although we don’t feel that God is calling us there long-term right now, we both agree that if God were to call us back long-term, we would say yes without a doubt. We think that a long-term position anywhere needs to be more in the areas that God has called us to and to utilize to the fullest potential of the gifts that God has given to us. For Aaron, those God-given skills would be teaching or ministering. And for Misty, they would be hospitality (especially in our home) and teaching as well. We also believe that, it is only because we have lived there with them – hearing their stories, going through the checkpoints, and just being there that we can now help them more by being here in the United States.

We feel that our calling now is to help bring awareness of the Christian Palestinians to our brothers and sisters in Christ here in America. We brought awareness before we left through the class that Aaron taught on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as well as by researching and sharing with friends and family what we discovered. But we can now be so much more effective since we have seen and experienced life with them as they do. Knowing is informational but seeing is transformational. We have been transformed. We as Christians are not called to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we may prove what the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God is (Romans 12:2). For us – Bethlehem was a part of this transformational process.

WHAT DO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO?

Okay…so that might not be a question that you are asking but it is something that we are going to tell you whether you want to hear it or not.

What do we encourage you to do? Well, it’s simple really. You should GO! Even if it is only for a few days, it will be memorable and life-changing for you and possibly for those you meet. There are “Alternative Tours” offered by many agencies now (Christian, non-Christian, Israeli, Palestinian, etc.). We would recommend going with a Christian agency since they would not only take you to the unforgettable Christian holy sites (which you don’t want to miss) but will also take you to other sites (such as the wall, checkpoint, areas within the west bank). The most impacting visit, though, will be with the living stones – the Christians (from Messianic Jews, to Palestinian Christians, to Muslim-background believers), in order to gain a greater understanding and a hands-on perspective of the religious, political, economic, and spiritual situation in the land of the Bible.

Not everyone can go, but if you can’t go then we encourage you to LEARN, SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE, and PRAY! Four things that all Christians can do regardless of age, gender, denomination, or any other excuse that people (including us) have used to not get involved. Well, if you don’t have finances to support then you can at least do three of the four. Take the time to LEARN more about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict – from many different perspectives. Things might be overwhelming at first but keep digging and praying about what you find. SUPPORT Christian organizations, Palestinian brothers and sisters in Christ, or missionaries that are there by giving finances or other resources and supplies. Write letters and emails, or send care packages and cards to ENCOURAGE those who are there (Palestinian Christians as well as missionaries). But the most impact you can have on your life as well as theirs is to PRAY. Pray for the Christians there, pray for the Muslims, Jews, secularists, and other non-Christians, pray that the Kingdom of God will flourish and grow.

A FEW REFLECTIONS…

During our time there, we have learned that we should be and have been commanded to be concerned about the Kingdom of God. We are to be ‘Kingdom-minded’; and Christ’s Kingdom is a spiritual one. We have also learned of the dangers of not putting Christ at the center of everything – even our doctrine. Setting aside what any of us believe about Israel, the end times, or any other possible doctrine that may be important but not essential to ones salvation, the bottom line is…we are united in Christ. When we don’t keep Christ as the center of our doctrine, we have a tendency to disregard our fellow Christians and overlook the fact that they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is demanded of us by God that we encourage one another because we are of the same body. As Paul explains it in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Amen for that.

A CHALLENGE TO YOU!

Read Romans 12. In light of our testimony, experiences, and what we have written and told you, please take the time right now to read Romans 12 and pray about what the Lord might be laying on your heart through these true words from God.

SOME RESOURCES ABOUT PALESTINE

We thought it might be helpful for some of you to have some of names of the resources that we have found helpful in these past months. Prayerfully use these as you get started in your learning process, and hopefully, as you one day prepare to go.

Brother Andrew and Al Janseen. Light Force: A Stirring Account of the Church Caught in the Middle East. Crossfire. Open Doors International, 2004.

Carter, Jimmy. Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid. Simon and Schuster, 2006.

Chapman, Colin. Whose Promise Land? The Continuing Crisis Over Israel and the Palestinians. A Lion Publishing plc. Oxford, England, 2002.

Awad, Alex. Palestinian Memories: The Story of a Palestinian Mother and Her People. Bible College of New Zealand, 2008.

Musalaha http://www.musalaha.org/

Holy Land Trust http://www.holylandtrust.org/ – Alternative Tours are offered with this Christian organization

Christian Peacemaking Team http://www.cpt.org/ - read about At-Tuwani (a village we visited)

The Israeli Committee Against Housing Demolitions (ICHAD) http://www.ichad.org/ - not a Christian organization but offers good tours that introduce you to the conflict situation

Applied Research Institute http://www.arij.org/

Breaking the Silence http://www.shovrimshtika.org/

If Americans Knew http://www.ifamericansknew.org/

This Week in Palestine http://www.thisweekinpalestine.com/

Bethlehem Bible College http://www.bethlehembiblecollege.edu/

David is Back!

After a little over a week in prison (and soon after we posted our prayer request for him), our brother David has returned safely to the Bible college, missing only his eyeglasses – which were taken at the checkpoint where he was arrested, blindfolded, and taken to prison after hours of waiting in a holding cell there. A short time after that, he was in a vehicle headed for Gaza without trial, but when he was almost at the Erez checkpoint the Israeli soldiers were stopped and told to bring him back to the prison near Hebron. David described this as a miracle. David’s legal advocate made the case for him to stay in Bethlehem and have privilege to move between Bethlehem and Ramallah. Yet, even after the court decided for him to be released, he was held in prison for a few more days.

When we saw him, he was in surprisingly good spirits. It was a happy reunion, and almost all of the Bible college went out to meet him to express our joy for his return. Misty and I asked him about his experience there, and he was excited to tell us how he had witnessed to both the Muslim prisoners and the Israeli guards. While in prison, he sang praise songs, prayed, shared about Christ, and read his Bible. During this trying time, David considered it a blessing and an opportunity for ministry. Pray for the seeds of the gospel that were planted in the hearts of the soldiers and prisoners. Pray for the Palestinians from Gaza who are still in the West Bank illegally. They are hoping that David's case can be used by the attorney to help them obtain this needed permission. And continue to pray for David, his education at BBC, and that God would continue to form him into His image.

Our Friend David

Our friend David from Gaza, who is a student at the Bible College and getting a degree in Christian theology, left Bethlehem to visit his mom and little brother in Ramallah (his dad is still in Gaza). While on his way back he was caught at a checkpoint with expired permission to be in the West Bank and has been in prison for over a week now. Although he was traveling from one Palestinian area to another (both within the West Bank) he was arrested and is now being held in a jail cell in near Hebron awaiting a decision from the court to see if he will be allowed to return to Bethlehem to continue his studies or if he will be returned to Gaza, blacklisted, and never able to leave from Gaza again. If he returns to Gaza, his life may be in danger there.

David is a passionate Christian who will tell anyone and everyone about the Lord Jesus Christ. This was not acceptable to some Muslims before he left and it won’t be welcome if he returns. Nevertheless, David will share the love of Christ, even if it means death - just as it has for others. David represents many people of Gaza who have left, their permission expired, and have not been able to make it back to Gaza. The frustrating part of all of this is that these are all Palestinian areas that we are speaking of here (Gaza & the West Bank). Yet, the Israelis have set up internal checkpoints within the West Bank to restrict travel between Palestinian autonomously controlled areas such as Jericho, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Ramallah.

We are not allowed to visit David, but we have sent a care package to him that his attorney (a Palestinian Christian who serves on the college’s board) was hopefully able to deliver. We included a small Arabic New Testament with the Psalms (thank you Gideons), letters of encouragement, and, of course, some snacks. We hoped that all of these items were allowed in, but we weren't sure if the Bible would be. We had told the attorney that if these items are not able to be given to David then to please give them to the soldiers and to the other prisoners if possible because we are sure that David would have shared with them anyway.

We also sent a separate small care package for the soldiers there at the prison. We know from talking to many of them and from reading some of their testimonies (found in "Breaking the Silence") that many of them would rather be somewhere else and many times would rather not be in the army at all. There is universal conscription (all men and women must serve in the IDF as soon as they are 17 or 18 years old - whenever they graduate from high school). Even if they do want to be there, that is not necessarily a bad thing and they also need to be loved regardless.

Our friend David is physically imprisoned but many of those imprisoning them are also imprisoned themselves - imprisoned in the army, imprisoned by hate, imprisoned by fear, and imprisoned by the wrong they have done (as we all once were before Christ). By showing the love of Christ to them, hopefully they will find the freedom found only in Jesus Christ – freedom from the wrong that they have done, freedom from hate, and freedom from fear. With Christ, soldiers will have a new purpose in the army to not only serve their country, but to first and foremost serve their God. The soldier will have the freedom in Christ to be a compassionate soldier who makes a lasting difference in the lives of many.

Please pray that David will be able to return to Bethlehem to finish his semester studying Christian theology. Pray for the others from Gaza that are in the West Bank "illegally" who live in constant fear of being caught – fear that restricts their daily lives. Also, pray for a more just peace between Israelis and Palestinians that will allow basic rights of travel within the Palestinian territories.

David (in the baseball cap) along with our other friend Joseph (also from Gaza) teaching us arabic during our first few weeks here. They also showed us around the town, helped us find out much needed information, welcomed us, and were wonderful friends to us when we had none.

Hebron Photos & Video

One of the many baracades blocking access to simply cross the street forcing many to walk all the way around just to end up right on the other side of the street. Many times they walk all the way to the checkpoint to cross the street only to find out that it is not open for some reason. This side of the fence is Palestinian territory and just behind the concrete wall is the Israeli-only street. The trees in the not so far distance are on the other side of the street - Palestinian territory again.


Aaron coming out of the checkpoint just before the entrance to the Abraham Mosque.


Aaron is the figure on the right. As you can see, no shops were open here. You can also notice the protective netting that was put up as well as some trash that someone had attempted to throw down into the Palestinian market place.

Misty and a Palestinian girl coming down from the roof of local's home where we saw the complicated divisions of the city.

For the largest city in all of the West Bank, it was very empty and quiet especially compared to the smaller cities that we have been in. No shops were open and this was the main street. We could hear the woman walking and even the tarp above Aaron's head flapping in the wind. It was if we had just walked into an abandoned town out of a western movie.

You can see how daily life is horribly affected in Hebron - no economy, poverty, forced shop closures (thousands and thousands actually), restricted movement (or inconvenient and long detours), curfews (otherwise house arrest/imprisonment because they sometimes last for days with no relief to get even food - only shot at if you step foot out your door), etc. Imagine trying to raise a family or simply live in these types of circumstances. It sheds new light on the term "open-air prison" which many have used to describe many areas in Palestine (the West Bank and Gaza). We don't know how we would react living in such conditions - knowing that there is little that we can do to change it.

On the front lines in Hebron

Another example of the church that is "caught between" the Muslim world and the Israeli government, involves an interesting encounter we had with the Christian community in Hebron. We visited some Palestinian and American friends in Hebron, (we cannot give any details of their location, names, ministry, etc. because of the blogs publication on the internet). They are the ONLY Christian presence in an entirely Muslim community - and have spent fifty years earning the respect of the community for that privilege. World Vision was even run out of town just for having a little one-man office in Hebron. These Christians have been physically attacked. They have been legally attacked. They have been attacked spiritually. They have been shunned from the community. They have been persecuted unlike anything most Americans have ever dreamed.

Yet, they have a steadfastness from the Holy Spirit that provides them with the resolve to not give up on the work that they have been give to do “on their watch.” If they went then the ministry would go as well and it would never be able to be revived due to the situation there. Many times I heard them say “Not on my watch” when I asked about their tenacity. God has blessed them richly for their perseverance, but please pray for their ministry. Their greatest needs are for the ending of legal battles and for more personnel. They need workers for the ministry in Hebron and for the headquarters back in the states.

Hebron is not a city without problems. Under the newest regulations for the city, the town is divided between H1 and H2 and is a special condition area. This Palestinian town in the West Bank is also now home to about 500 or so Jewish settlers. There have been deadly attacks on both Jews and Arabs by Arabs and Jews, and there is a tension in the air there. The city of Hebron is the location of the Tomb of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, etc.) and is sacred to both Jews and Muslims. At one point it was all a mosque, but throughout the years, part of it has been made into a synagogue. The Israeli settlers (so called because they are settling inside the West Bank occupied territory) live above the Palestinian's market place in the center of the town. The settlers believe that the Arabs should leave Hebron completely as God has given them the land by divine ordinance. However, the resilience of the Palestinian people there is amazing, especially since they have put up protective netting above the city market place to protect themselves from the constant rock and dirt throwing, water pouring (even urine pouring) of the some settlers above them. A few of our friends from various western countries have had dirt dumped on them while they were walking through the Hebron market.

There are many soldiers in Hebron to protect the settlers that live there, and they are victims as well – by their own words. In testimonies recorded by ICAHD called “Breaking the Silence” (Israeli Committee Against Housing Demolitions http://www.icahd.org/eng/), many soldiers have told about the constant abuse towards Palestinians in Hebron. The soldiers are then forced to deal with the mental instability produced from reflection on their actions on duty. It is common for many soldiers to take a year off from their army service and go to India or somewhere in the east and become involved in the drug culture there. There is also a high rate of suicide among the soldiers. We should remember these Israeli soldiers, as well as all others involved (settlers, Palestinians, and the children of both sides), as we pray for peace in Palestine and Israel.

From the rooftop of one Arab home, a person can get a small glimpse of the complications of the city. While on this rooftop there was an Israeli soldier in a bunker on the roof of a settler house about 20 feet away. The street below us was to be used only for the settlers, although both sides of the street, blocked by high fences are owned by Palestinians. The only way to get from one side of the small road to the other (for a Palestinian) involved a 3km walk. The market center was virtually a ghost town as many of the people there were unable to keep their shops open enough to make any income. Furthermore, the curfew for Palestinians there was almost always in effect and the Palestinians might be told to close the shops at anytime of the day for any length of time. There was an eerie feeling of aloneness and desperation among the people there.

Despite this terrible situation, God is not absent. He has allowed the church to continue in Hebron. We have come to encourage these Christians and remind them that they are not alone. We pray for them, and we will tell others about their work.

Back to our roots.

This past month, we went to a Messianic Jewish congregation on the north coast of Israel. There we met many believers in the Messiah. The elder that spoke to us after the Hebrew service was a Russian Jew, and provided an interesting translation experience: he, a Russian speaking Jew, spoke not Hebrew, but English to a Swiss interpreter for French listeners. His story was one of finding his Jewish roots in the Old Testament when he first began to read the Bible – having come from a completely atheistic background – and then furthering his identity in the New Testament as a follower of Jesus the Messiah. He came to know Jesus through a conference in the Ukraine that he reluctantly attended after convincing himself that he would just go to protect his wife (she invited him to the conference) from religious people and ideas.

This elder spoke to us about the challenge for Christians living in the nation of Israel today. He said the pressure and persecution from the ultra-orthodox Jewish society that is around him and his congregation is heavy on him and his family. Certain sects of the religious Jewish people in Israel equate Yeshua as dangerous and a means of undermining their society. He and his family have received hate mail from these Jewish groups, and those in his neighborhood have put postcards in all of the mailboxes warning his friends and neighbors to separate from him and his family because they are “dangerous mission people.” He later stated that these fundamentalist Jews seem to have a mission against the Christian faith, and many of the Israelis in society and government listen to them because they are considered the spiritual leaders of Israel.

For “mission people,” the ramifications of speaking about Jesus go even deeper. He stated that Messianic Jews are discriminated against and have even been fired from their jobs for believing in Jesus. With all of these injustices, the elder pointed out that the Israeli government either does nothing and turns a blind eye or does very little and 'goes easy' on those who are committing these sometimes violent acts against the Messianic Jews - as in the case of the bomb disguised as a gift that was left on a Messianic Jewish family's doorstep during Purim on March 20th, 2008 nearly killing a 15 year old boy - for which the Israeli police have made no charges or arrests over a year later. The Israeli government seems to have no problem with Christians from other countries that send millions of dollars in financial suport to Israel every year. Yet, they appear to take issue with Jewish Christians within their own country. Why is this?

Jewish Christians are not considered Jewish anymore by the Israeli government. In fact, many believers that were in the congregation are awaiting the results of their citizenship status in Israel, and for that reason, we were not allowed to photograph them. If the Israeli government found out that they were Christians they could be denied citizenship in Israel or given problems with the government. It appears that the Israeli government would like to keep the nation away from Messianic believers. One believer from Germany had his citizenship taken away and was sent back to Germany because of that reason. He and his family (wife and kids) have been separated for a while now.

There are also laws against evangelizing Jewish people. For instance, it is illegal - with possible imprisonment - to openly tell a person under the age of 18 years about Jesus. Why 18? Our guess is because the statistics of people coming to faith in Jesus after age 18 is substantially lower than before age 18. Israel was created for Jewish people, but if these Jewish people are Christians then it seems that they are no longer welcome.

Sadly, many people from various religions - including Christianity - discriminate based on what someone believes or doesn't believe. Without slipping into an "all religions are one" universalism, we can still affirm that religious differences are never a justification for persecution or violence. We as Christians, in particular, should consider how we have condoned others to act on certain beliefs, and/or how we simply keep quiet about unequal treatment of other human beings of any religion. We also need to re-evaluate how we, ourselves, carry out - in word and deed - some of our beliefs.

The scriptures of Romans 11 speak of how Gentiles have been grafted into the kingdom of God as wild olive branches, and we have our roots in the faith of our fathers from long ago. We delighted to join in worship of Jesus, the Messiah, with our fellow Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ. This is yet another example of the church that is "caught between" the Muslim world and the Israeli government, and we will not soon forget these wonderful believers.

Sick and Tired

Well, quite a lot has happened that we have not had the chance to write about. A few weeks ago, Misty was sick with a nasty cold while Aaron was physically tired since he was busy taking care of a group of 20 in the guesthouse by himself. After that, we were both a little homesick. Misty was especially worried about her mom and disappointed about missing her younger brother’s graduation as a soldier from the Army. While we both like being here and really love the people that we have met, we were a little anxious to go home. Misty wants to be there to help her family and spend time with her mom whose cancer, we’ve just recently found out, has spread. This has troubled Misty making her feel helpless and far away.

The Lord has been faithful to us though and has brought us both comfort. The packages, letters, and emails that we have received from family, friends, and our Church (GracePoint Community) have been so uplifting to us. It is encouraging to know that we have many who care for us and remember us in prayer. We are sure that is has also been your prayers that have helped us through these more difficult times. We have also been attending a Bible study with other ex-patriots (foreigners) and have been studying Psalms. It has been great to be part of a small group like this. We are both more at peace now with the situation and where God has us, but for a while there, we had a song stuck in our heads while we were missing home. This song might be familiar to you especially if you have ever watched “Jaws.” The first few words to the song are “Show me the way to go home. I’m tired and I want to go to bed.” That is all we knew of this song but it seemed to sum up exactly what we were feeling.

We are not as homesick anymore but our time at Bethlehem Bible College will be coming to an end shortly and we will be back in Texas with our families by April 9th. While we are saddened at the reality of leaving our new friends here who we have grown to love, we are eager to see our old friends and family back home. We aren’t sure what God has in mind for us when we return, but we are diligently seeking His direction for our lives.

During the past few weeks, we have had many experiences, despite being ill, tired, and homesick. A couple big instances come to mind…we have visited a Messianic Jewish congregation, the city of Hebron, and a friend of ours has been arrested and is the face of a legal battle for many Palestinians. We will do our best to catch you up in our next few blogs.

Photos of Mom, Dad, & Family

Please pray for my mom, my dad, and our family as my mom battles against cancer.



Mom & Dad


Mom, Dad, & Children


Mom, Dad, & Grandchildren


The Whole Family - Mom, Dad, Children, Grandchildren, & Son-in-laws


The Entire Family Again


Please visit http://carepages.com/carepage/PaulaBellow for more up-to-date information about my mom's cancer.

Dad and mom are still trying to work out finances so she is not in a treatment center right now. Please pray that she will begin quality treatment soon before it spreads further.

Also, please help my mom receive the treatments that she needs by donating money to help pay for her medical expenses (see the posts right before this one for more information).

Thank you so much for your interest and concern. Please faithfully pray for my mom and our family.