Shalom everyone! Greetings from the Holy Land. A couple more months have passed by and we’ve experienced many blessings along with some struggles. Getting adjusted to the hot climate and the unique culture has been a continued effort. Coming from South Dakota just being downtown in a city of 2 million is a huge change! Through it all the Lord is sustaining us and we are being drawn closer to Him.

Shopping at the market for soup kitchen Doing artwork with some gals who come to the soup kitchen

Things at the church and soup kitchen have been going well. God is moving among His people. Never before has Matthew 25:35-40 been made more relevant in our lives through the feeding and caring for these people. We are burdened for them with the Lord’s love as though He was one of them Himself. A few of these sweet homeless men have been able to assist in making the soup as one had expressed his previous experience as a cook in earlier, better days. Never seen such delightful smiles. It has been going well and the soup has never tasted better! The medical clinic has been busy and the Lord is being glorified through it. The current nurse is a lively Greek women who is always ready to correct your Greek and Hebrew if need be which has been quite helpful at times.J It has been a slower process learning Hebrew as so many people speak English.

Worship and prayer time with Russian Setting up for Shabbat service

Jews

Shabbat services are going well. Most of the leadership has been out of the country the last couple of weeks leaving James in charge. That should scare everybody!J We pray for their safe return, including Pastor Stephen who will be arriving soon. We started the children’s ministry recently rotating between a few couples, praying the Lord brings more little ones through the doors. The women’s study has also started back up and I have been blessed with the opportunity to teach. Also in this last month, which is a more common occurrence here, we have had a few sad goodbyes along with some new welcomes. Kara from St. Paul is no longer here, David and Debbie, a Jewish couple who served in worship have gone back to the U.S. along with a few others. New here is Takako from Japan and Kim from Virginia. We are blessed with the time God gives us together as a body.

Kara, Gigi and I Excited for our new baby boy

On the home front as most of you know we are preparing for our new addition. Our baby boy should be here in the next couple of weeks!! I will give birth at a local hospital not to far from here. We will keep you all posted on his soon arrival. We are very excited to be parents and can’t wait for him to meet you all! We are also very blessed to have my Mom coming to visit and help with the baby.

We do ask for your continued prayer as it has been tough with some discouragements and at times we’ve wanted to quit. God has been faithful and not our will but His be done. Please pray for the salvation of the people of Israel and for the spiritual growth of the fellowship. We also ask you pray for a safe and smooth delivery of our child.

Thank you for your love and encouragement. You all are such a blessing to us.

In His Love,

Darcy, James and Baby Reuben