Update on what has been going on...

  Since I last wrote much has happened and taken place.  The internship is picking up and getting busy which is great for me as the intern because I now am getting hands on with what I came to do which was Russian ministry and evangelism. The beginning of this week started of with a prayer walk through Williamsburg, an extremely Chesidic area which holds about eight or nine different Jewish dynasties. I went with Alison (from Life in Messiah Ministries), Chris and myself. We spent about four hours quietly walking through the area praying for the people, praying that the L-rd would open their eyes and praying for the underground believers who lived in this area. This was my first time ever being in this area so I felt like I had entered into another country or whole different time. As I reflect back on that day I realized that these people, the apple of God's eye don't even know Him who they are trying to please. Such zeal and dedication and yet so far from Him because of man made laws that keep them from finding Him. I learned a few things about these people which broke my heart. I learned that the suicide rate amongst the woman in this area is very high because they are basically oppressed since they are not allowed to associate with anyone who is not female, have to hide their family from others when in their home, are not allowed to drive, have to follow a strict, detailed code on how they are to behave in the home and out, and  lastly they have their marriages arranged for them. 
    As all of you lovely and wonderful friends know that I have been asking you to be praying for my friend Chaya so that she may come to know Yeshua as the Messiah  has been accepting invitations from me. This last Shabbat Alison and myself invited Chaya to a Shabbat Dinner/ Bible study and she came and enjoyed it.  Well this week on Tuesday I had invited her to come to a MetroMoses Young Adults Bible study and she accepted. At first she said it wasn't her kind of thing but she would think about it, but then Tuesday morning she called me to say that she would like to come with me to MetroMoses if she got all her errands done but she would like to go.  That is huge!!!! She did not make it, which she called me to tell but said she would like to come in the future. I have been praying for this for a very long time (last four years) and now she is accepting invitations to believing events which is a big step. I know that I am leaving in December so I have introduced her to Allison (a Jewish believer and friend of mine) so that when I leave Allison will continue to invite her to events put on by CPM and to just out with her and share Yeshua with her. Please continue to be praying for Chaya, because I am begining to see fruite from everyone's and my prayers.  I know God brought her into my life five years ago for a reason and so I am excited about sharing NOW with Chaya.
   Lastly, I would like to share with you what happened today.  Today Chris, myself, and CPM missionary Dave went to New York University (NYU) and set up a book table connected to the Isaiah 53 project that is run by CPM and the Feinburg Center of Messianic Jewish Studies (FCMJ). We put out books  and literature (free) and copies of Isaiah 53 in the Hebrew and English (which had certain parts highlighted) out on the table. Today was very successful! We began with praying over the day and we were blessed!  Instead of groups coming up to the table we had individuals, for which I am very thankful about, asking questions and taking literature and books.  Six Jewish students and two non-Jewish students named Ryan, Alex, Kenny, Eric, Ben, Stephanie( gentile thinking of converting to Judaism), Mosa (from Austria), and David( from France) stopped by and read Isaiah 53 and were all completely shocked to read and realize the passage was talking about Yeshua the Messiah. Ryan, Alex, Kenny, and David  most of them Yeshiva students were very interested and took a pamphlet called " the Report" which tells why this passage changes lives and Stephanie a gentile who was thinking of converting from Catholicism was talked out of it because Chris showed her that converting to Judaism would not bring her close to God because of their beliefs and so she was extremely thankful and so we invited her to MetroMoses even though she is only 17 years old.  I got to share with Eric who was raised Jahova Witness (but doesnt really believe in anything) and invited him also to MetroMoses.  Today was wonderful and allot of fun. God worked in great ways today. 

  Prayer Requests:  If you could be praying for Ryan, Alex, Kenny, Eric, Ben, Mosa, David, and Stephanie that they would read what they took with them and would decided to look up for themselves Isaiah 53 and that if the scales dont come off their eyes that atleast someone else would cross their paths so to water the seeds that we planted today.  Please pray for Stephanie that she would come to MetroMoses and would come to understand that she doesn't need to convert to find Yeshua the Messiah and to have a relationship with God.  Also to continue praying for Chaya one of my best friends that the scales would come off her eyes and if they dont that they would eventually if not through me then through Allison or someone else that God brings across her path. Below are pictures of what I have been up to. Enjoy.

 

Out side NYU's Starbucks at the book table

                          A Chasidic man who walked by. You can tell the men and what dynasty they belong to by the size of their hats and socks, and the their curls (paya's).

                                  Some of what we saw in Williamsburg.. very sad. All the woman dressed alike ,the woman had five or six children, the men dressed alike, no one talked to anyone of the opposite sex and all wore wigs because they shave their heads.

                                           Chris and Allison as we wait for the bus in Williamsburg

                                      Book table at NYU and the Isaiah 53 Project

                                           some of the books and pamphlets we gave away.