Shalom dear friends!
These are not easy days here in Israel.
Sirens still interrupt daily life, families live with constant uncertainty, and many parents carry quiet worries about the safety of their children and loved ones.
Yet in the middle of it all, we hold firmly to a truth that gives us strength: our God neither slumbers nor sleeps.
Because of that, we keep moving forward. We keep serving. And we keep looking for ways to bring light wherever it is needed most.
Yesterday in Ashdod, thank God, the day was relatively quiet compared to the days before. Instead of wasting that small window of calm, our team and volunteers from Beit Hallel went out across the city to bring encouragement, practical help, and a little bit of Purim joy to those who needed it most.
We visited around 100 children of medical staff working at Assuta Hospital. Their parents are working long hours caring for others, while the children spend their days in protected areas while their parents serve on the front lines of healthcare.
When our team arrived with Purim gift baskets, the room quickly filled with smiles and excitement. For those children, the gifts were more than sweets—they were a reminder that someone was thinking about them.
We also visited dozens of children whose parents work at the Beit Hadar rehabilitation center, bringing encouragement and holiday joy to families carrying enormous responsibility during these challenging days.
Our team stopped to thank soldiers from Israel’s Home Front Command stationed in Ashdod, as well as a group of young men serving at one of the air defense sites. For security reasons we cannot show their faces, but they received gifts and heartfelt gratitude that meant more than words can express.
And of course, we also visited several families with children in need, including single mothers who are carrying far more responsibility than most people realize.
Thanks to your generous support, we were able to distribute Purim gift baskets and food packages to families across the city this week. The children were absolutely thrilled—and the gratitude from the parents was deeply moving.
Moments like these remind us that even in difficult days, small acts of kindness can bring enormous encouragement.
At the same time, the needs around us continue.
Our bomb shelter here in Ashdod has become a place not only of safety during rocket alerts, but also a place where people find community, comfort, and practical support during very uncertain times.
For the coming year, the rent and utilities for this shelter total $35,000, and we are also working to provide additional mattresses and basic supplies so families who arrive during alerts have a safe and comfortable place to rest.
We share this with you simply because you have been walking this journey with us.
Your prayers, your encouragement, and your generosity make moments like these possible. Because of you, children can smile, families can breathe a little easier, and light continues to shine even in the middle of difficult days.
Thank you for standing with Israel—and with us—during this time.
Blessings and thanks,
Pastor Israel
