October 13th, 2022 – 9:21pm – Hostel In German Colony, Haifa, Israel:

Last night I was invited to go to the film festival here in Haifa… so I went with my friends from the hostel… a Russian, Columbian, Polish, and American. We walked up Mt Carmel and arrived to the festival. There were many, many street shops with food and jewelry and other items. Then we went to the concert… Rotem Cohen (the Israeli Ricky Martin). What amazed me about the concert is that dispute the fact that the very Latin music was blaring and the singer was dancing… none of the Israeli folk were dancing at all. Everyone just stood and watched. I was amazing!

Today I just went to another mall and found a store where I can purchase a new laptop when God provides the funds for it. I had a short nap and long conversations with people here.

I spent some time with God… I desperately needed some reassurance of the call… culture shock, the quickly dwindling funds, and a general feeling of disconnection to everything. I’m not sure if I trust any of my feelings lately… they can be so disruptive.

I did realize how completely dependent I am on God now. I am in a foreign land with no ability to make money at all. So as my funds slowly vanish I have to constantly remind myself of all the times God has faithfully provided for me along my journey. And I remember the word from this song:

I count on one thing

The same God that never fails

Will not fail me now

You won’t fail me now

In the waiting

The same God who’s never late

Is working all things out

You’re working all things out

Yes I will, lift You high in the lowest valley

Yes I will, bless Your name

Oh, yes I will, sing for joy when my heart is heavy

All my days, oh yes I will

⁃ Yes I Will by Vertical Worship

As I was talking with God today He reminded me that He chose me for this journey. He alone chose me and prepared me and set my on the path that lead me here. I was uniquely chosen for this… and so He promised to provide for me and protect me and lead me on the path to where He wants me.

I continue to give of what I have to those around me. And the giving seems endless… even as my funds dwindled I still give and give and give. This is who I am meant to be… and today I was reminded that this is who Jesus was when He walked the earth and set the example for us.

A guy from Poland arrived yesterday and I got to spend some time talking with him. This morning before he left the hostel he told me how he was scared that his one pair of glasses would somehow be broken because he forgot his glasses case. And today as I was at the mall I remembered his need and stopped in the glasses store at the mall and bought this stranger a glasses case.

I give from what little I have so that God can be glorified through the giving. Money is not my source but God is. And God is the owner of everything and God has never let me down… not one single moment of my entire life has God ever not provided what I needed. This is my message to you today as you read these words… give and give and give… give as you’re giving to Him. Give from a heart that longs to please Him with your giving… test Him in this! See that He is faithful to give back so much more than you could ask or think.

I want to be a man who gives until I am completely given in every moment!

There is a woman here named Lizzy. She is very kind and sweet and takes good care of all the guest for this hostel. She is a volunteer… meaning she helps around the hostel and she gets to stay for free. I have been getting to know her during my time here and hearing parts of her story. She has a business in Ecuador with the government to setup a factory for making textiles and she needs to get there before the 20th. If I had the funds to give here the money for a plane ticket I would in an instant. So would you please pray for her situation! Ask God to guide and provide a way for her to return to Ecuador quickly!

I cooked my mom’s famous potato soup… which turned out well.