January 12, 2009

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your comments and opinions about Gaza and the general Israel situation. This morning on NBC news there was a total of 28 seconds given to the Israeli-Gaza conflict. Few commentators are calling it a war but the results on innocent victims are just as harsh and often deadly. Nearly all of us humans want to live healthy secure lives, but there are places in the world where it just isn’t possible to do that. It is too bad.

The email from Israel that I receive right now relates mostly to middle-East problems. Judith Rood, like myself, has taken groups to Israel for many years. This week she wrote to her people, “I’ve received some recent queries about what’s happening in Israel/Palestine….there has been a state of war in the middle-East to one degree or another since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire (1916.) Nevertheless travelers and pilgrims have continued to tour the Holy Land. Think of our trip in terms of a ministry of encouragement to the people we will meet on our journey.” She writes much more but these words give some insight on how other tour people are working through the situation.

You are probably aware that since 2003, over 9,000 rockets have been fired into the cities of southern Israel. This area is home to nearly one million Israeli who live close to the Gaza border. There has not been one incident of rocket fire or civilian Israeli aggression towards the people of Gaza. It appears that the solution is to stop the Hamas from firing the rockets into Israel could be so simple, but it is not. We all know that these rockets are fired from densely populated city centers and returning fire only kills more innocent people. Israeli’s solution is to stop the flow of rockets into Gaza from Egypt, but Egypt has to pledge to stop that traffic.

Our tour people to Israel in December and January had great experiences wherever they went. They are home safely and happy with their experiences. Christians are going to Israel in record numbers and we continue to receive registrations for our outgoing tours in early 2009. You can still sign up.

I will be flying out of Chicago on February 16^th on an El Al Israel Airlines ticket with people from Kansas and Michigan. There are several more meeting us in Israel who are using frequent flyer miles or work for the airlines. There is a second group coming from Florida and Louisiana who will meet us at the Regency, in Jerusalem, and we will tour together and go down to Tamar for an archaeology experience for two days and then back to the Galilee. It promises to be a great trip and Hela Crown-Tamar is joining us and co-guiding with me. Her friend, Dr. Tommy Watson is the group leader for the Florida/Louisiana people. (see attachment)

Our “Third Annual Archaeology Class” will be held at Tamar from February 23-March 5. The class is taught by seasoned archaeologist from the Israel Antiquities Authority and upon graduation each student who finishes the class successfully receives at very nice “Certificate” signed by the Authority. The student becomes a “Licensed Archaeology Reconstruction Technician” and can then return as an assistant in another archeology project. It will be another good class this year. (see attachment)

Funding a public Park in the south of Israel is a heavy financial responsibility for Blossoming Rose. Your generosity in giving, going, and praying is what encourages us  to continue to bless Israel as stated in Genesis 12.

Shalom, DeWayne Coxon, President