Pictures of Progress from Eretz Yah
Shalom and greetings from the desert!
For some time now, I have been promising to update you all on the progress of our vision in the desert. We have some new friends so
I will take a little time to do a little repeat of the vision before sharing where we are today.
About four years ago, the Lord “planted” a vision in our heart for the Negev desert – to be a part of the desert blooming, as prophesied in Isaiah. After much opposition because of our faith, we were finally accepted into a new settlement called Beer Milcah. We are apart of the founding settlers living on a large, beautiful sand dune on the border of Egypt. We are only 12 families now but that won’t be for long. The settlement is secular and we and Ronen’s brother and his family are the only believers in this settlement but we are 5 believing families in the area (4 settlements altogether). As being a part of the settlement, the government has granted us 20 acres each to do an agricultural project. We, together with Ronen’s brother (Oren) have 40 acres now for the fulfillment of the vision.
Eretz Yah
Eretz Yah means “God’s Land” and this is the name that we have chosen for our project. The land that God has blessed us with is dedicated to Him and for His purposes – to cause the desert to bloom, physically and spiritually. The first aspect of the Eretz Yah is to eventually be a self-supporting farm. The second phase of Eretz Yah is to build a worship center and desert style tourist bungalows. There are many Israeli tourists who travel to our area (around 3000 during Passover alone). We want to serve them with the Love of the Lord and be a witness to His goodness. We also believe that more and more from the nations will come to the desert to worship the God of Israel and to learn more of the roots of our faith.
We also want to provide a place for believers who want to give more of themselves and not just their money to support Israel. We hear from so many that they want to come and serve, to dig their hands into the soil and to toil with us here in the land. And we want to provide a place for them to do just that. With the combination of work and worship, we pray that it will be a life changing experience for those who come. Education will be a fundamental part of Eretz Yah, not only for those who seek to know more about the Hebrew roots but also we will also build a system for watering and harvest from Biblical times to modern for school children and others to learn and interact. That means stepping on grapes for wine (clean feet only!) and an ancient olive press. We have already spoken to the head of the Jewish Agency in our area and when we have things running he will bring about 15-20 percent of the school children who come on school tours to Eretz Yah. We will have the opportunity to touch the hearts of thousands of children
Causing the Desert to Bloom
Our vision includes an olive orchard and a vineyard to make olive oil and wine for commercial use and then a private fruit and prayer garden and a vegetable garden close to the worship center. The vineyard is on hold at the moment as we don’t have the funds to start it at this time however, we have started planting the olive orchard, which is called Valerie’s Orchard. Valerie is a Holocaust survivor who has impacted our lives in a great way. She is not only a survivor but an over-comer, showering others with the love of God. She is also an artist and uses the olive tree to depict her life and the holocaust. Valerie’s Orchard is not only in honor of our dear friend but all those who survived the holocaust and a memorial to those who perished. A friend of ours was so impacted by her love that he made a mini movie about her, soon to be on DVD. You can check it out at www.valeries-orchard.com.
Dreamality
This is a term that Ronen coined as we saw our dreams becoming reality. In the spring we received a donation to buy the water pipes and system to be able to start the project. The Lord, through an Israeli organization, sent us 30 volunteers to help start the first round of planting for Valerie’s Orchard. The amazing thing is that half of the volunteers were Israeli students and the other half were German Christian students. The first to plant olive trees in the orchard that honors Holocaust survivors were Israeli and Germans together! Until they came, they had no idea that this was what they were coming for. Our Abba orchestrated the whole thing. It was such a beautiful time.
The Next Step
We have started the olive tree orchard but still have room to plant more and more.
The fruit garden is in the process of being planted and we will eventually build a wall around it and build benches and covered areas where people can go and pray and study.
We still need to purchase grape vines for the vineyard and in the future we want to have our own winery for the wine production.
We have started building the first meeting and eating room (from bales of hay!) and plan to build the first three tourist bungalows.
we need a few trailer homes for the volunteers who want to come and also a generator since there is no electricity on the project land yet and the government has said there won’t be for at least three years. Once that is build, we can start to focus on the worship center and more bungalows.
Each step is a step of faith, as we came to the desert with nothing. We have seen Abba move in such beautiful ways to bring the vision to pass. It has been a faith building experience and the praises go to Yah for His goodness.
A Mitzvah
In Hebrew, a mitzvah is a commandment and also a good deed, which the Lord commands us to do. As we were studying the Word about planting and farming we came across this scripture in Leviticus:
”But in the fourth year (after planting) all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the Lord. And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:23- 25
Our farm will be run according to the ways the Lord has shown us. Although the trees will bear fruit in the first years, we will wait until the fifth year to harvest for ourselves that we may make the oil to sell. This is another reason for the tourist bungalows, that we may have a way to live until the farm will provide for itself.
It is also a mitzvah to plant a tree when you come to Israel. “And when you have come into the land, and have planted all manner of trees.” Leviticus 19:23 So, when you come, you may certainly join us at Eretz Yah and plant your own tree. For those of you who can not come at this time, we will be happy to plant one for you or in honor of someone you love. Details on that in the next email!
For tax deductible donations to Eretz Yah, you may send a check to:
Grace for Grace Ministries
1251 Fox Tree Trail
Apopka, FL 32712-3030
*Please make a note if this is for Eretz Yah or for Grace for Grace Ministries!
Thank you and blessings of Shalom!
