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Israel Update Feb-Mar

Hello everybody,

I've been in Israel for a month and a half now. It's been really nice though it starts to loose some of its magic sometimes.

I am currently working on four different fronts.

The first is Hebrew class. It is four times a week, Monday to Thursday, in the morning. I feel that I understand it easily, so that is good because I feel relaxed about it. I am learning a lot of Hebrew so that is also good.

The second is the musical. Luigi and I are working on "HaMeshiach" to present it during passover, a month away. It is a lot of work and there are still lots of things that need to be done. We are presenting it in a really nice theater in Jerusalem (their website is www.pavilionjerusalem.com). Pray for God to provide all the people necessary to do the play well. Pray for our rehearsals which start the first of April. Pray for God to provide all of the finances. We still have a lot left to raise. And most importantly, pray that lots of people, especially young people would see the play and get saved. Pray for the publicity, that it would attract all of the right people.

The third is the youth church we are building. The name of it is Wave Jerusalem. It is officially a church plant by a larger church called Wave in Virginia Beach. The director of the church plant is Richard Frieden. He is an Israeli that has been working with youth in Jerusalem for over 10 years. He also operates a thing called Jerusalem Street Productions which is a video production non-profit organization that is run by youth. Well the church is very small right now. But they are working on getting a building and our team is growing. Right now, Luis is leading worship and I am helping in the Media Department and in leading prayer. We are very excited about it and know that lots of youth are going to know Jesus through it.

The forth and maybe most important thing is the House of Prayer. There are four of us here: Nancy, Jaime, Luis and I. We love and serve one another. There is almost always a nice ambiance here. We also outreach to those around us, mostly to other believers that we know. We have bible studies and dinners. But I feel that we lack in the area of prayer, especially myself. I say it because God keeps reminding me of it, that I need to pray more. But I always leave it for last.

Well that's it for all of the things we are doing. Luis and I spend lots of time with Jaime and Nancy. They are both wonderful people, in their late 20's and recently married. My favorite place in the house (and where we spend the most time except when sleeping) is the kitchen. It has one of those counter tops that serve as a dinner table. We spend lots of time there talking and cooking. I've learned a few things from Jaime & Nancy, though I'm still pretty terrible at cooking. I will get better though.

Except for my sushi. Phillip, who is a Japanese American, says I make the best sushi in town. =) I also spend lots of time with him. We study Hebrew together and he is the co-leader, together with Richard, of the the church we are planting.

Well, that's all. Everything is really good.
-Jose

Sick for 2 days

I was sick for the last two days. But it gave me a chance to read. I read "Bridge to Terabithia". It was great, thogh most of my friends would say it sucks. I guess cuz its bitter sweet.

There a quote from the book that I really liked.
"..boy, don't be a fool. God ain't gonna send any little girls to hell."

It was really funny when I read it. But it sunk down deep. Of course I'd always believed that. But I guess I just want it to say right now.

I believe God is full of both justice and grace. He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. That fulfills the two. And many people may never know Jesus, but I think they still get into heaven because of what Jesus did for them. (That doesn't mean everybody.) But a lot of people that are inherently good and just don't know Him.

Anyways. I also think Jesus came to restore the sick. Those that are well off don't need the gospel as much as wretched of the earth. I mean, most people can believe in God and live good lives just by looking around. But some people, like those that had terrible lives need somebody to tell them that God loves them, they need to know that they can be forgiven. They probably have really sucky lives and do really terrible things but it is because that's all they ever knew. Those people need Jesus the most. Perhaps they need him more that we do. Because Jesus can restore they're lives right now. He can fill them with the love they've never had. And make the rest of their live happy and full great things.

So yeah, I just wanted to say that.

Arriving in Israel

Well, I arrived to Israel yesterday in the morning. You know how sometimes different places have a certain feeling atached to them. Well the Israel "feeling" hit me on the drive home from the airport. It was really nice.

On the way here Luis and I got to visit Izzy and Aviva as well Sarah in London. That was really cool.

"Goodbye at MIA"

"@Izzy's School"

"By the Thames"

hello : )

Nobody reads this, but i wanted to say hello. i'm good. and you rock. =) g-night

Revelation

Sometime ago i got an idea about the Holy of Holies. It was that i am there. And in that place i am above all things. Nothing can touch me. In that place, it's all about God. There was more i think, but i forgot it... darn.

That is also similar to the idea that Christ is in us i think.

Guatemala

The Guatemala trip was awesome! i went with some youth from our church on a mission trip over there. There is much to say about it...

i turned 24 while over there and some of the girls came over to sing happy birthday in the morning just outside the window next to my bed.

It was the best birthday morning ever. =) I was so happy.

i think i matured a lot while on this trip. Not sure how, but i feel older, stronger. I also learned a lesson in willingness. Sometimes God will want something of me. i may not enjoy it, but all i need to be is willing. i feel more willing. also more carefree.

Above is a picture of a our group. We spent a lot of time pouring concrete floors into the homes of people in the mountain. They normaly lived on dirt floors. We also worked a lot with kids all over the place. The primary thing we did was sharing the gospel. We did a lot of dramas too.