Hard Work!

We’re home, Bless the Lord! It’s so nice to have a place to call home.

 This tour was such a blessing, I love the ministry God has given us. When I sing I feel so full, so blessed, and when we see what God does through His word in the music, it is amazing and exciting.

 

We took a break in our summer touring schedule so that I would be able to spend a

month (August) with my mom, who has compression fractures

in her spine. She needed assistance while she heals. Please continue to pray for her, she is in pain daily and it is taking a long time to heal. Others we’ve heard about have taken as long as a year to heal from this type of injury.

We’ve been back for about a month now, we landed running because Baruch and Adrielle were moving down to help us with the land, and we had a lot of work to do to get ready for them, plus helping Andre’ and Kerah get ready for their trip to Haiti.  They will be leaving this week! Mark has been working on the boat engine getting it ready to go. 

 

It has been wonderful having Baruch and Adrielle with us, we are enjoying working, planning and praying together. Baruch is starting to add some violin to our songs, and it’s wonderful having another instrument and also his sound expertise since Kerah and Andre will be leaving. Both Baruch and Adrielle have sound mixing, and engineering experience, which will be very helpful when we get the studio up and running.

Baruch, Kerah, and I rehearsing for a special service

 



I’ve written 2 new songs since we’ve been back and I’m really looking forward to recording them when we get the studio built. Before we can build anything though, we need to get a septic system put in, and at this point we have no funds to work with. We also need to filter the well water (there is too much iron in the water). When we get the studio built, Adrielle and her husband Baruch can live in it while we all work together to build the house (a multiple family dwelling, with enough sleeping space for the Haiti contingent when they are in port here). We are praying for God's provision in all this and, as in the past, I have confidence that He will provide.
Here are some photos that show what we've accomplished in the month we've been home. We got some pallets and Mark cut them apart to build garden boxes (sq. ft. gardening)
 

We have 6 of them now, all planted and growing. We hope to have to spend very little on groceries! We had to cut down several trees, which we cut up for firewood. Yes, it does get cold in northern Florida, we had two nights of freezing temps last week! Our first harvest from the tire gardens, sweet potatoes. Next to them you can see my little herb garden. The tomatoes died :( but I managed to save one healthy branch and rooted it. It is now growing in a container, which I can take inside when it freezes.

 



Mark has  been concerned that we'll continue to have a cash flow problem while we are not  touring. We have been doing a few local concerts (within a days drive), and it has helped, but is not quite meeting our needs at this time. We’ve been praying about, and seeking locally for things we can do to make up the difference so that we can take care of our financial obligations. Mark has considered several things that he can do, such as build harps, and do some remodeling and repair work. I have been making jewelry, and have a couple of craft bazaars coming up in December. We also want to try to record some singles  here in the RV, but that will be very difficult with 4 adults living in it, and minimal sound proofing.

A bracelet I made out of copper sheet

 

Part of the vision of having our own studio is helping others record their first album, and helping new independent musicians learn the ropes of launching their music ministry. This takes more than the physical aspect of making an album, it also includes how to do your own advertising and promotion, and how to go about booking tours. “Unless the Lord builds a house, those who labor, labor in vain.” There is a lot of preparation in prayer, and you must be sure that you are called to this kind of ministry, or you will only be frustrated.

 

I also believe that the Lord wants to use Mark and I to strengthen the local churches love and support of Israel, and help them to understand their connection to Israel and her people. We want to be part of an awakening of a strong love and zeal for her in the church here. We believe God will use this area as a protected port in the storm to come

 

Kerah and Andre (as we shared in our last update) by a miracle from God got a beautiful 30' motor/sailor. Andre's dad's family sold everything, and are now living on their own 40' boat. Together we have a vision of getting our Jewish people out of the USA when and if it becomes necessary, through Haiti (the people of Haiti have a love and respect for the Jewish people that is awesome) and eventually to Israel. Those who know the history of Germany before the rise of Hitler are getting very nervous, it could happen here, it’s best to be prepared, and God is moving things into place as we pray.

 

Rabbi Peter and his family are responsible for an orphanage in Haiti, and his vision is to train the orphans in the word of the Lord, and in skills to build, repair, grow food, and prosper in the ways of God, so that they can in turn bless their people. He believes that God wants to bless Haiti (which has already seen revival since the earthquake) for her part in changing her vote at the UN in 1948, and making it possible for Israel to become a nation.

Kerah and Lisa sort donated medicines for a clinic in Haiti

 

What a life we live in God! It reminds me of a line from Kerah's song "Your Name": "No one else would ever let me live the life I live in You." 

 

Prayer needs:

Safety, blessing, and full provision for the Haiti Mission

Healing for my moms back

A septic system

Water filtration

Materials, and volunteer workers for the buildings

Jobs, and income for our time at home

 

May the Lord Bless and Keep you all in Messiah Yeshua our Lord,  ~Shimrit and Family

 

Sneak Preview (One of my new songs):

 

You Are My Strength (Waltz time)

 

You are my strength, You are my shield

When I am weak, Your strength is revealed

You are my hope, All others be still

You are my King I will bow to Your will

You are my King, I will bow Ooohhh, oh, oh ,oh

 

I will serve no other God 

Turn my eyes from the distractions of this world

Give me the strength, to let go

And put it all, All in Your loving hands

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