SWORDS OF IRON WAR. Day 114

 SUNDAY 28.1.2024

"Baby Heater"

Every winter it surprises me anew how cold I feel in Israel when it rains.

15 Celsius above (59 F), by no means close to the Canadian -40C (-40 F) that we experienced in Edmonton, but I'm freezing. I'm sure that I complained about it before and here it is again. The new A/C in the bedroom, the 1-year-old A/C in Willie's study, and the 20-year-old A/C in the living room are all working. In my study sits a baby heater at my back on a full blast. Still, with two heavy layers of clothes and a hot cup of water, I feel chilled.

My heart is with the lady upstairs who has the same equipment by feels colder since she is on the roof apartment. I thought it was a 'no-insulation' issue. Our building was one of the first to be built here on this hill around 1970. It could also be the moisture from the sea and the strong winds. But, as it turned out it is cold outdoors also. Maybe I just feel my advanced age.

We had a day off today, so we walked downtown to soak in some sunshine and to move our limbs. It was a beautiful day. We stopped for a hot cocoa, which helped some of the chills. We also bought a warm shirt for me. Then, with 5 layers of clothing and a scarf, we border the heated bus and keep warm.

The fighting fields are getting muddier and colder.

I am so thankful for the donations that came from around the world for our soldiers. Our congregations have been buying and distributing heavy vests coats and other needed items so they can stay alive in the fighting fields. We also had a few groups that went down south to help with the harvests in the fields that lacked workers. We are supporting, as congregations, the many displaced citizens with shelter, food and clothing. We also cover them all with many prayers and with love. We know personally many family members of the soldiers and the evacuees, there is not a family who is not affected in Israel.

During these 114 days of war, the population who stayed behind was as involved as the soldiers. We gave all that we had; we buried our dead and watched over our wounded, and we now feel the economic consequences. Businesses and families were left behind when the cry to arms from the only Jewish country went out. Now, the expenses are piling up, and there is no income. Yet, we have to continue on all fronts. The Gaza front is in full swing while Gaza leader, Yahya Sinwar, surrounded himself with the hostages as a human shield. So our soldiers have to create new and innovative maneuvers to avoid killing the abducted civilians. The North front is getting louder with the last rocket fired an hour ago on Kiryat Shmona. We don't get all the news and an expected cover of secrecy is in place.

From the reports we do receive, it sounds like the army is in a positive mood. They don't hear the antisemitism of the international court in Hugg, nor do they hear the arguments of the Knesset and government. All they hear is the charge – go forward.

Thank God for the encouragement He pours on them. Our prayers are being answered and many miracles are reported daily by the soldiers.

May He continue to bless and keep His nation. Without Israel, the world as we know it today will cease to exist. Not only the Jews as a people but the entire world. Something we need to remember. Israel has to be protected or the human race will die.