A SHORT UPDATE FROM SUSAN’S DESK – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14TH

It has been a little over a month since we woke up on Saturday, October 7th to the sound of the sirens here in Nes Ziona, followed by a barrage of missiles launched from Gaza. We quickly learned of the horrific events that are taking place just 35 miles south of our homes and office. On the 7th, we had 2 groups in the country (one from the USA and another from Australia), and a filming crew from the Zola Levitt Ministries. We maintained close communication with our groups and film crew to ensure that they all secured places on the earliest flights back home. During the month of October, we were expecting to take care of almost 20 groups from various countries, churches and ministries. While it certainly impacts our company, the magnitude of the situation is put into perspective when we consider the profound impact on families and communities affected by these tragic events.

Since October 7th, we find ourselves repeatedly seeking refuge in bomb shelters or safe rooms as rockets are fired from Gaza. The continued outpouring of messages from our friends and partners worldwide has been truly overwhelming. We are grateful for the words of comfort, support, and the prayers for our nation. We have been united as one, offering our support to each other and assisting our families and friends. Despite these circumstances, we continue to work in the office on a daily basis from 9 am to 2 pm. Unfortunately, we are busy cancelling the upcoming tours scheduled for the coming months.

Tour Update

I would like to inform all our partners that due to the current war situation, there will be no cancellation fees involved in the event of a last minute cancellation. I encourage our tour organizers to wait, for as long as possible, with their decision on whether or not to cancel and see how the situation develops. Even in the event that the airlines notify you of flight cancellations, rest assured that these flights will be rescheduled once the situation improves. As previously mentioned, there will be no cancellation fees incurred in the case of last-minute cancellations. In the event that you decide to cancel the upcoming tour, we would kindly ask you to provide us with the new dates for your tour. We will then be able to finalise the new hotel bookings and all other necessary arrangements.

Members of Immanuel Tours have joined the thousands of Israelis who are actively volunteering on agricultural farms, responding to the significant shortage in available workforce. We will try and continue with this activity as much as possible. Also, we plan to explore sites that we’ve been eager to visit but haven’t had the time to explore before. We will post photos from these visits!

We join Gaby Botha, our dear friend from Harvest Christian Church in Port Elizabeth in prayer: “May we hear good news soon, may the hostages be released to their loved ones soon, May God have mercy on them. May His name be glorified despite all these horrors of war.”

And on a personal note, I would like to mention the fact that since the evening of October 7th both my son, Dan and Shiri’s son, Alon have been called to the army and are fighting in Gaza.  Please join us in prayers for their safe return home.

I will end with the verse from the Book of Psalms :
מזמור ס’ (60) שני פסוקים אחרונים:
הָֽבָה⁠־לָּ֣נוּ עֶזְרָ֣ת מִצָּ֑ר   וְ֝שָׁ֗וְא תְּשׁוּעַ֥ת אָדָֽם׃
בֵּֽאלֹהִ֥ים נַֽעֲשֶׂה⁠־חָ֑יִל   וְ֝ה֗וּא יָב֥וּס צָרֵֽינוּ׃
Psalm 60 last two verses:
Give us help against the adversary, for deliverance by man is in vain.
Through God we shall do valiantly, and He will defeat our adversaries.

If you have any questions about your tour contact our team today!