Communities Under Attack Reports - by Maggie Huang
October 2020- Project “Communities Under Attack” by Maggie Huang
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” (Proverbs 19:17)
The first national lockdown in Israel, caused by Covid 19 started in March and lasted for about two months, during which the Israelis were not allowed to hold the Pesach (Passover) feast nor have mass gatherings, as the Israeli government was trying to contain the spread of this virus, and we were working from home.
At the writing of this CUA update, we are working from home in a second lockdown, as the infection in Israel has skyrocketed, with infection numbers reaching as high as over 9,000 on some days, so that Israel has one of the highest infection rates in the world, for the size of its population.
Praise God that Project CUA was able to provide Sukkot food vouchers for 55 ‘rocket victim’ families in the South of Israel before the second lockdown. The recipients were very grateful for this help and blessing for the Sukkot holiday. There are as many as 120,000 Israelis registered as unemployed, and the government help has been hindered due to bureaucratic procedures; so many have been in a dire financial situation. This much-needed help, has meant a lot to victims of rocket attacks. In a time like this they have to cope, not only with the stress caused by the Covid 19 pandemic, like the rest of their fellow Israelis, but also the trauma and danger of attacks from Gaza, with the continued rocket fire into their communities, in South Israel bordering Gaza.
Thank you so much for your generous support for Project CUA, the Lord bless you according to His promise in Proverbs 19: 17
September 2020 - Project Update by Maggie Huang
“Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare….” (Psalm 124:7a)
Dear Friend of Israel, 19 Sept, 2020
During our visit we ourselves were also greatly encouraged by one family in Sderot who witnessed God’s lovingkindness in protecting their entire household on 21 August at midnight during a recent rocket attack from Gaza. Shlomo and Osnat’s house suffered serious damage, he said he believed they and their children miraculously escaped the destruction after warning sirens failed to wake them.
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“It’s a miracle that we were unharmed,” said Shlomo. He said they did not hear the rocket alert at all, they were awoken by the explosions and smelled smoke. It was only after they left the house that they saw the destruction - the explosions cut the house in two and hit the roof of the secure room - the bomb shelter within the house. He said it was very scary but thankfully none of them was hurt (Psalm 124:7a).
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Shlomo said our visit brought healing to him personally as he has been trying to be strong for his family in the midst of this traumatic event and had suppressed his emotions. He poured out his heart to us during the visit, saying he wept when he received a phone call from Project CUA shortly after rocket attack; he was touched by the love and care extended to him by us.
I received text messages from Shlomo after returning to Jerusalem, to thank us for the comfort, encouragement and support. He said our visit touches his heart every time he looks at the pictures of our visit.
Thank you - our supporters, for allowing Project CUA to represent you in touching the hearts of the suffering rocket victims like Shlomo and others, which shows the love of our Lord, something which they never experienced.
Chagim Smechim (Happy Holidays – Jewish New Year, Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacle).
August 2020 - Project Update by Maggie Huang
“God is faithful, through whom you were called…” (1 Corinthians 1:9)
Dear Friend of Israel,
After the writing of my last update, Palestinian terror groups in Gaza fired three rockets into Israel in late June, growing tensions along the border region appeared as the Israeli government considered annexing portions of Judea and Samaria. Two rockets struck in open fields and another rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system. In response the IDF struck Hamas targets in Gaza, including some underground infrastructure.
Affected by the Corona pandemic, the funds of Projects CUA & UHW are very low at this period in time, as donors have either lost their jobs or been unable to work so that the financial support has substantially decreased. As a result these two Projects are unable to provide more financial help to victims in need as in the past. I prayed asking God to fill this gap with His presence so the victims would not feel disappointed by less financial assistance that we could provide for them, as most of them have been in great financial hardship. God truly is very faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9) He answered this prayer.
The Holy Spirit was at work when I was ministering to these traumatized rocket and terror victims so that every visit turned out to be of great encouragement to them, and one of them (Amichai) was so deeply touched by the visit that he asked me to visit him and his wife and their 3 young daughters the following week, this time at their home. And praise God that He also ministered to Amichai’s wife Shimrit. She has been carrying all the responsibilities on her shoulders as Amichai has been unable to work because of post trauma resulting from his army service. Tension between them arises from time to time due to misunderstanding and expectations. Please remember this precious family in prayer.
Thank you for your support for Projects CUA. Our work would not be possible without the help of supporters like you. May The Lord bless you and provide for all your needs.
Living under the threat of Covid is tough... but imagine living with the threat of Covid and in fear of your life from Islamic terrorist attacks? Sederot, an Israeli city, lies just three kilometres from the Gaza Border. CFI's David Soakell has been there many times in the past and even experienced the Tzeva Adom (Colour Red) alert, and watched Kassam rockets being fired by the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza. But as the very large red sun dipped on the horizon, and darkness descended quickly, he soon realised that once again, the peace he and the team had experienced in this beautiful Israeli town, would soon be shattered.