844 days and we have stopped counting
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844 Days, We Have Stopped Counting
It has been a long, hard, emotional 844 days since savage terrorists attacked and killed 1219 innocent civilians and party goers and took 251 hostages, both dead and alive.
With the return of the body of Ran Gvili, a fearless police officer who was killed while defending his fellow Israelis, the clock has now stopped ticking away the days since 7 Oct 2023.
Even though the clock has stopped ticking, the loss, the pain, and the anguish will continue on for the rest of the lives of those who lost loved ones.
“I know the sun is gonna shine tomorrow, but I can’t seem to feel it on my face, and I know the world is gonna keep on turning, while I’m still holding on to yesterday, and I know I’m gonna smile again, but I just don’t know when.”
(These are the words of a song my sister wrote after she lost her daughter. The words came back to me while I was writing this newsletter. The grief of losing a loved one is very real and life-changing. Too many Israelis have been placed in that situation since 7 Oct 2023.)
Over the past eighteen years, but especially since 7 Oct 2023, your support has been nothing short of a miracle. We will NEVER be able to say THANK YOU enough. Your support reached the hearts of the people of Sderot!
We still have soldiers in Gaza, and there are still single parents who need help. There are still children in school who need something to eat during the day, and there are still the working poor. In other words, the mission set before us eighteen years ago is still in place.
The long-term effects of the past twenty-three years of being the target of Hamas still affect us. The threats from Iran, Lebanon, and the Houthis from Yemen are still a very present danger.
It is relatively quiet today (that is, except for the two or three daily explosions from Gaza and machine gun fire), and like the past, it is just a matter of time before we find ourselves running once again to our bomb shelters. Today, we thank GOD for the reprieve.
At the beginning of this new calendar year, we were informed that the rent for our building will increase if we plan to continue renting it. We have been at our current location since our inception, almost nineteen years ago. We are at a crossroads… sign the higher lease (at an increase of 33%) or look for a more reasonably priced location. We appreciate your love, prayers, and support. We will keep you posted as we start exploring our options.
