We had a busy night last night. I counted twenty explosions in just one barrage.  One landed at the entrance of town by mall seven where all the reporters are camped out, one hit a school, the other hit a yeshiva (religious school) and I have not heard where the last one hit. The power went off several times, Thanks be to YAH it was able to be restored each time.

This morning there was water pouring down the stairs of our building. We called the city’s hot line and they said they can’t take care of the water problem. So, me and Eti ventured out to see where the water was coming from. There was no evidence of a direct hit or any other building damage. We went to the water meters saw the one that was racing and turned it off. Sometimes damage is caused by shrapnel or parts of an exploded Kassam or Iron Dome as they fall from the sky. We believe this was the case.

As is typical for Israel, the IDF has been dropping warning to the people of Gaza, warning them to move south to a safer location; that Hamas is using them as human shields and they need to be out by 4P.M today.  On the other side Hamas is telling their people to stay put, knowing Israel’s value of life.

To say I am not scared would be misleading. It is hard to make those trips to the market, to take out the trash or even take the dog out so he can relieve himself. I have and do put my trust and faith in YAH and the Psalms are a comfort to read. Ezekiel is a bit more troubling for me right now as it may be playing out right before my eyes.

Talking about my dog; there have been many posts on the Sderot Facebook page asking if there is someone who could go and feed and water their pets they left behind. There are report of dogs, cats and cows that were also butchered by Hamas as they obliterated kibbutzim along the border. I saw one video of Hamas moving herds of cows to Gaza along with everything they had stolen from the home they broke into and pilfered.

One final note for this update… I mentioned on yesterdays update that the young man at the market had made a fresh Challah for Shabbat and he gave me two. This is the first fresh bread we have had in the past seven days. Normally I go to the bakery and pick up fresh bread every day, so that gesture of love and kindness went without notice. The things we take for granted! I think Simon and Garfunkel put it this way… “don’t it always seem to go; you don’t know what you got till it’s gone.”

As we sat down to eat Our Shabbat dinner, I looked at the bread, I looked at the food on my plate and it brought me to tears as I recalled Psalm 23

 A Psalm of David. יהוה is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of יהוה Forever. 

THANK YOU for your continued love, support and prayers!