Romania/Israel Newsletter 2017

The newsletter is in its original state. It is shorter than the year before with a much longer trip (seven weeks longer to be exact).

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I cannot thank you enough for following God’s leading by supporting and partnering with me in this special trip to Romania and Israel. I have fit in like family, been confused as Romanian, and started picking up the beautiful Romanian language. I have challenged my interpreters in new levels of hearing the Holy Spirit and offered an amazing position that is exactly the next step I was looking for in the calling of my life.

In Israel I got to volunteer with Americans, Canadians, South Africans, Irish, and Ukrainians to assist Russians, Ukrainians, Jews, and other immigrants. It was definitely an experience of lifetime being able to spend a month in the Holy Land of God.

In Romania I did several house visits, the first week was with a team from Adventures in Missions. I then joined the World Race Parent Vision Training for half of a week and then the next two weeks was me working solo with the interpreters there. I assisted Ana in the kitchen heavily for World Race (a group of about 70people). I did several house visits delivering food and company to those that need assistance.

I have sat down with other missionaries to learn how they raise their funds for themselves as I am planning and on my way to be a long term missionary in various places. One of the most important things I have learned was that my newsletters are too long (whoops…) and even though I feel like you might want (because I would) a detailed example of what I did everyday doesn’t mean you always do. So forgive me, I’m going to be working on making it SHORTER and getting it out sooner… (Because this is something I really need to work on. I struggle. And maybe God will send someone that feels like this is what they’re good at. Teamwork makes the dream work!!)

All that said: My trip was amazing. I fit in like family with the host family I stayed with. I feel like I fit in better in Romania than I have in America half the time. It feels like home. After the first group I was with left Pastor Raul started asking me what my heart was, because I’m learning Romanian he wanted to know if I was thinking long term Romania. While I have gotten several prophetic words about Romania and being there, and I felt like he WANTED me to say yes, I had to reveal my whole heart: all of Europe. To which I explained about my vision for the different European countries he promptly said “come to my office I want to talk with you”. He then offered to take me to nearly every European country to meet his connections so that I could start leading missions’ trips to these various countries. I was literally shaking. He left and I started screaming out of excitement. My next trip which is in May 2018 is to go to eight of the Balkan countries to meet his various connections to start leading these trips as soon as I can (visiting: Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey). I am then going to the Western Countries in 2019 (when trying to get him to list them all the response was “all of them”, to which I wanted a list so I was both a bit peeved and incredibly excited).

An angel visited me in my dreams to tell me to go to Romania this past year (2017) and I feel like it was specifically for this reason. I don’t let money get in my way. God provides where He guides. If He didn’t—none of this would be possible. And I can’t thank you enough for being the tool that God uses. <3 While I was in Romania I visited a large city named Craiova (have a map nearby? You can find it there! West of Bucharest). Most of it was seeing in the Spirit and finding out what was happening in these places in the Spirit. (If you want to know exactly I’d love to speak with you! Just message me on Facebook or if you have my number text me!). There is such a terrible spirit of religion which I felt on my first trip there, and I got more specifics this time. These people need LOVE, not more traditions, religious duties, or anything else we could possibly offer them.

I volunteered with my good friends Justin and Meranda at Bridges for Peace in Karmiel, Israel for a month. On the weekends we explored all we could explore of Jesus’ homeland. It was so surreal that I couldn’t believe that I was actually there. Participating at Bridges for Peace showed me such a complete and wonderful family (I literally felt like I was at a family reunion when everyone knew who I was but I didn’t have any idea who they were).

We put together immigration packages, mainly for Russians that are moving to Israel. This was a beautiful experience to see the country and understand the Muslim VS Jewish war and way of life. It showed me a new mercy for the Muslim people. The Pakistani government will not approve anything on the TV unless it shows violence. There are cartoons targeted to little kids praising killing a Jew… If a Muslim gets caught killing a Jew and gets killed in the process the Pakistan’s will have a very large sports competition in that person’s honor and the trophy in their name. Earlier in 2017 a 13 year old Muslim girl stabbed and killed a 12 year old Jewish boy. It is not their fault that they are conditioned of such a learned behavior. The only thing we should have no mercy in is the enemy that comes up and executes these plans—by going out and praying for people, showing love, being a light, and having courage to obey Him so that signs and wonders flow through us.

While I was living in Israel the Israeli government stationed metal detectors at the Temple of the Rock (which is originally the placement of our Temple, now the Muslims have taken it). There were several stabbings happening to unsuspecting “Jews” except, come to find out each person that got stabbed by a Muslim was a Muslim meaning to stab a Jew. It just reminded me of Gideon and how the enemy got confused and turned on each other. I was never afraid. I was an hour away and looked very obviously like an American. The fight wasn’t for Americans. It was for Jews.

The Israeli Defense Force was incredible. As an Israeli citizen you enter into the army at age 18 when you’re 20 as a woman you’re allowed to leave and 23 for men. Unlike the USA Government they build up character instead of tearing down everything you have been. On or off duty they have to carry their huge machine guns. I saw women in dresses with guns on them, I walked through Hezikiah’s Tunnels to turn around and see that there were a few that held guns over their heads. I went to eat at a café, ordered my food, and saw 20 Special Forces come in, followed by 3 Israeli Defense Forces, and 5 Israeli Police Officers. Each Special Force person had a rocket launcher, several guns, and knives hidden on their person. I was in the safest place there. They are there to protect their people which is why I felt so safe.

This whole time was amazing. It was really heartwarming. But what I gained most from the experience was that Israel feels no different than my home land. It didn’t feel “holier” (like you would think it would being the Holy Land). God just showed me that the only difference in any other country and my own is my attentiveness to His Spirit and His movement. I hate to say it, but sometimes when we’re on the go so often, it’s really hard to shush our minds and listen to His whispers (this is something I am challenging myself to grow in). The few times I decided to be still on the inside through all the chaos was the times I really felt moved by Him. I got to pray at the Western Wall which made me cry. Being at the place His people have always prayed for centuries really touched my heart. God is ready to move. Wherever you are and wherever I am. I am called to different countries than mine. But I pray, that if you’re called to USA that you steward His Presence in such a way that you make the biggest impact that you’re meant to make.

With Love, Jonna