- Leon & Nina Mazin
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 19 hours ago
An update from Pastor Leon in Haifa during Passover
“And celebrate the feast of Pesach for seven days. The first and the last days are to be a sacred assembly.”
I congratulate you all on the Holiday of Freedom and on the Feast of the Resurrection of Yeshua.
Peace and joy in Yeshua the Messiah to all our friends. I want to thank you for your prayers, your support, and every blessing you send to us. You are a great encouragement and strength to all of us here.
The United States is at war. Israel is at war. We are living very near the scene of active combat. Sirens often wake us during the night, and the air trembles from missile explosions. Iran launches both heavy missiles and cluster warheads. Their precision is limited, and they are often aimed toward city centers, where homes stand close together and civilians live. Because of this, the main victims are often ordinary people.
Victim of recent rocket attack on Haifa - Photo
Israel is a small country, and the population is relatively small as well. Very often, when tragedy strikes, it touches someone you know directly or through a close connection. Recently, a Russian-speaking family who had lived in Israel for more than thirty years was killed. The mother was a well-known academic vocal teacher, and because we are also a family with a musical background, we knew of her indirectly. It is heartbreaking.
But enough of the sorrow, or almost enough. Let me tell you about the children.
It is Passover break in the schools, yet the children are not really able to go anywhere because so much is closed and the security situation limits movement. We decided to provide some relief for the children of our congregation. Since our building has two large bomb shelters, the safety regulations allowed us to gather about fifty to sixty people.
My daughter Elihen and her husband Benjamin organized a camp for the children and teenagers, hoping to give them at least four or five days of relief from the strain of war. We could not escape the reality completely. Three or four times a day, and one or two times during the night, the alarms sounded and we had to go down into the shelter. At one point, I even considered sending the children home. But the parents told us that the bomb shelter at the congregation was better than the ones they had at home, and that the children felt safe and at peace there.
Youth worship in bunker - Video
Youth activities - Video
Youth prayer circles - Photo
Youth worship in congregation - Photo
Youth activities - Photo
Youth activities - Photo
Youth event group Photo
So for five days and four nights, about twenty teenagers, thirty children, and five adults stayed in the building, including my wife. I thank God for His protection and His blessing over this time. The children were able to breathe again. They were able to laugh, to play, and to spend their days fully engaged and full of life. In the middle of war, the Lord gave them a place of safety, fellowship, and joy.
I ask you to continue praying for us, for our children, and for the entire congregation. Please also pray for the people of Israel, and for a swift end to this war.
With respect,
Leon Mazin
Comments