In 1988 my husband went to Israel with Intercessors for Britain. Unfortunately, he suffered a psychotic breakdown while in Israel and although he eventually made a full recovery, the effects lasted for several years. As a result, I found it difficult to pray for Israel, when it had so devastated our family. Additionally, the wedding ring I had given my husband had been thrown down a toilet in Jerusalem. Such a blatant attack on our family demanded strong action. In 1993, I saw advertised in Prophecy Today, a trip to Israel with Cliff and Monica. I decided to go and try to make peace with Israel, since it was so valued by the Lord and so much part of his plan for salvation.
The kind and gentle way that Cliff and Monica bring God’s Word to life brought healing into my life. We were studying the Old Testament and retracing the steps of the Patriarchs, the Israelites and Moses. I treasure the memory of going through the desert, sharing rides with Monica and two others, on a camel that had just lost her baby to wolves in the night. The desert can be a cruel and frightening place, but I found it also to be a place of peace and silence, such silence. Towards lunchtime, our guide produced a metal dome, hidden in a crevice in the rocks and placed it over a fire. He then proceeded to make flatbreads with flour and oil that he had brought with him and showed us how to eat it, dipping it into olive oil and herbs. It was delicious and a reminder that God provides, even in the desert times.
In the desert of Paran, I experienced my own calling out of Egypt into the wilderness, which Cliff taught us was a place of revelation for the Israelites and also for me. In the Wilderness of Zin, a place of decision for the Israelites was also a place of decision for me. In Jerusalem, we were encouraged by Barry Segal to keep praying for all the Jews returning to Israel, many of whom were coming to know Jesus as Messiah. On the side of Mount Carmel, we sat where it is believed that Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. Standing near a shepherds’ well, Cliff told us the story of a stone being found on the site, which when scientifically examined, was said to have been subjected to a heat equivalent to the force of an atomic fusion. The story of Elijah’s sacrifice being consumed with fire became very alive.
Then as we gazed out over the Jezreel valley, it was as if I was in a different time zone and the reality of the world’s armies converging for the last great battle became so vivid. It is so helpful when God links historical events with the present and the future. Jezreel was part of Issachar’s inheritance in the land and in the early 1990s, a ministry with the name Issachar had been introduced by PWM as a banner and a place of gathering for those watching and praying for our nation.
The following year I went again to Israel with Cliff and Monica, this time taking my 14 year old daughter and also my wedding dress, because a request had been made to bring wedding dresses for the new brides arriving in Israel. We studied the New Testament world of Jesus. The trip made a significant impact on my daughter, who is today a deeply committed Christian. It is so important to make the Bible come alive for young people. I am so grateful for the teaching and healing that Cliff and Monica have brought into our lives, to keep us in step with God and on board with God’s plans for Israel, while we were coming to terms with what Israel had done to our family life.
