August 2024 – Let it Rain

Have you heard the song “I’ll build a boat, so let it rain”? This is a fitting theme song for our current season of ministry. We have been working toward hosting Israelis for 12 years now; we spent 4 years building the Planet Zula hospitality network; we moved our family across the country to Arizona in faith; and we spent April and May in the Grand Canyon with our host family (the Guevaras) planning, preparing, and refining our Shabbat dinner events. We built a boat, and God has faithfully provided the rain of Israeli travelers!

During our first 4 months at the Grand Canyon, we have encountered over 60 Israelis! Several times, they saw our shirts that read, “מחזירים אותם הביתה עכשיו” (Bring them home now), and started talking to us in Hebrew, thinking that we are Israeli. They tell us it means so much just seeing our shirts, but when we tell them about the Planet Zula app, they are blown away by the love and support not only from us, but also the hundreds of Christian hosts on our network.

At the beginning of June, our friends and co-workers, Shmueli and Jenna Arnold, came and stayed in the Guevaras’ home for 2 weeks to help jump start our season. We encountered many Israelis during their time here, but were unable to host any until the last morning before the Arnolds left. That morning we hosted 8 Israelis for brunch!

We had wonderful conversations with each of them about what we believe and why we host Israelis, and sent them off with warm hugs and Hebrew New Testaments. One Israeli couple had just finished a Rim to Rim hike of the Grand Canyon that Sunday morning and ended up spending that night in the Guevaras’ home. The following morning they were able to have extensive, deep spiritual conversation over breakfast. Please pray for all these seeds that were planted by our team, and for the Salvation of each of these Israelis. (1 Corinthians 3:7)

Thank you so much for your faithful support and prayers for us as we reach Israelis with the Gospel – we truly could not do this without you. We had no idea what God would do with this season in the Grand Canyon, and we are so excited with what God will do in the coming years. Regardless of the unknown, we will obediently build the boat and trust Him to provide the rain.

With gratitude, 

BJ, Carissa, Ari and Aviya