Comfort in Dark Times of War
Published on: 13.11.2023
By: Corrie van Maanen, Homecare nurse
House destroyed during Rocket and Hamas attack

From the joy of the Feast of Tabernacles celebrated with Christians from many nations, we were confronted with a shock. Suddenly there were sirens, racing to bomb shelters, and realizing the horrors of what had happened on 7 October. We suddenly went from joy to tears.

ICEJ Homecare immediately began to contact people we care for. What could we do for them? What were their needs? Each person had a different reaction. Some were in total shock, others gripped by fear, depression or anger. Single mothers became very protective of their children. Holocaust survivors feared a time of hunger lay ahead, while the jolting images of Jews suffering at the hands of terrorists revived memories of their own past horrors.

One elderly lady lives alone and is still recovering from an operation. I promised her weekly visits which have become the highlight of her week. She makes soup so we can share a meal together. While we eat, she cries over the situation. She went through many hardships in life back in Russia, and fears this war in a way I can hardly fathom.

When I visited Tatjana in her bedroom, she anxiously asked:  ”Can you buy me medicine to calm me down?”

Because I know her so well, I already brought some. Years ago, Homecare gave nursing care to her father, as well as to her during a long illness. We also cared for her husband until his passing a few years ago. This lady lost many family in the cruelty of World War Two. I sat beside her, carefully listening to her trembling words. I asked her what she was doing during the day.

“I listen to the news from Israel in Russian the whole day,” she responded. “I am afraid to go out of the house.”

Then I showed her my ‘medicine’ – a small Book of Psalm in Russian. Together we started reading. Slowly, she calmed down. After a few psalms, she looked up and said: “You are right. I shouldn’t listen to the news so much. These words are giving me the peace I need.”

I also visited an elderly lady who lives in the South, with no family and only a small support network. Her health is not good and daily life was already a challenge for her. When I arrived, she was very upset about the war. As I helped resolve some of her smaller irritations, she calmed down. After a while we could discuss her concerns. I wondered if she had enough medication and food and water in the house. Was somebody nearby to contact? Was she still praying, knowing the God of Israel is with you? Her eyes lit up.

“Yes, I am praying day and night.”

We drank our tea and talked about many subjects. When I rose to leave, she said: “A stone was rolled from my heart this morning.”

In Jerusalem, I regularly visit a Jewish couple who survived the Second World War in a ghetto. Last year, they escaped the horrific battle for Mariupol in Ukraine, fleeing their home as rockets hit their apartment building. In their 80s, they had to climb down a ladder from the second floor. After a long, dangerous three-week trek, they made Aliyah via Hungary to Israel with their two daughters, leaving behind a son-in-law and grandson. They suffered from grief and loss of all their treasured belongings.

When I recently visited them, she held up three fingers, saying: “This is the third war we are in and this time we have nowhere to go.” Still, they were finding strength and hope in the God of Israel.

During the Feast, Homecare also was blessed once again with suitcases of gifts from the nations for needy Israelis. A group of Finnish believers brought bags filled with new bed linens, towels and many hand-knitted socks. I did not know how valuable these would be until I took the gifts to a kibbutz just outside Jerusalem that is housing 150 traumatized Israeli evacuees from the Gaza border area. They were much appreciated and met a great need.
Donations received from Feast
Homecare gifts

Israelis have come together in heartwarming ways to help each other during this war. Homecare is helping too. We are sitting with people, listening to their worries, and encouraging them to trust the Lord. We are buying groceries, helping with showers and hygiene, and sharing soup and tea. Sometimes, we feel our arms are too short to help everybody, but we make a difference where we can, because His love is a never-ending source.

戰爭黑暗時期的安慰
發佈於: 13.11.2023
作者：Corrie van Maanen，家庭護理護士
火箭和哈馬斯襲擊期間房屋被毀

來自許多國家的基督徒在慶祝住棚節的歡樂中，我們感到震驚。突然響起警報，人們紛紛湧向防空洞，意識到 10 月 7 日發生的事情有多可怕。 我們頓時從喜悅變成了淚水。

ICEJ Homecare 立即開始聯繫我們所關心的人。我們能為他們做些什麼？他們的需求是什麼？每個人都有不同的反應。有些人完全震驚，有些人則感到恐懼、沮喪或憤怒。 單親母親變得非常保護自己的孩子。 大屠殺生還者擔心接下來會面臨飢餓，而猶太人在恐怖分子手中受苦受難的令人震驚的畫面又喚起了他們對過去恐怖的記憶。

一位老婦獨自生活，仍在手術後恢復中。 我答應她每週都會去拜訪，這已經成為她一週的亮點。 她煮湯，這樣我們就可以一起吃飯。 當我們吃飯時，她為這種情況哭泣。 她在俄羅斯經歷了許多苦難，對這場戰爭的恐懼是我難以理解的。

當我去塔佳娜的臥室探望她時，她焦急地問道：「你能給我買藥讓我平靜下來嗎？」

因為我太了解她了，所以我已經帶了一些。 多年前，家庭護理中心為她的父親以及長期患病的她提供護理。 我們也照顧她的丈夫，直到他幾年前去世。 這位女士在殘酷的第二次世界大戰中失去了許多家人。 我坐在她身邊，仔細聽著她顫抖的話語。 我問她白天在做什麼。

「我整天用俄語聽以色列的新聞，」她回答。 「我害怕走出家門。」

然後我給她看了我的「藥」——一本俄語的小詩篇。 我們一起開始讀書。 慢慢地，她平靜下來。 唱了幾首詩後，她抬頭說：「你說得對。 我不應該聽那麼多新聞。 這些話給了我所需的平安。”

我還拜訪了一位住在南方的老太太，她沒有家人，只有一個很小的支持網絡。 她的身體不好，日常生活對她來說已經是個挑戰。 當我到達時，她對戰爭感到非常不安。 當我幫她解決一些較小的煩惱時，她平靜了下來。 過了一會兒，我們可以討論她的擔憂。 我想知道她家裡是否有足夠的藥物、食物和水。 附近有人可以聯絡嗎？ 她知道以色列的神與你同在，還在禱告嗎？ 她的眼睛亮了起來。

「是的，我日夜祈禱。」

我們喝著茶，聊了很多話題。 當我起身離開時，她說：「今天早上我心裡的一塊石頭滾走了。」

在耶路撒冷，我經常拜訪一對在第二次世界大戰中在貧民窟中倖存下來的猶太夫婦。 去年，他們逃離了烏克蘭馬裡烏波爾的可怕戰鬥，當火箭襲擊他們的公寓大樓時，他們逃離了家園。 80多歲的時候，他們必須從二樓爬梯子。 經過三週漫長而危險的長途跋涉，他們帶著兩個女兒經匈牙利回到以色列，留下了女婿和孫子。 他們悲痛萬分，失去了所有珍貴的財產。

當我最近拜訪他們時，她舉起三個手指說：「這是我們陷入的第三次戰爭，這一次我們無處可去。」 儘管如此，他們還是在以色列的上帝身上找到了力量和希望。

節慶期間，Homecare 也再次收到來自各國為有需要的以色列人提供的手提箱禮物的祝福。 一群芬蘭信徒帶來了裝滿新床單、毛巾和許多手工編織襪子的袋子。 直到我把這些禮物帶到耶路撒冷郊外的一個基布茲時，我才知道這些禮物有多珍貴，那裡收容著 150 名從加薩邊境地區遭受創傷的以色列撤離者。 他們非常感激並滿足了極大的需要。

住棚節收到的奉獻
居家禮品

以色列人在這場戰爭中以溫馨的方式團結在一起互相幫助。 家庭護理也有幫助。 我們與人坐在一起，傾聽他們的憂慮，鼓勵他們相信主。 我們購買雜貨，幫忙洗澡和講衛生，並分享湯和茶。 有時，我們覺得我們的手臂太短，無法幫助每個人，但我們會盡我們所能，做出改變，因為祂的愛是永無止境的源泉。