6/30/08

Beloved Friedman family & friends,

Grace and shalom in our wonderful Messiah!

In April I went to Israel to assess the situation in the land. There is so much that needs to be done, so many people who are in need. It is hard for most people to understand that half the population of Israel lives below, at, or slightly above the poverty level of around $400 per month! I met with a number of ministry leaders, and began to evaluate those towns most in need, which are not currently being helped with food and other basic needs. Our plan is to return to Israel this summer and open the first distribution point in one of the most needy towns. Please pray that the Lord will give us favor in this initial phase of the work of Jacob’s Hope in Israel.

It will cost approximately $2,500 per month to rent facilities, hire an Israeli believer and stock the distribution point. Perhaps you or your congregation would like to adopt one of these distribution points. Our goal is to have about thirty centers around Israel and then have a major warehouse facility to supply all the local distribution points.

After Israel, I spent ten days in Poland. During this time I spoke in seven churches and one university, and met with the mayors of two towns. The believing community in Poland is extremely interested in blessing the Jewish people. Wherever I travel in Poland I find pastors, believers and churches who pray consistently for the peace of Jerusalem and the Jewish people around the world. One of the leaders of the Assemblies of God in Poland wants to help us bring food and material aid to the Jewish people of Ukraine.

On Passover I led a Seder for three hundred Catholic people in a thousand-year-old cathedral in Krakow, Poland. Most of the people had never experienced anything Jewish. The Seder was recorded and seen all over Poland. It was truly an amazing night, as I had opportunity to share our vision for the Jewish people and the promises God has made to those who bless the Jewish people.

On the home front, the biggest news to report is our relocation. On the first of June the Friedmans began the cross-country journey to Springfield, Missouri, the headquarters of the Assemblies of God. It has been an interesting adjustment for this city boy, but already the benefits of living here are becoming apparent. I have had the opportunity to meet with two world missions regional directors and our boss, the head of World missions, to strategize how to better impact the worldwide Jewish community. Matt & Sara are both busy with ministry this summer. Matt is co-leading the west coast Jews for Jesus camp and Sara will be in New York leading the summer outreach campaign. Please pray for safety and much fruit from their labors. Jesse was assigned temporary duty on the USS Stennis. He has now sailed on both oceans. Bethany found a summer job and an apartment in downtown Philadelphia – and she has already been robbed twice! Please pray for her safety. Adam is back in Philly for the summer. He is staying with friends and will be a counselor at the east coast Jews for Jesus camp. Elisa was also back in Philly for two weeks staying with friends, and is now home again. For those two weeks, Jed was the only one home and he helped me get the house and my office put to gether. He is a real help. Please pray for an easy adjustment and new friends for all the kids. Vixie, as usual, is amazing. Box by box, she is getting the house back to normal. Being out here in the country is a real blessing for her, but even with the relatively low cost of living, she may have to look for part-time work. Please pray for the Lord’s direction in this, and for her strength.

I am planning to travel to Israel, Belarus, Ukraine and Ethiopia before the end of the year. Please pray for strength, protection and fruit from these journeys. Also pray that the finances come in to begin to fund our compassionate outreach to Jewish people in each of these countries.

There is much difficult work ahead, we could not even think about it without your love, prayers and faithful financial support. From all of us, “toda raba”, thank you.

Please note the new address and telephone number:

Jacob’s Hope
P.O. Box 1046
Springfield, Missouri 65801

417 491-HOPE (4673)
For the lost sheep of the house of Israel,

The Friedmans
Jeff, Vixie, Matt, Sara, Jesse, Bethany, Adam, Elisa, Jedidiah