A time for war, a time for peace—and a time to be born. Despite the war, new pregnancies continue, and as women continue to question whether they should abort or protect their child, Be’ad Chaim continues to help. As I write this letter, missile alarms and attacks continue throughout the day and night. Mothers run to find shelter. If they are blessed, there is a safe room in their home. Most of our mothers live in older apartments and must run to the nearest bomb shelter either outside their building or somewhere in their building typically up or down stairs. In our new Be’er Sheva office, our staff welcomes neighbors into the safe room during business hours.
Beyond the missile attacks, mothers struggle because schools have been closed, children are bored, husbands may have been called to reserve duty in the army, money is tight and tensions abound. Despite the circumstances, we KNOW and are assured that the God who keeps Israel does not slumber or sleep (Psalm 121:4).
I covet your prayers and am deeply grateful for your faithfulness.
A BIT OF JOY IN THE MIDST OF WAR
Instead of celebrating the Purim festival in early March, we found ourselves in bomb shelters and safe rooms, and all the festivities were cancelled. Purim, described in the book of Esther, is a holiday when costumes are worn, celebrating God’s protection over the Jewish people from annihilation in Persia (Iran). During the current war, bombing has been heaviest in the north and center of Israel. This was a small relief for those living in the southern areas, which had suffered the most after October 7th 2023. In Ashkelon, our counselor Yael visited many of her mothers and babies to provide their gift cards, diapers and other goodies. Despite the war, the mothers dressed their babies in their Purim costumes. Here are a few of the cute photos of Ashkelon babies.
OFRI & BABY BOY NOAM - 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, AND NEW BABY!
Ofri lives with her husband and five young children ages five, four, three, two and one. Her youngest had just turned one when she discovered that she was pregnant again. They had not been planning on having any more children, and she wanted to abort the baby. Their financial situation isn’t good. She felt that she would not be able to give her children everything they needed. When Ofri saw our post on Facebook offering unconditional help to mothers in crisis pregnancy, she contacted us. She gave birth to baby boy Noam in October and received from us a double stroller so that both little ones can ride side by side, plus a baby bed with sheets and bumpers. She was thrilled, as she could not afford to buy such wonderful items on her own. Every month she receives a gift card to cover the cost of diapers and formula.
Ofri wrote: “I want to tell you that it was really hard for me to accept my last pregnancy because our financial situation was so dire. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support. Baby Noam is amazing! He has a huge smile, and I can’t bear to think that I almost missed having him. Thanks to your donors and your help every month, I can provide him with all he needs. I want to say AN ENORMOUS THANK YOU to my sponsor. You are giving us a great blessing, and we appreciate it so much.”
HELP AFTER IRANIAN MISSILES LAST JUNE
Last June, our counsellor Yael visited hotels in Ashkelon and offered support to families who had been evacuated from their homes because of Iranian bombing. Meeting them in the lobby of the hotel, she discovered families whose homes had been wrecked. These families needed emotional and practical support as they waited for the birth of their next child. For each of these families in the hotels, we provided baby furniture and monthly gift cards through our Operation Moses Project.
MONA & BABY GIRL YAHELI
Mona, a schoolteacher, was sixteen weeks pregnant when their home was hit by an Iranian missile in June last year, leaving it uninhabitable. Mona, her husband and their two daughters moved into a hotel while waiting for the house to be rebuilt. Baby Yaheli, a third daughter, was born in December and has brought smiles to their faces despite their hardship.
MIRIAM & BABY BOY AMIT
Miriam and her husband were super excited when they discovered that they were expecting a fourth child, until their home was hit by an Iranian missile. Because they were renting the house, they couldn’t get compensation for their move during the repairs. It has been costly and complicated to find another home so quickly near her husband’s place of work. They were amazed to have support for their new baby at this difficult time. In October, their new baby boy, Amit, was born healthy and strong.
OFEK & BABY BOY RAPHAEL ELIYAHU Pray for her husband!
Ofek, only twenty years old, is a newlywed. During her pregnancy, her husband underwent surgery because of lung cancer and hasn’t been able to return to work. Ofek was terribly worried because they had no income and a baby was on the way. She had been working as an assistant for children with special needs but had to stop working because the doctor put her on bed rest due to her high-risk pregnancy. When she saw our post on social media offering help for women, she enrolled in our Operation Moses Project. This provided her with a stroller, a bath and a baby bed complete with sheets and bumpers. As part of the program, she also receives monthly gift cards for a year to purchase diapers, formula, pacifiers and other baby products. This has been an enormous relief to her. On February 16, Ofek gave birth to a baby boy whom they named Raphael Eliyahu, meaning “God is my healer, He is my God.” Ofek thanks God for her new baby boy and is grateful for your prayers that God will heal her husband.
GARDENS OF LIFE
The Gardens of Life is a place that brings closure and healing to many broken hearts. We received this sweet note from someone who visited Israel last month with their church group.
Greetings! My church group was at your wonderful memorial site this past Friday, the 20th of February. We planted several trees. The whole experience was extremely healing for the loss of my grandson. With thanks.
All are welcome to visit the Gardens and plant or to contact our office. Our prayer hostess will be happy to plant in your proxy and send you a photograph and certificate.
A GRIEVING MOTHER NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS
Salam, an African refugee, wept as she described the loss of her eight-month-old son Yonatan. She had gone back to work only seven weeks earlier and placed him in daycare with an experienced and recommended caretaker. He died in his sleep while in the daycare center. Salam loves Jesus and said that He gives her strength but that it’s very hard to go on. Although she knows that she had to return to work to help support her other two children and help her husband, she blames herself for putting the baby in daycare. Please pray for God to restore her joy and help her to release false guilt.
Find Healing
Plant a tree and find healing after the loss of a baby through miscarriage, abortion or SIDS - and find comfort, closure, and restoration.
Sponsor a Life
Become a sponsor and help a mother choose LIFE by providing her with essential items her baby will need for their first year of life.
Provide Clothing
Provide women with clothing and certain baby items for a full year. Help lessen the financial pressure of buying it all on their own.
