Joy can be a BIG SURPRISE. Our Passover and Resurrection Day (Easter) celebrations this past month remind us that we serve the God of the miraculous. When the people of Israel panicked, assuming that they were trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, the parting of the Red Sea was a joyous surprise! Following the crucifixion and the still body of our Lord Jesus laid in the tomb, the appearance of the RISEN SAVIOUR was a joyous surprise! When women are in turmoil and fear at the beginning of an unplanned pregnancy, abundant love for their newborn is a joyous surprise! “Weeping may endure in the night, but joy comes in the morning!” This month, we asked some of our mothers to share what gives them joy. Not surprisingly, most of them shared that their children—despite their circumstances—gave them incredible joy. Once they experience the overwhelming, powerful love that they feel for their new babies, many women ponder how they had ever considered abortion. I am deeply grateful to you, our partners, for enabling us to help women see the seemingly impossible become a reality and to be SURPRISED WITH JOY.

May our Lord fill your heart with His Joy overflowing,

Sandy

SPECIAL BALLET PERFORMANCES IN ASHKELON AND JERUSALEM

A dance group performed and shared testimonies for our moms, staff and invited guests. The music and dance were touching, and the personal stories were poignant and inspiring for mothers whose hearts ached. One mother, Hannah, asked for special prayer after she heard a dancer share a story similar to her own. Hannah’s mother had utterly rejected and abused her as a child. Hannah asked for help to forgive her mother and to learn how to lovingly mother her own children. When the dancers and staff ministered and prayed for her, she wept as the shackles of unforgiveness fell from her heart and she felt new freedom. Her weeping had turned to new joy.

Yehudit and Baby Girl Emanuelle

Yehudit, forty-two years old, has been in a relationship with a man who loves her. She has two other children from her previous marriage. When she discovered that she was pregnant, doctors told her that there was a very high likelihood that the baby would have Down Syndrome. They said that there were other severe medical problems and strongly advised her to have an abortion. She also went to consult with a rabbi, and he too said that she should abort the baby. Thankfully, her boyfriend was always supportive and said that he didn’t care if the baby had Down Syndrome or not, he wanted her! Yehudit was conflicted because of the social stigmas, pressure from doctors, the rabbi’s advice and her own fears. She turned to us for help. Our counselor talked to her about the reality of Down Syndrome babies being really special and how they have many more opportunities today, compared to years ago. Yehudit courageously chose life for her baby. Throughout the pregnancy she trusted God for what would happen and gave glory to Him. In mid-March, she gave birth to a baby girl with Down Syndrome. Yehudit fell head-over-heels in love with the baby and says she loves her more than she would have believed possible. She has now married the baby’s father and they are both over the moon with happiness! His mother is also a very proud grandmother who adores baby Emanuelle (meaning “God is with us”). Yehudit repeatedly expresses how grateful she is to our counselor, Helen, who encouraged her to keep this special baby when everyone around was saying the opposite.

She cried many tears during the pregnancy, but never gave up hope. Helen says: “I think that the greatest miracle was the gift of love God gave her when she saw her baby. She is just devoted to her and although early ultrasounds had indicated abnormalities, they all completely disappeared and the baby has NO medical issues.”

GARDENS OF LIFE

Our prayer hostess Laurel continues to meet with grieving parents to plant trees in the Gardens in honor of babies who passed from their mothers’ womb to God’s loving arms. This month, a tree was planted in memory of a son with Down Syndrome who died at birth. Laurel shared:

“We had a sweet and teary meeting. I brought some stuffed animals of a lion and a lamb. I didn’t know that the woman was coming with her husband, a three-year-old daughter and in-laws. The stuffed animals got the tears rolling which was good because the young woman said that she had never really taken the time to grieve. The couple shared that they had prayed for the child to live, but gave him to God and a great peace entered the room.” The tree planting brought closure as they were able to show honor to their son whom they sent to heaven so early.

“Another tree was planted by a couple who came from the southern coast to plant for a stillborn son who died twenty-three years ago. She was grateful that I respected her need to grieve after so many years. They were secular, but with her permission I prayed in a whisper she could hear as we knelt near the little tree. I said to God that we don’t understand painful losses, but we trust in who You are. She cried more and thanked me. Her husband was quiet through all this, but as we walked out, he shared that when they had a daughter, he finally felt comforted.”

Joy is not necessarily laughter or glee. Sometimes, joy is found in deep relief and comfort.

MOTHERS SHARE WHAT GIVES THEM JOY

- To see your [Be’ad Chaim’s] help to people, to visit with my counselor and to have her listen to me when no one else is listening! (Maya’s mother)

- My children. The smile on the face of Libi and Ram when they wake up in the morning healthy and whole. When they play well and let me do my work as a cosmetician. (Libi’s mother)

- The kindness of people around. Even a smile can change everything. Raphael and I have found this here. All the love of this amazing organization. (Raphael’s mother)

- My children keep me going—to see them flourishing and growing.

- My children. Jesus the Messiah gives me joy because He will never leave me. It also gives me joy to help other people. I love you forever.

- Spending quality time with my daughters. Your support and encouragement. (Peer’s mother)

- To see my children healthy and happy and to live without pressure knowing that everything is okay. (Mila’s mother)

- Peace in my home. Peace in my soul. (David’s mother)

- My baby gave me new life. I am like a small child and my life is like the sun. I rejoice in my children. My child Bereket means blessing—my blessing, the light and strength in our home. (Bereket’s mother)

- To go out to a restaurant with my husband and to be with our son Osher (meaning “happiness”). (Osher’s mother)

- Helping other people. Drinking tea in the evening with friends.

- I know Jesus and that makes me happy! God guides me and gives me a family and friends. (Artemi’s mother)

-To see my babies grow and have a life here in Israel as a family after I made aliya on my own from South America.

Shoshana and Baby Boy Liam

Shoshana attended our event in Ashkelon and received a wonderful food basket, baby diapers, toiletries and her monthly gift card to purchase baby needs. She shared her many health struggles, including a double a mastectomy and remaining cancerous cells. Due to her health situation, doctors advised her to abort her fifth pregnancy. She struggled with the decision and didn’t want to abort, but the pressure by professionals and her fears pushed her to take the two chemical abortion pills. However, the pills were not effective and her son, Liam, survived and was born with numerous health issues. Despite her difficult circumstances, Shoshana passionately shared these precious words: “What gives me joy are my five children. If I didn’t have them, there would be no meaning to my life. I live and breathe them.” Shoshana requests your prayers for healing from cancer and for her son Liam. Let’s ask God to heal her body and encourage her mind and spirit. May His grace and love abound in this family.

Michal’s story: Babies of Hope

For many months, we prayed for Michal, whose husband Alex was taken hostage by Hamas and murdered last August in the tunnels. Michal, with other widows and wives of hostages, appeared on the cover of a national women’s magazine. The title of the article is “Babies of Hope: Women who gave birth after the 7th of October–This is our victory over evil.”

This is a summary of Michal’s page in the article: When Alex was kidnapped, I was four months pregnant... Alex knew that we were having a son... I gave birth on February 28th in a Caesarian section surgery. I kept telling myself, “the most important thing is that I have a peaceful birth. Alex will come home and everything will be okay.” When I came home from the hospital, I felt empty. Having the circumcision ceremony without Alex was the hardest of all—it broke me… There were constant rumors on Telegram… and then a knock on the door at four in the morning… I understood that I can’t hold my pain inside; I need to release and cry in front of the children. This is not weakness… My hope: I want my children to grow up in a better world. I hope that our country will be a better place to live. We are a People who can heal and be whole only after all of the hostages return. Our brothers are in captivity. We cannot abandon anyone.

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