A Journey With The Lord
by Donna Hutchinson

Three years ago we were just arriving in Israel and waiting to hear exactly what the Lord had planned for us. We knew that our long-awaited vision to move to Israel had finally come to pass, but we did not know that it would involve managing a Christian guesthouse in Jerusalem!

At first the task seemed beyond our capabilities, but the Lord told us we could do it. Knowing we were in his perfect will sustained us during the long work hours and difficult months ahead, trying to learn the job and take care of guests without enough volunteers. We worked very hard at Christ Church Center but our time there was a major life impacting experience. Serving in a Christian community in the Old City of Jerusalem had daily rewards, challenges and deep friendships were formed with other volunteers from around the world and local Israelis, both Jews and Arabs.

After our first year the Lord had us sell our house and possessions. We believed we would stay in Israel indefinitely in order to ultimately fulfill the vision Bill received in 1974 concerning ministry to the Jewish people. We continued our volunteer service at Christ Church until last December when the Lord directed us to move to Galilee for Hebrew language studies in Tiberias. He provided us with a furnished apartment overlooking the Sea of Galilee and a wonderful ulpan class nearby. We fell in love with Tiberias during our tour to Israel in 1995, but never dreamed we would one day live there in one of the very religious, Jewish neighborhoods.

Our new lifestyle was quite different from the one we experienced in a Christian community. We had to learn to live on our own without a car, without a common language and without friends close by, but we were totally unprepared for what happened after only one month in our new home.

On February 12, 2005, Bill was admitted to the Coronary Care Unit of a local hospital with a life threatening heart condition. He received very good medical care and was able to come home after six days. We realized during the next four months that the Lord had provided our beautiful apartment for Bill’s recovery process and not for studying Hebrew.

Due to many factors related to health, insurance and closure of ulpans, we decided it must be time to return to the States. It was a painful and difficult decision to leave the land of Israel with a vision unfulfilled, but we know the Lord is able to make all things work together for good and only He can bring about the events He speaks to us in visions, dreams or promises. He said His word will not return void and neither is He a God who forgets vows. On July 15th of this year, we returned to Georgia and now make our home in Ellijay.

We are blessed in our return, but he who loves Israel will always leave his heart in the Land. We surely identify with the Psalmist who writes, “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her skill / or become lame. May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.” We have found that it is impossible to forget.

We pray the Lord’s richest blessings on all of you who have followed our story and prayed for us. We are thankful for each one and especially our dear friends, Ralph and Diane of Zechariah Ministries.

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