Dear Friends and Supports of A Future and A Hope,
War and Security
We are living in historic times. After attempts to curtail and negate Iran's nuclear ambitions by negotiation proved to be futile, it was necessary for Israel to conduct a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, military sites and senior military personnel. That country's uranium enrichment had reached a level where a nuclear bomb could have been constructed and launched against Israel within days. By God's grace, Israel is standing up against the center of the Axis of Evil in the Middle East that is threatening not only our region, but the peace and security of the Western world.
As expected, Iran responded and, as of this writing, launched over 450 ballistic missiles and over 1,000 armed drones. None of the drones reached Israeli soil, but were destroyed or crashed on route. However, about 10% of the ballistic missiles did manage to get through Israel's aerial defense system and caused serious damage to property and loss of lives, as Iran targeted Israel's civilian population. Israel presses on, as it deals with missile threats 24 hours a day.
In these turbulent and difficult days, A Future and A Hope continues to encourage and reach out to pregnant women and single-parent families. A large number of the women do not have a reinforced security room in their apartments or a bomb shelt in their buildings. It is a challenging and frightening situation.
We are also in constant contact with women who have to cope with the events of war alone, with small children and babies, who do not have any help from the fathers of their children.
We also continue to counsel several young girls who made decisions for life, who are keeping their pregnancies. All of them, without exception, are worried about the missile threats from Iran and need encouragement to deal with difficult situation that our entire nation is dealing with. By God's grace, we are planning to resume home visits with the women next week, as much as the security situation and the Home Front Command allows.
Please pray for the women who are due to give birth this month and in the coming days.
Seminars Postponed and Seminars Adapted to the Present Wartime Conditions.
Last week, Orit was scheduled to speak at a week-end womens' conference in the Galilee. The conference began Thurday afternoon, but was cancelled Friday morning after the commencement of the present hostilities.
Hanni was scheduled to conduct a live workshop this past Tuesday, which would take place over a period of 6 hours. However, due to instructions from the Home Front Command, no gatherings were allowed to take place. As a result, the workshop took place from our apartment via Zoom, over a period of 3 hours. Attached are two photos of that workshop in progress, during which Hanni taught an intensive course dealing with ministry to children and youth. The main topic was how to guard and safeguard youths in congregations and the responsibility that teachers and youth leaders haג.
Encouragement of Parents
It is important to mention that due to the imposition of certain restrictions about gatherings, including at places of employment, as well as the closure of schools and kindergartens, many parents find themselves spending long hours at home with their children. A Future and A Hope prepared and distributed via email online encouragement for parents and suggested instructions to communicate to their children, while at home, that can help protect their children from sexual predators. The instructions, that were distributed in Hebrew, appear below in English:
First Cartoon (right to left):
Dear Parents,
During this time of war and uncertainty, many of us are staying in shelters or with other family members for extended periods. We recommend initiating a conversation with your children about what is allowed and what is not, and asking them daily whether they followed the rules of sexual safety and whether anyone violated those rules.
Encourage them to speak with you, and make sure they know you will not be angry, but that you will be glad they are sharing with you. Be aware that children experiencing distress, such as that which occurs during time of war, may behave in ways that are not typical for them, including behavior related to age-inappropriate sexual conduct.
We prepared the following page (for parents of kindergarten and elementary school-age children) to help instruct the children during this difficult time. Of course, it is also important to have conversations about sexual safety with middle and high school-aged children, as well.
Second cartoon - Top Images – Right to left:
First row:
• Bathroom and Cell phones
Bathroom – Go in alone, not with others.
• Cell phones – Do not photograph your own private parts or take naked pictures and do not send them to others, even to someone you know.
If someone sends you a picture or video showing private parts or naked people, stop and show it to a trusted adult.
Center with heart image – Sexual Safety During Wartime
Second row:
• Talk to Parents and Protection of the Body
Talk to parents - If someone does not respect these rules, say “No” and tell your parents.
Center below – Sexual safety rules apply to everyone: family, friends, and strangers
• Protection of the Body - Always stay clothed during play;
Do not touch others’ private parts and do not let them touch yours.
A Note of Thanks
War does not suspend people's needs. Quite the opposit, it usually tends to increase them. Rendering assistance, particularly to single-parent families who live under the threat of 20 foot-long ballistic missiles, is an ever-present goal of A Future and A Hope. We anticipate that the need will increase, particularly as considerable numbers have become homeless due to the destruction of their buildings from the attacks from Iran. Even some of our relatives have been evacuated from their homes, after their building suffered missile damage.
An Invitation to Partner with Us
You can join with us and share in the blessing of giving to help others in need. We care and we give, because we are the recipients of untold blessings which the eye has not seen, the ear has not heard, nor has the heart been able to understand - at least at this time.
We are thankful to those who already support A Future and A Hope. And we extend an invitation to recipients of this Update to come alongside and join with us in blessing and being a blessing to others. The benefits will be eternal.
With heartfelt thankfulness,
Marvin, for us all
