I was on the 2011 / 2012 Holiday trip to Israel. I want to thank Byron, Tammy and Fathers House for making it possible for me to go on this life changing trip. Hardly a day goes by that I do not think about some aspect of our trip, what I learned or what I experienced.

It truly is a life changing experience. I firmly believe that every Pastor should go to Israel either while in seminary or in the first few years of ministry. Moshe has so much knowledge of historical importance, Biblical understanding, and archeological perspective of Israel that I was captivated by his lessons and explanations. Each day was something new, exciting, educational and edifying regarding new discoveries, history, archaeology, current events, biblical history, biblical truth and application. A short time ago, my wife was anxious to make plans for our next get away and she asked me, If you go anywhere right now, where would you like to go? My answer came quick and without hesitation; Israel. We hope go to Israel sometime in the next few years this time together.

Even after studying the materials suggested before going on this wonderful experience, I see that it is almost impossible to visualize and understand G_d’s word without seeing it in context. Just as the settlers and Native Americans used the materials that were at hand for their shelters, so did the Israelites.  I had never pictured homes, inns, stables, castles and fortresses built in chalk limestone caves, but that was what was available to shelter them. Seeing, no, experiencing the recent archeological discoveries will touch your soul just as Pilgrims to the Promised Land have been moved for years. Praising G_d at the same locations that Israelites praised him in the past may bring you to tears of joy. It was easy to see individual members of our tour group were touched at different locations we visited according to their needs and G_d’s gifts. Come home to the Promised Land, even if it only for a short time, your life with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit will grow, especially as you share your experiences. It is very easy to share the Word, when you are asked about your trip to the Promised Land.

Each time I have made the trip home to Israel with Father’s House, my Abba has made sure to do something special just for me. Once, He even changed the schedule around so that I could be some place very special at just the right time. In doing that,He then added in spots that had not been on our original itinerary, but were on the list of other participants who were disapointed we were not going to those spots. Each trip is full of handpicked participants who then go on a trip that is custom made by HaShem just for them. Only our G-d could pull that off. And He does it every time. May HaShem continue to bless the Father’s House abundantly for all they are doing to enrich and change the lives of all they touch.

I definitely have a whole different perspective and appreciation for descriptions in the Bible of places that were beautiful, crying out in the wilderness, and praising when God provided. Huge difference of perspective!

I know that I will never be the same and can’t wait to go again. I truly believe that this trip was more than information it was impartation which added such a deeper diminution to the experience. In my particular situation the hand of God literally snatched me out of my world and dropped me into another world completely out of my control and comfort zone. I also think that I was more than surprised of how much I retained from this trip (since I gave up on note taking about the third day) but to my surprise the Holy Spirit was etching some truths into my soul that went far beyond Israel facts and history alone they where personal life lessons. I also had a eye adjustment while there in Israel by the Holy Spirit that has helped me to see my world from a better perspective more filled with hope, more Kingdom fight and better than all that to take the sour things in this life, and with God’s help make lemonade ever time we have opportunity that can sweeten and enrich our lives and those around us. God gave me a fresh grace not to see the wilderness as my enemy anymore and to ask everyday what lessons are there to learn in the wilderness and if God put me in a wilderness place He can speak to me and show me the way, plus the quicker I learn the lessons of the wilderness the quicker I can get into my next season of milk and honey. Several of my parishioners came up to me and asked what has happened to me (IN A GOOD WAY) since returning from this trip and I’m not sure if I can point to any one thing but I do know that God started a fresh work in my heart filled with new hope and a eye for the future. God has used me to help some of my pastor friends that have been burning up in the desert with despair and hopelessness to look for God to speak to them in their wilderness. Thanks so much for being that vehicle that the Holy Spirit could use to light up a worn out soldier of the cross and give him (ME) a fresh wind to fight the good fight another day. As for Your FATHER’S HOUSE team all of you are a God send and a real tool in the hand of God so please keep up the hard but good work and know your labor is not in vain.

People say, What’s your highlight? The whole trip from morning to afternoon to evening was so full of God, so full of His wonderful land. It was all the highlight. Now I can see that the land, the wilderness used properly can bless abundantly. The dates that grow in California might produce 40 kilos, but in the wilderness in Israel the same trees can produce 400 kilos. On the Sea of Galilee it was exposed to me that there was good in the wilderness and we are in a wilderness experience right now with a granddaughter. But there is good in the wilderness because God is there. He will bless it abundantly.

John, many thanks to you and Roxie for all you do and brought to the trip. Dotti and I both loved your hearts for Jesus and teaching. Couldn’t have survived without you two. Blessings and love, Wade (and Dotti) Cloyd

I want you all to know that I had a great trip and would certainly go again and recommend it to anyone. There is not a day goes by that I do not think about the trip and apply something to my life or study, although my head’s still spinning from all the information! Thanks to everyone of you who had a part in it.