From Leah Ortiz

We thank so many of you who have written and asked to be updated on Ami's condition as you want to continue to lift him up before the throne of God. We can't tell you how grateful we are that the momentum is continuing, as we are facing new challenges every day. However, we are greatly encouraged by the outpouring of love from all over the world, and Ami is daily encouraged as well. We thank Yeshua for moving your hearts to convey His encouragement to our family.

We moved into the Tel HaShomer Children's hospital two weeks ago. It is a rehabilitation facility and one of the best in the country. Ami has a strenuous schedule which includes Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, School studies, Computer lessons, and training in an exercise center. All of this has really strengthened him. Along with renewed appetite, he's looking more and more like "Ami".

However, there are many struggles as well. Interspersed between all of his activities have been visits to specialists. The first specialists to see him were the ENT doctors (Ear, Nose and Throat). We found out that Ami's right ear drum is almost completely blown out and the left ear drum has significant damage. The first doctor told us that he will need skin grafts in both ears which includes a recovery period of 3 to 6 weeks on each ear. However, yesterday we visited a second specialist who specializes in ear injuries from terror attacks. She had better news - she said there was a 90% chance that the ear drums would close up themselves - heal by themselves. She said that Ami is young, and she's seen it happen many times. Even after the first doctor's assessment, I had faith that the Lord would close up those ear drums!! His next appointment will be in 3 months. The doctor said it might take a year for them to heal naturally, but if there is no improvement in 3 months, they will schedule the operations.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE EAR DRUMS TO BE HEALED. Ami's hearing has been significantly affected as a result of this injury.

Ami was sent to an eye specialist as well. He said that there are still many pieces of metal in Ami's eyes, but it is better if they stay in as it could cause problems if they come out. He also said that the eyes were not seeing 20/20 and he might need glasses. PLEASE PRAY FOR THE LORD TO DISSOLVE THE METAL IN HIS EYES, AND FOR THE HEALING OF HIS EYES TO CONTINUE UNTIL 20/20 VISION.

Ami has also had significant burn wounds and subsequent scarring all over his body - also scars where large pieces of shrapnel were removed. His body also has the tendency to scar quickly and for the scars to build up rapidly. Therefore, pressure bandages have been made for him. They are like thick support stockings. The upper body "suit" covers his whole upper body including his neck. It is very difficult to get used to and he's been told that he has to wear them 23 hours a day for one to two years!! The lower body suit is being prepared now. All of this is emotionally and mentally hard for Ami to adjust to as well as being physically rigorous. PLEASE PRAY THAT THE SCARS WOULD HEAL QUICKLY, AND THAT AMI WOULD BE ABLE TO ADJUST TO THESE BANDAGES.

Ami was also seen by a plastic surgeon, who has ordered x-rays to be done on his hands and feet, as he has extreme sensitivity especially in his left palm, and in the toes that were amputated. He thinks there is shrapnel embedded that might be painful to him, in which case they will surgically remove it. Ami has over 100 pieces of shrapnel in his body. Many of them will be expelled by his body naturally. One day, two groups of believers came to visit us and I asked them to pray for the shrapnel to be expelled quickly. That night Ami said, "I feel all the pieces of metal moving!" He was in pain and we had to give him Tylenol!! We need to be careful what we ask for from the Lord!!

I am praying for Ami's healing to happen quicker than anyone can imagine. I believe that with prayer and Yeshua's healing power, everything is possible.

Tomorrow, Friday March 23rd, will be a special prayer meeting in our congregation in Ariel. Messianic leaders from all over Israel will be gathering for a time of fasting and prayer for Ami and the situations surrounding the attack, from 10am to 2PM Israel time.

Even this week, in a town called Or Yehuda, the deputy mayor along with local rabbis stirred up the religious youth to go door to door and gather New Testaments that had been distributed by believers a few weeks before. They then burned the New Testaments.

This is a very serious development because in Nazi Germany, Jewish prayer books were burned in the early years before the Holocaust began. We would urge you to denounce this act to the Israeli Embassy in your area, and also to ask why the perpetrators of the Purim Package bombing have not yet been apprehended.

The article about the burning of the New Testaments can be found at:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1211288128832

Thank you again for your prayer, love and support.

In the Messiah,

Leah Ortiz


Judith Rood again,

I, Judith Rood, want to express to you that Michael and I love Israel and her people but there always seem to be those in every country that thrive on hate and violence. This was the plight of the African American here in America until the voice of the people cause the Government to finally do what was right.

Michael Rood, my husband, is airing a 30 minute Lydia World Outreach Special starting next Saturday May 30 through Sunday June 8. This special documentary will show how we are extending the Love the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to our Christian brothers and sisters - to those who are victims of violence, prejudice and hatred in the Land of Israel.

We are commanded by Him who died for us to show His love through our compassionate actions. Michael has never been timid about challenging the status quo. While we both dearly love the Land of Israel and it's people, we do not condone those who would do acts of violence. No one can say they are following Torah while condoning or encouraging any act of violence against the innocent.

A Land that has for centuries seen it's children murdered, maimed and left homeless, should understand that it cannot allow prejudice and hatred to go unpunished no matter who is responsible or what their reason is for such actions.

I am Jewish. My mother, my father, my grandparents were Jewish. Our family blood was spilled in Russia and in Germany. As many of my ancestors as anyone's were murdered for their Jewish faith. The Jewish blood in their veins poured out to water the soil of many countries. How can any person tell me I am not Jewish because I believe the Messiah has come or because I am married to a Godly man.that is not afraid to challenge man's traditions or ignorance.

The mandate of Yahweh is to aid the helpless, to support and comfort the widows, the orphans and the poor. James 1:27 makes it clear that the commandment of the Torah is still in effect in these cases.

We will show our love by our prayers, by our actions, through the generous giving of our tithes and offerings to help the victims of these acts, and by being there for as many widows, orphans and poor as we have means to help.

While in Israel this next week, I will be your and Elohim's Ambassador of hope to these victims. We hope to visit several orphanages that have received Jewish children from countries where their parents and grandparents were also victims of similar acts of prejudice and violence.

Thank you for your loving prayers and financial support. If you can't see this special, just call us and we will do all we can to send you a copy to view in your home, your congregation, your church or with your friends and family.

I know you will join me in saying, "We are not ashamed of the Gospel of the Messiah and of showing His love to a hurting world."

Call my staff at 800-550-9028 and request a copy. We will send them out free until there aren't any more to send.

Shalom Aleichem

Judith Rood
National Chairperson, The Lydia World Outreach Project

Update on Ami Ortiz

Seven weeks have now passed since the Purim gift package blew up in the arms of fifteen year-old Ami Ortiz. Those of you that have been following the story and praying for Ami know that his initial condition was so severe that they didn't know if he would live. If he did live, they didn't know if they would be able to save some of his limbs, an eye and one of his lungs. He had a huge gash in his throat; his body was burned and full of shrapnel and bolts.

Due to the Lord's healing hand, this week Ami was actually able to walk up the stairs to his family's third floor apartment and spend a couple of days there before returning to the hospital to begin extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation.

The journey home could not have been easy as Ami anticipated returning to the location of that traumatic event. However, he assured his father that he was not afraid.

Postcards from all over the world have been arriving at the Ortiz home since the attack. Ami finds great comfort in knowing that so many people are praying for him and care enough to send a note of encouragement. We are told that Ami's mother Leah reads at least 20 postcards every night to Ami before he falls asleep.

We encourage you to send Ami a postcard. Tell a little about yourself, your family and your community, or include a short inspiring story. Feel free to send a picture of yourself or your family in an envelope . Please encourage others from your community, your congregation, children and youth groups, etc . . . to send Ami a note.

Mail postcards/envelopes to:

Ami Ortiz
P.O. Box 1903
Ariel 40700
Israel

-The doctors have told Ami's parents that a full recovery could take at least a year. Please remember to lift up his family in your prayers and pray for the finances they need to make it through this long recovery period.

-Ami is having difficulty moving his hands and may need more surgery to re-attach ligaments and muscles.

-There is still shrapnel embedded in his lungs.

-He is easily fatigued and needs prayer for increased stamina and physical endurance.

-The security forces are still working hard on this case. Please pray that the criminals are quickly caught and brought to justice before anyone else is injured.

Friday, May 23rd at 10 AM Israeli time (3 AM Eastern Time USA) believers from all over Israel will be gathering to pray and fast for Ami and his family. They will also lift up all those who are being subjected to the growing persecution across Israel.

The enemy is angry! What he meant for harm, the Lord is using for good, as He promised. The body of Messiah is uniting and standing firm through these days of adversity.

Lisa Rhoades

Ami's Recovery From Purim Package Explosion

Three weeks have now passed since Ami opened the Purim package that exploded in his arms. His recovery continues to be marked with amazing miracles that have the doctors stunned and speechless. With a little help Ami has even taken a few steps. That in itself is a miracle!

In reality Ami's battle to fully recover is still huge. Making it through each day is proving to be a painful and exhausting experience. He has now had extensive skin grafts that are taking well, but the healing and scabbing process causes severe itching. The doctors continue to reduce his medication so that his body will strengthen and to prevent dependency and addiction.

We are told that Ami is still getting only limited sleep because of the waves of pain he is experiencing. His moaning and screams at night are taking a toll on his parents also.

Please pray and intercede for the peace of Y'shua to give rest to Ami's body and comfort to his family as the Great Physician continues to bring healing.

Many of you have asked how we can help Ami and his family in practical ways. There are still expenses for travel and the parents are living away from home while Ami is in the hospital.

The apartment is being cleaned up and repaired, windows replaced,
etc. . . Ami's family are finding themselves in an interesting situation. Because the police believe the perpetrators are a radical Orthodox Jewish sect they are treating the bombing as a criminal act and not as a terrorist act. If they considered it national terrorism, the government would assist with the cost of repairing their home. As things stand, they may not get any assistance.

Thank you for lifting Ami and his family before the Lord.