Israel Bombing Tragedy

Dear Friends,

We had a very good day with in Israel working with the Lydia Project. We went shopping in at the market and the grocery store and bought food for about four very needy families. I met with an elderly couple, Gregory and Helen Robin and they told me their incredible story which we documented on film.

I have met with a congregation called Morning Star fellowship. They help many poor people in their congregation who are from Russia and the Ukraine.

We are leaving early in the morning tomorrow at about 5:30am to go to Tel
Aviv and visit the children's ward where all of the terror victims are. This is the same hospital that is treating Ami, the fifteen year old bombing victim.

Ami's Israel Bombing Tragedy has brought the ugliness of prejudice and persecution of the Messianic believers here in Israel to the front of the world news papers. Thousands have responded to Ami's condition but now I have see many more children that the world doesn't know about. These children and their families need our help.

This is such a pressing story and need I am planning on staying over the night in Beer Sheva.

I have lived in Israel now for many years and sad to say I had know idea how many people need the love and help form those who believe in the Messiah. I like others thought, "well someone is taking care of the needs.' I was so wrong, I know that Yahweh Himself birthed this project for this time.

We have a chance to demonstrate His Son's live to a people who have experienced so much persecution them selves in the name of Christianity. We cannot let the action of a few orthodox stop us from doing this work. We must do all we can to be His hands and His arms to these hurting people.

Those of you supporting the Lydia Project with your prayers and finances are surly be part of this historical time.

Friday morning we went to meet with someone at 10:30am to visit the
Sudanese people in Arahd. After that we traveled to Engetty which is very close and stay Friday night and Shabbot.

When we planned this trip, I just didn't know how timely it was. Yahweh has open so many doors for the Lydia Project. I am attaching an update about Ami from his mother.


"Update from Ami's mother Leah- May 31, 2008

Thank you all for praying for Ami - I have received so many encouraging emails. We're also thankful for every postcard, letter, calendar, drawing, and love gift that we've received. Our way is so much easier because of the love and concern expressed through every form of communication.

I wanted to update you on something -- Ami was scheduled to have the operation to repair nerves in his left arm this Monday, June 2nd. However, on Tuesday he all of a sudden became ill with a throat infection for which he's on antibiotics. Therefore, the operation is postponed for two weeks!! I believe this is of the Lord, as there is time for the Lord to intervene as we press in and pray for healing of the nerves in his arms and hands. He experiences much pain in his left hand especially, but he's being given a new medication for the neuropathy, which is beginning in small doses, and then will be increased.

Again, I believe that this delay is from the Lord, when the doctor told me, I felt a joy that I can't describe in my heart, and I "knew because I knew" this delay was from Him.

Thank you that you are there for us - and that you are faithful to pray. We love you all, and are grateful to the Lord for you every day. We pray for blessing on your families and great increase especially in the Spirit in these last days.

A video report has been done on Ami and the bombing which will air on Channel one in Israel at 8PM our time this Friday May 30th.. The police tried to stop this report from being aired and brought Channel one into court twice!! However they were defeated twice. They say that they don't want details of the case revealed for their investigation but 9 weeks have passed with no arrests and no suspects. This is something that needs much prayer, but please pray for the perpetrators of this attempted murder and hate crime to be apprehended and for justice to be done.

-Leah Ortiz


It seems we are on the verge of seeing scripture unfold before our very eyes. Thank you for all you are doing to make this possible.

Please tell everyone on your e-mail list about the new lydiaworldoutreachproject.org web site. We already have had people from 11 countries come to it.

Shalom A---

Judith Rood
National Chairperson

Ami Ortiz Update

Dear Friends Of Israel,

I just received this update from Ami Ortiz's mother. Some of you have only recently become involved with the Lydia Project Israel, and may not know about the tragic circumstance of this fifteen-year-old Israeli boy and his family. The explosion of a package bomb that was delivered to his family's home during Purim seriously injured Ami.

This is a story that has revealed one of the hidden problems in Israel: the religious persecution of Messianic Believers in the Land by a radical group of Orthodox Jews. Over the past years the government has turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to this growing problem.

I have just arrived in Israel and during this trip I hope to meet Ami's mother. I will also be visiting the organizations your donations are helping to support as well as several orphanages and the Russian community. Many of them have come to know Yashua (Jesus) as their Messiah.

Many in this community need our help as they adjust to living in the Land of Israel. It can be a very hard place. At present, it just doesn't seem like the land of milk and honey. Never the less, so many have given up all they had to make Aliyah.

I recently wrote to you of a village in Russia where we have an opportunity to help Jews leave the Siberian wasteland and move to Israel. I am told that conditions in this village make Israel seem like a paradise, and in Yahweh's eye, it is just that.

Another continued story is that of the Sudanese father and his child who escaped to Israel but the rest of the family was captured. I will be following up on how we can help reunite this family. My goal is to bring this mother and her daughter back to her husband and child.

Now for Ami's update;

Ami Update from his mother Leah- May 27, 2008

Ami had another appointment this week with a hand specialist. He has severe pain in his hands, especially the left, which is a result of nerve damage. The doctor told us that he needs operations in both of his arms as the nerve damage begins quite high up, above the elbow, at least on the left side. We were told that one of the major nerves is torn and another is damaged. If the torn one can't be reconnected, they'll have to do a graft from another nerve somewhere else in his body. In which case, it will have to grow and could take a year to see results. She said that nerves grow at the rate of 1 cm. a day!! He has very long arms, so he has about 1/2 a meter of nerves to grow in!! However, it could be that the existing nerves can be repaired and reconnected. So let's pray for that and for continued miracles for Ami. The surgery on the left hand is scheduled for this Monday, June 2.

I have to say that Ami took the news better than I did - because he's anxious for the pain to be relieved.

We also have to see the foot specialist, as he has tendons that need to be reattached in his right foot. I am in touch with a very well known plastic surgeon who also wants to see Ami to see what can be done for the left foot and the skin graft scars.

Please pray that we will be able to stay faithful and full of faith through this ordeal. I often feel overwhelmed by what Ami is going through. Every so often, Ami is weakened by the pain to the point of tears. David and I are grateful though, the bottom line is he's with us and we can be going through what we're going through. We are also grateful, because even in the natural, there are solutions for all of his problems. We are grateful that we have all of you so faithfully praying and believing for us. We are also grateful that we have a great God who loves us and has never left us or forsaken us for a moment.

I ask for prayer for our criminal lawyer, Yossi Graiver, who is representing us. He is not a believer, but an extraordinary person with a heart for what has happened to Ami and a desire to see justice served. We also have a Messianic lawyer who has helped us from the beginning, Calev Myers, who represents the Messianic community here in Israel in matters concerning the faith and the law of the land. We are extremely blessed. Please pray for the legal case, that the criminals will be caught, and that a full sentence will be served with no plea bargains.

Thank you. I will try to keep you updated as to the results of the operation as soon as I can get to my computer.

Yours in the Messiah,
Leah Ortiz


I, Judith, know you will join me and the thousands of others in praying for Ami and his family and for all the persecuted believers in the land. Maybe you could become a prayer leader in your congregation and pledge to have a weekly prayer time for Ami, for Israel and the Believers in Yashua (Jesus) in this land.

Please e-mail me or call 616-583-0200 and let me know about your prayer group.

As you read in the update from Leah Ortiz, they have many needs. One need, it seems, is a laptop computer. I will be visiting with them to see how we can help with the other needs.

I have attached the 30-minute TV special that will air on the ARA TV network May 31- June 8. Once you click on the TV special, it will take a little time for it to open.

Many of your prayers have been answered. My husband Michael's TV series will now be airing on Direct Satellite TV and Sky Angel 136 at 8:30 pm Eastern time Monday - Friday, please adjust this for you time zone.

We are launching the new LydiaWorldOutreachProject.org web site. This will make it easier to keep you informed of the work Lydia is doing.

I will also be posting the cities I will be visiting after Shavuot 2008. If you would like me to come to your city, please contact Evelyn.

I have asked my staff to set up a conference call from Israel at 12 pm June 4th. This is a United States call for you. You are not charged for long distance to Israel.

Thank you for your prayers and financial support.

Shalom Aleichem,

Judith Rood
National Chairperson

Pray For Those Who Persecute Others

THE COURAGE OF A YOUNG LION - THE HEART OF A LAMB

One of the purposes of the Lydia Project is to help those Believers in Israel who are facing persecution because they have accepted Yahshua of Nazareth as their Messiah or, as Christians say, have made Jesus Christ their Savior.

Ami Ortiz, who was tragically injured by a package bomb intended for his family, is the victim of such prejudice and persecution but it seems what Ha-Satan meant for evil, Yahweh is using to bring about good. The tragedy that struck this fifteen year-old Israeli boy has brought attention to the persecution that Believers face in Israel and the authorities are compelled to find the perpetrators of this evil act.

I ask you to join me in prayer that the government of Israel will address the religious persecution operating in the Land.

Our goal is to follow the commandment of Yahshua and the Torah in giving to the widows, the orphans, the poor and the Strangers in the Land and to be a blessing to ALL Israel.

We pray for those who persecute others while we help the victims of this persecution, whether they are citizens of the Land of Israel or Strangers in the Land like the Sudanese families the Lydia Project is helping.

Tragedy Strikes a Fifteen Year old Believer In Israel

It is so surreal, we were just talking about the needs in this area and the religious persecution Believer are facing. Then it it's close to home, a young boy of fifteen opens his father mail

I spoke to Judith tonight about the Pastor's fifteen year old son that was injured when a package meant for his father exploded in his arms. Judith and I, wanted you to send out a prayer and support request for his family. Right now their focus is just on the fifteen year olds immediate medical situation which is grave, but the initial shook is wearing off of the rest of us in the believing community and we are seeing that they will need practical financial assistance.

The hospital is a distance from their home so there will be expenses of living away from home during these critical days. Also, they really don't have a home to live in right now. The apartment was severely damaged by the blast. So powerful was the blast that three stories down car windows were blow out. The Lord's arms were around Ami, it is amazing that his vital organs were not destroyed by the shock waves of that size of a blast.

It is a miracle this fifteen year old is alive, but he is in very serious condition. Today was a series of more surgeries to try and save his eyes and limbs. So far he has only lost a few toes and one lung was damaged.

All of our children here are on alert to not open or even touch unknown packages or bags. Whoever sent this package to this home meant for it to kill someone. This Believing community like other believing communities has received much harassment in recent days from Ultra Orthodox Jewish groups. Cameras were even installed at the home by the police because of this harassment. There is also the possibility (although slim because Arabs have no access inside of the West Bank settlement) that it was the work of fanatical Muslims because of David's work to bring Muslims to faith. Either way, it was clearly a message to all of us in ministry here and we are taking precautions. My daughter said that he is a sweet fun-loving kid--very active, especially in his youth group and community. This family will need prayer and financial help.

Blessings,
Lisa Rhodes
lydiaproject@michaelroodministries.com