Travel Report: Israel, PREXAD Tour 2016

July 2016 Travel Report: Israel Dear Friends and Family, Pictures:http://www.cincopa.com/media-platform/test?fid=AMLAYltonql0 In June the division presidents joined the General Conference presidential group for a study tour in Israel. The group is called PREXAD or President’s Advisory. The guides for this trip were Mark Finley, Asst. to the President for Evangelism, and Michael Hasel, archeologist and OT scholar at Southern Adventist University. Each had produced either a book or detailed syllabus for the trip. It was a great trip not only for the biblical insights but also for the comradery that is so essential for the working relationship we need to have with each other. So much could be said but one incident does stand out in my mind. We had arrived at the new dig underway by Michael Hasel and his team. While there two busloads of student arrived who were led by their teachers. One of our group happened to over hear their lecturer talk about the excellent work being done by a Dr. Hasel. You can imagine their excitement when they realized and were introduced to Michael right there! There was applause and expressions of gratitude for the work he has done and is doing! A pretty special moment for the rest of us. There is much more that could be said but my travel reports have been a bit long lately. The captions on the pictures can tell part of the story. The pictures were all taken with my cell phone! It’s a long story but I arrived in Israel without my camera but ended up with it when I returned home! So glad for the cell phone camera. This trip was followed by a trip to South Africa where we conducted an “advisory” (training program) for the union Special Needs Ministries leaders and a few others. I’ll send that report later. It was another exciting trip – for me it is exciting because I am reminded over and over again that our members have been waiting for this emphasis on the Deaf, blind, those physically and mentally challenged as well as the orphans/vulnerable children of the world. The time has come! Within the next few weeks I will be in Ghana, ASI (Phoenix, AZ), Kenya, Uganda and Romania. In each case we have the opportunity to share the vision, see the “movement” catch-on regarding those who have been marginalized for generations. We have much to do. Please pray for the continued momentum. There are other developments in each of the 5 Special Needs areas but it is really too early to report. We have formed another task force called “Caregiver Task Force” that will address the needs of those who are giving supportive care of those in the 5 Special Needs areas. Some exciting possibilities have been discussed. State tuned.