The Walls and Hills
An Update
On Friday I saw the headline before walking into chapel.
‘The American embassy is evacuating personnel’
I registered it the way you register a change in the air. Like a dark cloud in the distance.
The students were already gathering around the piano for a time of worship singing:
“Jesus, Son of God, Messiah, the Lamb the Roaring Lion…Be still and behold Him.”
My phone vibrated and I quickly looked down and see a text.
“Praying!!”
It felt like the first heavy drop of rain landing on your cheek that startles you. That large wet drop out of no where. You pause. You look up. Scrutinize the sky.
Another buzz.
“Are you safe?”
Another.
“We’re seeing the news.”
Each message was spaced enough apart to come in like large drops of rain. Not a downpour… not yet.
Around the piano, they kept singing and I took in the moment like I have done before. Thanked God for all that He has given and committed whatever storm was coming to Him.
By morning I woke up early. poured the coffee and opened my phone.
More messages came in overnight. Now the drops had multiplied and were turning into a steady rain of concern.
Before I had even taken the first sip of coffee, a loud forceful sound came in that does not just interrupt your morning. It replaces it.
A siren for war.
The students were in the Old City.
We had reviewed instructions the night before.
I messaged the group.
“Follow the plan. Head to the stairwell into the shelter room. Confirm when you’re there.”
The responses came quickly.
“All accounted for.”
As the sirens continued rolling through the hills.
The Old City gates closed.
The students were nested inside stone walls that have held centuries of conflict and prayer and other groups who have weathered the storm.
Matt and I were outside in the Jerusalem hills.
My mind came back closer to home. One child’s base is in Tel Aviv. Another will be heading north toward the border of Lebanon. Those places do not sit behind ancient stone. I scanned the map in my head. Distances. Range. Likely targets. This is how I mother now as i swallow hard a drink of coffee.
Then another buzz.
but this time not from a friend or family.
But the Bible app.
Psalm 91:11.
“For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
I stared at it.
All.
The students behind thick stone walls.
My children in uniform.
The city gates closing.
The bases opening.
The locations I cannot name or even know about.
All.
Guard you in all your ways.
The coffee was cold when I finally took another sip.
All your ways.
Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for all the love and messages that we have received. Thank you for just reading along and keeping me with you. Please share with anyone else who would like to read or pray. Love, Elizabeth
Elizabeth and Matt ... I praise God for your inspiring faith and passion to spread Gospel seeds. May our Lord's hand continue to cover you. "Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee."