As we finish our first month of 2023, we look forward with expectation to a year of miracles. Our God is the God for whom nothing is impossible. In this newsletter, we share a few of the wonderful stories of healing: healing of bodies, healing of broken hearts, and lives redeemed from death through abortion. Often, a mother comes to us in despair and deeply troubled, yet when she gives life to her child, her troubles become secondary to the joy of holding her precious baby. “A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world” (John 16:21).

Our goal, as read by the Lord from the scroll of Isaiah, is “to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise, instead of a spirit of despair“ (Isaiah 61:3).

Bless you for partnering with us to bring joy instead of mourning to precious mothers and children.

Nadia and Baby Girl Ariella

Counselor Sarah, confident in the power of prayer, asked us to intercede for new immigrants Nadia and her husband, Avi. They arrived in Israel from Estonia while Nadia was pregnant with her daughter.

The couple had lived on the border of Estonia and Russia and fled during the heat of the war. Avi suffered from back pain and hadn’t been able to receive treatment in Estonia. Arriving in Israel, they sought and received medical care for Avi’s back condition. As believers, they contacted others for fellowship and heard about Be’ad Chaim and the help that they could receive from us. Our policy at Be’ad Chaim is based on the instruction in Galatians 6:10: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Avi had not been able to find work, but a former counselor was able to find him a job working as a caretaker for the Russian-speaking elderly. Adorable baby Ariella was born in June, Avi’s back is much better, and he is able to provide for his family through his work. God answers prayers! Contact our office to become a member of our weekly prayer team and be a part of the wonderful things that God is doing.

The Sewing Goes On

It’s been exciting to see our mothers, many of whom are refugees or immigrants from Eritrea and Ethiopia, developing their skills as seamstresses. These faithful women began coming for their sewing lessons in September and each week improve their abilities. We are very happy to be able to provide them with this great opportunity through our Korean partners.

Teen Girls Conference

It was fun to be able to share with several hundred teenage girls about Be’ad Chaim’s help in unplanned pregnancies. We urged them to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute… And to defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31). Each teen received a “precious feet pin” to wear or put on her backpack so that she can share the message of life with all who ask about the tiny feet. We also gave some practical suggestions for how these Messianic teens can protect babies:

• Tell your friends (and their moms), teachers and counselors about us
• Organize a prolife class project in art, social studies, theater, radio, philosophy. Be creative!
• Take our stickers that offer help and put them on bathroom doors, electric poles—everywhere
• Become our friend on social media and share our posts
• Don’t be afraid to take a stand that’s different from society to protect life in the womb

Titi and Baby Girl Soliana

Titi is 36 years old. She and her husband are new immigrants from Ethiopia. They live in Jerusalem and work very hard to pay the rent, food, and daycare for their one-year-old baby Joanna. Titi suffers from a rare bone disease and has to take strong medication. She became pregnant again just a few months after Joanna’s birth. The doctors suggested that she abort because of her illness, saying the pregnancy would be too much for her body. Thank God, she decided to keep the baby despite the pain—and the risk that her baby would also be affected by the disease. Glory be to God! A very healthy and beautiful little baby girl, whom they named Soliana, was born in November just three days after her sister Joanna’s first birthday. We feel blessed to be part of the joy that this precious family is experiencing and to make their lives more comfortable by providing them with the baby essentials and monthly gift cards to purchase what they need for their little Soliana.

Zella and Baby Boy Refael Yehuda - Pray for healing!

When Zella found out she was pregnant, she was afraid. In the past, she had experienced three miscarriages and had an abortion. She also suffers from diabetes and is clinically depressed. Zella sometimes slept all day long. Her family pressured her to have an abortion and is not supportive in any way. With the loving support of our counselor, whom she heard about through a friend, she chose to try yet again to become a mother. Her entire pregnancy was high risk, and she spent months in the hospital. In November, Zella gave birth to a son whom she named Raphael Yehuda. She chose the name because she knows that healing comes from God. Raphael literally means “God heals”. She knows that Raphael is a very special gift to her from God after all the sadness that she has been through.

Zella still can't believe she is a mother and has a baby. She is getting used to the nightly feeds and is so happy. She said, “Raphael is my whole world. Thank you very much for all the love, the visits, the phone calls, and the long conversations. Thanks to the organization and the donors.”

Rachel's Baby

Our counselor Sarah has seen God answer many of the requests that she lists on our weekly prayer letters. Several months ago, she asked us to pray for mother Rachel’s baby because an ultrasound examination had indicated a cyst in the brain and spots on two chambers of the heart. Rachel didn’t want to abort but was afraid to have a handicapped child. Her husband demanded that she abort after he heard the doctor’s recommendation because he has a disabled relative and feared that his child would be like his cousin. Their disagreement was so heated that her husband left her and moved in with his mother. A huge thanks to the thousands who receive our weekly Monday prayer letters and beseech heaven for our moms and babies. Your prayers make a difference! A further ultrasound exam showed NO SIGN of a cyst in the brain and only a spot remained on only one chamber of the heart. We continue to pray for full health for Rachel’s baby and for restoration of the relationship between husband and wife.

Healing in the Gardens of Life

This month has been busy in the Gardens, a place of healing for those who have suffered from reproductive loss. At the beginning of the month, several groups came to visit this four-acre forested area in Latrun. Several of the women had experienced abortion many years ago and knew the forgiveness that they have in the Lord, yet as we shared the goals of the Garden, they began to cry. They remembered their losses and poor choices. Their tears, and planting a tree in memory of the baby, served as a means of catharsis for them. Lately, and sadly, there has been an increase in the number of couples who have lost babies during birth. Our loving prayer hostess, Laurel, accompanies these couples with mercy as they plant a tree in honor of their babies who went home so quickly to their heavenly Father.

Recently, a retired nurse joined us for our weekly prayer meeting. During our prayer time, her mind was flooded with the memories of the abortions in which she had participated nearly fifty years ago. She realized that this was God’s appointed time to release her from these painful experiences. As she planted her cypress tree in the forest to memorialize those aborted children, she found relief from the memories and sadness. "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves" (Psalm 126:5-6).

All who grieve the loss of a baby either through miscarriage, abortion or still birth are welcome to plant a tree in the Gardens or ask our prayer hostess to prayerfully plant in your stead. All who plant receive a beautiful certificate.

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