Coming & Going

9 hours. 540 minutes. 32,400 seconds.

In the last six weeks (42 days) we have visited four states, six cities, and slept in eight different beds. But the last 3,628,800,000 milliseconds cannot be defined by the numbers. It has been an amazing (and sometimes difficult) experience to be back in the States for this short time. Since returning from Israel on August 5th, we've been able to enjoy the food we've missed, see family members that we haven't seen in a very long time, go through the inevitable process of reverse culture shock, and prepare ourselves to again leave the United States, this time for a very different destination.

We now only have 9 hours until we board a plane bound for Guatemala City (well, Ft. Lauderdale, really - a second plane will be taking us to La Aurora). Our bags have been packed, unpacked, and repacked countless times since the beginning of August, and now we are more than ready to be in one place for more than a week at a time.

We are so grateful to everyone who has supported us in the last three months, since we first announced that we would be moving to Guatemala for most of 2014-2015. We have been absolutely blown away by the support and generosity we found in friends and family, and no words in the English language can express our gratitude. We could not be moving to Huehuetenango without your support, thoughts, and prayers. We are so excited to begin work with More Than Compassion at the School of Hope in January. Before we move up to Huehue, we will be living in Panajachel on Lake Atitlan for the three months before Christmas. The primary goals there will be to learn conversational Spanish for the upcoming year and to adjust to the culture before immersing ourselves in the orphanage. Additionally, Becca will be studying for the GRE and I will be starting research for his Master's thesis. We don't really know what to expect in the next three months (I'm hoping for a lot of mango) but we are eager to set up a second home in Guatemala and start learning about the country and culture we will be devoted to. Hopefully we will update here with what we are learning, who we are meeting, and where we are going. For now, thank you so very much for your support, and God bless you in this week!

Best,

Brooklin & Becca

Enemies washing each other's feet.

This past weekend, we had the honor of attending the Elav conference, where Jews, Arabs, and people from all over the world worship Yeshua together.  In light of recent events happening between Israel and Gaza, I have to share the most beautiful moment of the Kingdom coming to Earth.

Yeshua taught us to pray “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

My eyes have truly witnessed this in the midst of a balagan (chaos).  Even though there have been kidnappings of teenagers, retaliation and riots, hundreds of rockets launched into Israel, escalation and despite several rushes to shelter, I have seen true love between Jews and Arabs.  For this, I rejoice. 

What do I mean by this true love? Yes, I saw them worshipping, singing and dancing together.  I saw them praying together, hugging each other, and above all, I witnessed Jews and Arabs washing each other’s feet.  Yes, literally.

In the times where Arabs feared to leave there Jerusalem homes and Israelis were in shelter, I saw Jews and Arabs washing each other’s feet. Beautiful.  What can compel enemies to do this? Only love that is not our own.

Only through Yeshua can hatred be overthrown and love grown. 

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  If some strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.”  Luke 6:27-29

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”  John 13:14

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” John 14:1

Abba, please bless Israel and surrounding neighbors.  We pray for spirits of fear, control, and hatred to flee.  We replace them with love, humility, peace, understanding, forgiveness and joy.  We ask for de-escalation and reconciliation.  We ask for more of your kingdom to come to this land.  Thank you, Abba.

Thoughts from Israel.

Let’s talk about Israel.

I do not expect to be able to describe the last 9 months in one post, but I think it would be silly not to talk about the place that hosted our first year of marriage.

Israel. Israel. Israel.  What do I have to say about you?

This is a bizarre country.  Let’s just set that as the foundation.  This country raises more questions than answers.  If you are a ponderer, come to Israel.  Your mind will go crazy.

When you think of Israel, what do you think of? Bombs? Conflict? Bewildering Old Testament stories?

Well, if I were to describe Israel in a nutshell: It is the land overflowing with hummus and falafel.  A gorgeous location on the Mediterranean coast.  People who are geniuses and never listen to fear or the status quo.  They know what they want and they do it. A place where everybody is rushing, yet always late.  A country of both conflict and refuge. History that never gets old. The safest place I have ever felt, despite what you hear on TV.  And lots of honking. Too much honking.

More specifically, this is Tel Aviv, our city, our home-  Last Friday, this city simultaneously hosted both an exuberant, rainbow filled, Pride parade with 100,000 participants, AND the Guiness World Record’s largest Shabbat dinner (adhering to strict Orthodox Jewish Shabbat guidelines). Where else does that? This is Israel. Filled with paradoxes and confusing moments. 

This country is both religious and secular. Wholesome and scandalous.  You can find dry desert, snow capped mountains, clear seas, warm beaches to play volleyball and matkot, and plenty of parks to host Shabbat picnics.  Some days it is lovely, some days it drives me crazy.  But ultimately, what I want you to know is this: this country cannot be described easily.  And I don’t think it can ever be fully understood.  So I invite you to come visit! And if you do, please stay longer than a holy tour trip or a brief visit to the top sites.  Go on a hike in the north.  Meet someone and have Shabbat dinner with their family.  Talk to both religious and secular Jews.  Attend a Messianic congregation if you follow Yeshua or if you don’t.  And play volleyball with us at the beach!

Meet the Nash's

Hello! 

We are Brook and Becca.  After getting hitched last fall, we jumped on a plane and arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel.  We have been spending the last year learning, loving, and livin’ on pita!  We seek to follow Jesus wherever He leads us, bringing a smile to His face.  Ultimately, we yearn to serve Abba, each other, and our neighbors. Our hearts beat for righteousness, peacemaking, and freedom for the poor and downtrodden.  We are ponderers, adventurers, and often homebodies.  Old souls, yet forever childlike. 

Why Tree61? 

Isaiah 61 is a special passage that we desire to live out.  Jesus quoted this passage when he began preaching in his hometown.  As followers of Him, we desire to live in the same way.  The scripture says those who receive God’s freedom and comfort will be called ‘oaks of righteousness.’  We have personally been freed from darkness and desire to share this gift we have received with others.  We desire our lives to be filled with righteousness, grace, and never ending praise.

This blog consists of musings, experiences, and encouragements.  Please join us, dear friend, as we move onward.  Our next step will be jumping continents and moving to Guatemala, in order to serve at an orphanage and bilingual school. Jumping from the Middle East to Central America will come with some bumps, we are sure!  This is why we greatly appreciate you laughing with and praying for us.

Dear friend, our prayer is that our story is an encouragement to you.  Thanks for stopping by. 

Hugs,

Becca and Brook

June 1, 2014

Brooklin and Rebecca Nash

42 Gainsborough Rd.

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Hello friends and family!

            We hope this letter greets you with peace and abundance of joy. Living half way across the world for the past year, we have not been able to share with you many stories from the first year of our marriage, nor our life in Israel. This is why we write you: First, to share with you messages of God’s love and faithfulness from this year. Second, to share with you where the next part of our journey takes us and to ask if you would like to support us. 

            This year has been a year of learning how to love, and how to love well. Learning how to love Abba God, how to love each other, and how to love our neighbor.  This is what all our entire lives are about, right? We have learned that by keeping God in the center of our individual lives and our marriage, He pours His love in us so that we can overflow to others. After pouring into different church communities and serving African refugees in Tel Aviv, we feel compelled to continue serving Abba internationally. More specifically, Abba has led us to commit the next fifteen months to living and serving the fatherless in Guatemala. 

            Why serve at an orphanage in Guatemala?  First and foremost, it is our dream to live out the verse “Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow” (Is. 1:17).  There are over 370,000 orphans in Guatemala, a country where 70% of people live below poverty line.  In addition, only 3 out of 10 children in Guatemala graduate from 6^th grade. Brooklin witnessed this poverty first hand when he visited Guatemala for the first time in 2012.  After volunteering at an orphanage called Fundacion Salvacion, he wanted to serve these kiddos in a long-term manner. Becca has always had a heart for serving the oppressed, as she has worked with marginalized groups in the States, Haiti, and Israel.  After learning about the situation in Guatemala, having personal experiences there, and being offered the opportunity to go, we are excited to serve at an orphanage and school together as a team!

In Huehuetenango, Guatemala, we will be serving over 90 children without families, who live at Fundacion Salvacion.  We will serve at the orphanage and the school the children attend, Colegio Bilingue Esperanza. Specifically, Brooklin will be a Development Coordinator, focusing on advancing programs of the school and orphanage, community outreach, and volunteer coordination so that the kiddos’ needs can be fully met.  Becca will be teaching English and Art, while taking on additional projects for the orphanage.

Before we can make this step, we need your help!  Please pray with us as we make this next transition in life. Secondly, if you feel led, please support us financially.  In order to serve in Guatemala from September 2014-November 2015, we need to raise $5,000 by September 15^th. This money will provide for our transportation costs and basic needs, such as housing, food, and health expenses for the entire year.  If you want to join with us in serving the fatherless by financially supporting us, please make a donation online at this website http://youcaring.com/brookandbecca2guatemala. Also, if you have any questions please email us at ‘brooklin.nash@gmail.com.’  We truly appreciate every prayer and donation.  More so, we thank God for your role in our life.  Keep on keepin’ on!

In love,

Brook and Becca

PS If you want to find out more about what we’ll be doing, check out our blog at tree61.blogspot.com; or the More Than Compassion webpage at morethancompassion.org.