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.