-----Original Message----- From: Wendy Lee Sutherland [mailto:ephraimreturns@012.net.il] Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2003 6:34 AM To: Web Mail Distribution List Subject: APPRECIATION AND AN URGENT PRAYER REQUEST Shalom Friends. Firstly, let me express to you what words are insufficient to express and that is my deepest gratitude for your messages of comfort, encouragment and solidarity. Truly the love of Elohim and Am Israel has been demonstrated by you and you have, all of you, been as the balm of Gilead to my weary soul. Secondly, let me declare to you YHWH's mighty works. The emails from the UOTHMC and Rabbi Koniuchowsky were posted on Monday. These emails did not contain my public statement as he had requested of me and promised to post verbatim. Or at least, I was never copied with it. Instead, a personal email that I had sent to a small group of supporters and friends in advance of what I knew was inevitable was forwarded by someone to Rabbi Koniuchowsky and posted on the internet without advising me or asking my consent. Yet, our Father above works all matters together for good. Yes, I most certainly have received condemning, accusatory and even hateful email as a result. My former email distribution list has dropped from around 150 to 34, and much of the support for the work Bruce Brill and I have been called by YHWH to do here in Eretz Israel has now been retracted. But, Baruch Hashem YHWH, on Tuesday at noon, the tide began to shift in the nature and content of the emails being received and suddenly, and consistently since then, loving, positive, encouraging emails such as yours have begun to flow in ... over 30 in three days. I can only thank YHWH and you for your prayers and His Providence. We took two Eprhaimite ladies out yesterday for a one-day Ephraimite Encounter - a sampling of the nature of the 2-week tours that we believe YHWH will use to re-introduce Jew to Joe and Joe to Jew and facilitate the beginning of serious dialogue and efforts to work through over 2000 years of hurt, mistrust, misunderstanding. It was miraculous yesterday to watch the interchange and reaction from both the Jews we took these ladies to visit, and from these Ephraimite ladies themselves. They became the first, official Ephraimite Ambassadors in this whole process. We visited a family who had recently made aliyah ... their reaction was amazement as they listened as we explained Ephraim's exile and return. The wife's countenance was overcome with radiant beauty each time she responded "Wow!" ... which she did repeatedly. An Orthodox settlement manager, who previously resisted each attempt to discuss Eprhaim, sat, listened, discussed and, in the end, came forth with keen insights as to the signs that would identify and accompany the true Remnant of the House of Israel coming home. A Rabbi and Torah Sofer (scribe) kept us spellbound as he discussed the art of the Sofer and gave us a midrash on the Sukkah. When we briefly explained Ephraim to him, he became very interested and has invited Bruce and I to visit him in the future and discuss what we are seeing, experiencing, doing. For our two Ephraimite guests, they were truly touched and blessed and we had many, deep discussions throughout the day. On Monday, Oct. 20th, a group of 10 Ephraimites from the US will arrive. They will be here until Nov. 2nd. Many of the Jews whom they will meet simply will not meet with Chr-stians. Bruce and I have worked diligently to build trust and rapport with these key individuals here in Israel - Rabbis, politicians, activists, organization leaders, settlers, couples, people from all walks of life and sects of Judaism. We have explained Ephraim in accordance with the Tanach and with the historical account of the awakening since 1996. These speakers are now excited about the prospect of sharing their hearts and minds with these Ephraimites. We have assured them there would be not covert attempts at proselytism. Unfortunately, it appears that this particular group of formerly ardent supporters have been the most hurt by my statement regarding my spiritual journey of the past year. They are hurt, angry and feeling betrayed. They have emailed that they will speak on and defend Y'shua as deity whenever they are given a chance. We had asked them at the onset of the tour, as we do all tour participants, to allow this to be a tour where they simply open their hearts and minds and listen to the Jews they will meet, dialoguing on who they are as Ephraim but avoiding the historically sensitive issue of Y'shua as deity. This first tour is crucial. If there are any perceived attempts to proselytize, many of these speakers may not agree to open their hearts and minds to any successive Ephraimite Encounter Tour group. Much damage could be done to the work that YHWH has been raising up here in Israel over the past ten years, preparing the hearts and minds of Judah to consider this Ephraimite phenomenon as a credible reality and a matter which needs to be addressed, discussed and worked through so as to be ready for the future fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the return of the Remnant of the House of Israel, together with the fullness of the gentiles which they will bring in. Yair Davidy, speaking to a group at the Mt. Zion Hotel this week, commented that the sages have always known that Ephraim/House of Israel would descend to the level of the gentiles spiritually, so that when they were raised up by YHWH at the end of their exile and returned to Torah, making their way back to the people and Land of Israel, they would become a Light to the nations. He spoke on this relative to Isaiah 49:6. Throughout the Book of Isaiah, an examination of the Hebrew Scriptures reveals when "Servant" is mentioned it is referring to "Israel", who were to be the chosen witnesses of Elohim, a kingdom of priests. Would you please, please pray diligently over the next couple of weeks that this group of angry and hurt Ephraimites would be given an extra measure of compassion, patience, forbearance and understanding during their time here so that their hearts, minds, ears and eyes would be open to appreciate the beauty and awe of what they will do, hear and see ... even the challenging parts ... and that they will guard their lips and words in love throughout the tour. I would also ask that you pray for a special anointing of wisdom be upon Bruce Brill and I as we host this tour, and upon the Jews who will speak to the tour, as well as for protection from Elohim as we travel throughout Judea and Samaria, especially traveling through Arab areas enroute to Ephraim's ancestral homelands. Thank-you for all that you have extended in support these past few days, and thank-you for your prayers and support over the days to come. Shalom b'Shem YHWH, Hadassah Wendy Lee Sutherland TORAH & TRUE ACCOUNTS / EPHRAIMITE ENCOUNTER TOURS