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Traveling to 23 States

After completing the survey in Israel (2004), I returned to the United States and had a booklet printed that described ways Christians could help the Jewish people. My friend Rachael also set up a web site to display this information.

After celebrating my 72nd birthday (January 3, 2005) with my sister in West Virginia, I purchased an old ‘88 Chevy van. I would need it for my cross-country journey across the United States that I was to make on behalf of Israel. My goal was to travel to every state in the continental United States—all 48.

Overcoming Fear

Although my old van only got ten miles to a gallon, GOD provided—even when the price of gasoline rose well above $2 per gallon (of course that looks cheap today). My greatest challenge was overcoming my fear of driving on the interstates. To be sandwiched between 18-wheelers and fast lane drivers was a fear that had plagued me most of my life. At first, I tried to circumvent my fear by taking side roads, the ones off the beaten path. I soon realized that I was missing people and churches I needed to contact. After GOD in His mercy dealt with my deep-rooted fear, I drove my van back onto the interstates with a peace and confidence I had never known!

Collecting Signatures

I was thankful that the majority of pastors and churches welcomed me and my message regarding Israel. Each day I would drive about four hours in the morning, stop in some area, contact all the local pastors and churches and share my information. After collecting signatures of those who stood in support of Israel, I would drive another 3 or 4 hours and repeat the process. On Wednesday evenings I would try to find a church that would give me the opportunity to share with the whole congregation. On Friday afternoons I tried to find a church that would let me park in the church lot for the weekend and deliver my message about Israel on Sunday. After preaching, I would let the people in the congregation sign the petition expressing their love and support for Israel. I never took up a collection for myself or for Israel when I spoke because I did not want anyone to think that I was after their money. However, GOD did put it on the hearts of a few pastors and churches to insist that they pay for me a room at a motel so that I could get some much needed rest.

In Need of Rest

My original goal was to visit two states per week which would take an approximate six months. In making this calculation, I underestimated the physical and emotional stress required for such a task. Although I had stepped out in January with zeal and determination, by the time I reached Arkansas (the 14th state), I was physically and emotionally drained. On the outskirts of a little town called Siloam Springs, Arkansas, a sign caught my attention:

Welcome to Siloam Spring

Where JESUS is LORD

Welcome to GOD’s Country

I felt compelled to stop. I ambled through the downtown area looking at old-fashioned shops. Suddenly a thought came to me: I was to rent a house in this area as a place where people in ministry could come and be refreshed. At the time I did not realize that I was the first one to be refreshed. The idea of living in a place where “JESUS is LORD” seemed good; however, I continued driving to my son’s home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While there, my thoughts kept returning to Siloam Springs. Out of curiosity, I called a realtor. She said there were many apartments but had only one house for rent. Still uncertain, I drove on to another town in Oklahoma. Upon arriving in the next town, I called a church and was told I could not park my van in the church lot overnight. I was stunned! I visited a nearby Baptist church, but the office was closed. At the next church, the assistant pastor calmly declined to sign a petition in support of Israel and denied my request to park in the church lot. I was both shocked and shaken. Upon returning to my van, I called several other churches but only got answering machines. Tired, frustrated, and confused, I felt I had hit a brick wall. After calling a friend and praying with her I knew in my spirit GOD was saying to rent the house in Siloam Springs.

Israeli Night

Shortly after moving there, I contacted all the churches in the area and invited the pastors and leaders to come together for an “Israeli Night.” Quite a few pastors and elders attended. We served them falafels, followed by Israeli music and dancing. On Saturday we set up a full Israeli display in the dining area of the church and opened it to the public. That evening we had another “Israeli Night” for the community. The following week I began teaching a 4-week series about Israel and the Jewish people, which included the following topics: The Land of Israel, History of the Jewish People, The Deception of Replacement Theology, and Keeping the Feasts of the LORD.

Fourteen More States

The following spring I had the physical and spiritual strength to travel to another nine states to speak about Israel. In the end, I collected 1,269 names of Christians who stood in support of Israel. I had planned to take these names back to the Israeli government. However, I didn’t have the heart to do this after seeing both Sharon and Olmert wanting to give away the land that GOD had so miraculously restored to the Jewish people in 1948. Therefore, I held on to the names with the hope and expectation that Benjamin Netanyahu would again be the prime minister.

Back to Israel

Finally in September of this year, I went back to Israel for a brief visit. I gave the list of 1,269 names to a friend of mine who lived in the Old City. I told her to show them to others as a way of encouragement and that later I would personally give them either to the prime minister or the chief rabbi.

More updates from Alice will be posted here as they become available. Check back soon.