Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
Terry Mai Ministries (The Mai Girls) were in Israel the first part of July. Terry and I believed it was right to take our girls to Israel this year. After Terry went to heaven there were certain things that did not leave my heart. One of them was Israel. I first visited the nation of Israel in l974 with my Dad and Mom on a tour with Derek Prince Ministries. The Lord put a love in my heart for that nation over thirty years ago and I have prayed for the peace of Jerusalem over thirty five years. In l984 I returned with my Dad, Mom, Terry, and Candace as well as others. Terry and I spoke many times of returning with all of our daughters. Candace, Ashley, Rachel and I ministered to God's people while touring the nation of Israel. Thank God for his faithfulness. God bless you, Kathy Mai
07/02/09 After overcoming in DFW and the Newark area, our flight proceeded to Tel Aviv with no complications. Our first night in Tel Aviv we took a hike up to Joppa (Jaffa) along the Mediterranean Sea. We were all reminded of Peter and Cornelius out of Acts 10, for lack of space I encourage you to read this. Also Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa (Jaffa); and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof and went down to it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord in Jonah 1.
The next day we rose up and proceeded to Caesaerea. While in the area we visited a Roman Theater in which Terry sang at in 1984. The girls and I sang Sometimes Alleluia in the amphitheater. This was very meaningful for all of us knowing what had taken place in 1984. We then went on into Megiddo where the battle of Armageddon is to take place, then onto Mount Carmel, and last we hiked up Mount Arbel. The heat was pretty intense. As we began climbing that mountain, the Lord sent a strong wind that took away all the heat. Not everyone understood but we could clearly see God's mercy on us, as we climbed up and down that mountain. We then went into Tiberias along the Sea of Galilee. God continued to minister to us and bring alive the scriptures. God bless all of you, Kathy Mai
07/03/09 We started out with a trip to the Mount of Beatitudes. There my cousin ministered to us from the scripture, and while he was talking a dove began cooing in the trees around us. We all took communion together there on the Mount. There was a great sense of peace that several of us picked up in the Spirit.
We made a little side stop to St. Peter's Church and headed toward the bus. I noticed a person I knew and a person with them. I could tell the person was struggling a little, and this person said, "Kathy, our friend needs prayer, would you pray?" Up out of my heart came ,"Lord I thank you for the power of the resurrected Lord Jesus. I thank you that you strengthen them in their inner man by the same power that raised your son from the dead." I thanked God a couple more times for his power that raised Jesus from the dead.
We all got on the bus and headed to Capernaum. This is a place where there are many ruins that have been excavated. One significant factor here is a millstone. I know most of you know what Jesus said in Matthew 18:6 about his little ones and a millstone. I encourage all of you to read this. This is a picture of a millstone.
After finishing up here we moved on over to the Sea of Galilee and traveled by boat over to a place where they found a boat in l987 they consider to be significant.
We had lunch there and ended up at a table with my aunt and uncle and two of their translators. We had a good time fellowshipping here and when we finished up, one of the people said "Why don't each of you girls share some thing about your Dad. Can started out by telling these people that she had been raised and taught by her Dad, to go to God and trust him. She also talked of his humility and his strength. Ray then piped up about how he had always encouraged them the importance of worship and how they grew up worshipping God in our home, or car or wherever we were all together. She then shared how since God took Terry to heaven the Lord had moved all of them into leading worship. Ashley said, "Well, I was going to share what Can did, because he did teach us to ask God what we should be doing and to trust him." I encouraged her that was alright just say it again. Then she piped up to the people sitting at the table. "What was special about my Dad was the anointing. When us girls were sick or under attack growing up, all we had to do is say Dad and he would pray and the anointing of God began to flow through us and we always overcame." That came from his daughters. They know how they grew up.
When we finished we headed over to Nazareth and visited a
replica of a village from back in the days of Jesus. There many things to share, but not
enough time or space to do so at this time. The girls and I are greatly encouraged in our
hearts about the nation of Israel.
God bless all of you, Kathy
Mai
07/04/09 One thing I did
not share about yesterday. When we stopped for lunch on the Sea of Galilee we ate at the
kibbutz where Dad, Mom and I stayed in l974. This is also the place where I went up the
mountain in my red high wedge shoes. I believe that was prophetic in my life. We headed up
the side of the mountain, and it was a fairly steep trek. We got part of the way up and
Mom stopped and sat down on a big rock. She said to go on and she would wait there for us
to come down. Frankly, I did not think I could make it up the side of the mountain myself.
I sat their on that rock and all the sudden the Spirit of God came up inside of me and I
thought, "I am getting to the top of this mountain." Well, I made it to the top,
and I came up beside my Dad and he said, "You made it!!!" I said, "Yes, I
did." I have that same determination in my heart now. As most of you know, Terry went
to heaven quite unexpectedly in late January. It has not been an easy thing for me, but I
still expect God to perform the things he has promised. In the 1980's the Spirit of God
spoke to my husband Terry and my dad Doyle, that I would preach the gospel to the four
corners of the Earth. I have never let go of that promise. I know being in Israel with my
daughters at this time is a divine appointment of the Lord.
God bless you all, Kathy Mai
07/06/09 Today we started out our day going to En Gedi which is located in the Dead Sea area. We climbed to the top of a mountain. While going up this mountain we passed by a series of caves in which it is believed to be where Saul found David. This is where David cut off Saul's skirt of his robe and David's heart was smitten. (I Samuel 24)
From there we proceeded on to Jerusalem. It was about a 45 minute drive and Candace and I began to praise God quietly in our seats. As we came into Jerusalem, our hearts were filled with great joy and tears. We worked quickly through the tears and were filled with the joy of the Lord. We met the other bus at the top of the Mount of Olives. The three girls rode a camel. What a sight!!!!
From there we proceeded down the Mount of Olives. As we were walking down this mountain, the guide said something to the effect of "Where's the Choir?" I turned my head just in time to see several of the people saying, "There is the Choir!!" They were pointing to the girls and me. He asked me if we knew a particular song and we said "Yes." He began to sing it and we took off. (Matt. 21:9) Here are the words we sang: Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest. (repeat) Lord we lift up your name, with hearts full of praise. Be exalted O Lord our God, Hosanna in the Highest. God had spoken certain things to me, and hear we are walking down the Mount of Olives singing this song!!! We ended up in the Garden of Gethsemane where the Lord prayed through his death, burial and resurrection. (Matthew 26 and Luke 22)
Garden of Gethsemane
After dinner this evening we wen down to the "Old City" area. We walked through Joppa Gate, down through the Armenian Quarter and the Jewish Quarter. Here you really get a feel of what it was like back in the days of the Lord Jesus. We came through the Zion Gate, and and were walking down a road. I looked up and said to those around me, "Do you realize that we are walking by the walls of the "Old City" of Jerusalem? My friends said, "You are right." Had to be there, but it was significant. Thank God for all of you and God bless you all, Kathy Mai
07/07/09 We started out the day in The Western Wall Tunnels. From there we headed to the Wailing Wall and we all went down to the allotted places to pray. The Lord put in my heart Ephesians 1:16-23. I was talking to Candace later and she said the same prayer was in her heart.
The Wailing Wall
We proceeded up to the Temple Mount and saw the site where they believe the Holiest of Holies was. We passed by a site of excavation where they are presently trying to find the original Eastern Gate. We went from there to the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed a certain man which had an infirmity for 38 years. Jesus told him to Rise, take up thy bed and walk, and immediately the man was made whole and took up his bed and walked (John 5:4-9).
Pool of Bethesda
Within the same area there was a place called St. Anne's Church. The girls and I sang Bless the Lord, who reigns in Beauty. It was powerful. There were other tour groups in there from other countries. One big one from China which stood to our right. Frankly all I could see were people and flashes. There were people that were ministered to. As we finished up, the crowd in that church began to applaud. I thought this a little different, but I knew that the power that raised Jesus from the dead had been ministered in St. Anne's Church. I thank God that we are vessels of mercy and that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was glorified. God bless all of you, Kathy Mai
Outside St. Anne's Church
07/08/09 We did the last days of our tour today. Tomorrow will be a free day to do what we would like to before we catch a plane back to the states. Today we started in out in the Upper Room in which Jesus had his last supper with his disciples (This may not be the actual one, but they know that they are in the vacinity of the one from the days of Jesus). You can read this from Luke 22.
Upper Room
Rooftop of the Upper Room
We walked through parts of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City Area. From there we visited David's Tomb and then went to visit the Davidson Center. This is an Archaeological Park where there has been extensive excavating. Actually, a lot of the stuff that has been uncovered gives you a real sense of what it was like in the days of our Lord. We visited the Israel Museum where they have the Dead Sea Scrolls. We then traveled on the the Garden Tomb. This is one of my favorite places in Israel. We visited here in 1984, this is the first place I ever sang without any kind of music. The Lord directed me to sing "Holy Ground." Also in this garden is the place they believe Jesus was buried and raised from the dead. This is by far the most important reason, because 1 Corinthians 15:14 tells if Christ be not risen then our believing is in vain. No one needs that. We have purpose in our lives and it is because of the things that Jesus did for us on the cross and when he was raised from the dead. He is presently seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for you and for me. THANK GOD!!!!! He was that perfect sacrifice for each of us. Another thing that took place in the Garden Tomb in l984 was meeting Ezekiel Guti from Zimbabwe. My Dad, Debbie Geer, and I were in the tomb with an African man and two African women. The power of God was so strong in the tomb that all of us were shaking. God had divinely appointed a time for Dad and Ezekiel to meet. We later ministered in several churches in Zimbabwe.
I do not have total understanding of this trip yet, but I saw God's power manifesting with us, just like when we are home. I do know it was divinely appointed by God and the eyes of my understanding will be enlightened. Like I have stated in a previous testimony, I have a real determination to see the promises of God in my life and in the life of Terry and my daughters. I know my heart has been on the Lord here, like it is when I am not here. There is a real thirst in my heart to see more of God's power manifesting to meet the needs of his people. Tomorrow we will start the morning by walking around the wall of the Old City. This will probably be my last posting for this trip. God bless all of you that have prayed for us. Kathy Mai
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