(Continued from "Where we come in")

SITUATION REPORT
By Philip Blom
29 June 2000

Dear Reader

   I wrote this report as an outsider, but one with firsthand information from having lived on the property. And I must tell you, there is a lot of "living" going on there, since someone is always awake and on the lookout for intruders. Unfortunately, all this "looking out"  plus all the general work is presently done by two selfless volunteers, but more about that later.
    As far as I can see, my clients, Drs. Israel and Efrocine Auerbach, should receive much more support than what they do presently to help them with the immense task to create a haven on Samuel's Mountain that could impact the lives of locals, tourists and pilgrims to Israel. The main problem seems to be that they have  lost contact with  the communities they have served in the US, their friends and others. Due to the communications breakdown they apparently receive very little funding because little is sent and of that most gets lost in the mail.
   Israel toiled day and night (while guarding the place) for many years, with very little help, to do something about the desolation of his property. Firstly, he had build containing walls for terraces for building and planting purposes. And he has tamed the terrain and greened it - reminiscent of the promises that Israel's mountains will again "blossom". He soon learnt, however, not to put up structures that could be burnt down by the unfriendly neighbors, and  he had to resort to shipping containers as a temporary means of providing facilities for storage, accommodation and other needs. This is a parks area, and only rough stone structures are permissible, of which only a "den" could so far be completed. There are as yet, NO proper facilities for ablution, shelter, housing, cooking, barbecue, lectures, etc. It is not connected to municipal water, so water needs to be trucked in. But it is rich in underground water and fountains. That was why Ramah was established here in the first place. The water might need treatment for human consumption, but it's there and money needs to be found for a well and facilities to utilize the water. Presently the fountain water is used for irrigation.

As you can see, they and others will need to make a concerted effort to enable this, now scenic, site to become the haven it has the potential to be. From the Auerbach's side, it seems that Efrocine's art and fashion designs will again become a major means to generate funds.
God willing, her website, World of Efrocine is going to become her shopfront to market her products globally.

VOLUNTEERS & STAFF

Up to now, people who offered their services at  the "Mountain of Samuel" really had to volunteer selflessly with the sole purpose of helping the owners to hang onto the land. Signs are there, among which, the ability to set up this website, that some self-gratification might  in future be added to participation in the activities on the property. In this respect, the "word" elsewhere on this site, "Are you tired of hypocrisy?" is relevant.
   What is more important than to just come to volunteer, would be to "come and stay", to help in general or to set up an activity compatible with and appropriate for the setting. It can even be commercial since it is authorized on the property. Such an enterprise could even employ its own staff. Please contact the owners about participating. It doesn't mean that there would not at first be a trial period to test whether a candidate will flow with the vision for  the "Mountain of Samuel".

SECURITY

In the last days there has been a remarkable  improvement in security at this site. Samuel's Mountain is located in an area zoned as Area B. It means that the Israeli government is responsible for its security, and the Palestinian Authority for its administration. There have been some problems lately, but it then came out when they were reported to the Israeli police, that this property has somehow disappeared from their patrol route. This has been rectified, and patrols come by a number of times during the day and night. It doesn't mean that their volunteers don't also need to also keep a constant vigil, and it is also for that reason vitally important to have more people involved. The main purpose of attacks in the past was basically to prevent construction on the property, but it didn't succeed, and the situation will become progressively more secure as more people settle on the land and more developments in the form of structures are added.

In our capacity of being hosts and a portal for projects in Israel, we at Holy Land Inc. would like to encourage you, our reader, to specifically support this very important project. According to Isaiah 60:11, the wealth of the nations will come to Israel. So why not pre-empt this general phenomenon by moving some of your investment to Israel?  You will be a blessing to Israel, for which you will be blessed.

(To the Top)