Chava and Liesbeth (contd.)

My dear Friends
Some of my more conservative friends in the Church were a bit concerned that I was having my first real Christmas in Amsterdam,but Chava and Lies took me a very traditional Jesuit Church, complete with choir and orchestra! Afterwards I prayed in the Lady Chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and I felt her hands on my shoulders.

When we were all in Israel, I had got to know a Calvinist Christian man and his family who asked me get in touch with him in Holland. I stayed in his house by the sea outside Amsterdam, just for one night, but it was enough to learn of his important work among the prostitutes, who were mainly from Catholic countries. He and his team brought them healing and shared the Gospel with them. His family were delightful and after dinner I took a walk near the sea front with his wife. The sky was full of stars and I was able to share at a very deep level with her. Their daughter was engaged to a man who was not from the same sect, and the next morning the daughter confided to me that she was looking for a church to marry them-she was even interested in the Catholic church!

Some time later, I visited them in their office in Amsterdam. I had a few hours to spare, so I went into a cafe in the city. The waiter brought me a menu-25 types of cannabis! But I only want a coffee, I said. that's okay, madam, he replied, we do that too!

More later
Shalom from
Sister Gila

Chava and Liesbeth

My dear Friends

The last few weeks have been hectic, what with the concert and all. Shortly, after Easter, I will be taking a little break in one of my favourite cities in the world-Amsterdam.

Let's go back to 1989, three months after I became a Christian and my sixth trip to Israel. I had enrolled on an international summer programme in Jerusalem, on Mount Scopus, in the Hebrew University. The summer programme was to learn Modern Hebrew and it was for all levels, from beginners to advanced students.

In my first week I met Chava, a Jewish Dutch girl in my class. I thought she was a fine person, and she introduced me to her friend, Liesbeth, a Christian also from Amsterdam, where I had never been before. They were in their 20's and single-now they are in their 40's and married with children!

The encounter between us was very moving ( a sign of grace as Liesbeth said) and the bond between the three of us has grown steadily over the years. I visited Amsterdam later that year, in fact had my first Christmas there since I entered the Church at Easter 1989.

More later

Shalom from

Sister Gila

Lent 2012

My dear Friends
My concert took place on Shrove tuesday(see previous entry.) I took this as quite auspicious, because, as i am sure you know, Shrove tuesday preceeds Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent.

Lent is the Old word for Spring and, despite the winds of the last day, there has been the hint of a change of season. So it is with Lent-we change gear, go on an internal journey and head for the Promised land. This mirrors to an extent the journey of the children of Israel in the desert, where there were many tests and trials but also some oases, and a tremendous outpouring of grace, especially when the Torah was given to them on Mount Sinai.

Moses came face to face with God in the burning bush and we must open ourselves up in the same way at this special time of the year.Like Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac, we must be prepared to yield to the Divine Will and relinquish some part of ourselves in order to gain a fuller sense of our integrity. We must attempt to bring about the Kingdom of God, clothing the naked and feeding the hungry and pursuing a course of righteousness. There are many injustices in the world and we must do what we can, in our lives and in our prayer, to combat them.

Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael and we must ask the Almighty to bring Peace and Reconcilation in the Middle East. May He give us the patience to wait for Him to bring this about in His own and good time.

I wish you a joyful Lent and a beautiful Spring
Your sister Gila