Winer Foundation helps Astatek purchase a home in Gondar, Ethiopia

October-November, 2002

Dear Friend:

"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him” (Lam. 3:25).

Sometimes the Lord seems very far from us, especially when our situation in life feels hopeless. I'd like to tell you about one such situation and how your help made a difference.

Most in the United States and Canada do not experience the daily suffering common to those in Ethiopia. So naturally, such a human tragedy seems a bit unreal and some might have difficulty relating to it. A small minority find the wound too great and prefer to forget about these poor souls. Most of the Beta Yisrael (Ethiopian Jews) that remain in Ethiopia live in the province of Gondar over 600 miles north of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital. The Beta Yisrael share an unfortunate Jewish trait -- centuries of suffering and persecution. Yet in the past ten years a new type of persecution has arisen --suffering at the hands of some Jewish leaders based upon religious intolerance. Sadly, my sense is that most of the Beta Yisrael who remain trapped in Ethiopia do so because of their connection to Yeshua. Though no one can credibly deny they are 100% Jewish, the Beta Yisrael foes use unsubstantiated accusations that they've rejected their Jewishness and embraced a different religion.

Astatek is one such woman who suffers in Gondar. Her husband died nine years ago near the Sudan border when the family tried in vain to leave in hope of immigrating to Israel. Fortunately Astatek was able to return to her home village and there made application for Aliyah to Israel. After waiting six year for an answer, she learned that she had been rejected by the nation of Israel because a close relative in Israel was known as a believer in Yeshua. No one denied her Jewishness, but her crime was guilt by association.

Astatek's heart was crushed to the point of breaking. But to support her family (herself, her daughter, and five grandchildren) she pushes herself to work. Compounding her misery is a chronic lung condition that makes her short of breath with only limited exertion.

Until the Winer Foundation's trip to Gondar in May, 2002, the entire extended family of seven lived in a single, small room. Let me explain how we were the source of a new and better life for Astatek and her family.

After carefully assessing the situation and in light of the fact that Aliyah to Israel seemed unlikely, the Winer Foundation gave Astatek the funds to buy a small house with three rooms, a better water source, and a toilet. We've never before helped Beta Yisraelis in this way as our focus has been emergency and short-term aid. Our heart told us to make an exception in this case. Our gift lifted this family's spirits up from a pit of deep despair to an abiding sense of gratitude to God.

In addition, your gifts enabled Astatek to get necessary medical care and also for her family to be adequately fed for the next year. Here's Astatek's prayer of thanksgiving and message to you:

"Lord God of Israel, I thank you for everything that you are doing for me and my family. Now, even if I die, I am satisfied as I have seen what you have done for my daughter and her children. You have answered my prayers. You have seen my weeping and are a God who does not neglect his servants. You are our redeemer. Though others may reject and hate us, You listen and see all of the poor and forgotten people among the Beta Yisrael. I thank you Lord. I thank all who have given us your love gifts. You are messengers of God. Egzia'beher Yesteligh. May the Lord bless you."

Astatek's family is one of many Beta Yisrael that the Winer Foundation seeks to take care of in Ethiopia. We are committed to this work now and in the future. Please pray for the Beta Yisrael and today, send a generous financial gift for their food, shelter, and clothing. We also need some of you to consider giving a large gift ($1000 to $10,000) for exceptional needs like the home we helped Astatek and her family to buy.

• Your gift of $75 houses an Ethiopian family of 7-10 for one month.

•Your gift of $120 feeds an Ethiopian family for a month.

• Your gift of $180 feeds a single Ethiopian for a year.

• Your gift of $250 gives significant help to a needy Beta Yisraeli in Israel.

May God richly bless you and grant you His comfort,

Robert I. Winer, M.D.

P.S. For more updates on our work, visit our website at www.winerfoundation.org

P.P.S. I'd like to you to get to know me better by giving you a gift. Drop me a note in the return envelope and I'll send you my book, "Ten Commandments for Success: Unlocking Principles of Prosperous Personal, Business, and Family Living from the Life of Moses" or "Heartwords," my inspirational CD of 16 - 5 minute messages.

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