A monthly newsletter to keep you informed |
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At home, we continue preparing for the day when we can return to Israel. We want to be ready for future tours and projects in the Park when the time comes.
In the meantime we have all been affected by the pandemic that invaded the earth and we want to believe that God is helping us get through it. We are also watching the news where we see the conflicts in the world that never seem to cease. Every time there is a war or a skirmish in the Middle East, especially since 1967, we wonder about the meaning and God’s timing. The goal of “peace on earth” seems illusive at times.
But the day will come, according to Amos, when God will turn away from those whose motives are not godly, and He will let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
So, let’s be prayerful about how to be in God’s will. “May God’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
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Hi Jodi,
A group of bikers from a drug rehabilitation in the north of Israel stopped for an overnight at Tamar and prepared their own meals. The pictures and comments are from students and staff.
Billy G. a staff member said…”Tamar is a very quiet and clean place. It is a great place to relax and spend some time in the Bible and prayer. I thought the archaeology sites were most interesting from the Israel period to the Roman era. I videoed and chatted with a friend all the way through the Park, from Texas and they were impressed with the site. I felt the accommodations were clean and comfortable. I would stay here repeatedly.”
Luke E, a student, said, “Wow! Thank you so much guys. It was really such a good experience spending time at Tamar during our bike race. It was an awesome place and the hospitality and welcome was great. We liked the facilities.”
Didier M, the bike coach, said…”Biblical Tamar Park was a very pleasant place, organized and clean. It was also very cozy and the rooms were comfortable. We just had a great experience and the kitchen was fully equipped. Everything was perfect for all of us. We had a nice time of fellowship and it was just very quiet. The people in charge were really friendly and nice, and we had everything we needed. It was a big blessing for us.”
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Dear DeWayne and Blossoming Rose Staff,
Thank you for your words of sympathy and encouragement at the passing of Carlyle, our dad and gentle husband and father!
Enclosed is a check. Please use it as a memorial to Carlyle in your work in Biblical Tamar Park. He loved and prayed for Israel, always. This was a part of our celebration of Carlyle’s life service.
May God continue to bless your labors in Israel.
Love in Christ,
Pearl, Mark and Tye C.
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Shalom Rob,
I was happy to see Blossoming Rose on 124 News and the feature of the “German family.” I never met them while I was at the Park working. The News Program was the latest in the “Holy Land Uncovered” series that I always have an interest in.
When I was burying the electrical cable by the circle drive, in front of the Solomonic gates, I noticed many of the stones just under the surface and they were pure white. I got to looking at the color of the gate stones and realized they were pure white also. That must have been a very impressive wall at the time and I have come to wonder how extensive the use of the white stone at the site actually is.
I have read that the kings of Israel and Yehuda wintered in the Jordan Valley and I wonder if it could have been at Tel Tamar. Some exciting potential could be right beneath all that is yet to be excavated at Tamar.
Cordially,
Max R.
Battle Creek, MI
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“Without a VISION the people perish.” These words from Proverbs 28:19 remind us that we need to see the vision in order to reach our goal. Abraham saw “things that were not as though they were.”
Now each of us has the opportunity to SEE our mutual visions become reality. We arrived in the desert in July 1983, and began almost immediately to see the Vision. We have been faithful to the Vision during these 38 years. Our educational and humanitarian mission, as recorded in our Articles of Incorporation, has been fulfilled in many ways. The history of Tamar, as recorded in the Bible, is being revealed, through the development of the Park, to all who are interested and to those whom God leads to the Park.
But there is much to do and we have been waiting to finish the projects that we have promised Israel we would do. Many of you have donated funds for the Welcome Pavilion, the Garden of the Ages, and the House of Prayer for all Nations – Isaiah 56.7. Thank you!
While funding is still needed, we are well on our way to accomplishing the Five Year Plan that Blossoming Rose submitted to Israel in 2019. Please pray that God’s will be done at Biblical Tamar Park.
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IDENTIFYING BIBLICAL TAMAR PARK |
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(This is the second article quoting from the book On the Road to Edom.)
“The fortress at ‘En Hazeva’ stood at an important junction with roads leading from north to south and east to west. In the First Temple period (the Iron Age), it lay on the main route through the Arava, which led down to Eilat and the Red Sea. It controlled the “spice Route” that ran from the east to the Mediterranean Sea and the road crossing it from north to south. Today, Kibbutz Ir Ovot (Biblical Tamar Park) is located near the site.
In the nineteenth century, scholars traveling in the region noticed ancient remains protruding from the ground near the spring. A. Musil, who visited the site in 1902, was the first to identify a square fortress, measuring 120 feet along each side, with projecting corner towers. He also noticed the remains of a structure with several rooms adjoining the fortress on the south, as well as traces of a bathhouse to the east. The fortress was damaged in 1930, largely destroying its original plan. Two years later, F. Frank identified the structure as a Roman fort. N. Glueck, who visited the site in 1934, believed it to be a caravanserai, originally built by the Nabataeans and later used during the Roman period.
A new factor bearing on the site’s identification came to light in 1950, when B. Mazar and M. Avi-Yonah found sherds from the First Temple period there, in addition to decorated Nabataean ware and Roman-Byzantine vessels.
In the wake of the discovery of these early sherds, and taking into account the site’s location on the probable border between Edom and the kingdom of Judah, Y. Aharoni suggested that it should be identified with the biblical Tamar, mentioned in the book of Ezekiel in the description of the southern border of Canaan. “And the Negev southward from Tamar to the waters of Meribot-Qadesh” (Ezekiel 47:19, 48:28) Tamar is also mentioned in a number of Roman sources.”
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The name, Blossoming Rose, came from Isaiah 35:1, and was chosen because initially we had gone to the desert to build a solar greenhouse that could be replicated in desert areas of the world to feed starving populations.
We did build the greenhouse at Kibbutz Ir Ovot and then we assisted the Pearlmutter family in their farming activities for two years. During that time, the Israel Antiquities Authority asked us to provide the volunteers and finances to begin excavating Biblical Tamar. Our greening activities, with all the work provided by dedicated volunteers, continued every year even while we excavated. Now, many areas of the Park are green.
We use the “touch” test to ascertain whether all the seedlings and trees are getting sufficient water to survive. Trees and plants have to survive the 125 degrees in the summer sun, the fierce winds that blow the sand into the plants, and the cold winter nights. As the Park supervisors and volunteers walk the water lines that are all controlled by master water valves, they test the ground with their fingers to determine the amount of moisture. If the ground around the “dripper” is not moist within a one-meter circle, the plant needs more water. If the ground is too wet, the water is wasted. This is the first and foremost responsibility of supervisors – to protect what hundreds of volunteers have spent hours doing to green the desert. Water is expensive in Israel.
In this video, you will see that the trees and memorial sanctuaries, on the southeast side of the Park, have been cleaned by the Guenther family. For those of you who planted trees and had memorial sanctuaries installed for someone you love, you will appreciate how peaceful and green it all is.
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A NOTE FROM ANKE GUENTHER |
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Shalom from Tamar!
It is getting warmer now, but most of the nights are still fresh and cool. The trees are becoming green again, after some of them had been on some kind of winter rest apparently. We are learning step by step about the flora and the fauna, and the weather in the desert.
Over the past few months, human life has come back to the Park. In addition to the regular tourists, we recently had the pleasure to host a group of about 20 cyclists from the rehabilitation ministry of the Mt. Carmel congregation. Shortly after, our kids were especially excited about a group from the Jerusalem Seminary, as half of the group was children and they had lots of
fun together.
It is wonderful to see how Father is making the desert blossom in those various ways.
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AN OLD FRIEND VISITS THE PARK |
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Some of the “old timers” may remember the Garrison family. They came in the early days (1980s) of our adventure with the Kibbutz Ir Ovot community. Noah, Gila, and their sons were a hard working Jewish family who shared our desire to “make the desert blossom as a rose.” They lived among us in the decadent housing that we named our Desert Village. They helped repair the buildings, planted crops, and labored as volunteers to help bless Israel.
When they returned to the north, others came and carried on with the same work ethic. Remember hearing the news about the Uganda massacre where one million Christians were killed in tribal wars? Noah and Gila went to Uganda and worked to help restore order. During those years they were in Uganda, Noah was killed in an airplane crash. Gila continued their efforts in Uganda and, no doubt, helped to make the world a better place.
Recently Gila returned to Tamar and spent two days walking around and fellowshipping with the Guenther family. Her heart still cares for Tamar Park and she wanted all of us to know that she was impressed to see the progress we have made.
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Want to help make a difference while you shop in the Amazon app, at no extra cost to you? Simply follow the instructions below to select "Blossoming Rose" as your charity and activate AmazonSmile in the app. They'll donate a portion of your eligible mobile app purchases to us.
How it works:
1. Open the Amazon app on your phone
2. Select the main menu (=) & tap on "AmazonSmile" within Programs & Features
3. Select "Blossoming Rose" as your charity
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app
*Also available to set this preference on your computer.
For information on how to serve as a volunteer, you can email Jodi Coxon to obtain a Volunteer Manual at Jodi Coxon.
For information on how to register for a tour and view tour itineraries, please visit the Blossoming Rose website at blossomingrose.org.
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For information on how to sponsor a room or a sanctuary, you can email Lexie Coxon at Lexie K. Coxon.
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September 19 - 30, 2021
Sukkot 2021
Dr. Hollisa Alewine, Tour Leader
Kisha Gallagher, Tour Coordinator
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October 31 - November 12, 2021
Connect to Israel
Mikell Clayton and Hanoch Young
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November 9 - 19, 2021
Faith and Works Tour
Rev. William Overton and Kelli Kleinfelt
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February 20 - March 1, 2022
Experiencing the Holy Land
Michael Ryder, Tour Leader
Raed Makhouli, Tour Guide
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March 4 - 15, 2022
Walking the Ancient Paths
Dr. James Tabor, Tour Leader
Ross Nichols, Tour Coordinator
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October 17 - 27, 2022
Accessible Adventure Israel Tour
Ross Nichols, Tour Leader
Hanoch Young, Tour Guide
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VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE
at Biblical Tamar Park
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October 31 - November 5, 2021 |
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COLORING BOOKS AVAILABLE
(One hundred percent of the gross proceeds will be used to bless Israel)
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This attractive 54 page coloring book is on-sale for $6 including shipping. Each additional coloring book is only $2 extra including shipping.
Designed by Historical Site sponsor, Leona Benson.
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Blossoming Rose, P.O. Box X, Cedar Springs, MI 49319
616-696-3435
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