Aline & Howie: Blog/Journal

Its now August 4th, and since I cant apologize for another long silence, I wont! Its just the way things are. Since February I have recovered from a long respiratory illness, been to Wales, toured Korea, Back to Israel, then Dubai, and now back in Wales for what we hope will be a fruitful ebb, and a preparation for another wave of world travel in 2009. Still no CD- sadly, but hopes that during this season we can accomplish that as well. So many amazing stories, and amazing moments in our travel and at home. Looks like we will head to the US in December for several weeks, so invite us to your place!! Shalom, Shalom!

Hey! my deepest apologies for being silent. We have made it through the Israel winter- halff season in Jerusalem then in the North. We visited several hospitals, spent a day in Sderot, and have since re-planted in the Galilee. We were up to 6 days a week playing/praising in Jerusalem for 4 months. Looks like we are heading to London in mid March, then possibly onto Korea for a tour. How exciting! Never thought I would go to Asia but it is looking that way. It has been an incredible time in Israel this year, and once again we are sad to leave- but we have been invited to play the Jacob's Ladder Folk Festival in May- (along wit hsome other venues) so we will return! At this point our summer will be spent touring and abiding in the UK. So if your out there and you would like to book us for your gathering or cafe- please contact us. We are also looking forward to visiting Europe this summer- So give us a call.

until next time- Oh yeah please lift up the recording issue- and make a donation if you can to our recording fund!

SHalom

The Week of Succot has come and gone but we are in a crescendo of violent praise unto the Elohim of Israel and another week filled with delights, challenges. Shamefully it has been days since my last blog.
Since then we have covered a lot of territory and sung thousands of songs.
We have explored some significant places, and made our first journey to the temple mount. It was magnificent!! We could just imagine days of old when the people gathered there for worship and for fellowship in the faith. We also walked the boundary lines of the original City that David built.
We continue to enjoy many discussions with the people of Israel. War seems imminent, though we are not bothered by it. If we are sent by Elohim then whatever happens to us here is allowed by Him. We are doing our best to walk in wisdom, and move according to His direction in all of our activities. There is much activity currently by the government refining the immigration laws, and the law of return. I would hope one day to make Aliyah. But Elohim is clear in the scriptures that He will bring His people back to the land He gave them

Our young friend from the north, an Israeli soldier, came to stay with us for a night. We worked on 3 new songs and really flowed musically. He is a gifted young musician. We look forward to writing and playing together more with him and other young people like him.

This week I have been Ill with the flu, and resting mostly. Howie retunrs from London on the 4th. Then we will be ready for the next wave and recording. Last night I heard an excellent drummer, needs a little refining but excellent in skill. We may contact him after Howies return. We are now up to 4 or more watches in the week, and loads of other playing.

the first rains also came on the evening Howie left for London.


On Sunday we returned by bus from the Bereshit festival on the galilee. It was an eventful weekend. We played 6 sets of music in three days, and talked with scores of young folks. They seem to really like the music and it also makes them think- about God, and their future. They are hungry for something deeply spiritual that they can hold onto- have faith in. Something real. The Elohim of Israel is real!

It was quite hot, so sleeping bags were completely moot. We swam frequently between music sets and meals. thoroughly enjoy the excellent sound system and Yair the excellent sound man. Thanks a bunch. After the festival packed up we spent an extra evening on the beach. We moved our tent right up to the shore under a nice little tree - we fell asleep and awoke with an incredible refreshing wind moving through our "home" away from home. We wandered over to the 24 hr reggae bar for some eats and ran into a young friend Nataniel who we met last year at the same festival. He's in the army now, stationed at Ramallah of all places. Defientely growing up. we pray for him and the others we have met during this past year, fortheir protection and that they will turn to God fully.

In other news we enjoyed the festivities of Tabernacles in Jerusalem- taking on worship watches almost every day this week. Our voices are getting stronger and our playing also. Great preparation for recording.
OK, I am sure I am forgetting something but, IF you really wantto experience life in Israel- come on over!! bless the Land- bless the people.

Hey, sorry, I checked out for a couple days. After three days of walking my hip was throbbing. All through the nightwatch I had to keep lying down in great pain. It was a bit of a long night for me but still strong on the spirit. Howie thrived! many prayers, songs, and prophecies came forth on behalf of Israel and her people. 8 hours later as we watched the glorious orange sun rise in the east, the other faithful prayer warriors laid hands on me and prayed for a speedy healing. We walked home ( I hobbled ) and crawled into bed just before 6:30 am. We slept sound until around 11 am and both felt we needed to get up. I dont remember much about Thursday and Friday though I am sure something happened. Oh yeah! We wrote a second song. By the end of the next day my hip felt completely normal again.

Friday was erev Yom Kippur and we had our shabbat meal with some friends, prayed, and then entered into the fast of Yom Kippur. The entire city was shut down, including all traffic. Even the majority of the non jewish population honour the holy day, some out of fear of stones being thrown at their businesses and vehicles by the ultra orthdox Jews- but most, I hope, out of respect. Children and families leisurely played and strolled in the barren streets. We saw only three or four moving cars the entire 24 hour period. During the day I also ventured out into the empty roads and walked for a couple hours through lovely neighbourhoods smiling and greeting families. We studied quite a bit about the meaning behind this day and the symbolism which so clearly outline the work of Yeshua and His atoning blood sacrifice for us, as our high priest. We are amazed daily at the presence of Yeshua in the Tenach. All the scriptures he fulfilled and how there could be no other mashiach. Wow, we are so grateful to have found the truth- Yeshua ben Elohim chaim.

We’ve been offered accommodations through march and possibly beyond if we desire. We will have to pray and hear God’s will. Today we were also given a special new microphone for recording. The favor of the Lord continues to be evident in our endeavours. Praise Him, may he be glorified. We will spend the next few days continuing in our prayer watches and preparing for the up-coming bereshith festival “performances”. We could use a car for the weekend but the budget is tight- so lift up a prayer for us!!
Blessings until the next blog- We have another all night prayer watch tonight. Will do some shopping and try to get a hairrcut tomorrow.

Shalom, Shalom! Chag Sameach!

I'm quite tired this morning after an all night prqyer watch. Will fill you in tomorrow

At dusk we embarked on a journey to new territory, around the city walls to the Mt of Olives. We walked half way and then hailed a cab at the foot of it. The hungry driver, a Muslim who had been fasting for Ramadan, gave us a good price since he was in a hurry to get home for his evening meal. By the time he let us out at the top, twilight was fast approaching, and without clear direction or the exact location of the special prayer meeting our companion had heard about, our adventure continued on foot into the recesses of the community. The streets were hauntingly void of people and traffic due to the evening meal. We felt quite free, making our way without trepidation, overcoming one obstacle after another, bad directions, wrong turns, uphill climbs and dead ends. We never found the “goose”, but the cool evening air and the grace filled companionship seemed a prayer in itself. As the community began to emerge from its mealtime we hopped a shirout at the corner market and found our selves in the flow of a massive exodus out of homes and towards a nightly prayer meeting of an entirely different nature. Exiting the shirout we walked a bit and entered the Damascus gate, still in a fast moving stream of Muslims heading for the great mosk. We seemed almost invisible to them, even though we were obviously not “with” them. As that streamed flowed into a restricted area, we were routed in the other direction and made our way through the labyrinth of the souk, where only a smattering of shops were still open, finally trickling out at the Jaffa gate. Still no “goose”, bit a lovely bit of Turkish delight along the way.

Talk about a multi leg journey, this was a centipede! After a text from a friend, we hitched a cab from Jaffa gate to Ben Yehuda Street where my spirit said “ahh” and my heart leaped and twirled in a little victory dance. We met up with a friend for a cool beverage and a snack, chatted for a bit and then I started to feel the effects of long day and a lot of “travel”. I had visions of my warm comfortable bed. Sorry, one more leg! “hey, lets stop in at Succat Hallel,” our companion said. We obliged again and the final cab carried us to the Mt. Zion Hotel. We survey the activities at the prayer center and agreed the “goose” had eluded us and our evening was really finished. Another short walk back to the flat, a quick bowl of cereal and then my head hit the pillow.

Yesterday I walked for hours, first from Mt Zion to Jaffa Gate, and then for 16 shekels I gained entry to the ramparts of the great stone walls of Yerushalayim. The sun was hot, but somehow kind to me. I felt such a sense of freedom and purpose, while joy and praise were in my heart as I surveyed "my fathers house“. As I made my way up, down and around, I could see in and out of the city- Arabs, Jews, and many other ethnic residents, young and old, the smells, (good and bad), the markets, and the colours. In some areas I had a grieving because of the trash and lack of care for this special place. After a time I came around a remote bend where I encountered some mischievous Arab youth who had climbed over the barriers onto the ramparts. They playfully detained me for a bit, and I snapped their photo, sadly they were trying to “touch” me and I had to gently rebuke them. I prayed for their souls and I scurried away, and continued around the city. Upon arriving at the corner which approaches the dome of the rock, I was unable to continue because of a barricade there. There were no instructions on how to proceed, and as a female alone I dared not expose my vulnerability. I descended at the nearest exit, and made my way through the Arab quarter at city level and up through the busy souk to return to the Jaffa gate and make my way back to our flat on Mt. Zion.

I guess I could use some feedback on this blogging thing, so If I am giving too much detail or not enough emotion, I don’t know. I just know I could write for hours. I haven’t written much for a long time. Now I feel a fountain has been opened. It’s a good thing for me I know, as I have been procrastinating a screen play that I started a couple years ago, and hope this will lead into a flow of that as well. Good for me maybe too much for you- reader.

Last night was our first official watch over the city as spiritual watchmen. Seemed quite fitting after a day on the ramparts. Arriving at 5:45 pm we caught the last few minutes of the Spanish team, and were refreshed by the spirit. We decided to go unplugged, and though it was a strain on the vocals the anointing carried us through two hours of praise, prayers, prophetic intercession, with others joining in an releasing timely words of scripture.

We stumbled here and there, but all in all we feel God was glorified and that we received understanding of what He is saying to His people in this hour.


It has never been more of a time to “make ourselves ready”. To submit to his refining fire and be fashioned into vessels and tools for His purposes, hidden in His righteousness. This will be our lifeline and protection in the coming persecutions. It will be difficult to stand when the enemy comes if we have not allowed ourselves to be purified and refined in our character, increasing in faith, discernment, and perseverance.

The feedback from others in our watch was favourable. We will continue to press in to the flow of what the Spirit really wants from us in this situation.
We stayed on for the later watch and were refreshed again by the spirit and His presence in the corporate worship.

This morning was our first test of faith in our situation. The shared accommodation of our travelling companion was in jeopardy. Doubt came rushing in, and almost panic. We gathered ourselves together, reminded ourselves who had brought us together as a team, and believed He wanted us to work side by side daily- praying and working, learning and growing in faith. I began to pray fervently in the spirit, for Gods sovereign will and intervention, to thwart any plan of the dark realm to separate us and push us out. We prayed for everyone involved in the situation and continued moving in acts of faith as the day went on, believing for the victory. By noon we had received word of the victory!!!! When you know you are in Gods will- it is easier to stand in faith- but with humility knowing and trusting He will work it all out even if it takes a little time and suffering to get there! We remain intact as a team and rejoice in Gods faithfulness to us as His children.

Tomorrow (weds) we will engage in an all night prayer watch. I will share more about what we feel heaven is saying in this hour. Shalom, shalom.

P.S. praise the Lord for Houmous!!

Yesterday, a song was bubbling in my spirit. I sat down with my Seagull guitar to see what would come forth and was blessed a couple hours later with a composition of high praise unto our creator. I hadnt written anything on my own since "O Jerusalem" back in February. I had written lyrics and melody with some grooves Howie had been flowing on, but this was special after only 4 days in Jerusalem. "Hadassah's Song: Before the King", a direct commmuncation to the Most High and entreating of Him for His favor and mercy. It seems as though times are coming upon us soon which will require much fullness of His grace, wisdom and discernment in the Ruah ha Kodesh. In the shadow of significant world events, we are on the verge of massive recording efforts, we probably have 2-3 CDs worth of material that is ready. We havent been able to pull it together before now, but perhaps Jerusaelm is the place. Today we made our way on foot from Mt. Zion, to King George Street and then onto Yaffa Street, where we spent a delightful day enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of Jerusalem. I have never felt so at home in a city before. I picked up some fresh olives and produce in the open air market. The sun was glorious, the air fresh, and the breeze a refreshing balance to the heat. We must have walked 5 or 6 miles in all. I havent really blogged before, but I am enjoying this and wonder who will really want to read about a Sephardic singer and her Irish Husband, writing songs on Mt. Zion and around the Globe!!