Shalom All:
As many of you know, we recently had a conference in Salt Lake and I must say that it was an awesome blessing in many ways.

Among the many highlights for me were hearing Brad Scott for the first time. His talks are informative and hilarious at the same time. He does a bit about evolution which he compares to the “evolution” of today’s Westernized Believer, and it is absolutely hysterical. I love it when truth is presented with humor. I love it when Believers are shown a better way without being beat up on. After all, as Mary Poppins once said, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down....”

Another blessing was watching Shepherd John Conrad and several other men and boys dance backwards in the “His Name is Yahweh” dance. The image is forever burned in my brain, so if you seem me smiling for no apparent reason, it is probably because I am thinking back on that awesome presentation. Then again, I might be thinking on the other dances led by Chester Anderson and the MIA Dance Team...

Another highlight was the Shavuot Wave Offering led by Daniel and Sylvia Calderon. The presentation was so simple, yet so filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Heidi Strain of Montana (who has eleven children and just adopted four!) made the very special loaves that were used for the wave offering. In my mind, there is something about the huge round loaves she makes that makes them seem so special, so appropriate to represent a holy offering. The presentation also is special because it is new in that we realize that the required leavened loaves well represent both the houses of Israel: Ephraim and Judah. Since they (and we too) are leavened, they are not fit to be offered on the altar, and yet, they are an acceptable offering on this day that speaks of the Ruach being poured out on the children of Israel.

I wish each one of you could have felt the holy and encouraging feeling that was in the hotel ball room during this presentation. Surely it would help you to run with the horses during tough times.

Several unique “vignettes” were simultaneously present on the floor on Saturday night. On the left, we had the pure sound of John Conrad’s EskDale choir. To me, they sometimes feel like an old fashioned “holiness” choir — yet they often go completely Messianic and sing in Hebrew. Their sound is absolutely unique. It is a sound that often makes me feel like I have been washed inside.

At the same time, on the right side of the stage, Chester Anderson was leading several dancers in a spontaneous Davidic-Prophetic dance, complete with silk flags that continually cut through the air with grace and beauty.

On one side on the floor below, Natan Lawrence (Oregon) and Pastor Robert Brady (Denver) were praying for people who wanted to be filled with the Holy Spirit, even as our forefathers were filled on a Shavuot day long ago. The prayers sent forth by these men might be said to be slightly “Pentecostal,” yet they stood with a strong Messianic backbone.

To the right of them, the Calderons were leading people in worshipful and decidedly Hebraic dance. In their circle, grandfather’s were dancing with granddaughters, little girls with older ladies, and young men and women were sprinkled throughout.

I stood back and wept. Everyone was flowing together, diversity being evident within our unity. It was such a beautiful blend of the many ways in which our God speaks to us in this hour. To me, the sight is now hidden manna that I can hide in my heart and pull out on hungry days. I think back on times like these when I need to be encouraged.

I know I am hopelessly biased, but I do believe that MIA Conferences truly serve a purpose in Abba’s Divine plan for Israel’s restoration. They serve as times wherein we can be encouraged in our faith, and reconnect with, or even be introduced to other members of the Body of Messiah.

Seeing our Conferences grow in Abba’s sight helps me to know that our Father’s truth is going forth, they affirm the truth that Israel’s full restoration is getting closer by the day.

Frankly, I remember days when Angus and I could have hosted a conference in a phone booth and still had room for reservations. To be honest, those days were really hard, but they also caused me know how it feels to hold on to the truth when those around you dispute, deny, or disparage that truth.

For this reason I want to close my report with a little saying that a friend of mine recently forwarded to me, and which I turned into a graphic (posted below). In a funny way, it reminds me of Jeremiah 17:7-8: “Blessed is the man who trusts in YHVH and whose trust is YHVH. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.”

Restated, the truth is...

Today’s Tall Oak Trees
Are Yesterday’s Nuts
That Held Their Ground

Hold your ground!
We win in the end!
Be greatly encouraged in your faith!
I hope to see you in Nashville!

Blessings,
Batya (and Angus)