Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:30:19 +0200
From:
Subject: progress report on Ami Ortiz
To:

Hi all -

That "all" has been increasing daily to a very wide network of believers. You guys are representing the Body on literally every continent. (except Asia... but knowing the strength of the persecuted Chinese believers, I'll bet the Lord has notified them to pray without the need of email...!)

In a nutshell, Ami is improving with every passing day. The scene at the hospital last night, outside the intensive care unit, was more like a party than a vigil - believers coming and going, a table of food and drink, Ami's parents mingling and joking. There are a lot of challenges ahead for the boy and his family, and there are still potential dangers, but for now we can't help but celebrate.

And one of the things we were celebrating was the strong support of the Lord's people, which crossed all sorts of boundaries. David and Leah are aware of your prayers and are receiving your personal messages, and they are drawing strength from you - which is ultimately from Yeshua our Head. Just as it should be.

People were discussing new signs of the Lord's careful watch over Ami... the damage in the apartment showed that most of the bomb blast-force went to his right, left and upward, while Ami himself was thrown backward. Leah's comment: "It was like the Lord was holding up His hand and saying to the enemy, 'This is as far as you go.'"

Okay, some details about Ami:

There are some false rumors going around, mostly because of sloppy media reports. Unfortunately, even the usually reliable Jerusalem Post got things mixed up. Although it made a great story, Ami was not saved by his mom (his parents were in Jerusalem and had to fight their way through traffic to the hospital). There are not "50 families" of Messianic Jews in Ariel (don't we wish!! - the number is closer to 9 or 10 families, plus several volunteers who come and go on tourist visas). Ami did not need to have his intestines and kidneys reconstructed as far as I can determine, although shrapnel and glass was removed from lots of places I don't want to think about. Nor were any limbs amputated (he lost 2 toes only).

He is still in a medically induced coma, but they are beginning the gradual wake-up process, which may take a few days. They have lowered the anesthesia to the point where he can hear his surroundings, and he's now got an i-pod in his ear so he can hear music (as a mother, I'm resisting the urge to make wisecracks here about teenagers and their i-pods). They have started giving him a specially formulated liquid nourishment through the stomach to get his digestion going again. They were not yet able to remove all the metal bolts that had pierced both lungs (they need to wait and see how his body responds). But they were able to take the drainage tube out of one lung, because the bleeding has stopped. They are still battling to save the lung that is collapsed. Still waiting for final results on the injured eye. Still using the word "miracle" at every turn.

The burned-off skin and exposed tissue beneath remains a very big concern, along with the risk of infection. The Ortizes got a visit from another Ariel resident, who knows what it's like to survive this ordeal (the Anter family, who lost 2 boys in the Kenya terror attack several years ago). She had also been severely burned, and she came to encourage them.

Ami's class visited the hospital too. Apparently they had a meeting in the school, where kids were allowed to stand up and talk of how they felt about the incident. (This is a widespread practice in Israel, to help kids deal with the trauma of terrorism.) The usually rowdy kids were respectfully silent as their classmates shared the things they love about Ami.

Details about the damage:

The apartment did not lose all its furniture, as reported by some - by a fluke, the sofa and TV are fine. The phone and electric work, and the computer works, but the spiral stairs to the upper floor are rickety. It may take a while before all the damage is known. The windows are in process of being fixed. One group of believers has already undertaken to replace the refrigerator. The Ortizes did have house insurance. Those of you who were asking about this aspect of their needs, stand by until we know more.

And about the investigation:

I have become aware that many believers are arguing over whether the perpetrators were Muslim terrorists (disguised as orthodox Jews) or Jewish antimissionaries (acting like terrorists). Brethren, we aren't going to nail that one down, no matter how much we discuss and argue. But be assured that the Lord knows EXACTLY who they are, and that is enough.

I'll tell you what I am praying -- That He will (1) turn up the pressure on them and fill them with unbearable fear of Him until they crack, and (2) guide the authorities unerringly right to their door. "The weapons of our warfare" are not in the Shabak arsenal.... we need to do our job, and let them do their job. So let's unite in prayer and pull down this stronghold with the tools the Lord has given us.

With that said, there are some new developments.

The mayor of Ariel, Ron Nachman, visited the hospital yesterday. He has been very supportive and openly determined to defend the rights of believers here. He told the family that the investigation of the attack has been moved to a higher-level department in Jerusalem, to avoid any local conflict of interests. I consider that a direct answer to prayer, because our own interaction with the local police revealed possible bias and blind spots.

Some others also visited David - members of the local orthodox community. Having concluded that the media reports (all favoring the "Jewish extremist" theory) must have some factual basis, they apologized to David and disowned whoever did it. Likewise the leader of Yad L'Achim, who publicly denounced the deed in the media.

I'm not saying any more, since these are the only real facts I have.

In summary, Ami's progress is miraculous from one day to the next. From here on, the changes are going to occur more slowly, and so my updates can be a little less frequent. I will be taking a breather to give my neglected home and job some much-needed attention. So if you write to me with a personal question or comment, please bear with me if I don't answer the same day.

Local believers -- we have hot-meal coverage up through Sunday, Mar.30. This has been a tremendous practical help to the family, and it would be good to continue it. So anyone who would like to participate, please email me. They have a small refrigerator and microwave at the hospital for their personal use.

People on this list -- I've added your name because you wrote expressing the desire to pray or help Ami in some other way. I have NOT added your name to the regular Restorers of Zion update list unless you requested that as well. We do not send our ministry newsletters to people who didn't specifically ask (everyone gets way too much unwanted mail as it is). But if you do want to be included, drop me a line and I will be happy to add you. A new RZ Update was almost ready to be sent out before this attack happened.

many blessings,

Hannah