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The brutal Hamas-led October 7 attack on Israel communities near Gaza caused tourists to flee the Country en masse. We have seen this happen periodically during times of uprisings, and finding people to go into Israel during these times is an extreme challenge, a challenge that God continues to help us overcome.
We are very grateful that David Conley, who arrived at the Park in late October, did not change his plans to travel to Israel due to the war. Tracy Valero, who was the supervisor when David arrived, had ample time to train him to be the next supervisor before she left in early November. David quickly adapted to his new role and has done exceptional work in managing the Park. David was immediately challenged with a few irrigation issues which he handled very quickly and effectively. He has also accepted the challenge to find a better WIFI experience for our guests, which we hope to have in place by March.
Even though Israel is at war, the Park has been busy with tour buses stopping in regularly. The picture, which is taken in our sukkah, shows a group of young Israelis touring the area before entering the IDF.
We are also very fortunate to welcome Dan Clark back to the Park. Dan travels to Israel pretty regularly and we are grateful he has arrived, especially since Cynthia and Esther completed their time in Israel and have returned to the USA. Dan will provide the additional support needed at the Park until he returns to the USA in early March.
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Board of Trustees - Special Announcement | |
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Nearly five years ago, at the Annual Board meeting, our Founder and President, Dr. DeWayne Coxon, passed the torch on to his son Rob as the next President of Blossoming Rose. Rob worked alongside his father in various roles since 1984 when the organization began.
This year, Dr. Coxon took another step toward retirement and resigned from the Board. He spends his summers on the family river property tending his gardens, fishing, reading, and enjoying his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The Board expresses its gratitude for his pioneering work in Israel, especially at Biblical Tamar Park, and the wonderful memories we have of our times with him. We wish Dr. Coxon, and his wife Lexie, the best as they enjoy their time together.
Many of us have had wonderful experiences with Dr. Coxon. If you have an experience that you would like to share, please post it on our Facebook Group (link below) or send it to us so we can share it in future newsletters.
Thank you Dr. Coxon!
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Good Neighbors Project Update | |
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During Cynthia Hillson's stay at the Park, she recognized a great opportunity for Blossoming Rose to “love our neighbors as ourselves” and help people from the settlements devastated by the attack on October 7.
The Bible teaches us to give and she was able to help us develop the Good Neighbors Project. This project has already seen donations get into the hands of the evacuees through local food pantries and the Central Arava Regional Council.
Our main objective is to provide food and basic needs items to the displaced Israelis as well as soldiers (see picture) traveling through the Arava. Many Israelis have lost everything, including family members and their jobs, to this senseless tragedy.
Help us be good neighbors!
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Our Annual Fundraising Letter | |
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Every year in early December we publish our annual fundraising letter (see below). In this letter you will find a summary of our projects in 2023 and our goals for 2024. This year we are saddened to have to add an urgent request for help. We were just gearing up for our five upcoming tours this fall but because of the war all five tours had to be cancelled. The loss of revenue due to these cancellations has caused quite a strain on our budget. Please consider Blossoming Rose as you make your year end contributions.
Dear Blossoming Rose Supporters,
We are certainly living in challenging times, especially when it comes to Blossoming Rose’s ongoing relationship with the people of Israel. Simply put, their struggle has become our struggle, if for no other reason than we have always shared “God’s Plan” as foretold in the Bible.
Working in Israel has always had its challenges, from the intifada beginning in 1987, to the Covid Pandemic of 2020, right on up to October 7, 2023 -- a day of unimaginable infamy, suddenly exploding into all-out WAR.
These horrific events not only hurt citizens of Israel and her multiethnic communities, they also awakened other nations to the dangers of demonic terrorism within the civilized world.
But in spite of all that’s happened, and no matter the impact on our work at Biblical Tamar Park, we still stand strong in our undying commitment to Israel, the only legitimate democratic state in the entire Middle East.
In our letter to you last December, we listed three main goals for 2023. We are happy to report that the “House of Prayer for All Nations” was completed. The new freshwater drinking lines were also completed and plumbed to all of the caravans. We had to delay the Garden of the Ages project due to the war.
The top priority for 2024 will be the Garden of the Ages project. Our plan is to meet with the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and the local municipality in March, and begin this project immediately. Our hope is that the ongoing war will not inhibit the IAA from meeting with us. You will hear more about our progress in our March Newsletter. You will also hear more in our upcoming newsletter about our newly created humanitarian project named “The Good Neighbors Project.” We have already started distributing funds to meet the needs of the evacuees.
Prior to October 7, our financial picture for 2023 was right on track. Unfortunately, the war resulted in the loss of five tour groups, which created a $30,000 negative impact in our budget. Because this happened so late in the year, we were limited in the expenses we could cut. Consequently, as we end this year, we are appealing to your generosity and asking for your help in resolving the unforeseen loss as we continue to bless Israel. So please contribute if you can.
We also ask for your continued prayers and wish you a blessed holiday season.
Sincerely,
Rob Coxon
President
|  | Letters - Comments - Feedback | |
Dear DeWayne, Rob and the Blossoming Rose family,
It has been almost a year since we last met, and it seems as if years have passed by since.
Here in Israel we are in a challenging situation, looking into the eyes of the cruelest enemy that one could imagine, almost as cruel as the satan.
At this time we are also looking into our own reflection and trying to see our own nation’s strengths and goals for the future.
On one hand we have the unimaginable tragedy and on the other the united Israeli army and soldiers that are fighting in Gaza and in the North of the country.
Thank God our family is okay. My oldest son, Marom and my daughter, Lotem were called to volunteer for reserves. My youngest daughter, Peleg volunteered on Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, located on the Gaza border, and was saved in a miraculous way as she and her friends came back home for the weekend to celebrate Simchat Torah at home with us. She is now helping children who were evacuated to hotels.
I have also volunteered to the army and serve with a group of archaeologists from the IAA trying to find human remains of victims from the October 7th Attack. Here are some articles about it that you may find interesting.
https://www.jns.org/archaeologists-sift-through-hamas-carnage-for-human-remains/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/archaeologists-sift-through-devastation-to-help-families-of-oct-7-victims-gain-closure/
Since the day I have met you all until now, I saw and felt the love you bring, give and inspire to the people of Israel and to the state of Israel. Then and Now. I appreciate it a lot and feel thankful.
Hoping to see you all back in Israel!
Warm regards,
Oren Shmueli
Note: Oren has been a very good friend for many years. He is an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority.
| Interview with Tali Erickson-Gini | |
Listen and learn from this excellent interview by Brent Nagtegaal from "Let the Stone Speak," about the 10th century BCE finds at Biblical Tamar Park. It is very exciting that Blossoming Rose has been, and continues to be an integral part in these finds.
We have been honored to work with Tali (pictured teaching at BTP) for many, many years. We are very thankful that the Israel Department of Antiquities assigned Tali to our region in Israel in the early days of our work at the Park.
See the interview here - Tali Interview
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Volunteers Needed at Biblical Tamar Park | |
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We have a need for volunteers at BTP starting in mid-March and running through 2024. These volunteer opportunities run from one week to 3 months. Many volunteers travel and see the sites in Israel on the weekends using public transportation that runs right by the Park.
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Site Sponsors
The Abrahamic Period - Donald and Maxine Smith, Covina, CA
The Moses Period - Available for Sponsorship
The Israelite Period - Gregory and Kathleen Bekes - Cherry Hill, NJ
The Roman-Christian Period - Louise Scholtus - Grawn, MI
The Islamic Period - Available for Sponsorship
The British Period - Jack and Kathryn Crusan - Morley, MI
The Israeli Period - Donald and Maxine Smith - Covina, CA
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Alan and Hollisa Alewine
Ed and Juli Byrnes
Community of the Crucified One
Seth Coxon
Brad and Jan Forney
David and Cathy Grinstead
Linda Harvey-Kelly
Ty and Amy Henderson
Monica Heredia-Maranon
Chuck and Cheryl Hill
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David and Cynthia Hillson
Esther Klinebriel
Paul and Joyce Lagno
Barry and Audrey Miller
Louise Scholtus
Donald and Maxine Smith
Dr. James Tabor/UIWU
Trewhella Family/Pam Wright
David and Patty Tyler - two rooms
Ronald and Cherylee Vanderham
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Sponsorship Opportunities are Available | |
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The Sponsorship Program is one of our major sources of income that funds the operations at Biblical Tamar Park. If you can join us in this program we would be very grateful.
The history of Biblical Tamar Park is divided into seven periods of time starting with the Abrahamic period and ending with the current Israeli period. Each time period has a physical site location at the Park with a major display. The two sites that are currently available for sponsorship are the Moses period (pictured) and the Islamic period. To read more about the seven periods of history please visit our website.
We also have one room available for sponsorship.
If you are interested in sponsoring a site or a room please call 616-696-3435 or email Jodi Coxon for more information.
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Upcoming Volunteer Work Experience at BTP
March 3 - 7, 2024
Please Join Us!
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June 10 - 20, 2024
Shavuot 2024
Dr, Hollisa Alewine, Tour Host
Cheryl Hill and Robyn Hesley-Cowherd, Tour Coordinators
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October 22 - November 1, 2024
Tour Israel
Rev. Jada McWilliams, Tour Host
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More About our Work in Israel | |
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Blossoming Rose and Biblical Tamar Park, while different in name are similar in focus and purpose. We invite you to take a few moments to learn more about both organizations as we bring you news about the “Gateway to the Arava” where we have worked for nearly 40 years.
Without a doubt, Tamar is the oldest and most unique place in southern Israel, a towering fortress of such importance to world trade that it still remains as a showpiece of Hebraic heritage. The Tamar pathway stretches back across 4,000 years from Abraham, to Moses, to Kings David and Solomon, on down through many centuries of foreign conquests, into more recent times with Israel’s rebirth.
People from all walks of life, and from all parts of the world, volunteer their time and talents at Tamar. Within the Park’s 55 acres, there are basic accommodations, including air-conditioned caravans with 50 beds, a full kitchen and dining hall, the tel itself, a sukkah, and a new Welcome Pavilion. These facilities are available to tour groups, events, and any number of activities. We hope you will enjoy and rejoice with us as we continue to bring our news to you.
Our tours and volunteer work experiences are truly some of the most unique in Israel. Thousands of people have benefitted from these learning and working experiences.
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Newsletter Editor: Rob Coxon | |
Blossoming Rose, P.O. Box X, Cedar Springs, MI 49319
616-696-3435
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