March 7, 2026 - Shabbat Shalom
One Week Into War: A Few Things I'm Learning
A week into this war, a few lessons are already surfacing.
Not political lessons. Not military analysis.
Just observations from living here… one day at a time.
Not political lessons. Not military analysis.
Just observations from living here… one day at a time.
Before getting to the lessons, here’s a quick snapshot of the morning… and I hadn’t even had breakfast yet.
At 5:30 this morning, we were woken up by a siren. Not the early phone alert — the actual siren. The one that means you have 90 seconds to get to a safe place.
Let’s just say I’m very thankful I wasn’t on camera as I stumbled out of bed and made my way to the mamad. The boys were already sleeping in there, and I met Jen and Elly in the hallway looking just as discombobulated as I was.
We got the heavy door shut just in time.
And then it hit all of us…
We forgot to “take care of business” before shutting the door. Thankfully the all-clear message came about ten minutes later.
Crisis averted.
Later in the morning at 9:30am, we joined Jerusalem Assembly’s Zoom church. Coffee in hand, we settled in to listen to the sermon.
We got the heavy door shut just in time.
And then it hit all of us…
We forgot to “take care of business” before shutting the door. Thankfully the all-clear message came about ten minutes later.
Crisis averted.
Later in the morning at 9:30am, we joined Jerusalem Assembly’s Zoom church. Coffee in hand, we settled in to listen to the sermon.
About ten minutes in, the pastor casually acknowledged that a Red Alert warning had just come across his phone. It was in his area too.
But he kept preaching.
Right up until the siren sounded.
Then he — and hopefully everyone watching like us — made their way to their safe room.
About 15 minutes later, we were back on Zoom… picking up right where the sermon left off.
Just another Shabbat morning in Israel.
But he kept preaching.
Right up until the siren sounded.
Then he — and hopefully everyone watching like us — made their way to their safe room.
About 15 minutes later, we were back on Zoom… picking up right where the sermon left off.
Just another Shabbat morning in Israel.
Which brings me to a few things I’m learning.
Lesson 1: Being in Israel doesn’t mean I know what will happen tomorrow.
Being in Israel during a war can give people the impression that you somehow know more than everyone else watching from afar.
After one week here, I can tell you that’s not really true.
I may understand the complexity of this region a little better than the average person back home. But when it comes to what will happen tomorrow? My guess is about as good as anyone’s.
And maybe that’s one of the most important lessons this week has taught me.
My confidence isn’t in the players shaping this war.
My confidence is in the God who already sees tomorrow.
He sees me.
He knows the plans He has for me.
I trust God more than any player in this war.
After one week here, I can tell you that’s not really true.
I may understand the complexity of this region a little better than the average person back home. But when it comes to what will happen tomorrow? My guess is about as good as anyone’s.
And maybe that’s one of the most important lessons this week has taught me.
My confidence isn’t in the players shaping this war.
My confidence is in the God who already sees tomorrow.
He sees me.
He knows the plans He has for me.
I trust God more than any player in this war.
Lesson 2: Don’t waste fun.
T Bar M Camps is a special place for me and my family. One thing they say often there is:
“Don’t Waste Fun.”
It comes from John 10:10. But before Jesus says He came to give life — and give it abundantly — the verse begins with another reality:
The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy.
Both truths exist.
There is a thief who tries to rob us of life. And that theft doesn’t always look dramatic like missiles or war. Sometimes it’s far more subtle.
It can be worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet.
It can be chasing success so hard that relationships quietly slip away.
It can simply be paying attention to the wrong things.
From what I’ve heard, the phrase “Don’t Waste Fun” started with a little boy trying to get his dad’s attention. His dad kept saying, “In a minute… in a minute…” while focusing on something else.
Finally the boy blurted out:
“Dad… you’re wasting fun!”
How many times do we do the same thing?
Even this week — in the middle of sirens and safe rooms — there have been moments of joy I would have missed if I had my focus glued to the news.
“Don’t Waste Fun.”
It comes from John 10:10. But before Jesus says He came to give life — and give it abundantly — the verse begins with another reality:
The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy.
Both truths exist.
There is a thief who tries to rob us of life. And that theft doesn’t always look dramatic like missiles or war. Sometimes it’s far more subtle.
It can be worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet.
It can be chasing success so hard that relationships quietly slip away.
It can simply be paying attention to the wrong things.
From what I’ve heard, the phrase “Don’t Waste Fun” started with a little boy trying to get his dad’s attention. His dad kept saying, “In a minute… in a minute…” while focusing on something else.
Finally the boy blurted out:
“Dad… you’re wasting fun!”
How many times do we do the same thing?
Even this week — in the middle of sirens and safe rooms — there have been moments of joy I would have missed if I had my focus glued to the news.
Jesus didn’t just promise life.
He promised abundant life. And I don’t want to waste it.
He promised abundant life. And I don’t want to waste it.
Lesson 3: Humor is a surprisingly powerful coping mechanism.
One thing I’ve noticed over the years spending time with Israelis is their humor.
It’s often a little dark… sometimes sarcastic… occasionally right on the edge of what feels appropriate.
But it’s also incredibly human.
Living here this week, I’m starting to understand it more.
When life gets unpredictable, humor becomes a way to breathe.
I recently read an article about how humor has been showing up across Israel during this war — sometimes walking a thin line between laughter and grief. But for many people, humor is simply a way to process reality and keep moving forward.
And honestly… I’m starting to find myself doing the same thing.
Jen has been showing me the war memes circulating here. Israelis are unbelievably quick to turn almost anything into humor.
It’s often a little dark… sometimes sarcastic… occasionally right on the edge of what feels appropriate.
But it’s also incredibly human.
Living here this week, I’m starting to understand it more.
When life gets unpredictable, humor becomes a way to breathe.
I recently read an article about how humor has been showing up across Israel during this war — sometimes walking a thin line between laughter and grief. But for many people, humor is simply a way to process reality and keep moving forward.
And honestly… I’m starting to find myself doing the same thing.
Jen has been showing me the war memes circulating here. Israelis are unbelievably quick to turn almost anything into humor.
Here's a good one ... it's an app that predicts the best time to take a shower between missile alerts.
Yes… really.
Yes… really.
Only in Israel would someone think, How can we solve the problem of getting interrupted mid-shampoo by a siren?
Here's one more trending app. (I'll stop with this one ... there's too many to share)
Here's one more trending app. (I'll stop with this one ... there's too many to share)
But when you think about it… humor shouldn’t surprise us.
Even the Bible — which is already an incredible story of God’s redemption — has moments of humor tucked inside it.
A prophet arguing with a talking donkey.
Elijah suggesting maybe Baal is “busy… or sleeping… or on a journey.”
Jesus describing someone trying to remove a speck from another person’s eye while a giant plank sticks out of their own.
Sometimes truth lands deeper with a little laughter.
And maybe that’s part of what humor does in hard moments.
It reminds us that fear doesn’t get the final word.
Even the Bible — which is already an incredible story of God’s redemption — has moments of humor tucked inside it.
A prophet arguing with a talking donkey.
Elijah suggesting maybe Baal is “busy… or sleeping… or on a journey.”
Jesus describing someone trying to remove a speck from another person’s eye while a giant plank sticks out of their own.
Sometimes truth lands deeper with a little laughter.
And maybe that’s part of what humor does in hard moments.
It reminds us that fear doesn’t get the final word.
Closing Thought
When the siren went off at 5:30 this morning, none of us knew what the day would hold.
We just knew we had 90 seconds to move.
By 9:30am, we were drinking coffee and listening to a sermon… until another siren sent everyone to their safe rooms again.
That’s what life looks like here right now.
One week into this war, I still don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
But I do know this:
God sees tomorrow before we get there.
Life is still meant to be lived abundantly.
And sometimes the healthiest thing you can do in uncertain moments…
…is laugh, finish your coffee, and keep listening to the sermon.
We just knew we had 90 seconds to move.
By 9:30am, we were drinking coffee and listening to a sermon… until another siren sent everyone to their safe rooms again.
That’s what life looks like here right now.
One week into this war, I still don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
But I do know this:
God sees tomorrow before we get there.
Life is still meant to be lived abundantly.
And sometimes the healthiest thing you can do in uncertain moments…
…is laugh, finish your coffee, and keep listening to the sermon.
– Mimsie in Israel
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5 Comments
Alice,
n
nI am so proud of the work you are puttng in on these posts. People appreciate the "bird's eye view" of real life in the midst of a global crisis. I know thet "Mimsie" has found a voice in the hearts of many.
Yes, Karin ànd I are continuing in our prayers for you and your family. Karin and I often tell each other, we would never have thought that God would put us in a ministry to Afghanistan. At one time, we didn't even know where it was? The same with you, going to visit your family there, you never realized what God had planned for you. And you are handling it wonderfully. You are passing on the hope and love that God gives you .
Continued prayers for Alice and her family in the chaos and uncertainty. May you feel God’s protection and the prayers of many for your safety and strength!?
Psalm 37:3 again and again! Bless you, sister. Thanks for these words, they give me strength and encouragement.
Alice, we continue to pray for all of you, and enjoy every word of your posts. I know you are loving being with all of them and enjoying those grandbabes. It will feel good to see you home again.