Before welcoming the women attending the Azmera ISRAEL Haven Retreat 2026, our Care Crew spent Thursday preparing their own hearts. There was time to listen, pray, share burdens, and receive care from one another before offering that same care to the women arriving on Friday.
Their day also included a special opportunity to visit and serve at Magdala, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Prayer and practical service became part of the same preparation: hearts turned toward Jesus and hands ready to help.
“Waking up with Jesus at the Sea of Galilee.” —Janelle Hsia
Janelle Hsia shares this reflection from the day:
Many tears were spilled today as we emptied ourselves of our pride, selfishness, shame, and guilt so we could be filled with the beauty of the Holy Spirit. We are preparing our hearts for the wonderful women God has planned for us to adore.
This was also an opportunity to bring us closer together as sisters in Christ in our prayer circles, as we learned about each other’s hurts, desires, and struggles. Some of us have been carrying heavy burdens for a long time that are finally being laid to rest.
Several of us are in transition and leaning into God’s direction for our lives related to job choices, retirement, new relationships, and parenting our children. We are waiting patiently on God and understanding that it’s God’s timing and not ours. We are letting God prune away the bad so that He can make room for His glorious gifts.
We ask specifically for prayers for this generation as they listen to the lies they are being told about who they are. Let Jesus speak into our precious children and let them know how much God loves them.
Even those who have come to serve carry their own questions, transitions, and concerns for the people they love. These prayer circles gave the team space to bring those things before the Lord together.
Janelle also shared a personal reflection from Nhu, with permission:
Many of us recognize the title “Follower of Jesus” or “Follower of the Holy Spirit.” During our self-reflection time, Nhu told us that she hears God speak to her and resonates with “Follower of the Voice.”
As a Christian counselor, she has been told to put Jesus second in her counseling, but she is hearing from God louder and louder to put Christ first in all things, and the rest will fall into place.
A meaningful afternoon at Magdala
The team’s cultural outing took them to Magdala, where they shared lunch, learned about the site, and spent several hours helping care for the grounds.
For women preparing to listen to and care for others, this visit offered time to reflect on Jesus’ own encounters with people.
“Our guide brought to life the presence of Jesus and some of His encounters with people here in this special and very holy place.”
“The Encounter Chapel is modeled after the structure of the Magdala First Century Synagogue. The beautiful mural-sized painting depicts the encounter between Jesus and the hemorrhaging woman in Mark 5:25.”
“The Boat Chapel commemorates Jesus preaching from the boat. The altar boat stands over the first-century port.”
With the Sea of Galilee beyond the windows, the chapel offered another setting in which to pause and consider the ministry of Jesus.
Willing hands and grateful hearts
The visit also became an opportunity to serve. The Care Crew picked up fallen olives, swept sidewalks, and washed windows and signs.
“As we listened to Christian songs of praise by the Sea of Galilee, it was an honor to clean ripe olives off the ground where Jesus once walked.”
“It was such an honor to do service tasks for this holy site. We picked up olives under the trees, swept sidewalks, washed windows and signage. They were so grateful for the help, as volunteers have been scarce.”
These simple tasks gave the team a way to express their gratitude for the place and the people caring for it.
Willing hands during a meaningful visit to Magdala.
The theme of being Jesus’ hands and feet carried through the whole day—from praying with a teammate to picking up olives and preparing to welcome women serving around the world.
“Grateful hearts for this beautiful opportunity to serve here greatly enhanced the sense of a deeper connection to our Lord.”
Preparing to welcome the women
Janelle closed her Thursday reflection with this invitation:
As we become the hands and feet of Jesus, providing care, understanding, and nourishment for the souls of the women who will attend, we want to listen carefully to these women who work globally to carry out the precious work of Christ. Please pray with us as we prepare our hearts for this work.
*Thursday reflection shared by Janelle Hsia. Additional reflections and photo captions contributed by Christine Mousel.