Marili van der Walt - Zealous8:2 Assistant

Hi there, 

I was born and bred in South Africa, in the most beautiful area that is known as the Cape. After school I took a gap year, where I spent time in the USA doing a discipleship school with YWAM and then working at a Jewish summer camp. During that year I also made a stop in Israel, where I was on a tour for 2 weeks and then volunteered for 6 weeks with Bridges for Peace (BFP) at the food bank.

When it was time for me to head back home, I was heartbroken that I had to leave this beautiful country that had crawled into my heart. I thought to myself that it would be nice to come and volunteer here again, but I had no intention of it being so soon.

The love for the Jewish people and the chosen land of our Father continued to grow inside of me. I guess you can say that those 2 months that I had spent in Israel was when the seed was planted and it was now being watered.

In February of this year I felt that God’s plan for me was not to be studying at this point in time. I left the university that I had started with after just 2 weeks. I had no idea where I was supposed to be going, but God does and I think sometimes it’s good that we don’t know where He is leading us, because if we did know, we probably would not follow. After much searching and seeking from God, the only door that opened up for me was with Bridges for Peace. I accepted the offer and arrived in Israel during April 2010.

        Working here at International Headquarters with the Group and Guest Relations department and Zealous8:2, is definitely a lot different than working at the food bank. We are one organization, but two totally different worlds, is probably a way to put it. The multifaceted aspect of BFP is clearer to me now, as I’ve worked on both sides. Here, at Headquarters it’s a lot more of the business center and educational branch of BFP, whereas at the food bank it’s more informal, although a lot of hard work is done there.

So, I am excited for what the Lord has in store for me during my time here in Israel and the things I will be learning.