The 2025 Solidarity Mission to Israel: Working, serving and encouraging

We are now just over a week in, and have truly ‘hit the ground running’. The team of three New Zealanders arrived into the cruel heat of Israel in May, only to head to the Jordan Valley – which is even hotter.

Our initial focus has been on assisting the people of Moshav Roi. This tiny community was until only weeks ago hosting Israeli refugees. Like so many of these communities, they are the agricultural (and often industrial) heart of Israel. Simple blessings like the restoration of community facilities can bring great comfort and hope; to those communities close to Gaza or Lebanon it is essential, especially to encourage families to return.

Standing in solidarity

Our focus on this mission has been very simple: to meet needs, to visit and encourage Israelis, and to stand in solidarity. Many Israelis are now battered and bruised from over a year and a half of war with Gaza, and a year and a half of attack from most of the world. Many – even most – are suffering from varying degrees of post-traumatic stress, and when faced with the constant barrage of accusations and condemnation from the UN and its proxies, any encouragement is so deeply appreciated. I’ve also had some other ‘diplomatic’ visits – meeting with various contacts throughout Israel, just to relate, and to reiterate our support. Travelling with bags of camera equipment has become standard practise!

The NZ Solidarity Team 2025 | Photo: C4I New Zealand

Tragedy

From construction/renovation/painting, to repairing (rebuilding!) electrical systems, once again we notice a distinct lack of manpower. Perhaps in anticipation of another major military action, much of the usual manpower is simply not available. Also, work previously carried out by Palestinian workers is now extremely difficult – just days ago a pregnant mother and her husband were shot while driving to hospital to give birth. The mother, already in labour, was killed. Doctors are right now fighting for the baby’s survival, and the father now faces bringing up his children alone. This took place very close to where we are based. As you can imagine, security has increased even further. The effects of such a tragedy are far wider than just the devastation of a family. The whole area suffers with increased security restrictions, checkpoints, and the ongoing challenges of life in a terrorist war zone.

Local Arab Town

After years in this ‘fight’ I have become somewhat deaf to people all around the world, for whom the greatest injustice seems that the Jews in Israel won’t simply lie down and allow themselves to be killed – without fighting back. The never-ending stream of propaganda, tropes, and reinvented terms, continues to infuriate, especially when it is so obvious to anyone who as actually set foot in this land, that the truth on the ground is completely different. A trip to the local Arab town (which is much closer) to try to locate building/electrical supplies – and, of course, the obligatory ice-cream stop in the 45deg heat – is always interesting.

Local Arab Town

As a south Auckland boy, I was born and bred in an area of great colour, in one of the most multi-cultural regions on the planet. Growing up and going to school with people from all around the world led us to be extremely ‘colour blind’, and so a jovial conversation with the local Arab hardware store owner (who also seems to own the ice-cream store next door) is just great fun. It is no different, however, at the local Jewish-owned store only a few kilometers further down the road. Sitting in an Arab ‘shwarma bar’ today, surrounded by Jewish people (it is Shabbat, the Jewish stores are closed….) I could only shake my head at the cries of ‘apartheid’ that echo from so many heads. Everyone is suffering here. Nobody is immune to the challenges, the pain.

An adventure

So when three Kiwis turn up, there is great interest. For the first project we have joined a team from Finland, and working together with them has been great fun as we wade through language challenges. Trying to find electrical components, for example, is quite an adventure. Between Finnish and English, translating into Hebrew, trying to describe technical terms and component names (to people who don’t necessarily have any idea whatsoever), trying to find what various components are even called here let alone where to find them, and then navigating around Israel to locate the gear, is an adventure all by itself. To do this is a country at war…… challenging.

There is much need for workers | Photo: C4I New Zealand

Immense encouragement

But then there are the people. In a supply mission a few days ago I needed to locate some drain hose and a few other parts for an airconditioner (that had been leaking water all through the wall of the community centre building). Already exhausted, we located a store that looked like it might have something to do with airconditioning equipment (not an uncommon thing here I would have thought, ref. the 45deg heat). While I explained technical terms in English, my (not at all technical) friend translated this into Hebrew, and with many drawings scribbled on scrap paper, and much animated gesticulating, we managed to find the equipment required. In the midst of our discussions the gentleman asked where I was from, and what I was doing. His demeanour changed dramatically as he learned we had come as volunteers, simply to support Israel. He made coffee, we talked, we shared, and this man (and his colleagues) were visibly moved. This sentiment then became my own when he refused to let me pay for the parts. The people here feel so alone, so just finding out that we have travelled so far to stand with them, is of immense encouragement.

Privilege

As is now fairly normal in Israel, we have heard a few Houthi rockets being destroyed in the skies not too far from here. The site of military vehicles, soldiers, everyone carrying guns, is always slightly alarming to the average Kiwi. But at the same time, we feel safe. As a South Auckland boy, I must confess that I have always felt safer here, rockets, guns, checkpoints and all.

As we push on towards the completion of this little project, we are preparing for some ‘solidarity touring’ of some of the significant locations in Israel (that can possibly be fitted into just a few days). We will visit Biblical sites, historical sites, and even view some of the devastation of the Oct. 7 attacks, now, sadly, something of a compulsory viewing to anyone wanting to understand Israel. We will visit sites, but more importantly we will visit people. We will continue to bless people, to meet needs as best we can, and to let the people of Israel know that they are not forgotten, and they are most certainly not alone.

Hostage Square, Tel Aviv | Photo: C4I New Zealand

It is a great privilege to be here. It’s always a great honour to stand in this country, but to be here in this capacity – to work, to serve, to encourage, and to represent all the supporters of Christians for Israel NZ – is really something special.

To those praying for us, thank you (but please don’t stop until we land back in Auckland!). To those who have donated to make this solidarity mission possible, thank you.
To those who stand with Israel – well done.

Blessings from somewhere in the Holy Land,
Bryce Turner and the team