A Solano Church Member’s Bible Mission To The Holy Land, Deconstruct’s Myths, Falsehoods and a glimmer of hope for Peace
A Solano Church Member’s Bible Mission To The Holy Land, Deconstruct’s Myths, Falsehoods and a glimmer of hope for Global Peace
Special Report By Ben Edokpayi
A few days after Vacaville resident Pam Gore returned from a 3-months Missionary work in the Holy Land, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in back-to-back peace talks, in Moscow and via Phone on Lent Sunday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, spotlighted a window of hope for a truce with Ukraine in the most dangerous global conflict post World War II.
Voice of America
In an interview, Gore, who worked for the US Geological Office in Dixon at Business Park Drive between 1994 (while this reporter was a staff at the Fairfield Daily Republic — DR, and a Voice of America Correspondent between the Lake Nyos assignment with Pace in 1986 and 1995 when I reported on the MLS Inaugural match from San Jose) and 2014, described her sixth mission to the Holy Land as the most important one in a nation, whose tranquil and serene ambience at the time of her visit, belied concerns about a World War elsewhere.
“I traveled non-stop on United Airlines from San Francisco to Tel Aviv and back and I did not get a sense of nervousness about a World War while in Israel,” she told the Dixon Tribune.
Interestingly I was Dixon Tribune editor when a rare occurrence, a lightning strike that killed six cows found in a circular formation by a local farm owner occurred in 2004, an incident that caught the attention of UC Davis Veterinary Department as well as employees at the Dixon US Geological Office where Pam Gore was a staff at the time.
Was the Cow-deaths by Lightning Incident Misused As A Smear Scheme That May Have drawn the ire of MosCow?
Lake Nyos Disaster, Cameroon
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-22-mn-685-story.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/aug/20/theobserver1
My Newswatch report on the Lake Nyos Carbon Monoxide incident (described as the world’s deadliest bubble) which killed nearly 2000 people and hundreds of livestock was titled “Nature’s Own Neutron Bomb,” in Newswatch, a magazine published in Nigeria
In response to my question about the freak occurrence — deaths by lightning to wildlife, similar to an incident in Lake Nyos, Cameroon which I covered with International Journalists including a crew from Paris-based Canal Television, former Los Angeles Times Deputy Managing Editor Scott Kraft and former Voice of America Moscow Correspondent Sonja Pace, Gore responded
“Wow, I think I vaguely remember the story about the cows being struck by lightning. Very freak occurrence wasn’t it?
Dixon Field Station, where I worked for 20 years, is under the Biology Discipline of the US Geological Survey. I administratively supported wildlife biologists. This is what they do:
“The principal investigators, biologists, and technical staff at the Dixon Field Station are currently conducting research to determine: ecological risk of contaminants on wildlife at the San Francisco Bay-Delta, Central Valley, coastal California, Alaska, Florida Everglades, and Great Salt Lake (Utah); specialized studies of the effects of mercury on avian reproduction or ecology; breeding and wintering ecology of waterfowl in the Suisun Marsh and Central Valley; movements and habitat use of shorebirds, seabirds, and waterfowl; predation effects on avian nesting ecology; and baseline and restoration potential of salt ponds at San Francisco Bay. God bless you, Ben.”
Here is a Q and A from our interview about her Missionary Work To Israel.
WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE ISRAEL MISSION?
I have a great friend who lives in Jerusalem and we find ways to share the love of God. On Christmas Eve we were blessed to go with a group of 40 people to visit Bethlehem. We got to bless Arabs who congregate on Christmas Eve specifically at an area called Manger Square. We prayed with whoever wanted prayer using google translate and we gave the children treats that were being sold by vendors in Bethlehem. We shared some of our testimonies about what Jesus Messiah has done in our lives. One young man had been shot in the head and was paralyzed in one arm and part of one of his legs. He was happy for us to pray with him. We believe God let everyone who we were blessed to pray with, feel His love and we believe God’s power began to work in their bodies and lives.
I was also blessed to pray with a prayer group three days a week. We prayed for the peace of Jerusalem, for Israel, and for others in the world as well as praying for people, in person, who had special prayers requests.
I was also blessed to interact with some of the people in the neighborhood where I stayed. We broke bread together and had discussions about the Bible. It was very special.
WHAT PLACES DID YOU VISIT?
The Western Wall, Bethlehem, Garden Tomb, and I lodged in the West Bank.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ON THE MISSIONARY TEAM?
I traveled to Israel alone. Once I was in the country the number of people varied because we did different events with different people.
WHICH OF THE LOCATIONS WAS MOST MEMORABLE AND WHY?
The neighborhood where I stayed. I loved getting to know some of my dear friend’s neighbors. I felt like I was home.
HOW WAS YOUR TRIP THROUGH EUROPE, AND DID YOU SENSE THE NERVOUSNESS ABOUT A WORLD WAR WHILE YOU WERE THERE?
I traveled nonstop from San Francisco to Tel Aviv. I did not get a sense of nervousness about a World War while in Israel.
DID YOU LEARN ANY LANGUAGES, AND WHICH ONE?
I am currently learning Hebrew.
WAS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME IN ISRAEL?
No. I have been to Israel six times now. In my heart it is my home away from home.
This report is published in the Dixon Tribune, the newspaper of record of the city of Dixon. https://www.cityofdixon.us/
