In October 2023, my husband Brian and I, along with ten others from our church family at the time, located in Suffolk, Virginia, embarked on what we believed would be a mission trip of a lifetime to Israel. We had planned for and prayed over this trip for almost a year. Our plane landed in Tel Aviv on October 7—just as the horrors of the Hamas attacks unfolded. Less than an hour after landing, Israel declared war against Hamas. Within a few hours of touchdown, we learned we were trapped. Airports closed, flights canceled, and missiles were striking within miles of us. With alert sirens going off, missile interceptions by the Iron Dome being heard and felt, along with sounds of explosions shaking the ground near Jerusalem where we stayed, fear tried to take hold. We clung to the truth that our God holds us in the palm of His hand (Isaiah 41:10).

Once we found out that all our means of getting home had been canceled and that official government channels offered limited or costly options, we knew we had to seek outside help. Rita reached out to WAVY 10 and shared our desperate situation. WAVY 10 interviewed us and aired the story on their morning news. Within the hour, a viewer connected with AMERICAN | kinetix and its i68 Program saw the broadcast and reached out. He and his wife happened to be up early that morning because their son wasn't feeling well—which is how they caught the segment. He turned to his wife and said, “I think we can help them.” What followed was nothing short of divine orchestration through the hands and feet of His servants.

AMERICAN | kinetix and its i68 Program—rooted in a biblical calling to go where others cannot (Isaiah 6:8)—stepped into the gap with Christ-centered excellence. Their team provided constant encouragement, building us up daily with words of faith and reminding us that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). They coordinated every detail of our extraction, including preparing contingency plans by land, air, and sea, ensuring we had backups for every “what if” that could possibly come our way. We were provided with a personal escort, a seasoned extractor (a former U.S. Army sniper with IDF experience who spoke three languages), who personally escorted our group, driving the routes the day prior to ensure there would be no barriers. The day we left, he inspected our vehicles to ensure safety and personally accompanied us to the airport, turning what could have been a terrifying ordeal into a testimony of God's protection and provision.

What stands out most is that they did this as a ministry, expecting nothing in return. The level of professionalism, care, and concern that was devoted to us is priceless. It is hard to fathom the endless hours that this team dedicated to getting us home. Mission accomplished, they got us home safely through their selfless acts of kindness, freeing us from the heavy financial burden that other options would have imposed. Their actions reflected the heart of Christ—serving the vulnerable, operating with integrity in high-risk environments, and bringing peace and light into the midst of darkness and chaos. As former U.S. special operations veterans delivering training, security, and logistical support from a distinctly Christian perspective, the i68 team embodies “Here am I. Send me!” They don't just extract people from danger; they point them toward the ultimate Deliverer.

Brian and I will forever be grateful. In our scariest moments, AMERICAN | kinetix and i68 reminded us that the body of Christ is alive and active. They kept our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, even as sirens blared and uncertainty loomed. We returned home changed—more convinced than ever of God's sovereignty and of God's power and ability to use those whom He calls to serve in the hardest places. We are reminded that you can never go so far from God that His loving hands cannot reach you!

If you are considering supporting or partnering with AMERICAN | kinetix and their i68 Program, know this: they are a trustworthy, faith-driven organization making a real difference for God's Kingdom. They were God's answer to our prayers in a time of great need, and we wholeheartedly recommend them. To God be all the glory!”

In Christ's love,