Not far from an ancient tower, believed to have been built by the patriarch Jacob for his cherished wife, on the outer edge of Bethlehem, lives an industrious Jewish family of eight. Busily raising their five children, managing their prolific farm and a growing flock of sheep and goats, Amon and Jedidah have recruited everyone in the household to assist in the relentless inventory of chores. Grandfather Elijah is the shepherd and has been enlisted to train the children in the required pastoral skills, which he does with finesse and compassion. The oldest son, Josiah, is the first to venture forth with his grandfather and live as a nomad in the wilderness of the Judean hill country in order to care for his family's herd. The young boy not only becomes acquainted with the skills of a shepherd and the ever present enemies of the flock, but learns of an ancient prophesy foretold in Grandfather Elijah's most prized possession; a very special, handwritten manuscript on old sheepskin parchment.
About the Author: Mary Suzanne Hale is a retired public and private school teacher. She has delighted for many years in shepherding children, both in literacy necessary for future employment and higher education, and literacy of the Word of GOD necessary for understanding God's love and the way to a Heaven-bound eternity. She also works alongside the CEF organization, holding Five-Day Clubs, Good News Clubs and tutoring the children of her neighborhood both in their school curriculum and in the Bible. Bewildered by the fact that Christians and Messianic Jews most often remain isolated from one another in ministry and worship, she strives to shed light on the big picture of their collective texts and faith. She and her husband occasionally attend a Messianic Congregation where mutual humility and forgiveness allow these two precious branches of the true vine to function together in love and respect and a better understanding of their shared faith in God and His Word. Suzanne is married to her college sweetheart of fifty years. George found salvation in Christ as a young boy in a little church in Georgia after listening to Messianic Evangel, Dr. Eddie Liberman. George has been a CPA, missionary, banker, and currently is a stewardship consultant to several large churches. They have two amazing children and six delightful grandchildren. Suzanne and George live in the ocean side community of San Diego, California.