Katharine van der Beek: Wife, mother, worshiper, harpist, Israeli tour guide, teacher, student of the Word of God.

I was born in England, and later lived in Finland and the Netherlands where I met my tall dark handsome  husband, making Aliyah to Israel in 2005.  Aliyah is a Hebrew term that means ascent, like the Psalms of ascent. It simply means to go up. In the same year we were married and in 2007 I became a mother to my first born son, Yonathan (gift from God.) Since then we were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Seraiah (warrior of God) and Rachel (gentle lamb).

My maternal ethnic heritage is from the area of the Pale of settlement. This is an area that is located in western Russia and eastern Poland of today. Many Jewish people lived there until the late 1800’s, when they began to flee west because of increased persecution.  My family took refuge in the United Kingdom, where my maternal grandparents were born.  They attended one of, if not the most orthodox synagogues in Birmingham.  In contrast, on my father’s side of the family, there were some Irish (probably Catholics) from Tipperary, and my father was an Anglican vicar up until his passing!

During my years as a professional musician (I trained at the Royal Academy of Music, London, the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki and the Royal Conservatorium of the Hague) I had the privilege to perform in many different nations as well as churches of different denominational backgrounds. 

After I moved to Israel, I understood that my training as a historical musician was a little over specialized, although I was a member of the Jerusalem Baroque Orchestra for many years as a baroque cellist.  Because of this, my path was a little eclectic, I worked in many of the bookstores in Jerusalem that offered faith based materials, and later became a property manager for owners who wanted to rent their properties on a short term basis.

Meanwhile, my husband Richard worked as a marketing manager and department head at a large and well known  incoming travel agency.  For years I had been nagging him to study to be a tour guide, wanting to “release” him from his desk job.  But one day in 2015 this backfired as he pointed at me and said you  do it.  I was shocked, but instinctively knew that God was calling me to do this.  He confirmed this with incredible supernatural provision for the entire period of the two year course. 

After I began to work, I understood how for the previous decade or more, Abba had been preparing me for the most wonderful task of showing people the land and the people that He calls the apple of His eye.  It was like a carpet where you only see the threads at the back and then all of a sudden it is turned around and you see the true picture.  How perfect are His ways!

I have had the privilege to guide former Amish/ Mennonites, Catholics, Restorationists, Wesleyan methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, Evangelicals, non-denominationals, Charismatics and Pentacostals. I can honestly say that I loved each and every group and learned something from every part of His diverse body.  We are called to sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron.  If we will be humble enough to stop criticizing our brothers and sisters and instead listen to them, we could learn so much.  I have learned that where one denomination has a blind spot, another may have the truth needed to bring light in that area.  Who among us has all our theology perfect?  Who among us is not able to be deceived? Friends, we need one another at this hour.

During the period I was guiding, I felt an increasing burden to put what I teach into writing, so that those that have been on tour with me have a record that they could refer back to and so that those who are not able to come can receive the same knowledge. Many of you confirmed this to me through prayers and direct requests for me to do so. Thank you for your encouragement. I appreciate it so much.

Soon we will develop a patronage or subscription system, so that for a small monthly gift you can gain access to more materials that I will not be posting publicly.  In this way I would be able to express my gratitude to any who would like to sow into this ministry, and you would be enabling me to finish writing and editing my book/s and to prepare for publishing.  

If you would like to sow into my ministry, you can do so at Paypal.me/harpandguide

May the Lord bless you and keep you, May he make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace. Amen.