Charlotte Observer Aritcle
WALKING THE WALK WHEN PRINCIPLES LEAD THE WAY
MINISTER OF MIRTH
Mooresville woman routinely visits Israel, handing out gifts, smiles
DAVID PERLMUTT
Staff Writer The Charlotte Observer
March 8, 2005
She is a devout Christian who travels to Israel every year and roams the streets, kibbutzes and hospitals handing out socks and teddy bears to Jews and Arabs -- each with a U.S. dollar bill fastened.
Highlighted on the bill: "In God We Trust."
It is Cynthia Hillson's way of saying Americans care. She calls her ministry "Beautiful Feet." It's meant to spread good will to a nation under constant threats.
"The people there are so tired of fighting -- Israel is a place of few smiles, " said Hillson, 46, of Mooresville. "If the socks and teddy bears can bring a smile, then they've done their job."
She first journeyed to Israel in 1999 to attend the Feast of Tabernacles, for Jews a traditional end to the harvest season that now draws Christians exploring their Hebrew roots.
While there, with her To the Praise of His Glory Church in Cornelius, she started handing out kosher candy to children in the streets, and felt compelled to return alone and do more.
Ten weeks later, in December 1999, she returned on her own with bags of marked-down socks -- 120 pairs in all -- she bought from Kmart. Minutes after arriving, she took to the streets to hand out the socks.
"It is something everybody needs -- a new pair of socks," Hillson said. "I immediately saw the joy and surprise of the people who got them."
She returned to Mooresville, intent on going to Israel each year -- not to preach but to extend a caring hand.
"I go as a friend, not to proselytize or convert anybody," she said. "I don't talk religion. I do not give out any literature and I don't talk about my belief system. I am a strong believer, but the same sun comes up in the morning for everybody; we're all created with the same heart. That's really the message here."
Hillson traces her yearn to reach out to the small town of Charles City, Iowa, where her father, Butch, bought a restaurant after retiring from the Air Force.
Butch was often feeding people down on their luck, especially after three tornadoes hit the town in 1968.
"His generosity was part of what I do today," Hillson said. "He showed me that people need to reach out."
Two years ago, she drew from a family tragedy to broaden her mission for Israeli children. That year, her then 11-year-old son John was hit by a car while riding his bicycle. Before he was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center, he asked his mother to bring him one thing: his bear named "Teddy."
"Teddy was John's comfort, his friend," she said.
So in 2003, the year the teddy bear turned 100, she went back to Israel with her suitcases stuffed with socks and bears bought at discount prices, or taken as donations.
In October, she will make her 11th trip to Israel.
Hillson still travels with socks and bears, but now also packs blue jeans, toiletries, first-aid kits and toys.
She is constantly moved by the stories.
On one trip, she took 33 bears to the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, unaware that doctors that day were caring for 33 sick children.
Outside the hospital, she found an elderly woman in a wheelchair.
She touched the woman's hand and told her: "I have a gift from America for you." Out came a spare teddy bear, which the woman embraced.
She took hold of Hillson's hand and wouldn't let go.
"It was kind of a mama and child thing," she said. "The look of joy on that woman's face will stay with me a lot of years."
Stories like that stick with her.
"We still live in an America where we have many more things than many nations of the world," she said. "Everybody needs to see and feel love.
"I come with a little love and let people in Israel know that there are people in America praying for their well-being."
Donations toward our Spring 2008 journey are greatly appreciated. This will be our 18th journey to Israel.
MINISTER OF MIRTH
Mooresville woman routinely visits Israel, handing out gifts, smiles
DAVID PERLMUTT
Staff Writer The Charlotte Observer
March 8, 2005
She is a devout Christian who travels to Israel every year and roams the streets, kibbutzes and hospitals handing out socks and teddy bears to Jews and Arabs -- each with a U.S. dollar bill fastened.
Highlighted on the bill: "In God We Trust."
It is Cynthia Hillson's way of saying Americans care. She calls her ministry "Beautiful Feet." It's meant to spread good will to a nation under constant threats.
"The people there are so tired of fighting -- Israel is a place of few smiles, " said Hillson, 46, of Mooresville. "If the socks and teddy bears can bring a smile, then they've done their job."
She first journeyed to Israel in 1999 to attend the Feast of Tabernacles, for Jews a traditional end to the harvest season that now draws Christians exploring their Hebrew roots.
While there, with her To the Praise of His Glory Church in Cornelius, she started handing out kosher candy to children in the streets, and felt compelled to return alone and do more.
Ten weeks later, in December 1999, she returned on her own with bags of marked-down socks -- 120 pairs in all -- she bought from Kmart. Minutes after arriving, she took to the streets to hand out the socks.
"It is something everybody needs -- a new pair of socks," Hillson said. "I immediately saw the joy and surprise of the people who got them."
She returned to Mooresville, intent on going to Israel each year -- not to preach but to extend a caring hand.
"I go as a friend, not to proselytize or convert anybody," she said. "I don't talk religion. I do not give out any literature and I don't talk about my belief system. I am a strong believer, but the same sun comes up in the morning for everybody; we're all created with the same heart. That's really the message here."
Hillson traces her yearn to reach out to the small town of Charles City, Iowa, where her father, Butch, bought a restaurant after retiring from the Air Force.
Butch was often feeding people down on their luck, especially after three tornadoes hit the town in 1968.
"His generosity was part of what I do today," Hillson said. "He showed me that people need to reach out."
Two years ago, she drew from a family tragedy to broaden her mission for Israeli children. That year, her then 11-year-old son John was hit by a car while riding his bicycle. Before he was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center, he asked his mother to bring him one thing: his bear named "Teddy."
"Teddy was John's comfort, his friend," she said.
So in 2003, the year the teddy bear turned 100, she went back to Israel with her suitcases stuffed with socks and bears bought at discount prices, or taken as donations.
In October, she will make her 11th trip to Israel.
Hillson still travels with socks and bears, but now also packs blue jeans, toiletries, first-aid kits and toys.
She is constantly moved by the stories.
On one trip, she took 33 bears to the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, unaware that doctors that day were caring for 33 sick children.
Outside the hospital, she found an elderly woman in a wheelchair.
She touched the woman's hand and told her: "I have a gift from America for you." Out came a spare teddy bear, which the woman embraced.
She took hold of Hillson's hand and wouldn't let go.
"It was kind of a mama and child thing," she said. "The look of joy on that woman's face will stay with me a lot of years."
Stories like that stick with her.
"We still live in an America where we have many more things than many nations of the world," she said. "Everybody needs to see and feel love.
"I come with a little love and let people in Israel know that there are people in America praying for their well-being."
Donations toward our Spring 2008 journey are greatly appreciated. This will be our 18th journey to Israel.
