This could fit under 'News and Current Events' and 'Miracles That Follow The Plow'. We really need to pray for Ami and his family. I'm receiving email updates about him from a family that is close friends with the family. I'll put the news article about the attack first and then give an update on Ami's current condition.
-----
Son of Ariel pastor injured in blast
By REBECCA ANNA STOIL
The 16-year-old son of a prominent Christian pastor, David Ortiz, was seriously wounded in Ariel on Thursday by a powerful explosion in his home.
The youth was alone at the time and suffered shrapnel injures and burns to his neck and chest.
The bomb, which was apparently in a Purim gift basket, also caused extensive damage to the family's apartment.
Judea and Samaria Police spokesman Ch.-Supt. Dani Poleg said police had not ruled out any motive - including that radical Jews or Muslims may have targeted the family.
The boy was rushed to the Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva in serious condition.
Before he was sedated, one paramedic said, he managed to say that the explosion took place when he tried to open a package that had arrived at the apartment. The initial police investigation indicated that the family's maid had found the package outside and brought it in.
The boy's parents, David and Leah Ortiz, are well-known in Ariel, where they have been living for more than a decade.
David Ortiz works mainly with Palestinians in the West Bank, encouraging them to convert to Christianity.
Ortiz, said one acquaintance, had received death threats from Muslims angered by his missionary efforts. A number of his followers have been beaten up and jailed by Palestinian Authority officials.
Ortiz has a close relationship with Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman, who has actively pursued strengthening the town's connections with overseas Christian groups.
David and his wife, Leah, described by a neighbor as a Jewish believer in Jesus, also lead a congregation of a few dozen Christians in Ariel. Neighbors said that around a year-and-a-half ago, flyers were circulated in the family's neighborhood, with pictures of a number of Ariel residents, including David Ortiz, warning residents that the people portrayed were engaged in missionary activities directed at the town's Jews.
Due to concerns about the family's security, cameras were installed at the apartment, and were in place at the time of the explosion.
-----
Excerpts from update from Tommy Waller:
Ami Update 10:00 am 3/21
First, Ami is stable. For Ami to be alive is a great miracle. Just a while ago I talked to Yoav, who is at the Ortiz apartment. He told me it is impossible to look at this apartment and belive someone could be alive. The top and bottom floor windows are broken out. There is shrapnel all over the walls. He just pulled a two inch by one inch piece of metal out of the refrigerator. Every piece of furniture destroyed. Like our apartment, their apartment is on the 3rd floor. The windows on a car parked below were blown out from the blast. I tell you all of this to tell you that Ami was holding the bomb when it exploded. He is alive!
I also just got off the phone with David, Ami's father, and it is amazing what God is doing. David could barely talk without crying just sharing with me what has happened so far. The doctor, a specialist in this kind of trauma who has seen several terrorist bombing victims, told David that a miracle has happened. He never seen this kind of recovery!
As I share what he said [b]please make note of the continuing prayer points.
Starting at the head: He left eye is okay. They pulled a large piece of metal out of his right eye and there is still a lot of pressure on that eye. We need a miracle for his right eye. The doctor believes there is a chance now to save it. There is no brain damage! Remember he was holding the bomb! Hallelujah! David said the swelling in his face has also gone down considerably.
Neck: There are large and deep cuts to the neck, but no damage to the main arteries - a miracle.
Chest: One lung was severely damaged and they are in the process of trying to save it. We need another miracle here. The doctor believes there is a chance. No damage to the heart or vessels. Praise God!
Stomach; Most of his internal organs were severely injured from the blast. Reconstruction of the intestines and kidneys was done last night. Today he is able to urinate - a miracle sign that his organs are beginning to work again. He also has 2nd and 3rd degree burns over most of the front of his body.
Legs: The muscle in one of his thighs is completely exposed and terribly lacerated. The doctor believes there is a chance it could be saved. Some news reports are saying that they have amputated the leg, but that has not happened. We are believing for a miracle here to save his leg. He has lost some of his toes. I don't know how many.
I was able to pray with David. It was such a blessing to see his faith. He and Leah have been at the hospital now without sleep going into the second day. Pray for them.
Israel has faced it's share of terrorism in the Jewish community, but never has it faced anything like this .......something solely directed at Messianic Jewish believers. How will God use this? How will He use us and not just our family, but you as well? We must stand with the Body when it suffers. Look at your newspaper and national news .......the world and Israel is watching.
B'Shem Yeshua,
Tommy Waller