The world at my doorstep

It's been a time of great changes this fall. I've recently become involved in an international student ministry, as we have a great number of people who come from different countries to study at the university. On Friday nights we share a meal, then take part in small-group discussions about Christianity. Some come to practice their English, some come because they're curious about Jesus, and some come with a mixture. The majority of the students come from Taiwan and mainland China. What an opportunity! It really seems like the world has come to Indiana's doorstep, with many of the students never having heard the Gospel.
Then there's the Spain connection. The leaders of the international group, George, Alice and their daughter, Amy Huggins, were missionaries in northern Spain for 19 years. It's neat to get to work with such different cultures, but also to be able to work with people who share an affinity for Spain. God is so good.
I've also "adopted" three students as part of the university's international friendship program. I hope to help one Taiwanese and two Chinese girls with their transition to life in the United States by having them over to my apartment for meals, for example. I'll be meeting them soon.
Please pray for us as we minister in this capacity and form relationships with students. Pray for the students' hearts to be open to the Gospel. Pray that I would follow the Lord's direction for my life as I minister here while still longing to return to Spain as a career missionary.
And as always, please pray for the efforts in Spain.

Truth Game

For a minute I'd like to shift focus across the Atlantic Ocean to a new ministry here in Indiana. Verum Venatus, latin for Truth Game, is an outreach for college-age students. The outreach center will be an alternative hang-out with video games and snacks, since Indiana has a drug and alcohol problem. Although video games and tutoring will be used to draw people, the purpose of the center is to evangelize the sizable population of 18-30-year-olds (jovenes!) living here. Please pray for this ministry as we get it off the ground, with an October launch date.
For more information about the ministry, please visit the blog: http://verumvenatus.blogspot.com/

Foreigner

In the week and a half that I've been back in the United States, I've been thinking about what it means to be a foreigner. To the Spaniards, I'm la loca americana (crazy American). To some Americans, I'm a bit eccentric for wanting to serve in Spain -- with its unique culture and language. But as Christians, we're all foreigners in this land. I think many times we get too comfortable with the idea of the world, thinking that it's permanent.
What affected me most about this trip to Spain was seeing the sheer number of jovenes who need to hear and respond to the Gospel. Someday we Christians will go to our true Home. I can think of no greater tragedy than being in heaven and not seeing the wonderful faces of the jovenes I met this summer in Spain.
I posted the picture of grapes at the Lopez-Soto home because there is such a potential harvest in Spain. True, it may be slower in coming than other fields. But God has a plan for Spain. And while we are here -- while we are foreigners in this land -- we can respond to God's call in our lives and listen to how He wants us to bring His plans to fruition.

Worlds Apart

Meet Isa and her grandfather. Isa, 32, is a fellow believer and a member of the Aguilas church. Her grandfather, Felipe, grew up in the evangelical church because his mother was a believer. When I visited his house, he told me that although he has heard the gospel many times, he still doesn't understand or feel the need to accept it. Isa explained that her grandfather married a "woman of the world," a term the Spanish Christians use for anyone who is not an evangelical Christian.
By contrast, Isa visited the Aguilas church one Christmas for a gospel drama. She went as a skeptic, but she said that when she left, she asked for her great-grandmother's Bible, and shortly after came to know Christ. The majority of her family does not believe.
So let us continue to pray for the work in Spain. Let's pray for Isa, that she would be an example in her own family and community. Pray for Felipe and the other members of her family.

Jovenes

Yesterday I had the opportunity to atapear (eat tapas -- finger foods) with a few people my age in town. A few girls from the tourism office, their friends, Abraham and I sat down to a meal that had a lot of food, a lot of laughter, and a lot of discussion. By building relationships in this way, it's often easier to share the gospel with Spaniards.
It was especially interesting to watch how people responded when asked about faith. Many times it's brushed off with a "what you believe is fine; what I believe is fine." But all the non-Christian Spaniards in our group knew what my motivation for being in Spain was without asking. They know about the camps and the church's here. Unfortunately, young people in Aguilas are not interested. This is a widespread problem in Spain -- successfully reaching younger adults.
But as they say here, poco a poco (little by little), Christ's kingdom is being built.
The perspective is different here. Esther said to me the other day that she and Paco are not interested in numbers -- they are interested in a few people to come to Christ, take root, grow and go out and nurture others. Right now the church has about 25 members on Sundays. But the people there are steadfast in the faith. It's a different mindset than some American churches.
It's such a blessing to be able to hang out with people my age and build relationships. Please pray that many inroads would be made and there would be ample opportunities to share the gospel here. The time here is going so fast. Please also pray that I would be diligent in making it count.

Legacies

The church as it is today in Aguilas

Here's a little bit of background to the ministry here in Aguilas. The church was started by Esther's grandfather. Esther is the present pastor's wife and tourism director for the city.
But her grandfather and mother's story in itself is a great story of God's mercy and provision.
During the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) Josefina (Esther's mother), sister, mother and father fled to Barcelona to escape the fighting. Josefina said that she and her sister were in the house when it was bombed, and as a result, her sister 's lungs were severely damaged. Josefina's sister was sent to a sanatorium for two years. During all this time the church in Barcelona helped the family to survive, and finally sent the family to Aguilas to minister there. Tragically, because the family was not Catholic, the nuns who ran the sanatorium refused to give Josefina's sister food and care. She died there at the age of 15, asking for Josefina. The cost of following Christ was also shown when the family was denied ration cards because they weren't Catholic. In wartime Spain, this meant starvation. An uncle who ran a grocery store and again, people from the Barcelona church helped provide for the family.
In spite of great trial, ministry continued. Josefina's husband, Santiago (James), served as pastor in the Aguilas church. Although the evangelical church was forced underground during the dictator Franco's reign, they started a camp for children. Because being evangelical was illegal during this time, the camp was billed as a health camp because of the nutritious food served to neighborhood children. Praise God, this 50-year-old camp served food of the spiritual variety as well.
The family of believers continues today with Pastor Paco, Esther and their sons, Samuel and Abraham. Josefina still lives down the street from the church.

Josefina, on her terraza (porch)

Samuel, Esther and Paco (Abraham was camera-shy)

Abraham and Samuel, the next generation of believers

In Me

How to be a light in Aguilas -- literally!

As I've been ministering in Spain, the lyrics of Casting Crowns' "In Me" keep resounding in my mind. I'm continually reminded of how much I need to rely completely on Christ. I cannot trust my own abilities. I can't even trust that the words I say will be understood. It is only Christ who makes me strong and able to live; to minister.
Tonight at prayer meeting I was struck by the vulnerability shown by the men who prayed. In Spain there's an unspoken law that dictates that men should never show weakness. These are strong men in the Aguilas church, but in prayer they humble themselves before their Savior. What a testimony!

Thank you for praying, as always. I can't believe I've been in Spain almost a week already. Please continue to pray the the Lord would use me for His glory and His purpose.