Ahh Siesta

Sorry for the delay in writing - we are staying incredibly busy from morning to night.  Today is the first siesta we have taken.  This place is incredible!  The sights and sounds and smells are breathtaking.  I do not even know where to begin today's writing.

First - this trip is a testimony to the fact that God answers prayers.  Everything we have asked God for on his trip He has answered.  We have earnestly prayed that we as a family would all feel that this could one day be home.  Hannah and Alex have announced they are staying and will be waiting on us when we return fully supported.  And it's not just the adventure or the "rose colored glasses."  We have had time to talk each day and they point out the things that will be hard, yet it already feels natural to them. 

We have prayed that we would have unified hearts and minds as we visit different locations and learn of different ministry opportunities.  It has been true 100% of the time.  We have all had almost the same reaction to each possibility.

We have prayed that as we stayed in a variety of homes our families would blend together.  In each home we have stayed in we have felt at home.  The kids have meshed well and we have laughed and shared to all hours of the night. 

God is s very faithful!

As for details of the trip....

Yesterday we walked around the entire town of Guadalajara.  Guadalajara has a population of about 84,000 people.  There are thirteen evangelical churches in the city, 10 of which are very small pentecostal churches.  The church plant done by SEND averages between 30 and 50 and is one of the larger evangelical churches.  The struggle continues to be how to reach the Spaniard.  Immigrants are searching for evangelical churches yet the national has no need.  They have beautiful cathedrals and even new modern looking churches, yet they have no relationship.  The darkness in the life of Spain can be felt at times as you walk through the streets. 

We then drove out to a town named Yunquera.  It is about 10 km from Guadalajara.  The population is about 15,000 (not including the unregistered immigrants) and there is no evangelical presence there.  None.  (There is actually no evangelical presence in a 50 km area north of Gudalajara) That would be like there being no evangelical church in Kernersville.  (Lexington and Lumberton are also comparable sized towns)  This town is part of the strategic plan for the SEND team.  It is a little more rural, yet it has its own semi-professional "futball" team (known as soccer to us Americans). 

Last night we had merienda (the 5:00 snack) with four families serving here with SEND.  The ladies all sat together and shared our stories of how God had called us to serve and how we journeyed to Spain.  So encouraging to heart how God is faithful time after time.

Today we went to Arquietectura de Negro.  This is an area of Spain where the land is filled with slate.  The homes and walls are all made from slate.  We stopped and let the kids climb the rocks and walked around.  We saw a true shepherd - he was taking his flock of goats and sheep out for the day.  It was neat to see.  We then saw a bull wandering the streets and eating.  A little crazy.

Tonight we are going to kids club.  Can you tell why we might have needed a siesta today?

Tomorrow we meet with the entire SEND Spain team for several hours of prayer.  What a neat privilege to be a part of that. 

How do I sum up the trip so far?  God is faithful beyond measure.

Castles and Cathedrals

Today we traveled to Siguenza (about an hour train ride north of where we have been staying).  It is a very old town (castles and cathedrals that date to before the time of Christ).  The town has about 5000 residents during the winter and as many as 15,000 in the summer.  The family we spent time with is the 1st known evangelical presence in the town.  They have started a small church which averages about 20 in attendance, all which are immigrants.  There are no known Spanish evangelical Christians in the town.  Stop and think about that - in a town that is older than the days of Christ there are no national evangelicals.  We walked a lot and saw lots of beautiful architecture and art, yet the reality of how much it reflected death was hard to miss. 

There are more than 350 towns with a population of at least 5000 in Spain that have no evangelical witness in them (that is defined as being 3 or more evangelical believers living in the town with a desire to reach others) or within a 5 kilometer distance outside of the town.  The need here is great. 

Our prayer is to return permanently by fall.   As you pray for our vision trip these next days, pray about partnering with us to reach one of these towns.  The need is great here.

Almost midnight here, so pictures will have to wait until tomorrow.  Thank you for your prayers - we can feel them.

Chocolate and Churros

For those of you who know me it will not surprise you to find out that my first breakfast in Spain included chocolate.  I went to a Ladies Bible study this morning and was served chocolate and churros (the rest of the family went to a restaurant for the same menu).  Spain has a hot chocolate drink that is very thick - almost the texture of a runny chocolate pudding.  It is served hot and you dip your churros (basically long sticks of fried funnel cake type dough sprinkled with sugar) in your drink.  When you have eaten your fill of churros you then use a spoon to finish off the chocolate drink (way too thick to drink).  I knew I was home for sure.

As for the Bible study - it was an interesting experience to sit with a group of women who are studying the Purpose Driven Life in a small group setting in women's homes.  I understood next to nothing they said (I did not have a translator), yet their passion was evident without understanding language.  In a country where you hear so much about how much Jesus has been rejected, it was like a light in the darkness to meet a group of women who were studying how to make their light shine even brighter.

We then took the train to Vicalvero, about a 40 minute train ride from here. This setting was much more of a big city environment.  We walked around the city as well as took the city bus.  On the way to the McDuffee home (a SEND family), where we were visiting we stopped at the bread store for bread to go with our lunch.  The restaurant could be smelled before we arrived and the bread we got was hot.  As we left, both kids said "I can live here."  (I am sensing a theme of accepting Spain as our homeland based on food choices).

It was exciting to hear how a church the McDuffees have worked with for years (pictured to the left) is nearing the ability to functioning as a stand alone church without the help of an outsider.  Prayers are beginning for how this church will now multiply.  Again, you hear so much about how hard the land of Spain is, so it is quite refreshing to hear that the Holy Spirit is moving and working here.





Mormon headquarters for Spain, Portugal, and France is located in Vicalvaro.




Mail Box (the kind on the street for anyone to put mail in)



Older Apartments in Vicalvaro



Kitchen in the Nordgren's Apartment



View from Nordgren Apartment



We are Home

Heading to bed, but just a quick update - we are home.  No, we have not left Spain and already returned to Greensboro, we are in Spain and we know we are home.  We have met two of the SEND team families today and feel like we have reconnected with old friends instead of meeting them for the 1st time.  We are home.  I expected it to have to "grow on us,"  but God is faithful and we know that when we leave here next week a little piece of us will remain behind while we return to NC to raise the rest of our support. 

I cannot wait to tell you all about it.

We are Here!

It is hard to believe we are finally here.  Our first impression?  Not what I expected.  Not as modern as I expected and not quite as old I expected.  Recognized more Spanish words than I expected.  Narrow roads.  Lots of traffic getting our of Madrid, but not too bad once we reached Azuqueca (not sure I spelled that right).  Lots of traffic circles.

Flights were smooth and uneventful.  Landed in Madrid about 25 minutes early.  We all got a little sleep on the plane.  Alex is especially feeling the lack of overnight sleep.  We are transitioning to the Spanish eating schedule today - lunch is at 2, snack is at 5, and dinner is at 9.  Wondering how many pounds I gain on this trip?

Today is the Day

Can you believe it?  We actually leave today.  Watch the blog as I will try to keep it up to date with pictures and stories through the next two weeks.  If you miss it here, plan on being at Cornerstone on February 20 during the evening service as we'll share of our trip then as well.

In case you missed it before, here is our DAY BY DAY prayer card.  Your prayers are greatly appreciated. 

Off to finish the last minute packing - watch our Spain, here we come!

1 Day Before Spain

We leave tomorrow!!!  It is hard to believe it is finally here.  I was talking with a friend this morning about our trip.  It is a strange kind of one.  Doesn't feel like a vacation.  Doesn't feel like a mission trip.  The closest thing I can remember that felt the same was when we were moving to Michigan.  

We accepted a job in Michigan during the last month of my pregnancy with Hannah.  Scott had traveled to Michigan from North Carolina and met the people, toured the area, and looked at houses.  I stayed at home too pregnant to travel.  He then moved to Michigan when Hannah was a couple weeks old.  I finally followed for a house hunting trip about a month later.  We knew we were moving there, that decision was already made. I was just finally getting to see my new homeland.  This trip kind of feels the same way.

We know we are going there and we are just finally getting a picture of where we are going.  Difference is - all of us are walking into the unknown.  We are all excited and not in the least bit nervous (other than being worried I forgot to pack something).  God has been so very gracious in that respect.

Alex is probably the most excited.  If he sleeps at all tonight it will be a miracle!  If we are all sane by the time we arrive in Spain it will be a miracle!  This is like Christmas for him.  One more thing I am praising God for - He didn't call just Scott and I, God called us all to this journey and the kids are enjoying the ride just as much as us.

Pray for tomorrow morning as we try to remember all the last minute stuff.  Pray for great flights and connections.  And yes, keep praying about the house - 2nd showing had great feedback, still waiting for feedback from the 1st showing.  God's perfect timing.

Next post will be on our way to Spain.  Join us for the journey!

2 Days Before Spain AND....

suitcases are open (and mostly empty) and the house is showing tomorrow twice!!!  Both people coming tomorrow are repeat lookers.  Keep praying!  We have prayed for weeks that the house would sell before we left for Spain... perhaps God is about to answer.

2 Days Before Spain

Two more nights in my own bed and we leave for Spain!  I am soo excited!  I handled the end of the logistics today, I think.  Getting ready to put the end of the laundry in the washer (although I expect tomorrow there to be a load that resurfaces).  Groceries bought for Zach.  Two days seems like forever now.

This morning I received an email about a family I have had a part in ministering to.  The family is Muslim and are in the United States as refugees.  They have been targeted by a gang because of some gifts they received.  Please stop and pray for them today.  Pray for their protection.  They speak no English so reporting the incident and protecting themself is difficult.  Pray for those who will continue to minister to them - for wisdom in how to minster and protection.  Pray that as Christians continue to reach out to them they will want to know why.

Even though I am excited about Spain I pray that I not miss a single opportunity in front of my eyes.  There are lost in my own backyard.  There are international opportunities right here in Greensboro.  May I not be so focused on the future that today leaves my sight.

3 Days Before Spain

Many of you have asked what can you do to help as we prepare to leave and are gone for two weeks.  our biggest request is pray for us.  A day by day prayer guide is available to help you know how to pray.  You can also pick up a printed copy on the missions bulletin board at church on Sunday.  A second way to help is to look out for Zach.  He'll be home alone for two weeks - encourage him and pray for him (and maybe even feed him). 

Not long before we leave!

4 Days Before Spain

It's getting close.  Only four more days....

• one more day of work
• two more basketball games
• one more grocery store run (food in the house for Zach)
• one more stop at the dry cleaners
• one more copy of emergency information to give out
• gift list to make
• suitcases are beginning to be filled
• one more stop at the bank
• one more Sunday School party
• etc

The to do list is getting shorter.  I can't believe that we are not but 4 days from leaving.  Watch out Spain!  Here we come!

Interesting Facts - Part 1

As the reality of our trip gets closer and closer I find myself wanting to learn more and more about Spain.  Thought I was share some of the interesting facts with you...

• Greeks saw Spain as the land where Hercules' gold apples grew and the Arabs saw Spain as the ground floor heaven.
• From 1492 - 1975 Spain had almost a 100% homogeneous culture - in ethnicity, religion, and culture.
• Population of Spain is approximately 46 million - a little less than the population of California and North Carolina combined.
• Spain is approximately the size of two Oregons - or 20 Spains could fit in the United States.
• In the 1970's the birth rate was on average 3 babies/woman - it is now 1.5 babies/woman - one of the lowest birth rates in the world.
• There are 4 official languages and 7 dialects spoken in Spain.
• Spain regained its democratic style government in 1975.
• There is proof of civilization that is more than 800,000 years old.
• After Switzerland, Spain is Europe's most mountainous country.  Madrid (the area we will live in) is at 2165 ft, slightly lower than Pilot Mountain.
• Spain was predominantly Christian by AD 325.
• By AD 714 Muslims had taken primary control of Spain and maintained control until 1492.
• When "Christianity" regained control of Spain, the Spanish Inquisition occurred - trials that searched for false converts to Catholicism.  If found guilty they faced imprisonment, beheading, hanging, or burning at the stake.

A very interesting country - more facts to come in the coming days.

5 Days Before Spain

Oh my!  We are down to counting the days on one hand.... I am so excited that 5 days now seems like forever.

The roads are covered in snow and ice so today I am at home.  There are 5 loads of laundry on the floor and outfits are beginning to be laid out in various rooms.  Care packages are put together and camera batteries are charging.  Refrigerator is almost cleaned out.  Stop mail request has been sent in.  There are definite signs around here that a trip is coming soon.  It just adds to all the excitement.

I think of Zach in the middle of all of it.  He is not going with us on Sunday nor is he going with us when we move.  Pray for him as I know this is difficult on him - kind of stuck in "no man's land."  Pray for wisdom on his part as he is making daily life choices as well as future plans.  God has something unbelievable in store for him, we just wait to see what it is.  He hopes to be enlisted in the army before we leave.  His biggest obstacle at the moment is weight and body size, so if you see him encourage him - its hard to committed to running and exercising in 25 degree weather and his work out "buddy" is gone to another country for ten weeks.

Well, it's 26 degrees here in Kernersville (feels like 21) and 55 degrees in Madrid.  One more reason I am ready to get on an airplane!

6 Days Before Spain

We are almost down to one hand in the count down!  We are going to be on a plane before we realize it!

Today we got out itinerary for the 10 days we are in Spain.  That really made it feel real.  I'll post the itinerary as it gets closer, but we will be staying with three different families in Spain who have three very distinct ministries.  One is our supervisor and he and his family are involved in traditional church planting and ESL.  Another family is involved in sports ministries as well as ESL and some social ministries.  The last family has a strong focus on youth (which by the way, in Spain is defined as a much broader age group than here in America - teens through twenties).  We will also get a chance to attend worship, Bible study, and ESL classes. 

No news on the house showings, but God was gracious and the snow stayed away until after our showing today.  Keep on praying as we wait on God's perfect timing to answer yes. 

It's snowing here, finally.  School was cancelled lat night because snow was forecasted, but we didn't see any snow until about 3:00 this afternoon.  School is already cancelled for tomorrow.  Let it snow all it wants now, but please, oh please, by Sunday let it all clear out so that we can make our flights!

7 Days Before Spain

Oh my!  7 days = 1 week.  It is definitely time to get serious about getting ready to go.  Finished shopping today, I think.  One more trip to Target and I'll be done (or at least until we start putting things in the suitcases and discover what we forgot).  Hard to believe at this time next week we'll be in the air, halfway between America and Spain.  I do believe that the excitement is finally over taking all the other emotions. 

It has been a full day - we started the morning briefly sharing our story at Pinedale Christian Church in Winston Salem.  What a warm welcome we received!  Two other ministries presented as well (also hoping for financial support).  It was cool because one ministry was here in the state, one was in the United States, and ours of course was in Spain.  Judea, Samaria, and the Utmost Ends of the Earth all at one time.

We had open house this afternoon and although only one family came through, our realtor said they seemed interested.  Keep on praying.   No feedback from the family that saw it both Thursday and Saturday yet and if the weather cooperates we have another showing tomorrow morning.  Wouldn't it be fabulous for it to sell before we leave next Sunday?!

Tonight I read the following facebook post from a fellow worker in Spain - just sent chills up my spine.  God is moving in Spain and we can hardly wait to see it and experience it.  I know God doesn't need us to accomplish His plan, but it is exciting to be given the privilege to serve Him this way.

Capacity crowd at the Centro Evangelico-Cristo Vive Hoy worship service. In addition to a capacity crowd we had 5 new visitors. For the past 8 wks we have had at least 3 or more new visitors each Sun. Almost all of them returning for consecutive wks. It is so amazing and humbling to watch God build His church here in Guadalajara, Spain.

Countdown is on - tomorrow the suitcases come out of the attic!  This is definitely the ride of a lifetime!

8 Days Before Spain

I cannot believe it is only 8 days before we leave.  It seems like we have been talking forever about going to Spain and it is only a week away.  I wish this was a countdown to our "forever" trip to Spain, but our first look is so very exciting.  Our #4 common question is how long after you return from this trip will you actually move to Spain?  That is a good question and we wish we knew the specific answer.  We continue to pray that we will be in Spain sometime this summer, but the actual date is dependent on when we have 100% of our financial partnerships.

Our house showed today to a family who saw it on Thursday.  We continue to wait and trust in the Lord.  He knows the perfect timing, but wouldn't it be great if we had an offer before we leave next weekend for Spain.

Tomorrow morning we will be presenting to the mission team at Pinedale Christian Church.  We get 15 minutes to tell our story.  It will be a challenge to figure out what is the most important and crucial to share.

Tomorrow afternoon we have open house.  Three other houses in the neighborhood also have open house, so hopefully this will create a lot of traffic through.  I've got apple cider and homemade cookies to make the house smell like home.

Life continues to be crazy around here.... but in 8 days, whether I am ready or not, we will begin our journey.

9 Days Before Spain

Another common questions has been #3 Where are you going?  Our standard answer is the Madrid area, but that is a pretty vague answer and refers to a large area of the country.  Hopefully this map will help.  Each "blue balloon" represents a place where we may spend some time.  You can click on the map and zoom and move around to get a better idea. 

Thank you to our new financial partners.  Yesterday we received notice of three new on-going partners as well as a one time gift.  Each partner puts us one step closer to not just a visit to Spain, but instead a permanent move.  Continue to pray with us as we prepare and how God may have you involved in the journey. 

   

View SEND Spain in a larger map

10 Days Before Spain

Ten seems like such a smaller number than eleven or twelve.  I know it is all psychological, but still.... it seems like we are almost ready to go.  There have been two questions asked repeatedly over the past several days, so thought I'd answer them to the world today.

#1 - Are you excited?  Yes and no and a whole lot of other answers.  95% of me is excited to see for the first time the land where God has called us.  I continually think of Genesis 12:1 where God told Abraham to go to the land where he will show him and Abraham headed off.  I kind of feel like Abraham right now.  We've headed off and we are finally getting a peak into our "promised land."  But there is also a part of me that is a little nervous and fearful.  All about the unknown.  What if we don't like it?  What if the SEND team there doesn't like us?  What if our children hate it?  What if?

#2 - What are you going to be doing?  That is actually a question we keep asking ourselves.  We will fly into Madrid and then spend the next 10 days with different SEND team members.  We will join them for some of the ministries they already have going and purposefully pray through where we seem to be the best fit.  The kids will get an opportunity to see the missionary school (Hannah is actually hoping to be allowed to spend a day in school with another Hannah) and a public school.  We will do some sight seeing (statue of Don Quixote is on the top of Hannah's list, anything to do with soccer or bulls is on Alex's list).  We will basically attempt to immerse ourself into the culture of Spain so that we can return with a better picture of the need in Spain.  We will also be privileged to participate in the SEND Spain day of prayer on the 22nd, a day where all team members come together to pray over Spain and the ministires of the team.

11 Days Before Spain

OK - life is crazy! we haven't shown our house in forever.... the people with the contingency offer opted to let it expire instead of continue it, we dropped the price (again) as well as offered an incentive, its cold outside, I borrowed furniture to stage the house differently (it was delivered Saturday while I was sick and is all still sitting in the front room unstaged and in the middle of the bonus room), I hired a cleaning lady to come in and help me catch up (she comes tomorrow after the showing), scheduled open house for Sunday (don't ask why - one week before we leave for our vision trip) and YES - you guessed it....

they just called and want to show the house tomorrow morning.

I work in a southern baptist church so Wednesday nights are almost as sacred as Sunday mornings so I'm there until 8:00 tonight...ugh!

pray for endurance and laughter and for a buyer.  God is in control - thank goodness!

12 Days before Spain

We leave for Spain in 12 days.... so I invite you to join me for the next 12 days as I prepare to go and process the whole realm of emotions tied into our first trip.

I have been sick for nearly a week so I am behind my "to do" list by quite a few miles.  The house needs to be in order for a big publicity push that is happening later this week.  Alex is trying to do school work that is due today and while we are gone.  Hannah is trying to squeeze in an extra week of school's work.  Zach is trying to get classes figured out and his living arrangements for while we are gone.  Scott has trials at work to schedule and is praying they won't all be while we are gone.  I am kicking off winter classes here at church.  We are speaking at a church this Sunday.  And then of course, there is the never ending pile of laundry.

But hey, a friend called and asked if I'd meet her tonight at Chick-Fil-A, so there goes the to do list for a little longer.  Fellowship and relationship trump cleaning.  Besides, Chick-Fil-A is in the Wal-Mart parking lot and I can pick up some things on my shopping list for the trip at the same time.  How is that for being a multi-tasker?

Our God - the Creator

I am still recovering from the crud.  I don't remember the last time I stayed feeling this bad for this long, but I am beginning to see the end of it.  Unfortunately, the whole time I sat around on the couch and bed the to do lists were not getting any smaller, in fact I kept thinking of things that needed to be added to them.  Can you believe we are headed to Spain for our first visit in just 15 days!  All kinds of emotions wrapped up in that - a whole different post coming in regards to those feelings.

Every time I get a cold I get a cough that drives the whole house crazy, especially when I keep them all awake, so I decided this crud would be different.  Thursday night I took cough syrup with codeine.  It knocked the cough out, but unfortunately it had another side effect - nausea.  Apparently codeine should not be taken on a empty stomach.

Now for most people nausea is uncomfortable but not worthy of a blog post, but for me nausea is a whole different story.  Let me explain.  Back up in history to 2007 and the three years prior to that.  Ever since having my first child I had struggled with indigestion.  I saw doctor after doctor and tried drug after drug in all kinds of combinations.  By September of 2007 I was surviving on Maalox - went through a bottle every two or three days.  I kept one in the car, in my desk, in the refrigerator (tastes worse but works faster if cold), upstairs, downstairs, in my purse, ...  So finally my only option left was surgery.  This surgery reconstructed the valve between the stomach and the esophagus.  And I have been Maalox free since the day before surgery!

The only down side to this surgery is that I will never be able to throw up again (sounded like a positive at the time of the surgery, but have since learned that it is not necessarily one).  I can still feel nauseated, just do nothing about it.  Reminds me of my morning sickness days.

So Thursday night I laid in bed, curled up, miserable, and crying and praying that God would just heal me instantly.  Instead, what I heard and learned in those still quiet moments of the night was that God, our Creator, could not be outdone.  He created our bodies perfectly.  He designed them to work just how they needed to work.  He knew every body part and system and placed them in the exact spot of our bodies for the perfect plan and man just can't duplicate His perfection.  I am grateful for modern medicine and the gift of normalcy this surgery gave me.  I even think of God's perfect design in the way He created the stomach to allow for this surgery (inquiring minds who need to know more - I had the nissen fundoplication done), but man just can't match God's creation.

So God created mankind in his own image, 

   in the image of God he created them; 

   male and female he created them

So, today from the couch, I continue to praise God for his perfect creation - one that only God could do and man could not match.

Ugh

No posts for a couple days - the crud has hit.  I do not remember the last time I felt this bad - heading to bed and plan to stay there for at least a day, maybe longer.  Had planned to clean and sort all day tomorrow - oh well, best laid plans don't always go my way.

Pray for a quick recovery and for no one else in the house to get sick.

See you in a few days.

Muslim and Geography in a Spain Classroom

One more reason why Christians are needed in all of Europe....

Muslims find 'ham' comment hard to swallow

an article regarding a recent incident in a geography class in Spain

Gladys Aylward

A friend told me to read the biography of Gladys Aylward, that  I would relate to parts of her story.  She was one phenomenal lady.  She was told that she would not make a good missionary and that the missionary board would not take a risk on her - too many risk factors that she would fail.  So, convinced that she was doing what God called her to do, she set out to find a way to be obedient.  Once she reached the mission field she was determined, creative, and most of all - stayed intimately connected to her Savior.

Looking for a good book to read while the snow melts - find a copy of one of the many versions of her biography or get the movie to watch and be inspired to serve the Lord in a whole new way!

A Day of Nothing

We have nearly 6" of snow on the ground and here in North Carolina when it snows the world stops.  Last night all services were cancelled for church today so we had a slow, morning and actually slept in (Hannah slept until noon).  The rest of the day has involved watching church on TV, playing Phase 10 with the kids, eating more junk food, the boys going out in the snow, and consideration of a nap.

All, in all, it has been great to just stop and enjoy family and let my body catch up with rest and refreshment.

Here are a few pictures of the view from our front and back door (pictures compliments of Alex - I still have on my pajamas and thus no picture taking for me).

Two Little Boys

Yesterday I had the opportunity to encounter the Holy Spirit in the parking lot of Costco. Yeah, I know it was two days before Christmas and I should have been avoiding Costco at all costs and that the Holy Spirit is the last thing you would expect to find in the parking lot - but our God is creative and perfect!

Wednesday I got a call from a friend I haven't seen him in a few months, but the last time we had talked he had said he was praying for creative ways to involve his children in our going to Spain. Money was tight and he wanted it to be someway that his young boys (age 5 and 7) understood and were a part.

What he had to say when he called left me overwhelmed with how much God loves me. You see, as a family they had been talking about our journey to Spain and how they could be a part. The boys decided to give up some presents in order to become financial partners. We decided to meet yesterday in the Costco parking lot (half way between our homes) for them to bring me their gift and for me to give the boys prayer cards of their own.

And on the outskirts of the parking lot, I encountered the presence of the Lord. I had never met the wife or boys, but instantly I knew that we were joined together through a love of Jesus. The boys drew us pictures (see below). I gave the boys a letter telling about Spain and life there. As they left, the family promised to regularly pray for our family and for the people in Spain to want to hear about Jesus.

I don't need any more presents tomorrow, this was enough. It wasn't about the size of the check, but instead about the fact that the savior whose birth we will celebrate tomorrow brought two families together in a Costco parking lot for a moment of worship and an encounter with Him. There is nothing sweeter!

Is that really in the Bible?

Ever have one of those phrases stuck in your head that you pull out at times of need thinking you are quoting scripture only to find out it really isn't?

Yesterday we got some disappointing news and all day long I kept telling myself to keep my eyes on the goal... even had long conversations in my head about what was the goal - reaching Spain or a relationship with Christ that was deeper and more intimate (yes, I knew the answer was relationship just had to keep reminding myself).  So this morning I decided to find the verse I was so terribly butchering since I hadn't memorized it, only to find out that it was no verse at all.  It was proverbs from life (which of course I butchered too). 

Oh, there are plenty of verses that tell me the same thing - but just one more reminder that memorizing scripture is essential to life - otherwise, all kinds of things that do not necessarily line up with scripture will take it's place.

Hebrews 12:2  "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Praise, Prayer, and Partnership

Our newest Praise, Prayer, and Partnership went out electronically last night (with a few hitches, but got them fixed).  If you didn't receive it electronically, send me an email and I'll make sure you are on the mailing list.  Yes, you can continue to just read it here, but there will be some prayer requests that will not be wise to share on a public blog and I'd hate for you to miss those. We are dependent on your prayers as this journey would be impossible without you!

Watch for our next newsletter in January and follow our first trip to Spain right here on the blog.  This is an incredible journey!

Dec 2010

Shopping

Ok - so today I decided it was finally time to start getting ready for Christmas - yes, I am aware it is only one week away.  I went to the new Tanger Outlets in Mebane and was quite disappointed.  Found Zach a pair of tennis shoes (he was with me so I'm not spoiling a surprise) and then left for Alamance Crossing.  Found much better deals there!

I had the whole day to myself.  I felt no pressure to hurry up and move on.  There were no crowds.  I was not trying to out give or check names off the list.  It was fun to look for gifts that would mean something personal to each person I was shopping for.  I had saved and budgeted for shopping so it was nice to know what I could spend, not fret over it not being enough, and find good deals.

I must say this new perspective on Christmas and it's real purpose had returned the fun!  Try it - you might like it - a Christmas about memories and meaning - not one about stuff.

An Odd Spot in Life

I'm struggling with Christmas this year.   It's an odd season of life I find myself in.  I don't get it and people around me don't get it.  I'm not sure what "it" is.  Christmas, as we have done it in the past, has lost some of it's glitter and glimmer.  Hannah, my Christmas-aholic, is subdued this year.  Alex is content with what he has.  When I've asked them why its different this year, they just say their focus has changed.  It's almost like something has died.

But what is it?  Why is there this feeling in the bottom of my stomach?  Why have tears come so much easier than laughter this season?  Am I losing my mind?

I was listening to the radio in the car and praying to God to give me the words for a narrative I am writing today.  Asking God to make the words that match His heart and the real meaning of Christmas.  Asking God to give me words that those at the service will understand, really understand, why we even celebrate Christmas.  Then the song Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath came on.  I had been praying that exact message when the song began.  I have been praying that God would allow me to see the world around me from His eyes and to be able to put it in words.  I realized God has been answering that prayer and that is part of the season of life I have entered.

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me you heart for the ones forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see

I have begun, and only begun, to glimpse the world through God's eyes.  I have so far to go and yet just this tiny glimpse has changed my life. 

Most of you think I am referring to Spain.  Yes, I have seen a country of lost people in a way I have never seen before.  Not because I wanted to see Spain that way, but because God answered my prayer.  I keep sharing statistics with you, but I see so much more than numbers.

When I recently learned that Spain has the highest rate of cocaine and heroin addiction in all of Europe I cried.  I saw people who have no hope who have turned away from the only true source of hope to death.  If you know me, I'm not usually all that emotional, yet the tears flowed.  I was just glimpsing at them through the eyes of Christ.

More recently I have discovered a population right here in Greensboro.  The refugees from Vietnam, Burma, and the Congo.  Did I ask to see these people?  No, I asked to see the world from God's eyes and He opened just a tiny window. 

Oh - don't get me wrong.  As I have asked to see the world and people through God's eyes I have seen so many precious things - beautiful creation, the voices of children, the laughter of mistakes, the arms stretched around a hurting one, families, voices of worship, and more. 

The problem with this prayer is that it has shook my world.  My priorities are changing (even more than before).  My heart's desires are shifting.  My calendar looks different.  I feel like I no longer "fit in."  It's just an odd spot in life.  When I began to pray to see the world from God's perspective I am not sure what I expected.  I wasn't prepared to begin to feel like an outsider in my normal circles of life.  I wasn't prepared to be as heartbroken as I am.  I wasn't prepared to become so tender hearted. 

And now I sit, less than two weeks from Christmas, trying to figure out how it all fits together. 

Financial Partnership

We received a new monthly financial partnership commitment today.  God is faithful to provide and to meet our needs - in his own timing in his own way.  In addition two new people gave one time gifts.  When all these gifts are registered, we will be at 27% monthly and 40% outgoing.

It is exciting to see how God is continuing to provide.  I haven't talked about financial partnership in awhile, but it continues to be an essential part of our reaching Spain.  We have to be at 100% in both accounts before we can go to Spain. We are still continuing to pray that God will be provide for 50% before we leave for Spain on January 16.

Just a few reminders -

• SEND is a 501c3 organization - meaning your gifts are tax deductible.  If you are looking to make some final year end donations, would you pray about the possibility of partnering with us?
• Your monthly partnership does not have to begin immediately - you can turn in your partnership commitment form now and indicate that the partnership begins at a designated time in the future.
• Your partnership does not have to be monthly - you can partner monthly, quarterly, or annually.  Perhaps each December you would be able to give a predetermined amount or perhaps each April after taxes?  
• Direct Pay - you can choose to have your partnership automatically withdrawn or you can mail a check.
• This is partnership - not a bill.  We do depend on your on-going partnership, but we also believe that God knows today what tomorrow holds.  We are trusting that if God impresses upon your heart to become a partner, He knows what financial hurdles are ahead of you and will provide - either for you to be able to give, or for a new financial partner to join us if things get difficult.  No one will be sending you a bill or tracking you down if life changes for you.
• The partnership form is easy to find on the blog.  Feel free to give the form to us and we'll mail it in for you, or you can mail it to SEND directly.  If you do not turn in the form, it is difficult for SEND to count it in our official partnership.

Thank you for prayerfully considering how you may partner with us.  We look forward to the day that we will land in Spain, with all of our material possessions, and begin a new life.

Psalm 25

In you, LORD my God,
   I put my trust.

 ² I trust in you;
   do not let me be put to shame,
   nor let my enemies triumph over me.
³ No one who hopes in you
   will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
   who are treacherous without cause.

 ⁴ Show me your ways, LORD,
   teach me your paths.
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are God my Savior,
   and my hope is in you all day long.
⁶ Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
   for they are from of old.
⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth
   and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
   for you, LORD, are good.

 ⁸ Good and upright is the LORD;
   therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
⁹ He guides the humble in what is right
   and teaches them his way.
¹⁰ All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
   toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
¹¹ For the sake of your name, LORD,
   forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

 ¹² Who, then, are those who fear the LORD?
   He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
¹³ They will spend their days in prosperity,
   and their descendants will inherit the land.
¹⁴ The LORD confides in those who fear him;
   he makes his covenant known to them.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever on the LORD,
   for only he will release my feet from the snare.

 ¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me,
   for I am lonely and afflicted.
¹⁷ Relieve the troubles of my heart
   and free me from my anguish.
¹⁸ Look on my affliction and my distress
   and take away all my sins.
¹⁹ See how numerous are my enemies
   and how fiercely they hate me!

 ²⁰ Guard my life and rescue me;
   do not let me be put to shame,
   for I take refuge in you.
²¹ May integrity and uprightness protect me,
   because my hope, LORD, is in you.

 ²² Deliver Israel, O God,
   from all their troubles!

Way of Man or Way of God?

Well, I can stick my head in the sand and I can feel that pit in the bottom of my stomach or I can cling to the fact that the God I serve works according to His ways and not those of man.  I will choose to believe, regardless how much the world and Satan whispers in my ear.

It is not always easy to trust when God's ways are different than man's, but there is such great assurance that comes from knowing I don't have to understand His ways nor trust man's ways. I pray that the day will come when I automatically trust and don't fret first.  What a slow learner I am!

I am reading the book I Will Carry You, The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy by Angie Smith (wife of one of the member's of Selah).  It is a book about the relationship she has with her Heavenly Father through the lost of her daughter.  There are moments in the book when I have to stop reading because of the tears of sadness and there are others where I have to stop reading because of the tears from the lessons God is teaching me through her story.  I have never experienced the great grief she is walking through, but I have questioned God in circumstances.  She says at one point in the book "I am pretty comfortable saying He is in complete control until the ground grows weak beneath me.  At that point I tell Him what He should do to fix it.  While I know there isn't anything wrong with asking God to intervene, there is a gentle surrender that I was drawn to in this story (story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus).  Recognize who He is - kyrios (denotes sovereignty) - and tell Him the problem.  Leave the rest to Him.  ..... there is always room for doubt wherever God has made a way for faith."

What about you?  Will you allow Satan to whisper in your ear or will you recognize who you serve?

What's the Real Purpose of Christmas?

This video spoke loud and clear to me - perhaps it will to you too.

1 in 200 vs 1 in 40

In Spain, according to several sites on the Internet

1 out every 200 Spaniards considers themself an evangelical christian
1 out of every 40 Spaniards considers themself a Muslim.

Put differently - I attended church yesterday with approximately 600 people (all 3 services combined)

If this was a general population in Spain, 3 of us would have been evangelical Christians and 15 would be Muslim.  582 would be considered a variety of things - Catholic (to be Spanish is to be Catholic, does not mean they actually have a relationship with Christ), Mormon (the 2nd fastest growing religion in Spain), Jehovah Witness, Buddhist, nothing, and so on.

Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for a transition to Spain.  Pray for new financial partners (and pray about becoming one) as well as for the spiritual preparation we need to live there.  Pray for the Christians that already live there - both the native Spaniard and the missionaries - as they try to share the love of Christ.  Pray for the lost - that their hearts will become tender to the true story of Christmas.  Pray that your heart will be broken for the lost - in your own back yard and across the ocean.

Heart Broken

Over the next couple of posts I am going to try to share what is going through my mind, heart, and soul.  I want you to weep with me.  Not because it is a sad story, but because the Lord Jesus Christ who loves you enough to have died for your sins is weeping.

Today, in a casual conversation on facebook with a friend, she mentioned that one of the largest mosques in Europe is in Madrid.  Sounds just like one of the many statistics I have been quoting for months, right?  Unfortunately she didn't quit chatting there.  She then shared that her cousin had just two weeks ago converted to Islam.  Her mother is the only Christian in her family.  (Her cousin doesn't live in Spain)

What does this have to do with me?  What does it have to do with you?  I don't know, but I do know that it is time for me to wake up.  It is time to quit living in my safe little environment and realize that the Lord is weeping over the lost while I sit in my comfortable little life and pretend that all is OK.

Just two weeks ago I delivered meals to people who live right here in Greensboro that practice Buddhism and Islam.  People who feared for their lives and gave up everything and yet still today have no hope for tomorrow.  When will my heart be as broken as Christ's? 

(while I am writing this Hannah and I are watching the movie To Save A Life, a story of teenage suicide and pregnancy - one more picture of a hopeless population - however, this movie is a picture of what the love of Jesus can do - check it out)

#23 - Heating Pads, Ice Packs and Tylenol

Yesterday I returned to the gym to meet with my trainer (yes, I paid extra for this privilege) after not stepping foot in there for two weeks.  Oh my!  Today I am not sure which I regret more - skipping for two weeks or returning, but I am definitely thankful for heating pads, ice packs and Tylenol.  Just not sure which place hurts the most to put the heating pad on.

#22 - Kitchen Surprises

I was out of town all day Friday and Saturday and then worked a 13 hour day yesterday.  Needless to say, my kitchen was a disaster.  I left this morning early for the gym and didn't have time to do anything about it before work.  I then stopped at the grocery store and cleaners on the way home and walked in ready to roll up my sleeves and tackle the kitchen - but it was already clean!  Zach had cleaned the kitchen and started the dishwasher.  What a gracious gift!

#21 - Operation Christmas Child

I am just sitting down after helping at our local collection center.  I have no idea how many boxes go through that center, but our church did 926 shoe boxes.  It is so very heart touching to think that 926 children will not only hear about the love of Christ, they will experience it, perhaps for the first time.