lyle lovett

I love this song.  That is all.  Enjoy!

the empty underwear draw.

So I was forced to do laundry today when I woke up and pulled the lone, remaining pair of underwear out of my draw and put them on.  Luckily today landed on a Saturday in which I had absolutely no reason to leave the house.  I’m happy to report that the underwear draw is once again filled to the brim.

I haven’t had a very productive day.  Other than laundry, I did not get much done that I was hoping to today.  Discovering this video of a guy dancing at a Celtics game is pretty much the product of today’s labor.

Amazing?  Yes.  Productive?  Not so much.

joy.

Do you ever look back and realize how much you didn’t appreciate something in life?  Joy in life really is in the small things.  So often I am worried about what I am getting out of this time or concentrated on everything that I need to do, rather than finding joy in situations.  I’m pretty sure that’s not how God wants us to live.  Yes, He wants us to be faithful and to take care of what He has entrusted to us, but He wants us to enjoy it.  Do what you need to do, but find joy in life.  If we know Jesus then we have no excuse for not finding joy in anything we are called to.  At my Bible study on Wednesday night we were looking at Philippians.  Paul says in Philippians 1:21-24,

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.  Yet what shall I choose?  I do not know!  I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”

These verses are so exciting.  If we live then we get to be a part of bringing people to Jesus, but if we die we get to go be with Him.  If we find joy in spending time with Jesus then we cannot lose in this life.  If it is a no lose situation, why are we so worried about ourselves?  God takes care of us.  (Matthew 7:11, Matthew 6:26-30)  What do we have to worry about?  We are free to serve others and find joy in any situation.

It seems so clear and simple right now.  It will be harder tomorrow or next week when I have a lot to do.  Right now I sit enjoying my Savior who so richly provides for me.  I hope to never take His gifts for granted.  I’m excited about a life that involves joy; no matter the circumstances.

Focus.

Coming down to the end of my time here (a month and a half left), it is so easy to just think about home and the things that need to be done there and for school next year.  While it is necessary to do the things I need to for the next step, I cannot be totally focused on home.  There is a danger of forgetting why God has me here.  A danger of forgetting that God had provided relationships, responsibilities, and opportunities that I cannot just let go of or push out of my mind.  I am actually in a place that I am enjoying right now.  Although there are times that I long for home, I am still very excited about the things going on here.  I have quite a bit to get done before I leave between online Spanish classes and the futbol sala tournament which I am planning for May 19.  On top of that, as always, is the reason we are here, relationships and sharing the love of Christ.  I know that if I continue with these things I have left to do here, I will be done with them and heading home before I know it.  So I will just continue to do what I need to for the present day.

Last week was a bit crazy aw we were in Badajoz to begin the week and Morocco to finish it.  We went to Badajoz to hangout with students who are studying English and to Morocco for a bit of a vacation.  It was crazy but a lot of fun.

Please pray for relationships and that the futbol sala tournament would go smoothly and we would make contacts through it.  Please pray for English Club also, which we started about a month ago.  It is going well so far, but pray that it would continue to grow and develop into meaningful relationships.

Thanks for you prayers and support.

Relationships.

I am very excited about this semester.  Although we have not gotten all the details worked out with everything, we are much more organized and ready to hit the ground running.  We have a schedule of events and activities set up and are working out the details for all of those.  We now need to meet and get to know the students which will make the effort put into these activities worth while.  THAT is where the real excitement of this semester begins.  If you know me, you know that meeting people would not be a strength that I possess.  And then it needs to be done speaking in a different language at times(and now if you know me you’re thinking it couldn’t be worse than in English).

Well, I am extremely excited about the challenge.  I am ready for God to move in this place.  I am ready to plead with God for even the smallest hint of an interest in spiritual things and eternity and Jesus in the lives of my friends here.  I have met a few people through language exchange and I will also be moving in with two Spanish guys starting in February.  It is so cool because we are just waiting on God to do something big here.  Yes we are waiting, but we are moving forward, meeting people and spending time with them and looking for God to open up that opportunity for us to share this amazing message we have.  We are waiting, but as we wait we are begging God to put us in contact with those He has prepared and also that He would convict the people and reveal truth to them.  He is faithful and if we ask He will work in this place, whether we get to see it this semester or not.

We have given letters to the university to set up tables on campus.  This would be ideal for advertising our activities and being able to meet students.  We are also doing intercambios and searching for ways that we can meet students.

God has been laying on our hearts the need for prayer.  Reading through Acts as a team, we see time and time again that the early church was praying without ceasing.  Please join us in praying for Sevilla.  Pray that God would convict the people here, that He would reveal the need of something more in their lives.  Pray for the contacts at the university that we would be able to set up tables in the university to meet students.  Pray that we would be able to meet those who are already Christians here and that they would be open to the things that we are doing and ready and willing to play a part.  Pray that God would put us in contact with those in whom He is at work.  Pray for us as we get to know these people, that we would be so different that they will not be able to help but wonder what we have that they want.  Please pray for our relationships and the people here.  And I almost forgot, please continue to pray for our Spanish also.

Thank you for your prayers.  Love you guys.

Support and Encouragement.

Last week was a bit slow as far as our planned Conectate events went.  We started out the week with school and Monday and Tuesday as well as a Spanish cooking lesson on Monday night.  The cooking was the only event we had this week and it went very well.  There was a pretty good turnout and the Spanish Tortilla was incredible as expected.  Wednesday morning we had a team meeting before going to pick up Dr. Fanning, Johnnie Moore, and Onastazia.  The meeting was very good as Dave informed us that he had had a meeting with a lawyer that morning and that they will have a non-profit organization set up for the start of next semester.  This is a major blessing because it will allow easier access into the university and other places, as well as make it easier to obtain visas and such for those coming into the country.  It will be called Intercambio International and we are very excited about the doors that it will open for us.  We also just had an English worship tonight and we watched a movie afterwards.  Mike spoke about the meaning of Christmas and why it is necessary, beginning with the fall of man.  It was an excellent message and hopefully it at least provoked thought, for those who do not have a relationship with Jesus, as to why they believe what they do.

As I said before, Dr. Fanning, Johnnie Moore, Staz visited us from Wednesday until Saturday this week.  They were an incredible blessing.  Just to have them here and hear their words of encouragement was amazing.  These are two men of God that I look up to immensely.  I have sat in Dr. Fanning’s class, listening to his awesome stories and thinking, “This guy has been there and done it.”  And sitting in campus church as Johnnie gives himself up to be used to speak straight to my heart week in and week out, as I’m sure it is for many at Liberty.  To have these two here telling us to stay strong and listening to what is going on here was such an encouragement.  It was also great to see Staz and be able to talk and be encouraged by a good friend.

We were also able to see, through talking with them about what they are doing and where they are going throughout these next two weeks, how the body of Christ is working throughout the world.  It is hard to understand from the states just how everything fits together around the world.  God is using so many different people, situations, and instruments for his work around the world.  The guys visited us here in Spain, went down to Morrocco for a day, and are now headed for Jordan, Thailand, China, and India before returing to the US.  Last weekend Megan was in Portugal running a half marathon and she met a Liberty graduate who is a missionary there and told her he wants interns next year.  It amazes me the way our God works and the support and encouragement that you find in the most unexpected places.  It is also amazing what is possible these days with communication around the world.  How I can stay in touch with Rich in Korea, Angi in Thailand, Andrea in Canada, and everyone all across the States.  I am encouraged daily by you all and I thank you for your support.

Philemon 1:4-7  “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.  I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.  Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.”

We have the Christmas Party coming up on Wednesday, then we go on El Camino de Santiago on Friday, and when we get back from that we have the big Christmas Concert in Bormujos.  Please continue to pray for these events and also for intercambios and relationships.  And as always language learning.

Thank you all so much.  I love and miss you all.

Faith.

Psalm 13

How long, O Lord?  Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide you face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and everyday have sorrow in my heart?  How long will my enemy triumph over me?  Look on me and answer, O Lord my God.  Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.  But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.  

It has been harder than I ever thought it would be here.  Not that I have bad living conditions or anything is really physically hard.  Recently I have had so much doubt in my life though.  I have been wanting God to do things, to prove why I should have faith.  I know that God exists and that Jesus died for the world because of the change I have seen in my life.  Doubt creeps in though and I find myself, as it says in Psalm 13, wrestling with my thoughts.  My prayers would seem to be bouncing around inside my head, with no God in sight.  I know he’s there, but at times I have trouble believing it.  We were in church singing one Sunday and I realized that the problem was not that God wasn’t with me, it was that I had no faith.  I wanted proof for something I already knew.  I wanted experiences to verify what God had already revealed to me.  It is one thing to want to be a part of what God is doing and to experience God.  It is another thing to constantly search for proof, instead of having faith in our amazing, all-powerful God.  I will stand firm in my faith because my God stands firm.  The love that he’s shown is more than sufficient.

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.” -Psalm 13:5-6

Don’t doubt what you already know.  Give him your life and don’t let your circumstances determine your faith and, in turn, your effectiveness.

We spent a great week in Badajoz working with English classes, the week before Thanksgiving.  We had a movie night and a Thanksgiving dinner and both went very well.  Hopefully many friendships were built and those who attended are at least a little closer to a friendship with the one who gave it all for them.  On Thanksgiving Day we had another Thanksgiving dinner here in Sevilla and that also went very well.  We have several events coming up.

December 4 – We are having a cooking class.

December 10 – We are having worship and then watching a movie.

December 13 – We are having a Christmas party with food and games and what not.

December 15-20 – We are going on a well known pilgrimage, El Camino de Santiago, through Northern Spain.  It will be cold, but a great period of reflection and also a great opportunity to talk to those who don’t know our Savior.

December 21 – We are having a Christmas party/concert in Burmujos(the pueblo that David and Chanelle live in), where we will invite everyone that we know.  Hopefully many will attend and hear with open hearts the incredible story of Jesus.

Please be praying for these events.  Pray that many will come and relationships will be built and that these wouldn’t just be more stuff that we’re doing, but that Christ would be apparent above all.  Please continue to pray for our language learning.  We are all coming along, but we still have a LONG way to go.  We are also all starting intercambio.  Please pray for relationships to be built through those.

Thank you for your prayers and support.  I love you all.  Chao!

Sevilla!!

Ok.  So I finally got my blog up, so you all can stay up to date with what we’re doing here and what’s going on in my life. 

The first month passed by very quickly.  We did a lot of walking around and seeing the city and just got settled in.  We were also attending language school.  Language school went very well for the first month.  It is difficult but it is also very fun.  We started our actual ministry activities in the last week of September.  A team from Germany came for the week and we set up a table in the University of Sevilla, offering intercambios(language exchange), Spanish cooking classes, running club, weekend excursions, movie nights, soccer, Bible studies and worship events, and so on.  The German team was an amazing blessing from God.  We ended up with around 150 students who were interested and gave us their contact information!  That Friday night we had a Coffee Night at Starbucks and more than 50 people showed up.  We never thought we would get that kind of interest, but God is good.  The next event we had was a worship night and we had a good turnout for that also.  That was on the Sunday after the Coffee Night and about 30 showed up for the worship.

Since then we played soccer, had running club, and took a trip to the outdoor market here in Sevilla.  We have not had too many people show up to these events, but there have been a few people coming and we have all started to build meaningful relationships.  Please continue to pray for our language learning.  Also pray for the relationships God has given us and that He would open hearts to His message.  Pray for boldness and unity in our group, and that Satan would be powerless in his attempts to shake our resolve. 

Thank you for your support and prayers.  I love you all.  Stay posted, there’s more to come.