Week 4 Seville

To a nation that often times does not like to talk about death; hiding from it as if people just disappear and avoid the realization that 10 out of 10 people die, God has changed our plans from teaching ESL classes to equipping the saints this week in Seville and in turn passing the baton to speak life. 

The ministry has been great here is Seville. We have now successfully adjusted to the Spanish cultural day and dry heat of around 106 - 109 degrees. In the evenings during non training times, we have been out on the streets sharing the Gospel and getting back to our lodgings at around 12:30 am. In the mornings we have been conducting training seminars from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm.  Even though there are times that we are tired, the Lord continues to give us the energy to keep pressing on.

 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners,so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."  Hebrews 12:1-3 

Ella es fotogenica

This week of ministry has been so amazing! It has been so cool to sit back and watch God provide for us in so many ways and redirect our paths of ministry to bring glory to Him. With our last couple of days in Madrid, we all were anticipating our first week of ministry in Seville to be ESL, teaching Spaniards how to speak English. While we were packing up all of our belongings for our early morning flight, we questioned as to why we had so much surplus sketch board paper and paint, as we thought we wouldn't need it for the rest of the trip. Little did we know, Carey Owen would call Paul to say ESL classes had been cancelled due to a lack in registration, and we would be teaching others how to use the sketch board, puppets, drama, and balloon animals to preach the Gospel. How amazing God is! Seeing how God is going to use all the tools we had prepared, and didn't anticipate using for the remainder of our stay in Spain, is so cool! His divine appointments are really showing through this ministry, as we can see who He wants to have learn a variety of different ways to preach His Word.His divine appointments are really showing through this ministry, as we can see who He wants to have learn a variety of different ways to preach His Word. In addition to our evangelism training classes, we have been doing late night ministry for children/families. On our second night of ministry, we (Mission Possible, Carey Owen, and some teenagers we have been training) travelled to "Las Vegas". In all honesty, this was the most spiritually tense, distraught, and filthy place I have encountered as a Christian. Everywhere you walked, there was broken glass, gypsies, and we even drove past a dumpster that was on fire. However, in our devotion that morning, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35. As a group, we gave up our comfort and evening to preach the Gospel to the spiritually dehydrated children and parents. The result was the largest crowd of people I have witnessed to ever come to a children's club! God has worked in amazing ways, and though I am upset that it has been our second to last week, I cannot wait to see what other amazing things He has in store! - Erica Feagans

 Extending God's love to Las Vegas

This week, in the evenings, we went out to different communities doing family/kids ministry. We went to the gypsy community of Las Vegas in Spain, one of the poorest areas. As we drove in we saw trash and broken glass all over the ground as well as several buildings that were falling apart. For our kids club we were joined by some of the people we had been training to evangelize throughout the week. The kids really seemed to listen to what we had to say about the gospel and you could see a thirst they had for it although they still didn't fully understand. So many of us had amazing and moving conversations with the people after our kids club. The people there are so lost and broken and it was so amazing to see God working though us, speaking to the people's hearts. 

Some of the Spanish people are prejudice, and even afraid to go into the community. On the way home from ministry, one of the girls who had been coming to our training talked about how moved she was by this experience and how Christians shouldn't prejudge people. Even though it was one of the worst neighborhoods in the area, the gypsies were so accepting and open to us. Being able to love on the children was such a blessing and it was an experience that I will never forget. Please pray for the people in this neighborhood, so many of them have such heavy struggles in their life and a great need for the message of the gospel. - Renee Trageser

Now Go and Make Disciples of All Nations

This week we had the opportunity to run workshops. On Sunday we got the chance to go to two different churches, one in the morning and one at night. This is great because it gave us the opportunity to connect with people, and when they came to the workshops they were a familiar face.

During these workshops, we've had the opportunity to train others on how to evangelize. I think this has given them a boost in creativity and maybe inspired some additional ways in how to share the gospel. It has also encouraged them and their spiritual journeys as well. We found out that an evangelism training conference had been canceled and the youth in this area were disappointed. Before our arrival they had been praying for an opportunity to evangelize and learn more about how to do it. It's amazing that God used us to fulfill that for them and it's been a blessing as we can both grow in our relationships with God and each other. We've been able to teach them our "Set Free" drama (Carmiña, Lauren, and Renée), how to use the sketch board (Paul, Matt, Nate, and Erica), and skits/songs with puppets (Joan, Seneca, and I). There are even a couple men who are so passionate about the sketchboard that they want to buy it from Paul. It's cool to see how God has used the situation to further His kingdom and spread the gospel even after we leave here in just 9 short days (WOW I can't believe I'm saying that). God has also blessed us with missionaries Evelyn and Mark from the Netherlands who have lived here in Spain for 4 months. They do really cool things with balloon animals to share the gospel and you can IMAGINE how many kiddos that draws! They're also just great people to be around and such an encouragement. I look forward to see how our last week of ministry will go. - Bethany Ford

 Blessings in Disguise

This week we were all prepared for ESL classes in Seville, but God changed our plans. Just as we were ready and excited for that, He changed courses fast and we thank the Lord for all He's allowed us to experience.  After our first day here, one of the things we found out after training people for evangelism is that the youth had been praying for a heart for evangelism and we were glad to show what we have learned. I was with the sketch board crew and everyone picked up sketch boarding so well.  We even found somebody who might wanna buy the sketch board kit to carry on the ministry while we're gone, which for us is an answer to prayer.  It's funny how God works in mysterious ways. And it's not just with sketch board all the teams are really excited and on fire for God, I feel like our disciples will preserver for the Lord. - Matt Mallet