I watched as this car parked and it was impressive.  I didn't stick around, but what was going to be more impressive was how she was going to get out. 

 

On Friday, we had our first "official" team meeting.  We hooked up the webcam to our TV in the living room and we had a live feed with David, Favi, and Ian who are in the States.  We talked for a little over 2 hours about short and long term plans and goals for the work.  It was very exciting and we were able to nail down some ideas and details for our first project.  Over the next couple of months, we will be posting details about the plans we have for our first major project.  We want to inform all that we can so we can have an army of God's people praying for these efforts.  There will also be opportunities for those who want to get the gospel to the people of Spain through giving and also opportunities for those who would like to make a trip to Spain to personally and physically get involved.

Please stayed tuned for more details about this exciting new project.  

Today is Deanna and my 8th Anniversary.  I want to wish my forever sweetheart a wonderful 8th anniversary.  Deanna is truly the one God has for me and I love her with all my heart.  I am blessed to have her as a wife.  I look forward to spending the rest of my life with such a wonderful woman.  There are still days that I am around her that I get the same feeling in the pit of my stomach as when we were dating.  Honey, I love you and may the next 8 years be better then the first. 

8 Years Later and she is still as beautiful as ever!  
(That guy she is with could use some work though!) 

When you are learning a language, you learn to humble yourself while people correct you.  In fact, I am constantly asking people to correct me because I know that that is the best way to learn.  I guess it is ok until your 6 year old son begins to correct you.  Aaron, like myself, is learning Spanish.  He has been in school this year and has really learned a lot of Spanish.  I picked him up from school yesterday and it was one of those days where when you walk outside, you immediately start sweating.  So I told him in Spanish, "I am dying from the heat."  He said, "Daddy, you don't say it that way, this is how you say it."  After he told me, I was humbled to realize that...he was right!  :)  Out of the mouth of babes! 

The third campaign video for the European elections shows a selection of European Conservative voters

The new campaign video from the Socialist party has raised some objections in Spain. The video shows a cross section of right-wing voters from several European countries, speaking in their native language but subtitled, in which they give their opinions on several political subjects.

A German skinhead says that homosexuality is an illness, A British woman pictured shopping says she thinks health care should be private, and a priest says that there is only room for one religion in Europe. Another person comments that ‘immigrants steal our jobs’, another that climate change is a big lie, another that she believes in the death penalty, and a businessman says he believes in free sackings.

The video then says that the problem is not what they think, but the fact that they are all going to vote.

The Socialists have been accused of using scare tactics in the video which will be shown in Spain in the free airtime space made available to the parties ahead of the poll on June 7.

Dear Pastor, congregation and friends,

“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:25) Although we may not have reached the end of our deputation quite yet, we have faith and patience and we look out into the horizon knowing that the prize is near. We are encouraged to know that with every new church that takes us on for support we are one step closer to our goal. Since our last prayerletter we have had five new churches partner with us and we are now at 46% of our needed support.

Praise the Lord! We are praying to have all of our support raised in one more year. For those of you who may be wondering we are still driving our 1990 Cadillac Deville and it’s still going strong. We have put 70,000 miles on the car and I really believe that it will be with us till the end. What’s funny is that the car is only two years younger than my wife. Next year it will be a classic.

One of the things that burdens my heart as I travel and visit different churches across America is the lack of laborers to reach the Hispanic community with the gospel. Time and time again we have heard from pastors that desire to reach the Hispanics but simply cannot because they are unable to communicate with them in Spanish. Please pray that God would raise up men and women to learn Spanish and be used of God to evangelize the vast Hispanic community of America. I was so blessed as I visited a church in Ardmore, Alabama that had a Spanish ministry. The man that was in charge of the ministry was a man that had taught himself Spanish and with the little Spanish he knew was being used of God to reach souls for Christ. He invited me to preach to the small congregation that was gathered as a result of his labor and after the service I was able to lead a young man by the name of Armando to Christ. What went through my mind as the young man announced to the church that he had trusted Christ as his Savior was that had it not been for this faithful laymen in the church he would not have his name written in the Lamb’s book of life today. How many young people like Armando have come to our nation and never heard the gospel. Thank you once again for your faithful prayers and financial support. To God be the glory. We love you.

NEW BABY

Well, I am excited to announce that we are going to be having another baby. Last year around this time Favianna had miscarried our second child and we had been praying faithfully that the Lord would bless us with another little munchkin. Favi and I have always loved children and we are excited about raising them to love God and serve Him with their lives. I know that God has a special plan for them and I would sure love to see my children serving on the mission field.  But more than anything I pray that they will love God and put Him first in every decision that they make. Our baby is due on November 15th. So please pray that God would protect our child and that the pregnancy would be smooth for Favianna.

Dear Praying Friends, Family, and Churches,

W

e have so much to report that we won’t be able mention everything in one letter. Please go to our home page abd read our weekly blog. You can stay informed with much of what is going on in our ministry.

The current “crisis” is the topic of discussion in every corner. I personally know people who have lost everything because of the current crisis. For missionaries on deputation, churches have seemed to slow their support for new missionaries. Veteran missionaries are beginning to feel the crunch as some of their supporting churches are starting to lower their monthly support. However, in every crisis, we can see God’s hand at work. God took the children of Israel through many a “crisis” to teach them certain things, but especially to trust in Him.

One of the advantages of the “Crisis” here in Spain has been that the cost of living is slowly decreasing. In the past 4 or 5 months, the cost of goods and services have started to come down. Apartments, cars, food, etc. are getting a little cheaper. When we first came to Spain, not only were we taken back by the exchange rate, but by the prices of what things costs. Even if the exchange was equal; 1 Euro to 1 Dollar, the prices of items here in Spain were more than what they cost in the States. So a gallon of Milk that cost $3.50 or less in the States, would cost around 4 Euro or more here in Spain. So even with a 1:1 Euro/Dollar, our purchasing power was less. Then when you added an exchanged of $1.60 to 1 Euro, it was at an even greater deficit. Now, the prices have started to subside a little, so with a 1:1 ratio Euro/Dollar, the prices are comparable. Some things are still more expensive here, but now, some things about equal. So our purchasing power is a little less or equal, if we had an equal exchange of 1:1. However, with the exchange, we are still at a great deficit. But we are thankful for the slight decrease in prices of somethings.

Another blessing of the “Crisis” is that people are becoming more tender to the things of God or at least looking for answers. In a society that has “had it all” for some many years, people are beginning to lose their jobs and their sense of security. Over 3 million people are unemployed here in Spain (a country of 41 million) and 1 million of those 3 million lost their jobs in 2008. During this year, in the ministry here, we have seen 5 people come to Christ. 3 of those 5 people have been adults. Another lady wanted to talk more, this past Sunday night after the service, about spiritual things and is very close to trusting in the Lord as her Savior. So even in times of “Crisis” God works and glorifies Himself. We praise the Lord for His goodness.

The second week in April, we had special meetings for “Semana Santa” or “Holy Week.” My father-in-law preached on Saturday night, Jack Loveday preached Sunday morning, and I preached on Sunday night. Then 2 weeks later, we had a mission’s conference. The people were challenged to do more for missions. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Don’t forget to visit our website www.thatallmayknow.net to learn more about what is happening here in Spain.

 

God is still working...even here in Spain.  Yes, it is difficult here.  The people are hard.  The work is slow and for the most part, the churches are small.  However, we still serve a Great God!  Things are difficult but they are not impossible.  During 2009, being apart of this ministry, we have seen 5 people come to Christ.  3 of those 5 have been adults.

This past Saturday, my mother-in-law, Andrea Velasquez was asked to give the devotional during the annual Mother/Daughter banquet.  She spoke about the power and influence that mother’s have, especially with what they say.  At the end she gave an open invitation to those who needed to put their faith in Christ.  One lady, named Lilia, came forward and was able to speak with Mrs. Loveday.  The story of how Lilia came to the church in the first place is an amazing testimony of God’s grace and work through his people.  One of the ladies in the church, Marilyn, has a job doing something that is like telemarketing.  One of her calls was made to Lilia and they began talking.  Even while on the job, Marilyn decided to share the gospel with Lilia.  Lilia came to church and has been coming to the services for the past several weeks.  On Saturday, she was able to talk with Mrs. Loveday and experience the awesome power and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.  She trusted in the Lord as her Savior and came forward Sunday Morning to make it public.   

Yesterday, another lady, Lia, wanted to talk more about the Lord.  She is very confused and was able to sort through many ideas and false pretences that she had about God and the Bible.  She is not quite ready to trust in the Lord, but is very close.  She is searching and wants to know more. 

We praise the Lord for all that he has done in the work here in Spain.  God is still on the throne and is still working in hearts and lives.  

It has been a long and busy month.  My in-laws (and fellow team members) arrived on April 1st.  We all squeezed into our 68 square meter (6 or 700 Sq Feet) apartment.  They slept in the living room on a pull out couch and stored their suitcases in a corner nook in the same room.  Last Wednesday, on May 6th, they were able to move into their apartment.  During this month, we were busy helping them get their paperwork moving, purchasing a car, finding an apartment, and helping them get acclimated to Spain.  Even though they were missionaries here years ago, Spain has changed much since they have been gone.  Many things that they were use to are now much different.  All of them (even my wife) always talk of the nice spacious apartments that they use to have and live in, however, in this day and time, those apartments are farther and fewer between.  All of the apartments that they looked at during this month don’t have the space that they were use to when they lived here over 15 years ago.  Although the place they found is not as spacious, it is still very nice and has some added features such as a very nice patio and even and little yard.  Deanna and I are already “licking our lips” thinking of the possibilities for grilling out from time to time.  ☺  They also tell me that there are many more round-abouts here now.  They said that when they lived here, there were a few, but not many.  This is the land of round-abouts.   

This past Thursday, the container that they shipped from the states finally arrived.  We were able to contact a few of the other missionaries here in Madrid to come and help.  For the most part, it was easy to unload.  My in-laws apartment is on the ground level floor and we were able to take part of the fence off and pass the furniture through the fence.  It was one of the easier moves that we have made.  The hardest part was getting our couch into our apartment.  Our apartment is a first floor apartment (this would be a second floor apartment in the States.  Here they count the ground level floor as “Zero”) and because they have so many “fire” doors in our apartment building, it was impossible to get the couch through those doors.  So we pulled the rental (U-Haul) truck next to my apartment window.  Myself and Jack Loveday stood on top of the truck, while 4 men lifted the couch up to us.  Then, those men ran into our apartment and we passed the couch through the window to them.  It was a wild scene, but we got the couch in the apartment. 

So all and all, it has been a busy but productive month.  My in-laws are still unpacking their things and should be done by this week sometime.  We have already started discussing things about the future ministry here in Spain and it is exciting to think about. 

For me, the best part of this month was when the container arrived and I received:

 YES! IT IS KRAFT MAC & CHESSE!!!

 

 

After a long and arduous process, Deanna, Aaron and I have finally received our residence cards.  I was the first one to receive mine after much difficulties, however, Deanna and Aaron still did not receive theirs.  After many trips to downtown Madrid and shuffling through the right and wrong information, all 3 of us have our cards.  What a relief to finally have them.  The nice thing is that we won’t have to renew them for another 1 ½ years.  Thank you for your prayers through all of this.  We really saw God work during this process. 

Now, please pray that my in-laws will have a much smoother process.  So far, their process has been very smooth with little to no problems at all.