Thoughts on routine, adjustments and language.

After two and a half weeks in Spain, we are beginning to feel slightly more normal. We have adjusted to the time change, are learning our way around town and into Madrid and found an apartment to rent. We still have a few daunting tasks ahead; residency, buying a car, getting a Spanish drivers license and actually speaking Spanish.

We have settled into a daily routine for now. We are up and ready in time to catch the 7:28am train into Madrid. The ride in is really quite scenic. Out one side you can see the sunrise over the four skyscrapers of Madrid and the other; trees, dry fields and a river as you approach each town. The train part of our commute is about 45 minutes. We get off at Principe Pio and quickly make our way down to catch the metro. I really don't like to miss the first one, not because of the time but mostly because this station is not enclosed so it is REALLY cold in the mornings. I often consider that we may have accidentally taken a train to Alaska.

We push our way in with dozens of others and ride silently three stops, each time making our way across the car to get out on the other side. We have made a routine of stopping for coffee around the block from the school. This gives us time to breath and review work before class.

This morning we skipped class to collect a document for our residency card and figure out what is happening with the electricity at our apartment. The paper we need will be ready tomorrow and our electricity should be on in three or four days. Last night we found a car and plan to pick it up on Friday.

It feels strange that it has been less than a month since we arrived in Spain. The days have gone quickly but it seems like a lot has been accomplished. Each day I feel more and more at home in El Escorial and blessed to be surrounded by a team that desires for us to be involved in the ministry.

We know that in order to be effective in ministry, we must be proficient in the language. For the next couple of months we plan to focus our efforts on language learning. Please pray with us that our minds are receptive to the material we are learning and our mouths will speak well as we begin to speak more. Pray also for humility as we know mistakes will come.

We very much want to communicate with this community around us.

Today, we are thankful

Today, Jeremy and I had a new Thanksgiving experience. We were not with our biological families, instead we are 4,000 miles away in Spain. Instead of everyone around us celebrating a holiday, today was just a normal day for the Spaniards we met on the street. People were at work, going to the store and school. It was a little sad, but it was another reminder of all we are thankful for, today and everyday. 

Today we are thankful for the past week. We arrived safely in Spain last Wednesday. We have somewhat adjusted to the time change, even a new eating schedule- I am not AS starving by our 2pm lunch. A couple of days we have felt absolutely exhausted. Not just by the time change but also by the new sights, sounds and smells all around us. It is hard to slow down and not try to take it all in at once. But, we have found an apartment to rent! We have successfully taken the train into Madrid with the help of team-member Colleen and purchased a monthly bus pass. We are enrolled in language school to start on Monday. A packed week!

Today we are thankful for God's calling. This move to Spain is fulfillment of a promise given to me 6 years ago. As overwhelming as it all is, I am thankful for His provision that has brought us to Spain. From almost anywhere in the town you can see snow covered mountain tops a reminder of my favorite scripture- "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:11

Today we are thankful for the Sierra Oeste Team. These are the people who first prayed for our calling to Spain. They have been faithful to the Lord and begun an incredible work in this area. We are blessed to be working alongside them. They have been incredibly accommodating and welcoming to us as we get adjusted and begin language school. We are excited to begin working more with this wonderful team in the coming months.

Today, I am thankful for my husband. Not only does he love me when I am not so nice, but he answered God's call on his life to this new journey. He answered without hesitation and has been an encouragement to me all along the way. Every step, sacrifice and leap of faith, he has been a solid rock and picture of Jesus' love. He is my forever friend.

Lastly, today I am thankful for YOU. I am thankful that you have taken a moment to read this (long and mushy-gushy post) simply because you care. I am thankful for you who have prayed for us. I am thankful for you who have invested your wisdom into our lives. I am thankful for you who have invested financially into the Kingdom of God by supporting us. We could not be here without you. Thank you, thank you for loving us and loving our Savior. 

Greetings from Spain!

After over a year of preparation, we have arrived in the country of Spain. Thank you so much for the role you played in helping us get here and the role you continue to play in partnering with us in ministering to the people of Spain. Please check out our November newsletter for our most recent update.

Instead, here we are.

Tomorrow should have marked our first week in Spain.

I have wanted to write about the past few weeks for well, the past few weeks. It started with wanting to share about our last few days here, with family and friends. I wanted to talk about our commissioning service. I wanted to talk about being a little nervous but mostly excited for this big move.

But instead, here we are- at home- in North Carolina.

The truth is, I knew for weeks that we were not leaving on November 5^th. It never seemed real because we didn’t have our VISAs. I knew without them, we couldn’t leave. So, driving to D.C. Monday morning, I wasn’t worried about getting home to get packed or saying final goodbyes. I knew that we were not leaving the next day. Still, when the man at the desk said that our VISAs had not yet been approved, my heart dropped. I cried all the way to the post office several blocks away. We turned over our passports and an overnight shipping envelope and headed out of D.C. almost as quickly as we arrived.

As frustrating as the situation is, it isn’t the situation that has me most upset. What is most frustrating is that I don’t really want to talk about it. I don’t mean to be rude, I promise, but it IS frustrating. Even though I had that gut feeling, I was still day dreaming about seeing Spain again, but this time as our new home. But, now we are waiting in anticipation for an email to appear in our inboxes one morning with the much desired news. And really, the anticipation kills me sometimes.

But then there are times when I hear the most simple and encouraging words. The seventh grader who says he is praying for us. The friend who says that while she is praying for the process, she is glad that we will be around for a few more weeks. Or the one who says nothing but just hugs the life out of me.

In the grand scheme of things, this isn’t a huge deal. We don’t have a pressing deadline to be in Spain. We have somewhere to stay and money in our accounts. It isn’t as if our applications have been denied- they just haven’t been reached yet. We are still in the one to three month time frame so I’m really not too anxious.

I want to be in Spain. I want to meet the rest of our team. I want to find our place in the team. I want to be in language school so we can communicate with the people around us. I want to be where the Lord has led us.

But, here we are. Still waiting and all is well. The Lord is still good. He is still faithful. He still hears our prayers and knows our hearts. We know His timing is just right. We know His intentions for us are good. We know He has spoken to our hearts and His word will not return void.

We know these things and in faith we are living in His truth. He has led us this far and He will not leave us. Right now, I believe, wholeheartedly, that He is growing our patience. This inconvenience is minor in comparison to the suffering in places around the world. But, it breaks my heart to not be in Spain.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:4

I know that as I wait at the feet of our Father, the Holy Spirit will give a new confidence in in this time. 

Purpose- It's more than you can handle

Last week, I shared with a group of mothers at a MOPS meeting. I shared with them about my calling to missions and our purpose for ministering in Spain. I shared with the mom's about how I, as a child raised in the church, felt that I had no purpose. I was normal, ordinary, average. I didn't have anything special to offer. I continued with this feeling of inadequacy until just a couple of months ago.

Jeremy and I arrived at cross-training and received our chapel schedule. And guess who was first in line to share testimonies? We were. I went back to our apartment that night not very happy. I don't like sharing I my "testimony."
I don't even have one.
I am Ordinary. 

In those moments of panic and gut wrenching frustration with whoever thought this was a good idea- God reminded me. He reminded me that while I am the plainest of the plain- He is the EXTRA to my ordinary. 

When I was 15, God took my life and gave it purpose. He placed a calling on my life that has given me confidence for each step I take. I didn't realize at that time where this calling would take me- but I took each opportunity I could find. The Lord has given me faith to trust Him as He leads. 
He has provided for my every need- including my need for a companion for the journey.
He provided me with a husband- a husband who has stepped up to the plate in so many ways along this path. Jeremy heard the Lord's calling and responded immediately. 

There has never been a time when God has not provided just what we needed. 
My journey to the mission field looks nothing like what I had expected. Instead it has been just what I needed. It has been much longer and much more exhausting than I hoped. It has brought me to my sobbing, frantic and painful wit's end more times than I would like to admit.

But the truth I have found is this: God ALWAYS gives you more than you can handle. Even when I felt that I had no purpose- I couldn't handle it. I could not muster up my own purpose. God had to give it to me. If our lives are not more than we can handle, then our lives will never bring God glory.

If you are not stepping out in faith, then you are coasting along on your own strength. Your own strength will ultimately fail you. Your own planning will fail you. Your own purpose will fail you. 
God's strength, God's planning and God's purpose will not fail you. It will bring Him glory. 

Take a step of faith. Put your foot into the rushing waters of life and allow God to part it for you. 

"Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'
...So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground." 
-Joshua 3:5,14-17

Acting According to His Faithfulness

Jeremy and I are in a season of life where we are constantly asking and asking a lot. We are asking a lot of our family, friends, supporters and asking a lot of God. However, as we are constantly asking, I am trying not to neglect being thankful. I am trying to reflect on God's faithfulness to us in the past as we look forward to His faithfulness in the future.
"I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations." Psalm 89:1

We are thankful for how God has not only saved us but also how He has given us a purpose. It is an amazing thing to know that God has saved you. It is even more amazing to realize that even before you asked for His salvation He had a purpose for you. I am thankful that God has given my life purpose.

"I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. "Psalm 40:10 

I am thankful that as we have taken steps of faith in order to obey His calling, He has provided. Before we even knew this season of our lives was coming, God orchestrated our lives according to His timing. His calling and subsequently His provision came, and will continue to come, at just the right time-whether we realize it or not.

 I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Psalm 89:2

As we continue to ask for support, I will continue to be reminded of God's faithfulness thus far. I will reflect on where we have  been and look forward to where He is calling us. I pray that my actions will always be in response to the faithfulness I have experienced.  Never doubting, always trusting. Never looking back, always looking to Him. Never acting in fear, always acting in His peace. 

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 

Here we are.

It seems like everyone went back to school today. But of course it seems that way, it's the first day of school. My brother started high school today. One of my best friends went back to school as a teacher this year. Even my dad is in school.

We are not in school. We are not working. Instead, Jeremy and I are sleeping on a mattress in the floor of my old room. Pink carpet, yellow and blue walls, and purple curtains. The room now doubles as mom's office. We're sharing a bathroom with Joe. Not exactly where I thought we would be right now.

I thought we would be on our way to Spain. I thought we would be saying our final goodbyes.
Instead, we have 30% left of our budget to raise.

We have completed our required training and then some. We are continuing to meet with our funding coach. We are still booking churches until mid-October. At this time I refuse to schedule churches for any later. If you ask me, I'll tell you that we are going to be in Spain by October 31st.

I have faith. I have faith that we'll be fully funded in the next month. I have faith that as God has called us to this, He will provide for us. Not only will He provide for us, but He will provide for those who send us. 

We went to Friedberg yesterday, and were incredibly encouraged by the support we received. It is good to be home. But, I would be lying if I said this is where I want to be. I want to be in Spain.

Each presentation we give, we end with this passage from Romans 10 (the Message):
But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? 

The people of Spain need to hear the Good News. We are called to go, but we must be sent.

Just a Glimpse

“I’m looking for a person who is looking for something. Are you that person?”

This is the question posed by a missionary in Colombia. This question sparked a conversation with a man who may have never had a chance to hear the Gospel. I can’t say whether or not this man accepted the Lord that day or not. But, nevertheless, he heard it and most likely has thought about that question since that day in March 2012.

All over the world are people who are looking for something. They are seeking out what will satisfy them. What will fill that gaping hole in their hearts and satisfy a longing that nothing else will? We, as Christians, understand that Christ and the love of our Heavenly Father will satisfy this need.

Today marked a turning point in my preparation for Spain. I believe that God gave me a glimpse of what He has in store for El Escorial, Spain.   

With His grace and guidance, I have a vision that every coffee shop and bar in the town to be a place of true hope. Jesus said that where two or three are gathered, there He is. I want to see Jesus infiltrate these places. These are the places where people gather and share life. 

In days where hope is dim and to people many life is losing its appeal- we have a hope and joy that translates seamlessly across any language and any setting.

These simple buildings can become the meeting place of Jesus and the lost. Hope and the hopeless. 

Where those who are seeking can find solace.

This is my vision.

This is your legacy.

The past three weeks at Cross-training has been full of incredible moments. But what I think I will take the most from is hearing the stories that our fellow missionaries have shared with us in Chapel. On Thursday the last of the group shared their stories and summed up what we were all thinking perfectly.

Mike spoke about legacy. He shared about a number of people who impacted his life and how he was a part of their legacy. And he shared about the legacy he would leave.

Have you considered your legacy?
Whose life have you impacted?

The truth is, we may never know the legacy we leave behind. We may never see the fruit of the seeds we have planted in the lives of those we encounter. The people we meet in passing. The people who witness our acts of kindness, or acts of harsh judgments.

“Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

We may never know our legacy. But we all have one. A legacy that reflects each area of our lives.

In what ways is your life impacting the Kingdom? Are you making choices that reflect a desire to see souls brought to Christ? Does every area of life reflect this? Or are you holding on to something?

Are you holding on the comforts and security money seemingly provides? Or are you really, truly, wholeheartedly  trusting God to provide? He is worthy of your trust. He has provided. He will continue to provide.

Leave a legacy in lives around the world. Trust God to provide for you. Make a sacrifice. Maybe you think you can’t do enough. Maybe you think I’m asking too much. Consider all that Christ has done for you. What would you give to see that work done in the lives of others?

“Therefore, having such a hope, we use great boldness…Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:12&17

So I encourage you, I challenge you, leave a legacy that speaks boldness, faith and freedom in all areas of your life. Consider the sacrifice made for your salvation.  What is the salvation of others worth to you?

This is your legacy.

Reaching the Nations

It’s nearing the end of week two of CROSS training at One Mission Society headquarters. During our time here, we have met so many amazing people. This training has a total of 24 missionaries and 15 children, which is the largest class in the history of OMS. These people are coming from different states and even different countries with a single purpose - to be prepared to make disciples in all nations. We’ve made friends from Ireland and New Zealand, friends that God called to reach other nations. We’ve made friends that will be serving in Haiti, Uganda, the South Pacific, India, and many others. We’ve all been brought together to learn together and learn from one another, our individual backgrounds and spiritual journeys.

What’s so exciting is not just that all of us have come together, but it’s the network of believers that have come together to send each one. These 39 people are being sent by hundreds more, and that really helped me to understand deeper the body of Christ and that we all have individual roles to play.

We have studied areas of communication, dove into theology, and learned so much about ourselves. Along with that, we did an hour long interview for a radio show called “One Mission Stories” which will be aired in September. We have had opportunities to tell the story of how God brought us into this calling, which has been and will continue to be a humbling experience. We have also had a lot of fun getting to know the people here, including playing some games (cornhole) and participating in a dunking booth for the kids.

We wanted to provide an update of what is happening now and some more information for you. Several months ago, we moved in with some very good friends and we were able to begin saving money due to our reduced cost of living. We both left our jobs at the end of June to pursue missionary service full-time, knowing that along with that would be the remaining financial support necessary. To better steward our resources, we plan to live off of our savings, hoping to use all of the money sent to OMS for the work in Spain.

As we mentioned in our latest newsletter, we are at the point of no return, and we are very happy to be here. Our last hurdle is our financial support. Many people have asked us what is needed in terms of financial support. Our budget (or Missionary Support Requirement) is broken out monthly, so we need enough in committed monthly support before we can leave. This does not mean that you must give every month, you can choose to give annually, biannually, quarterly or however else you would like it broken down, and then it is converted into monthly support for us. Some people have also stated that they’d like to give but want to wait until we leave for Spain. If you would like to do that, it is okay to do so, but for us to leave, the commitment needs to be submitted - even if you do not plan to begin until a later time.

We have listed three ways to give in the Partner section of this blog. OMS accepts payment via check, money order, paypal, credit card, bank account withdrawal (and then even through different ways, such as jewelry, property, grain and wheat, etc. I know, kind of crazy), it is all so that Christ's name can be proclaimed through the nations - to the ends of the earth!

Feel free to ask us about anything. We will keep you up-to-date with our current status in regard to funding. We would ask for your continued prayers during training, and then also in the various church and individual presentations that lie ahead. Soon, we will provide an update from the field of a recent youth camp that we are very excited about!

The Missionary Cupcake!

Hi friends!
Our wonderful friend Alison at Candy Lane Cakes has a DELICIOUS plan! So, if you love Jesus and cupcakes, be sure to check it out!
The proceeds from the sales of White Chocolate cupcakes will go towards our funding! How awesome is that?!
That means as you enjoy delicious cupcakes, you are sending the Gospel to Spain!
So checkout Candy Lane Cakes on facebook and place your order today!
$12/dozen and $6/6.

Comfort and Peace

Jeremy and I were asked to lead a youth Sunday school class yesterday morning. The regular teacher told us that they had just been talking about the Holy Spirit, and requested that we share how we knew when the Holy Spirit was speaking to us.

I rattled off some sort of coherent response… I think. But as the service and day went on, I continued to think on the question. How do I know the Holy Spirit is speaking to me? How to I feel His presence? What makes His direction clear to me?

Finally, I put all the pieces together and connected the dots-

I was left with only two words.

Comfort.

Peace.

How do I know that we are in God’s will? I have comfort and peace about our decisions.The Holy Spirit has consistently manifested Himself as peace and comfort in my life. 

Most recently He has given Jeremy and I complete peace with the decision to leave our jobs. The actual decision was made months ago but it has become very real for us over the past few weeks. Our last paycheck will be deposited into our account tonight. I have four more days with a family with whom I have spent the past five years. 

But still yet, I have peace. I have comfort in the provisions God has given us. 

He has give us wisdom  in how to prepare for  weeks or months without income. He has given us resources and people we can trust. He has given us His promises to provide and work all things for the good of those who serve Him.

I have peace about walking away from secure jobs and income. I have peace about an uncertain future. I have comfort knowing that we may not have a lot and we may not have all we need to depart for Spain, but we have a God who has it all.

I am not concerned with stepping out my “comfort zone” because with every step forward my comfort zone grows. Little by little God is revealing His plan and purpose for us. He is providing all we need and comforting us with each revelation in His will.

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:26-27

Days like today seem a little surreal. Life is happening fast and I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon. But peace and comfort are here to stay. They will lead as we follow the path revealed to us.

                                                                                                                                                                                              

Gentle Teaching

Thirty-seven percent. That is where our account sits at this point.

I punch these numbers in the calculator on my phone multiple times a week. On days that the first numbers goes up- I punch them in over and over. Amazed at how the result changes.
When nothing changes for a couple of weeks my mood changes. I become frustrated. I wonder where the disconnect is.
Why isn't anything coming in?
Is it something I am saying during "the ask?"
Are we not making our purpose clear enough?
Do we need to change something?
Take a new approach?
Why isn't the money coming in?!

I wonder these things and I pray. I pray that God will send us to the right people at the right time. But I don't often stop to think that- maybe the right time hasn't come yet.
Maybe the right person isn't ready yet.
Maybe we aren't ready yet.

I really did think that we would be further along than 37% by now. I really hoped we would be at least half way. Maybe closer.
But we aren't. Here we sit- at 37% funded. Looking forward to Jeremy's last month of work. Cross-training and the potential of months without steady income.

I have started reading more out of Streams in the Desert. Because, well, it's appropriate and maybe a little cliche.
But, honestly, it couldn't be more encouraging.

I had not read out of the book in several days, so (I as sweated my way through 20 minutes on the elliptical),  I opened it up to May 22nd and I re-read the verse at the top.
Commit you way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this. Psalm 37:5

I flipped tapped a couple of pages over on the Kindle...
I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me. Psalm 57:2

May 23rd
They were at their wits' end. They they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. Psalm 107:27-28

May 27th
Bring them here to me. Matthew 14:18

To me the Lord said, "Bring what you have to me. That $1,851 you have in pledges? Give it up. Let me have it and do with it what I want. You don't have it all. But I do. They don't have it all. I've got it."

My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

"You hear that? I've got it. I am the the source. I am the means and the way in which to receive it. You can't do this on your own. Give. It. Up."

May 28th
I will not let you go unless you bless me. Genesis 32:26
Not my will, but yours be done. Luke 22:42

I will no longer work by my strength alone. I will not work against the time He has allowed to pass. I will find the joy in this preparation and be grateful for the gentle teaching He has given me.

Happy Anniversary... To US!

Today we celebrate the first two and look forward to the next eighty-two. 

A New Season- A New Love

This past week has been one of many, many blessings, both small and large.
Together, Jeremy and I celebrated a huge milestone in our lives and preparation for ministry- We graduated! I walked across the stage to receive with a Bachelors in Intercultural Studies and Jeremy graduated with a Masters in Ministry. Now, after-the-fact, it does seem a little surreal.

Our time at Laurel University is quickly coming to a close. Jeremy has been a student at the school for six years. Five of those years he has worked full-time in the Admissions Department. The last three of those years he has held the title of "Director of  Enrollment Management"- a title so long they had to abbreviate to fit on the door. Two years ago this past weekend, Jeremy received a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry.

I have been a full-time student since 2009. In the fall of 2008, while Jeremy was a sophomore, I came to visit the school with my Mom. I had no idea that I had met my husband that day. Jeremy was currently working three part-time jobs and attending classes. He was a work-study student in the admissions office so he gave me a tour around the two-story, all-inclusive building that is John Wesley College/Laurel University.

At that time, I was dead-set on becoming a full-time missionary, with or without a husband. I had no intentions of being a local pastor's wife or even living in the U.S. past finishing my degree. About eight months into our relationship, my plans had begun to change right before my eyes. Or so I thought. You see, God sure has a funny way of doing things. I continued to jump on every opportunity I had to travel. I joined the school on trips to Mexico City (Jeremy's first trip outside the country), Kenya, and Colombia. 

Now, Jeremy is preparing to train the lady who will soon take his office. I am preparing to leave a family who has been so good to me as their babysitter/nanny over the past 5 years.


The next two months will be the end of a season in our life that has forever changed us. We are asked over and over again if we are ready for the move. At this point, we are as ready as we can be. I trust that God has prepared for this point and He will continue to prepare and guide us as we go. We still have a ways to go in our monthly budget requirement and we will have weeks of formal training ahead of us. But, at this point, we are as prepared as we can be.

I will say this to close- My heart is ready to see the hearts of Spanish people turn to Christ. It is hard to explain how you can love a people and a country you hardly know. But part of God's preparation has been to give me a love for these people. I desperately want to see them know Christ. As this season of life ends for us, I can sense the turning of my heart towards new things as God gives me a new love for His people.

You ask...We answer.

I have kept a running list of questions Jeremy and I have been asked while raising support. Most of the time we have a chance to answer them right then, but I know there are some people who may be wondering about these questions and have not had a chance to ask. So, here are some of the most asked questions with answers. If anyone has any other questions, please feel free to contact Jeremy or me and we would love to talk with you!

When do you plan to leave?
Our goal departure date is September 2013. This is completely dependant on our funding. Jeremy has resigned from his job and will leave on June 30th. The school has already begun the process of hiring his replacement, so this is definitely happening! I say that our departure date is completely dependant on our funding, that means we cannot leave unless we are 100% funded.
OMS holds cross training in January and July of each year. We need to be at July Cross-Training in order to meet our goal. That means we must be at least 50% funded in June. But, obviously we want to be further along than that.

Where will you live?
Our first three months in Spain will be spent in Madrid (the capital). During this time our only assignment will be language learning. We will focus completely on language learning then so that the rest of our first term can be devoted to serving the people fully. We will mostly likely live with another missionary couple or with someone they know.
After the first three months we will move to another area near El Escorial. There we will have an apartment since will be our home during our time in Spain.

What exactly will you be doing?
It is difficult to explain exactly what we will be doing. I say this because, just as a pastor, or any other career minister, each day will look different than the next. Our end goal is to plant churches or house churches. We will be doing this by simply building relationships. In order to do this, part of my job will be teaching English classes. Jeremy will likely be working with a youth group that has already been formed. Our days will be filled with these activities along with team meetings, projects, planning events, and day-to-day activities.
The team that we will be working with has a goal to reach 25 different towns in an area northwest of Madrid. Everything that we do will be in an effort to meet this goal.

How long will you be there?
This is another question that is somewhat difficult to answer. Our first term with OMS is two years. After that time we will have six months of furlough. This will be a time when we come back to the States and visit family, supporters and possibly do more support raising if necessary. Following our furlough time we will return to Spain for at least 4 years.
At this time Jeremy and I do see our missionary status as a career. We do not see ourselves returning to the States to find another job or career anytime soon. Clearly, I say this knowing that God may have other plans for us after these first two years. But, at this time this is what He has revealed to us. Our time in Spain may just be the beginning. He may have another location in store for us or he may reveal something completely new. However, we are acting in boldness and confidence that Spain is His calling for us.

How will you make money? Will you have another job?
Our income is solely from our monthly faith promises. That means that as you respond to our presentations and calling with monthly faith promises- your funds are supporting the ministry that God has called us to. We will not have another job while in Spain. This is due not only to Visas but also because we want to dedicate as much time as possible to this ministry. We do not want to spread ourselves thin and not be able to give everything to this work.

Why do you have to raise SO MUCH money?
People have asked about the exact amount we must have pledged monthly. I sometimes hesitate to give the exact amount because I do not want you to be hung up on the number. However, the number is important. The people at OMS have carefully figured out just how much we will need each month to operate and function well as missionaries in this area.
Let me tell you that our salary is only a fraction of the total monthly pledges we need.
The best way I can think to explain our MSR (Missionary Support Requirement) is as if we were self-employed. Anyone who owns a small business can tell you that the money that comes in must not only cover your salary but also all of the business expenses that you will incur. Our monthly pledges cover much more than what comes into our bank account.

I hope this offers you a little more clarity about what we will be doing and also how you can be a part of this.

The Power of Prayer

This is an article published in the Summer of 2009 in ACTION (the official publication of OMS Men for Mission). Paul Cox served as Field Coordinator in Spain for several years and is now the Director of Mobilization at One Mission Society Headquarters.

Prayer Initiative - Spain
by Paul Cox

For the past six years, Spain has been the blessed beneficiary of a special prayer relationship with Men for Missions. And God has blessed that relationship with fruit.

In 2004, a Spanish pastor was on the edge of burnout and ready to turn the lights out on his career of faithful service with One Mission Society.

A prayer team led by Dick and Judy
McLeish praying over Cobeña, Spain.

Little did he know that Dick McLeish was already headed to Spain for the first time with a small prayer team. Dick and his group met with that pastor for encouragement and prayer, and they spent time with him at a retreat he attended. That Spanish pastor left the retreat recharged and excited about a new season of ministry. Today, hundreds of believers and non-believers are benefiting from the fruit of those prayers.
 
In 2006, Dick returned with a team that desired to pray over each missionary, national worker, church planting team, and the One Mission Society ministry. A special prayer workshop was held at a local church. Dick and the MFM team challenged the members to prayer-walk the neighborhood for the first time. The next day, which was Sunday, six non-Christian Spaniards from the neighborhood attended the local service. To watch them enter the church door one-by-one was a historical event, because a majority of Spaniards are not interested in entering the door of an evangelical church.
 
Fast forward to 2008. Two prayer champions were found after a long and prayerful search. More prayer teams have gone to link arms with the Spain team, and the hardness of spiritual soil in Spain is covered once again by faithful prayer warriors.

One of my last assignments as Field Coordinator was to put together an annual field report of what God had done in our midst during the previous year. There were more decisions and more baptisms in a three-month span during the summer of 2008 than there were in the previous six years combined!