EL TIEMPO (THE WEATHER)
Things in March and April have been good, but also difficult at times. My mom and friend, Elizabeth, came to visit for Semana Santa (the week before Easter). We did all of the tourist things, and they met some of my Spanish friends. It was refreshing to have people from home here with me, although when they left it made me homesick.
I’ve been spending more time than usual with my friend Elena, which is great! We went to watch a procession together during Semana Santa, she’s teaching me the Sevillana (a traditional Southern Spain dance), and I’ll be meeting her and a bunch of her friends soon to celebrate Las Cruces and her birthday. Las Cruces is a holiday specific to Southern Spain where people decorate and display crosses throughout the cities. There will be lots of traditional music, food and of course dancing.
On the downside I went through a really difficult period that lasted about two weeks. I was really discouraged about the ministry here and my life in general. After talking with the girls on my team and Migue I realized that most of us were feeling depressed. So we talked and prayed about it as a team. After that our spirits improved incredibly.
SEMANA SANTA(HOLY WEEK)
Semana Santa or Holy Week is one of the biggest holidays in the year. It’s basically the celebration of Easter but it lasts for about a week. There is no school for the entire week before Easter and most people do not work the Thursday and Friday before. The week is filled with religious processions and Catholic masses. In almost every procession, people called costaleros carry an image of Jesus and Mary. The images are escorted by penitentes, penitents seeking forgiveness for the sins they have committed during the year and a band.
I have a lot of pictures of Semana Santa on a Kodak website so if you do not receive my picture updates just e-mail me (my address is at the top of the page) and I’ll send you the link.
March/April 2006
THE GROUP FROM VENEZUELA
A group of about 20 university students, professors, and administrators from Venezuela will be coming to Granada to help us with the ministry here from June 12-23. It will be, and is now, a lot of work for us but a blessing as well. We are providing the housing (they will be staying with us and with Sylvester a missionary here who is from Holland) plus half the cost of their food and transportation in Granada.
Everyone on our team is personally donating money for the food and transportation. We are planning to cook all of the meals ourselves and walk as much as possible, instead of taking the bus. We are still talking with the Venezuelan team leader about what ministry things they will be doing when they get here. We have several ideas and they have several ideas so between all of us it should be a very packed and enjoyable two weeks.
TERTULIA AND CINE FORUM
We have not had as many non-native speakers coming to Tertulia lately as at the beginning of the year. I think it’s because there have been a lot of holidays here lately and students are getting ready to begin their final exams.
A great thing though is that a couple, Carolina and Jesus have just started coming to Tertulia. I met them the first time they came and have been talking to them every Thursday since. Jesus is studying at the university to teach children English and although Carolina is still in high school she wants to improve her English skills.
We have had less people coming to Cine Forum lately, but it’s still going well. We’re just having a hard time getting people to stay and discuss the movie afterward.
A few weeks ago Kelly went with a friend to the teahouse where we do the Cine Forum and discovered that Delilah, one of the owners, is an Evangelical Christian. She’s from Columbia and does not attend church here so at the last Cine Forum Kelly invited her to come to church with us. She has not come yet but hopefully it will happen soon.
ALPHA COURSE
We are have now downsized to one Alpha Course, we are only doing the Wednesday night one. Attendance is still sporadic but we have one student, Casto, who comes every week. Last week the subject was “Does God heal today” and Casto asked us to pray for him. He has back, knee, and ankle problems. We prayed for him at Alpha and are continuing to pray for him during our personal and team prayer times. I’ve been praying that God would reveal Himself to Casto, especially through healing him.
On May 13 we will have a retreat for Alpha Course. Hopefully everyone will be able to go. The main focus of the retreat will be the Holy Spirit (What is it? What does it do? Etc.). Also, May 17 will be our last Alpha Course for the Spring/Summer.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Would you please commit to pray for our ministry in Granada at least once a week? Here are some specific things you can be praying for:
• The final two Cine Forum’s for the Spring/Summer on May 15 and 29.
• Tertulia every Thursday night: that we would get into some great spiritual discussions and have the opportunity to share the Gospel. For Carolina and Jesus.
• For five or more students to give their lives to Christ this year.
• For Casto, the Alpha Course retreat, and the last few Alpha Course studies.
• For the preparation and planning we need to do and the money we need to come up with for the group from Venezuela.
• That my friendships with Elena, Raquel, Isa, Rocio, José, David, José Miguel, Josh, Lidia and Almu would continue to grow.
• For encouragement and joy for everyone on our team.
I am so grateful for all your support and prayers. This ministry could not happen without you!
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