October 08 Vilanova Team: Monday and Tuesday

Tuesday:

Our team spent most of the morning and afternoon with David Martinez, Isma's little brother. David was so excited on Monday afternoon to help construct a "cornhole" set with Michael and myself. Cornhole is a game that is gaining much 

popularity back in the states, and our team really enjoyed playing together when we used it as a team building experience on our pre-trip retreat about 6 weeks ago. We couldn't help but share it with our friends here in Vilanova and Sitges. We decided to give it another name in Spanish... so we call it "Agujero de Maiz". Isma, David Martinez, Michael and I went to an AKI (the local Home Depot) to purchase some lumber and screws for the job. Then David, Michael and I took it all up to the church in Sitges to assemble. Nothing like some power tools and sawdust to promote some male bonding time with our Spanish friends-- David Martinez proved to be quite the expert carpenter! The plan is to finish the project for the church to enjoy while we complete the service project of cleaning up the two church sites this week.

In the late afternoon, Eva and Issac met up with us in to pray for the people of Vilanova. We split the team into two groups, and we went through the town of Vilanova to pray for the many people who do not know God here. We are praying continuously for a revival here in Spain, and we believe God is blessing La Iglesia Cristiana del Garraf so that His Name will be known all over the country here. For generation upon generation in Spain and throughout Europe, the traditional Catholic church has slowly become an afterthought in the daily lives of people here. The desire of La Iglesia Cristiana del Garraf is to have a church that emphasizes making church relevant again. In the past year and a half, we have been so excited to see small groups expanding and new people coming to see what makes these Christians different.

Monday night we went to dinner with the executive Leadership team from the church. They chose an American type restaurant with a nice open area so we could discuss the church, small groups and service. Mom, you will be pleased to know that I am eating very well... Over dinner we discussed small groups and the things that they want to work on moving forward. It is so great to see the progress that has happened over the past year. God is really making things happen here, and it is wonderful to witness.

Tuesday:

Today Samuel and Loles took us on a prayer walk in Barcelona to pray for all of Spain. We went to see the many churches in Barcelona to learn about the history of the Catholic Church here. For years it was associated with government control and oppression, even corruption... so it made it easier to understand the people falling away from the church over the generations. Sarah Andrews also met up with us this afternoon. It was pretty neat to see the spot, near one of the churches, where Christopher Columbus was sent on a mission to find a route to the East Indies.

After a long day, our team split up to meet with two different families from the church: the girls went to eat with Eugenio and Marc, and the guys went to eat with David at Dani and Tamar's house. It has been a great day. I am ever thankful for this mission team and our Spanish friends here in Vilanova. Tomorrow, our team will travel with Eugenio and Loles to Monserrat in the mountains to pray for the region of Catalunya. I will attach a few pictures...

Thanks for following along. I appreciate the letters of encouragement that I am getting this week.

David