Spain Update #5 United in Christ

Warm. Kind. Vibrant. Welcoming. None of these words seem sufficient to describe the local Spain team. I’ve never met a group of people like them. It’s an everchanging group of short and long-termers. The current makeup consists of 15 team members from five different countries. Their time spent on the team ranges from six months to over 20 years. They have different ethnicities, speak different languages (someone is always translating), come from vastly different backgrounds and have different testimonies, yet they all share the same call to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Most being immigrants themselves, they are uniquely equipped to love the refugees and immigrants the center serves.

The Holy Spirit fills the room when this group gathers. I see Him in their smiling eyes and I feel Him in their heartfelt hugs. Pastor Stan leads the meeting as we pray a blessing over the team. I can’t help but feel I’m leaving with more than I gave.

Throughout the week, we worked with various team members at the church and two community centers. Most of the team we only met a couple of times; yet, they somehow instantly feel like old friends. We learn that Esther, who was born in Egypt and lived in Norway for 12 years, has felt called to Spain for decades but only two years ago did God open the door for her to move. We hear how Guillermo and Emily met working at the centers as interns only to realize they lived in the same city in Texas and attended the same Texas church. After returning to the States, they started dating, eventually married and returned to Spain to serve long-term. The team is so diverse yet so united. They serve with a joy and love that’s contagious. They use their unique giftings and talents to strengthen the team and build the ministry.

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12

I’ll remember many things from Spain. We saw cathedrals, castles and ancient Roman ruins. They were beautiful and breathtaking, but as Laura pointed out on the first day, none of it compares to God’s most precious creation. Of all the things I will remember from Spain, I will remember the people most of all.

Friends, thank you for following along on our journey. Thank you for praying. We can’t wait to see you in person and tell you more about our time in Spain.

Love,

Hannah, Jordin, Leonel, Liliana, Laura, Kassidy, Nancy and Pastor Stan

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