April Update

Back in Spain

I am back in Cuéllar and busy unpacking, doing laundry, cleaning and reconnecting with friends. I will probably start language school next week. It was very hard to leave family and friends in the States but it helped to be welcomed back so warmly by the people in the Cuéllar church. And I was pleased to find that I hadn't lost as many language skills as I feared.

I will be spending Easter weekend with teammates who live just outside Madrid. They attend an English-speaking church and I'm looking forward to being able to celebrate the resurrection in my heart language. It's a comfort to know that wherever we are around the globe, we celebrate the same Christ and His great gift to us. May your time with family and friends be especially meaningful.

This month's quote:

"John didn't know on that Friday what you and I now know. He didn't know that Friday's tragedy would be Sunday's triumph. John would later confess that he 'did not yet understand from the Scriptures that Jesus must rise from the dead' (John 20:9).

That's why what he did on Saturday is so important.

Jesus was dead. The Master's body was lifeless. John's friend and future were buried. But John had not left. Why? Was he waiting for the resurrection? No. As far as he knew, the lips were forever silent and the hands forever still. He wasn't expecting a Sunday surprise. Then why was he here?...Perhaps the answer was pragmatic; perhaps he was taking care of Jesus' mother. Or perhaps he didn't have anywhere else to go. Could be he didn't have any money or energy or direction, or all of the above. Or maybe he lingered because he loved Jesus...

What about you? When you're in John's position, what do you do? When it's Saturday in your life, how do you react? When you are somewhere between yesterday's tragedy and tomorrow's triumph, what do you do? Do you leave God—or do you linger near him?

John chose to linger. And because he lingered on Saturday, he was around on Sunday to see the miracle."

Max Lucado, He Chose the Nails

Praises:

1. My monthly need has dropped to $100. Many thanks to those of you who either joined my financial support team or increased your current giving. God bless you!
   
2. An offer has been made on the Haleys' house in Cuéllar.
   
3. Safe arrival in Spain. I was delayed several hours but I arrived safely and so did my luggage.
   

Prayer Requests:

1. Continue to pray for my monthly support needs.
   
2. Continue to pray for God´s direction regarding the property/house in Barcelona.
   
3. The amount we need to raise for our increased housing expenses will depend on whether we are able to share the same house or whether we have two separate places. The amount I will need to raise will most likely be between $200-$400/month.