So, tomorrow we leave... and all day I´ve been reflecting on some of my favorite things about Barcelona... and the United States... here´s what I got
What I´ll miss from Spain:
architecture, pretty sidewalks, artwork everywhere!, graffitti art, el Lokal, La Zona Roja, Maria, David, Magdelena, the girls from el Raval, good preservative free bread!, free cava, cheap good wine, our gas stove, la playa (the beach), the heat, the sun, the pineapple runway (you´ll see a pic on facebook.. or here later), the view of mountains out one window and the sea from the other, the metro, the people, the city life, our coffee shop, coca cola... it´s different here, the desperation of el Lokal for an encounter with God and the praise and worship they possess each and every Sunday for their Savior, the desperation they have for God to move in this country in mighty ways, the faithfulness of their prayer warriors, the culture, the language, the shower we have with multiple shower heads, street performers, night life, music, the chocolate shop, the market, our market, fresh produce! and cheap produce!, the clothes, the kisses with greetings, walking everyplace, GOOD coffee, wearing whatever, whenever and no one paying attention of caring, cute guys at the market calling me guapa (I sort of fell in love with a Spaniard who sells olive oil...and a frenchmen who sells wine... haha...)
What I won´t miss...
the smell in some places, being hit on by men because we´re americans, using garlic as the main ingredient of EVERY meal, catalan! (come on barcelona.. speak spanish!! just kidding... that´s the american in me), dodging taxies, dodging people, people who stop in the middle of the sidewalk just because, packed metros, people on beaches topless or in thongs, old men in speedos, old women topless in thongs on the beach (I´m talking 70´s...I´m not being liberal with the word old), paying for internet, paying for water at restaurants, the conversions rate! (it´s 1 Euro =1.33 USD or worse)
What I look forward to at home...
Guadalajaras! (Ash and I´s first lunch back! :) ), people!...especially my mom and dad..., my OWN bathroom (so spoiled, I know), my own couch to lounge on, sand not being all over the apartment, the mission coffeehouse, a piano!, my own room!, my brothers and sisters back home!, and leaving for Thailand
this is just the start of reflections... but I thought I would share... love you all.. and we´ll see you soon!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
La Zona Roja for the final time
Tonight was our last night going out to love up on the women enslaved in prostitution. Annie woke up extremely sick and so she didn´t go out. Magdelana was also not around so both Kelsey and myself went with Maria. I was so excited to hit the streets and talk to the girls.
My last experience was only right after the first one but was very different. We got to El Raval and started walking down the same streets as last time. The streets and alley´s were extremely different, no police cornering African American´s for papers. We soon met up with a couple Nigerians from the previous week. They were once again willing to let us pray for them so both Kelsey and I experienced the joy and excitement in that. As Maria was saying good by to Sylvia and Margaret my eyes shifted to this beautiful african women with bright blue eye shadow and hair braided and pulled up. We made eye contact and I just stared at her beauty with nothing to say.All of a sudden out of my mouth without even thinking comes, ¨You´re so beautiful!¨ I had no idea where that came from, it took me by surprise! She replied with a huge smile and saying, ¨Thank you! You´re so nice!¨ We exchanged names and Kelsey jumped into our conversation. Long story short we talked about Christianity and she told us about her african church that she goes to. She was pretty drunk, but it took me awhile to tell. She repeatedly told us to come to her church and how great it was. Maria took her number and is going to call her over the weekend. The three of us with Maria plan to go together on Sunday...4 hour service! Crazy Africans! We encouraged Gladys to get to know the prostitutes on the street. It took a lot of encouraging but we left her, went around the block and there she was talking to them in their own language. Bali I think??? The experience was so powerful!
Another experience that completely brought joy to my heart was when we met Aisha later on. She was this absolutely gorgeous and amazing African girl, probably about 21 with such long beautiful hair. We started talking to her and she really opened up to us. She´s been in prostitution for about a year now and wants nothing more than to get out of it. It´s crazy how most of the women truly do not want to be on the streets. But when they are shipped over here, they are in the hands of the mafia and they have to pay a certain fee to go back to their homeland. Very heartbreaking to see how badly these girls want to go home but can´t. I´ll be praying for them hardcore and encourage that you do as well.
My internet time is running low so I´m going to say all for now.
My last experience was only right after the first one but was very different. We got to El Raval and started walking down the same streets as last time. The streets and alley´s were extremely different, no police cornering African American´s for papers. We soon met up with a couple Nigerians from the previous week. They were once again willing to let us pray for them so both Kelsey and I experienced the joy and excitement in that. As Maria was saying good by to Sylvia and Margaret my eyes shifted to this beautiful african women with bright blue eye shadow and hair braided and pulled up. We made eye contact and I just stared at her beauty with nothing to say.All of a sudden out of my mouth without even thinking comes, ¨You´re so beautiful!¨ I had no idea where that came from, it took me by surprise! She replied with a huge smile and saying, ¨Thank you! You´re so nice!¨ We exchanged names and Kelsey jumped into our conversation. Long story short we talked about Christianity and she told us about her african church that she goes to. She was pretty drunk, but it took me awhile to tell. She repeatedly told us to come to her church and how great it was. Maria took her number and is going to call her over the weekend. The three of us with Maria plan to go together on Sunday...4 hour service! Crazy Africans! We encouraged Gladys to get to know the prostitutes on the street. It took a lot of encouraging but we left her, went around the block and there she was talking to them in their own language. Bali I think??? The experience was so powerful!
Another experience that completely brought joy to my heart was when we met Aisha later on. She was this absolutely gorgeous and amazing African girl, probably about 21 with such long beautiful hair. We started talking to her and she really opened up to us. She´s been in prostitution for about a year now and wants nothing more than to get out of it. It´s crazy how most of the women truly do not want to be on the streets. But when they are shipped over here, they are in the hands of the mafia and they have to pay a certain fee to go back to their homeland. Very heartbreaking to see how badly these girls want to go home but can´t. I´ll be praying for them hardcore and encourage that you do as well.
My internet time is running low so I´m going to say all for now.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Treasure Hunt in the Market!
Barcelona is host to Europes largest outdoor market... possibly the world´s...so yesterday we decided to do a treasure hunt there.
We started the day off at 10am in a cafe near the market (it´s one that Ash and I have come to love... we do a lot of quiet time there). We did a Bible study. Being that we were doing a treasure hunt, I found it appropriate to study Acts 8 about philip and the eunich, since the Spirit speaks, giving Philip pieces of information that lead him to the Eunich. (for those of you who don´tknow, treasure hunts are a form of evangelism in which you simply pray and ask God to give you clues/signs/information that will lead you to who he has for you that day...kind of like Philip with the Eunich...the Holy Spirit guided Philip to the Eunich...treasure hunts guide you to the person.. it´s quite marvelous). After the study, we prayed and asked God for clues/information/signs/pieces/etc. I immediately got blonde hair and a button coral/pink shirt. I then got a fish head and a woman working at a fruit/candy stand. I also got a dark haired woman withher hair pulled back. Ashley got pink lady, green dress, blonde hair, el raval and Kelsey got big cat/lion, and an "s".
After praying and recieving, we headed towards el raval, but Ash and I both got a checkin the Spirit and decided the market was the place to start.. As we head towards the market we spot a woman dressed ALL in pink...and she just happens to head in the same direction as the market... her and her husband went into a Tobacco shop so we did too.. I´m not sure what happened, I knew taht I wasn´t to talk to her and that we were there for Ash to get stamps, so I checked out cigar prices/knick knach prices etc. Ash got her stamps and we headed across the street to th emarket. It felt like we werein themarket FOREVER not getting anything or seeing anything, but I KNEW we couldn´t leave (very frustrating/trying). We walked around for a while, and then we came to a fish place wehre there was a woman wearing a button coral shirt...across from her was a fruit stand wehre a lady with dark hair pulled back was working...so I´m thinking one of these women is the treasure. But everytime I would go to talk or speak, i would either getno words, or a mass of people would come...so we wondered to the next fish stand.. to find nothing.. and then came back. And atjust that moment, a girl in a pink dress with blonde hair walked between the stands, and I knew.. but not being sure, I asked Ash and Kels what they thought.. Ash gave an affirmation and we went to this girl.
So we approach this girl, and I´mnot sure what we´ll say,and so I just say "excuse me, to you speak english?" and she said yes and I said, "well, we´re Christians and we were praying before coming here today for God to reveal to us someone he wanted us to talk to, and he gave us theclues of....and he lead us to you. We think you´re God´s treasure for us today." I kid you not, the look on this girl´s face was priceless...she did not know what to do with that.. and in a good way... she said thank you... and we asked if she needed prayer, but she didn´t quite understand, so we told her that God was thining about her and brought us to her to let her know that she´s beautiful and He´s thinking about her and then we parted ways and prayed for her as we left...it was beautiful!
The rest of the clues lead us to el Raval where I was our treasure... more healing stuf!! :)
Today we´re going to the beach to do some evangelism/treasure hunts and art evangelism...be praying!!
We love you!
AZ
We started the day off at 10am in a cafe near the market (it´s one that Ash and I have come to love... we do a lot of quiet time there). We did a Bible study. Being that we were doing a treasure hunt, I found it appropriate to study Acts 8 about philip and the eunich, since the Spirit speaks, giving Philip pieces of information that lead him to the Eunich. (for those of you who don´tknow, treasure hunts are a form of evangelism in which you simply pray and ask God to give you clues/signs/information that will lead you to who he has for you that day...kind of like Philip with the Eunich...the Holy Spirit guided Philip to the Eunich...treasure hunts guide you to the person.. it´s quite marvelous). After the study, we prayed and asked God for clues/information/signs/pieces/etc. I immediately got blonde hair and a button coral/pink shirt. I then got a fish head and a woman working at a fruit/candy stand. I also got a dark haired woman withher hair pulled back. Ashley got pink lady, green dress, blonde hair, el raval and Kelsey got big cat/lion, and an "s".
After praying and recieving, we headed towards el raval, but Ash and I both got a checkin the Spirit and decided the market was the place to start.. As we head towards the market we spot a woman dressed ALL in pink...and she just happens to head in the same direction as the market... her and her husband went into a Tobacco shop so we did too.. I´m not sure what happened, I knew taht I wasn´t to talk to her and that we were there for Ash to get stamps, so I checked out cigar prices/knick knach prices etc. Ash got her stamps and we headed across the street to th emarket. It felt like we werein themarket FOREVER not getting anything or seeing anything, but I KNEW we couldn´t leave (very frustrating/trying). We walked around for a while, and then we came to a fish place wehre there was a woman wearing a button coral shirt...across from her was a fruit stand wehre a lady with dark hair pulled back was working...so I´m thinking one of these women is the treasure. But everytime I would go to talk or speak, i would either getno words, or a mass of people would come...so we wondered to the next fish stand.. to find nothing.. and then came back. And atjust that moment, a girl in a pink dress with blonde hair walked between the stands, and I knew.. but not being sure, I asked Ash and Kels what they thought.. Ash gave an affirmation and we went to this girl.
So we approach this girl, and I´mnot sure what we´ll say,and so I just say "excuse me, to you speak english?" and she said yes and I said, "well, we´re Christians and we were praying before coming here today for God to reveal to us someone he wanted us to talk to, and he gave us theclues of....and he lead us to you. We think you´re God´s treasure for us today." I kid you not, the look on this girl´s face was priceless...she did not know what to do with that.. and in a good way... she said thank you... and we asked if she needed prayer, but she didn´t quite understand, so we told her that God was thining about her and brought us to her to let her know that she´s beautiful and He´s thinking about her and then we parted ways and prayed for her as we left...it was beautiful!
The rest of the clues lead us to el Raval where I was our treasure... more healing stuf!! :)
Today we´re going to the beach to do some evangelism/treasure hunts and art evangelism...be praying!!
We love you!
AZ
Saturday, July 4, 2009
La Zona Roja con Maria, Annie, y, Magdelena
As most of you read Annie´s blog about La Zona Roja, my experience was slightly different. As we were praying before going out on the streets I was still unsure of actually going out and building relationships with the prostitutes. However, I put my fears behind me and went out with Maria. The two of us separated from Annie and Magdelana in search of Nigerian women (who speak english).
We started off our journey and arrived in the streets where Maria normally talks with the girls but the police were swarming the place. They had African men cornered demanding papers to prove they were legally able to be in Spain. Maria and I turned the corner and the same with the other streets. Maria was very confused and reassured me that this was not normal. I asked her if it was a drug bust or something and she said they happen all the time and it was probably the reasoning behind it.
After walking a few more blocks one of the Nigerian prostitutes came up to Maria and started talking with us. I love how Maria knows most of the women on the street, it was an amazing sight to see her open up to Maria. The women took us to the rest of her friends (who also knew maria), and Maria asked them if they were willing to pray today. I asked to pray for them and so we stood in a circle and the girls asked me to pray for their families who are still back in Nigeria. I had such joy while talking to them. They looked like everyday beautiful women on the street. They weren´t skanky, but average women, women that desire the lifestyle that most of us have.
Maria and I continued onward. We saw Annie and Magdelena so we met up with them to see how things were going. They were talking to one of the girls on the streets so we joined the conversation. I didn´t say anything to the girl but she said good bye to us and as she was walking by me she said, "you´re different," and winked at me with a huge smile on her face. I was unsure of how to take this comment, but I chose to take it as a compliment and Annie confirmed in me that it was. That out here my innocence shows and that it´s not something that most people have anymore.
So Maria and I continued on meeting with a few other girls and gave a couple cd´s out that Maria made and met up with the other group at the big cat. (we´ll post a picture it´s awesome)
We went back to El Lokal to debrief, where Kelsey stayed praying for us. We talked a little about our experience and I emphasized on how beautiful the women were and how much joy they brought to my heart. I was surprised that most of them looked like average women walking down the street. I found it hard to pick out who was a prostitute and who wasn´t. This experience was very life changing and I can´t wait to go out next week. Keep praying for us, and for the girls we meet, for this ministry is powerful!
Love you all!
ash
We started off our journey and arrived in the streets where Maria normally talks with the girls but the police were swarming the place. They had African men cornered demanding papers to prove they were legally able to be in Spain. Maria and I turned the corner and the same with the other streets. Maria was very confused and reassured me that this was not normal. I asked her if it was a drug bust or something and she said they happen all the time and it was probably the reasoning behind it.
After walking a few more blocks one of the Nigerian prostitutes came up to Maria and started talking with us. I love how Maria knows most of the women on the street, it was an amazing sight to see her open up to Maria. The women took us to the rest of her friends (who also knew maria), and Maria asked them if they were willing to pray today. I asked to pray for them and so we stood in a circle and the girls asked me to pray for their families who are still back in Nigeria. I had such joy while talking to them. They looked like everyday beautiful women on the street. They weren´t skanky, but average women, women that desire the lifestyle that most of us have.
Maria and I continued onward. We saw Annie and Magdelena so we met up with them to see how things were going. They were talking to one of the girls on the streets so we joined the conversation. I didn´t say anything to the girl but she said good bye to us and as she was walking by me she said, "you´re different," and winked at me with a huge smile on her face. I was unsure of how to take this comment, but I chose to take it as a compliment and Annie confirmed in me that it was. That out here my innocence shows and that it´s not something that most people have anymore.
So Maria and I continued on meeting with a few other girls and gave a couple cd´s out that Maria made and met up with the other group at the big cat. (we´ll post a picture it´s awesome)
We went back to El Lokal to debrief, where Kelsey stayed praying for us. We talked a little about our experience and I emphasized on how beautiful the women were and how much joy they brought to my heart. I was surprised that most of them looked like average women walking down the street. I found it hard to pick out who was a prostitute and who wasn´t. This experience was very life changing and I can´t wait to go out next week. Keep praying for us, and for the girls we meet, for this ministry is powerful!
Love you all!
ash
Friday, July 3, 2009
On the streets with La Zona Roja
Yesterday was Thursday which means Zona Roja day. We´ve met with them for the last 2 weeks, and each week were unable to go out because of some circumstance, however this week we were finally able to hit the streets! God had laid on Kelsey´s heart to stay back and pray, which was perfect because a rule they have is that in order for anyone to go out someone needs to be at the church praying (good idea huh) and David was running late. So we met, prayed together, and then ash and I went out with Maria and Magdelna and Kels stayed back and prayed for us. The four of us going out headed to the metro in order to procede to la raval (an area of heavy prostitution).
When we got of the metro, Ash headed out with Maria and I with Magdelena (who doesn´t speak ANY English). Ash and Maria went to the nigerian prositutes because they speak predominately English, and Magdelena and I went to the Romanian woman who are Spanish speaking. I won´t share any of Ash´s story because I know she want´s to post it herself tomorrow or Sunday.
I had a WONDERFUL time!!!...which is ironic because after I was completley broken...
Magdelena and I went around to different women, chatting and handing out c.d´s. The first woman I actually talked to, Madonna, was a prostitute from romania, and had an amazing singing voice. When we offered her a cd she sang a church song she knew (as she put it). she sang part of Lord I give you my heart (it was beautiful!) We also were able to give her directions to the church because she asked for them! Please pray that she comes and that God continues to work in this woman´s life!
We talked to a couple other girls, and then they left so we stopped and talked to a woman who was so beautiful, yet so sad. Her face showed so much toughness, hurt, pain, bitterness, etc. and it was obvious that she did not want to be there. Magdelena began to speak to her, and she was very resistant to us and to talking with us but Magdelena pressed in and spoke about needing to have faith and hope and the woman said what faith or hope is there for me here? And then Magdelena began to speak words of pure joy and beauty (I´m not sure everything she said... I know she told her that she should have faith in God and that He has another path for her and that she is beautiful...it was quick spanish and hard to follow!) However, what was not hard to follow was the transformation that took place in this woman and on her face.. .she went from rock hard to smiling and laughing at the end... she laughed!!! oh and her smile was beautiful... it was like Magdelena had poured straight milk and honey into this woman´s soul... it was absolutely beautiful! I shared this with Magdelena afterwards, and her response was I can only speak that which God give me (this woman is incredible mind you... amazing faith!).
We continued on walking and talkin ( I was solicited once... I know right? it was "funny" ( say funny lightly because my heart really does break over this and this stuff) because I didn´t know what was goin on at first... this guy asked me my name and I was like Annie.. and then he started talking and Magdelena was like we´re leaving... and in that moment it clicked and I was like.. oh my!...but God is good and faithful! :) ).
Anyways, we met back up with Maria and Ashley shortly after, shared stories and went back to the church to pray. It was cool because Ashley had SUCH joy leaving that place and I was completely broken. (Probably very close picture of the heart of Jesus... joy and sorrow intertwined). I wasn´t able to shake what one of the prostitutes said. "What hope is there here?" Be praying for these women...for God to meet them, release them, free them, heal them, and above all, for them to accept His love!!! there is power in the faith of the women who go out each week to meet with these prostitutes... keep praying for fruit in their work! They are all so amazing...
For now, I must go... Shalom my loved ones... see you soon!
When we got of the metro, Ash headed out with Maria and I with Magdelena (who doesn´t speak ANY English). Ash and Maria went to the nigerian prositutes because they speak predominately English, and Magdelena and I went to the Romanian woman who are Spanish speaking. I won´t share any of Ash´s story because I know she want´s to post it herself tomorrow or Sunday.
I had a WONDERFUL time!!!...which is ironic because after I was completley broken...
Magdelena and I went around to different women, chatting and handing out c.d´s. The first woman I actually talked to, Madonna, was a prostitute from romania, and had an amazing singing voice. When we offered her a cd she sang a church song she knew (as she put it). she sang part of Lord I give you my heart (it was beautiful!) We also were able to give her directions to the church because she asked for them! Please pray that she comes and that God continues to work in this woman´s life!
We talked to a couple other girls, and then they left so we stopped and talked to a woman who was so beautiful, yet so sad. Her face showed so much toughness, hurt, pain, bitterness, etc. and it was obvious that she did not want to be there. Magdelena began to speak to her, and she was very resistant to us and to talking with us but Magdelena pressed in and spoke about needing to have faith and hope and the woman said what faith or hope is there for me here? And then Magdelena began to speak words of pure joy and beauty (I´m not sure everything she said... I know she told her that she should have faith in God and that He has another path for her and that she is beautiful...it was quick spanish and hard to follow!) However, what was not hard to follow was the transformation that took place in this woman and on her face.. .she went from rock hard to smiling and laughing at the end... she laughed!!! oh and her smile was beautiful... it was like Magdelena had poured straight milk and honey into this woman´s soul... it was absolutely beautiful! I shared this with Magdelena afterwards, and her response was I can only speak that which God give me (this woman is incredible mind you... amazing faith!).
We continued on walking and talkin ( I was solicited once... I know right? it was "funny" ( say funny lightly because my heart really does break over this and this stuff) because I didn´t know what was goin on at first... this guy asked me my name and I was like Annie.. and then he started talking and Magdelena was like we´re leaving... and in that moment it clicked and I was like.. oh my!...but God is good and faithful! :) ).
Anyways, we met back up with Maria and Ashley shortly after, shared stories and went back to the church to pray. It was cool because Ashley had SUCH joy leaving that place and I was completely broken. (Probably very close picture of the heart of Jesus... joy and sorrow intertwined). I wasn´t able to shake what one of the prostitutes said. "What hope is there here?" Be praying for these women...for God to meet them, release them, free them, heal them, and above all, for them to accept His love!!! there is power in the faith of the women who go out each week to meet with these prostitutes... keep praying for fruit in their work! They are all so amazing...
For now, I must go... Shalom my loved ones... see you soon!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
our week.. with evangelism!!!
So this week has been intense spiritually to say the least. All three of us are being broken by God in different ways over different things...a lot of it being brokeness in our owns lives... which is good because God is bringing healing.. but tough when he´s breaking you over your own brokeness, the brokeness around you, and the brokeness of a country in desperate need of the savior.
This week we found the largest draw for sexual tourism to barcelona...it´s an interactive virtual reality porn show which makes three shows a night and is a HUGE draw into Barcelona... we´re pretty positive there´s a brothel above it.. that or some sort of prostitution... needless to say my heart was pretty wrenched when we found this.
God also began to break me of some bitterness and pain I´ve been holding onto... which is really good.. but really tough nonetheless...especially when you realize how deep it stems...
we did some art evangelism on the beach which was really powerful. During it, God brought to my mind that if nothing else was accomplished that day we worshipped him and in a place where that does not often happen. That was really powerful and encouraging for me... because thats what God desires for us.. to be with him and worship him. We then spent an hour and a half in intercessory prayer for some very dear people in the states! :) you know who you are and we love you!
Yesterday we went to a culture and history museum... we saw ancient roman ruins (dating pre-jesus!). It was pretty cool.. what was really cool for me was to watch how much joy it brought ash and kels and that God allowed me some time just to reflect and think while there.
The best part of yesteday however, was on the way home from the cafe. Ash and I left Kelsey to finish some school papers she needed to do and headed to a cafe. I spent some tiem with Jesus writing lyrics and Bible studies... anyways, when we left to go home, a woman walked past us as we were waiting for the metro. Her skin was covered in some sort of sores/bumps and all I could think when she walked by was how beautiful she was and how much I wanted to tell her that... when I shared that with Ash she said " so tell her." This was huge for me.. I´ve been having a lot of compassion on people and wanting to reach out and talk to them, but God had been restraining me.. like it wasn´t time yet... Anyways, so Ash and I board the metro and semi-stalk this woman (we weren´t sure we should talk.. adn the you get nervous you know) so we sat down... and Ash turned to me and said we should go at the next stop to talk to her. I kid you not, the last word of that sentence leaves her mouth and the two people sitting next to this woman get up and leave...so we take that as our cue and move seats. We sit there awkwardly for a few moments, and then God gave me His words. I shared with this woman (in Spanish mind you) that I was a Christian and when she had walked by me earlier, I thought she was beautiful and God had laid on my heart that she has a beauty in her heart that no other person possess and that He sees her and loves her so deeply and has a plan for her. Her face lit with joy! It was beautiful... her name was Pilar and she has lived her her whole life.. we small talked with her and then Ashley asked me to tell her that she liked her skirt.. and you should have seen the delight in Pilar´s face when I told her what Ashley had said.. it was beautiful!! Then we kissed on the cheeks as is custom here in Spain, and she got off at her spot.
The joy that was ours in sharing Christ love with this woman was incredible.. and just what my heart needed. I THRIVE off of sharing God´s love and mercy and compassion with others... and that´s what we FINALLY were able to do.. at least in a way that´s tangeble to me!
Tonight we hit the streets with La Zona Roja.. be praying! We´ll keep you posted!!! Much love!!!AZ for the gang
This week we found the largest draw for sexual tourism to barcelona...it´s an interactive virtual reality porn show which makes three shows a night and is a HUGE draw into Barcelona... we´re pretty positive there´s a brothel above it.. that or some sort of prostitution... needless to say my heart was pretty wrenched when we found this.
God also began to break me of some bitterness and pain I´ve been holding onto... which is really good.. but really tough nonetheless...especially when you realize how deep it stems...
we did some art evangelism on the beach which was really powerful. During it, God brought to my mind that if nothing else was accomplished that day we worshipped him and in a place where that does not often happen. That was really powerful and encouraging for me... because thats what God desires for us.. to be with him and worship him. We then spent an hour and a half in intercessory prayer for some very dear people in the states! :) you know who you are and we love you!
Yesterday we went to a culture and history museum... we saw ancient roman ruins (dating pre-jesus!). It was pretty cool.. what was really cool for me was to watch how much joy it brought ash and kels and that God allowed me some time just to reflect and think while there.
The best part of yesteday however, was on the way home from the cafe. Ash and I left Kelsey to finish some school papers she needed to do and headed to a cafe. I spent some tiem with Jesus writing lyrics and Bible studies... anyways, when we left to go home, a woman walked past us as we were waiting for the metro. Her skin was covered in some sort of sores/bumps and all I could think when she walked by was how beautiful she was and how much I wanted to tell her that... when I shared that with Ash she said " so tell her." This was huge for me.. I´ve been having a lot of compassion on people and wanting to reach out and talk to them, but God had been restraining me.. like it wasn´t time yet... Anyways, so Ash and I board the metro and semi-stalk this woman (we weren´t sure we should talk.. adn the you get nervous you know) so we sat down... and Ash turned to me and said we should go at the next stop to talk to her. I kid you not, the last word of that sentence leaves her mouth and the two people sitting next to this woman get up and leave...so we take that as our cue and move seats. We sit there awkwardly for a few moments, and then God gave me His words. I shared with this woman (in Spanish mind you) that I was a Christian and when she had walked by me earlier, I thought she was beautiful and God had laid on my heart that she has a beauty in her heart that no other person possess and that He sees her and loves her so deeply and has a plan for her. Her face lit with joy! It was beautiful... her name was Pilar and she has lived her her whole life.. we small talked with her and then Ashley asked me to tell her that she liked her skirt.. and you should have seen the delight in Pilar´s face when I told her what Ashley had said.. it was beautiful!! Then we kissed on the cheeks as is custom here in Spain, and she got off at her spot.
The joy that was ours in sharing Christ love with this woman was incredible.. and just what my heart needed. I THRIVE off of sharing God´s love and mercy and compassion with others... and that´s what we FINALLY were able to do.. at least in a way that´s tangeble to me!
Tonight we hit the streets with La Zona Roja.. be praying! We´ll keep you posted!!! Much love!!!AZ for the gang
Some more pictures yo!
Ash, Kels and me at the Flamenco show.. qué guapa ¿no?
Flamenco dancers
Flamenco singer... we kinda liked him.. jaja!
¡ flamenco!
Ash and Kels with some street art.. VERY common here in Barcelona to see art on the walls
Ash Kels and I in the back of Kelseys parents car on the way to flamenco.. there´s like 50 of these type of pictures... yeah.. we´re great.. we know! :)
this is our kitchen.. I was going ot post more house pics.. but this takes FOREVER.. i´ve been here for 2 hours now.. and started uploading pictures at the beginning of my time.. yeah.. so please enjoy the ones you see :)
this is our church el Lokal
part of el Lokal.. they have a mural on the wall of the city of Barcelona.. or rather the big sites of Barcelona. it´s pretty sweet and they´re relaly artsy.. we enjoy it!!!!
another shot of El Lokal
Ash doing some beach art evangelism!!!
art evangelism continued
beach art!
this is a sand sculpture we found the night of the summer solstice
drum circle we found at the solstice party
ash and kels dancing at solstice
view of the city from parc güell
me with a giant gaudí lizard... I thought of you Drew and Sam!!
Kels and I hiking up to Parc Güell... and believe it or not.. this isn´t even half way up that hill.. it was ridiculous!!
what´s that?...jaja.. ash and I at parc Güell
Ash with her coffee mustache "we call it the belgium dip" for you austin powers fans.. haha
ash and her coffee...tasty goodness...
Ash prepared to face the ocean!
Ash and I at the Mediterranean sea.. some German lady took it for us.. it was funny
Beach babes! haha
Like I said before, these are just some of the tons of pcitures we have. I was planning on uploading a lot more.. but it takes FOREVER!!!!! So we´ll keep doing some slowly but surely... and the rest will have to wait for until we get back to the states!!!! haha
Keep praying... little under 2 weeks left!!
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