A Call to the Nations...

This week has been a pretty intense, heartbreaking week for me.



Last night/today is one of the biggest holidays/celebrations in Spain.. the summer solstice. Rooted deeply in paganism and brought forth more modernly as a celebration, it´s a night filled with drunkeness, drugs, partying, and fireworks. Numerous people flock to the beach of all ages (literally 2-70 years in age) and stay through the night, dancing, drinking and having bonfires.



Ash and I heard about this from a girl in a cooking class, and decided to go check it out with Kels. As the three of us headed toward the beach, all of our discernment started to rise, but we pressed on, wanting to see and praying that God would use us as light, declaring that we came in the name of Jesus to glorify God.



When we first arrived at the beach there was a reggae band playing. We stayed and listened some, and then continued walking down the beach. We stumbled upon a drum circle and stopped to listen/dance. There were people all around us heavily influenced by drugs and alcohol... it blew my mind that on one side of me was a 40+ year old man dancing drunkenly and hitting on women and to the left a mother with a child no older than 4 covering his ears so it wouldn´t be too loud.



As we turned to leave, my heart was breaking because as I gazed upon the masses, all I wanted was a microphone and a stage and to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to have a response from the masses. As I was sharing this with Kels and Ash, I began to preach in Spanish (saying Jesus Christ IS Lord...listen to me people... Christ is Lord!!!)
The second I stopped preaching, a man came over and started talking to us... asked us for money for beer. When i said no, he said, ahh you americans are so greedy that´s why you don´t give any money. My response was, no it´s because we are Christians and we are here to give glory to God, not to party. His response to this was to ask me if I would sleep with him (more explicitly) and then walk away.

After this we walked home... and as we walked and the people flooded the streets, my heart continued to break... I wanted to hold each of them and share with the them the glory of Christ Jesus...I wanted to preach to each of them... but knew that in that moment, there was nothing I could do. I felt SO helpless because, like Matthew 9:36 says THEY were helpless and harassed like sheep without a shepherd...My heart wept for these people and my compassion was great (and still is). I just want to grab each of them and share the gospel and have them respond!!! I want them to come to know Christ and the glorious riches that are in Him.

It´s at this point Kels turned to me and said that this is the burden of the missionary... I guess the positive of the night is God is solidifying my calling...

Please be praying for these people, for this nation. Pray that God would send revival here.. that he would send workers into the field for the harvest.. and that the people would respond.... Pray that God would move this nation in mighty mighty ways. And pray that God would give us words, and discernment into when we should share, and when to remain silent.

I love you all and pray God´s love would cover you like a blanket today.

Shalom
AZ