A Little Piece of Paradise

I just returned back to Germany from spending a week in Spain. Although not everything went as smoothly as I would have hoped (travelwise), my time with Soraya and Eduardo was truly wonderful and encouraging. Who would have thought that a 10 min conversation at a conference in Paraguay would lead to me traveling over 1,200 miles to see a ministry that has stuck with me for over eight months? I just love how God works!

I arrived on Saturday afternoon after an almost 6 hour bus ride from Madrid and right away things were busy. They drove me by some of the popular places in the city of Cartagena on our way to their home which is about 20 mins outside of the main city. Later that evening Soraya and I went back into the city for a women’s meeting at the Cartagena Church plant. Soraya is currently leading the group over a series on self- esteem and knowing who God says that we are. There was a pretty good mix of ages and backgrounds within this small group, but they were all so sweet and very patience as I tried to use my rusty Spanish. (I'm still amazed at the fact I can have conversations with people in Spanish and actually understand what they saying.)

Los Alcazares is where Soraya and Eduardo started ten years ago. The beginning for them was very difficult as they found opposition from the community. They first met in a garage where their neighbors would yell at them to leave and call the police. Then later when they were looking for a bigger place to rent, landlords would deny them as soon as they heard they were wanting the location for a church. Soraya and Eduardo took to fasting and praying and on the final day of the fast they saw a phone number advertising listings. At first Eduardo was skeptical because they had been denied so many times but Soraya pushed to call the number. They found that this renter had 4 different options for rent, the first three were all too expensive for them to afford but the fourth option needed a lot of work but fit right in to the budget. When the renter asked them what they needed this space for, Soraya and Eduardo were worried, but the renter had no issue at all with this industrial space becoming a church! They have now been meeting there for over eight years. 

This industrial space has been converted into a church and it was such a joy to be able to spend a Sunday service with this church community. The majority of people within this church are people who have immigrated from South America, but there are a few Spaniards as well. This church also is where Soraya’s work among Muslim women takes place. Once a week Soraya offers Spanish lessons to the immigrant women from North Africa (the majority of whom come from Morocco) I was able to be a part of the "kick start  party" for her fourth year of this ministry. The women came bringing delicious Moroccan food and tea and we spent the morning talking about the plans for Spanish lessons for this year. I was even able to share a little about my favorite Bible verse and how even though i am single woman traveling alone I am indeed never alone. 

I loved every bit of this time with these women. They came in greeting us with the traditional Muslim greeting of three kisses and were very eager to start Spanish lessons again (Soraya had needed to take an 8 month break) We even played around with the idea of me returning to start an English learning program for the children and many of the women said they too would want to be a part of that program.

Although we had a very busy schedule while I was in Cartagena, Soraya and Eduardo wanted to take me to see some of the beaches… and man does this place have beaches! I lost count of the number of different beautiful white sandy shores I saw (all within a 20 min area from Cartagena) This place truly is beautiful!

Soraya and Eduardo were such wonderful hosts and you could just see the love for the different people groups in everything they did. They have been doing all of this work alone for the past ten years, planting three churches in areas that had no church at all and starting many other programs. They have big dreams for the future, God willing, and have earnestly been praying for helpers to come alongside them to carry out this mission. I ask that you also be in prayer over this need on their behalf.

Be praying

•           For long term workers to come alongside Soraya and Eduardo, to help take some of the heavy load and to also be an encouragement for them.
•           For short termers to come and help with specific ministries
•           For Soraya and Eduardo’s financial situation, they have recently lost some of their monthly support from Paraguay and Uruguay and it makes things more difficult, yet they know the Lord is faithful and that he will provide for them the support they need.
•           Be praying for the Spanish lessons that will be taking place once a week with the Muslim Women. This is a great opportunity to build relationships and to help these women adapt more to their new country. 

My time in Cartagena was truly such an adventure and encouragement. Thank you all for praying over these sweet servants of the Lord and their ministries and for going with me on this journey.