Quién, qué, cuando, por qué

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHY?

Four small questions you might enjoy the answers to...at least from this blog. Let me share some more details about our upcoming travels, so that you might have a better idea of whats actually going on (and of course, by typing this out, I too, will have a better idea of what's going on).

Quién(Who)

Our team (we do not have uniforms) is made up of our little family, six students from the University of Alabama, one student from Mississippi State University, and one student from Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA...just a great looking group, if you ask me...not so good looking that we dont need your prayers, though. Please pray for Emily, Melody, Amy, Mary Frances, Scott, Hall, David, and Johnny. Each have to raise over $6,000 for this trip, they each have to say goodbye to family and friends, and they each have to immerse themselves into a culture that is not their own, all for the sake of the gospel. THEY NEED YOUR PRAYERS. Yes, we are going to a beautiful place, a new and exciting city, but this trip is going to be very trying on all of us...not to mention they are going with this guy as their "mentor"

I'm not worried...you shouldn't be either.

Qué (What)
      So you know by now that this group of all-stars will be in Madrid (hence the picture all the way at the top) for eight weeks...doing what? Well to begin with, we will be doing a lot of listening. Already in Madrid is a group of missionaries who have devoted their lives, their full - ima-gonna bring my family and live here because I know how much I'm loved and want to go love other people lives-to the city of Madrid and we are gonna listen to what that have to say and they are gonna tell us what we need to do! (i thought that deserved an exclamation point. ps. I love exclamation points and these guys {...} so I am sorry if that gets annoying) But we do know a little bit about what our days are going to look like while we are there so Ill explain...
       The kiddos, as I affectionately call them under my breath, will be serving as interns to the missionaries already in place. Part of their time will be spent in Spanish class at the University in the city and the goal, while enrolled will be three-fold. 1. learn Spanish  2. get credit that applies to their own degrees 3. make friends...you didn't know that ministry was so easy, did you? This time spent at the university is crucial though because this is where, Lord willing, relationships will blossom. It is our prayer to see our students form relationships with Spanish students that would in turn lay the very foundational (and basic) ground work for a campus ministry to begin to form with the already there, already awesome MTW team. So you see, this too needs your prayers. Please begin to pray for the University students we will be in contact with, please pray that real 'seeds' of relationship would be planted that over time would grow into a lasting ministry that would be well known in Madrid....The God I know is one who can do BIG things, even though they may start very small.

Cuando (when)

     We will be leaving the states on May 24th and returning July 20th. Would you please pray for our travel...this is honestly the area where most of my worry rests. Travel is stressful. There I said it, its out there. This is what i fear our travel will look like...with the baby somewhere under the seats.

     We need prayers for our girls, who love airplanes...but who also love being their very fun exciting ages of four and two. Traveling with kids demands serious organization, serious patience, and serious flexibility...all of which I am lacking. We are thrilled to be taking our little ones on this adventure, excited to see them in a different cultural setting and looking forward to what God will do in their little hearts....but we actually need to GET TO SPAIN for any of that to happen.

Por qué (Why?)

     This is not a European vacation for our family, this is not a summer break for these kids. We are going to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Something that exists just as much in Tuscaloosa as it does in Madrid...God's kingdom. Our time in Madrid will be a short moment in our lives, but we go with the knowledge that God has been in Madrid since He created it and our prayer is that He would use us as He would see fit. Jesus, His person, His words, and His work are why we go. We go not to bring Jesus to Madrid, He's already there, we go to see what He's doing and be apart of it...please join us with your prayers.

as always
Muchos Gracias,
Ada