Ministry Updates 1 comment

Unexpected ministry

By on December 3rd, 2011

IMAG0299I’ve been holding off sending another email for a while now, because I keep hoping to say I’m getting ready to make it back to Spain. But unfortunately I still don’t have much of an idea when all my paperwork will be done. I’ve run into some more delays lately. The professional translator who was going to translate my paperwork into Spanish seems to have dropped off the face of the map! I’m trying to be patient, but I am definitely ready to be done with all this and get busy in Spain. I’d appreciate your prayers that I make it back soon.

In the mean time however, it’s been encouraging to see the Lord’s hand in my life while I’ve been in the US. He has been teaching me so much in so many different areas. As I’ve worked with different crews roofing for the past 3 months, IMAG0659I’ve been given many opportunities to live out the Great Commission. Please pray with me for Zach, Damian, Luís, Alejandro, Benjamín, and Eric. These are all men I’ve been able to share Christ with in one way or another. Damian, who invited me to join him in a soccer league a month ago, has come with me a few times to a Christian soccer ministry. There he hears the Gospel preached clearly. Luís has promised to come with me to church one of these Sundays. I’ve told him I’ll teach him and Alejandro guitar if they’ll come to a Hispanic church with me. They both love guitar and are eager to learn. Zach is a guy my age who was just released from prison. He and I are now friends, and I’m doing everything I can to show him the Gospel’s power to change lives. Eric is an almost-homeless man who I give a ride to his work every week.

IMAG0276-1

Sometimes it feels like this time I’m spending in the US waiting for my visa is a waste of time. There is so much to do in Spain, and during these months I’ve had my share of disappointments and setbacks. But I’m learning that if you are willing to slow down and look around, you’ll see that God is staying faithful to His promises, and He is working everything together for good. I’m so thankful for different ministry opportunities He’s provided. Most of them have come up completely unexpectedly, and they always show God’s handiwork.

IMG_1791I have one huge praise to share though. The Lord has provided the chance for me to make it back to Spain for Christmas this year. I am very excited to make it back. It has been 4 years since I’ve spent Christmas with my immediate family, so I can’t wait to be home with them again. There are a few things I’m hoping to look into while in Spain, so the Lord has worked it out perfectly.

As always, I appreciate your continued prayers. Pray that the Lord would give patience and wisdom. There is still a lot of red tape to wade through before my visa comes in. Pray that the Lord would continue to provide work as Greenville heads further into winter (when days get shorter and roofs get colder).

I love to hear back from you.

God bless,
David
Psalm 34:3

Ministry Updates Comments turned off

What’s happening in the US?

By on October 13th, 2011

I’ve now been back in America for two months. It’s amazing to me how much has happened since I got here. I’ll try to highlight a few of the things God has been doing so far. I’m of course very ready to make it back to Spain as soon as the Lord allows it, but in the meantime things have been quite busy.

Soon after I arrived, I began the application process for my visa for Spain. I’ve heard all my life about the horrors of wading through red tape in the whole visa/residency process, but I’m finally experiencing it first-hand. Things seem to be moving agonizingly slowly, but at least I’ve had indications that things are moving. I recently noticed a government department had charged my bank account for one bit of paperwork I’d sent in about 6 weeks earlier… I’m beginning to think there’s no real way of estimating a time for my return to Spain. But once the Lord is finished opening doors, I’ll be back in a heartbeat.

IMAG0161One of my goals for my time in the States was to begin saving up some money for graduate studies once I return to Spain. I don’t really expect to be making money once I’m back in Spain, so I’ve been hoping to save up some now while I have the chance. After spending a few frustrating weeks looking for consistent work, I began working for a roofing contractor. Since then I’ve been spending most of my days on top of one house or another. The first week or two of work, I think the fear of sliding off the roof tired me out more than the ~80 lb. bundles of shingles I was moving all around. Now it’s just the shingles that wear me out :). I’m enjoying the job. It’s definitely not what I expected to be doing, and it’s not earning me as much as I’d thought, but I’m very grateful for the job.

Roofing has been a full-time job, but on the side I’ve begun a small web design business as well. Growing up in the ministry in Spain, website work was one of the things I learned out of necessity, and now it’s turning into something that I think can be a very useful skill. Today I was paid for my first website, and I’m hoping to get the chance to make many more. I believe this is a great chance to improve what may become a very useful tool for future ministry in Spain.

The Lord has given me a few opportunities to work on fulfilling the Great Commission, even here in "the buckle of the Bible belt," Greenville, SC. Please pray for a Mexican man I’ve worked a few times with, as well as a man I met at a gas station looking for a ride. I’m trying to bring him to church with me. The Lord set up divine appointments with both of these men, and I’m praying the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts.

If you would, please take a minute now and then to pray for me. Pray that the Lord would give me wisdom in the many areas where mine is insufficient. Pray that the Lord would give me patience when mine runs out. And please pray that I would take every opportunity He gives me to magnify Him, whether I’m in Spain or anywhere else. God bless,

David
Psalm 34:3

DSC05639

My brothers, Fredy Watley, and I were given the opportunity to visit Faith BC in Jefferson City, TN. It was a privilege to spend time with friends there, including Pastor and Mrs. Cross.