The Lord has blessed me by moving the hearts of 3 individuals to give $25 each since this journey has begun.
Before this I have received $410 in cash donations.
Total funds now available are $1500.
Every week will have $30 to spend and then the $500 will be set aside in preparation of God leading me somewhere else after South Africa. I've settled in Zarautz and that should help me get back down to the weekly budget.
Thanks for the investment, let's help build a Kingdom that will never crumble.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Jonatan and Sara: believers against the world flow
Madrid: 2005 and now 2009.
Jonatan and Sara came into my life in 2005 when I was on my first journey through Spain. Since then these friends in their 20's have gotten married and have a beautiful daughter. They are both in advanced schooling and have an interesting testimony.
Jonatan tried to kill me in a car accident in 2005, but failed and now he's studying to be a doctor (ok, maybe it wasn't a direct attempt on my life, but it was a close call). Jonatan and Sara have recently had their daughter and this has opened their eyes to the cultural situation around them: abortion. Abortion is paid for by the state of Spain and is easily accessible. As a doctor, Jonatan sees his coworkers take on abortion jobs and make serious money in a short day's work. Jonatan refuses to take part in this and has taken a stand. It is in this action that he defies the norms of society. Sara also helps on the abortion front by putting up fliers to get people thinking about the repercussions of abortion. As Christ followers we are obligated to oppose evil and never back down.
You never know when your position will open up an opportunity to share Christ.
Other insights gained from interviews with Jonatan and Sara are as follows:
1) Believers are afraid to get into conversations about God because they do not know how to respond to challenges.
2) There are not enough funds coming into small church groups to hire a full-time pastor.
3) Pastors do not have enough time to invest in believers because they must work a supplemental job.
4) People really look at you funny when you put up an anti-abortion poster
Jonatan and Sara came into my life in 2005 when I was on my first journey through Spain. Since then these friends in their 20's have gotten married and have a beautiful daughter. They are both in advanced schooling and have an interesting testimony.
Jonatan tried to kill me in a car accident in 2005, but failed and now he's studying to be a doctor (ok, maybe it wasn't a direct attempt on my life, but it was a close call). Jonatan and Sara have recently had their daughter and this has opened their eyes to the cultural situation around them: abortion. Abortion is paid for by the state of Spain and is easily accessible. As a doctor, Jonatan sees his coworkers take on abortion jobs and make serious money in a short day's work. Jonatan refuses to take part in this and has taken a stand. It is in this action that he defies the norms of society. Sara also helps on the abortion front by putting up fliers to get people thinking about the repercussions of abortion. As Christ followers we are obligated to oppose evil and never back down.
You never know when your position will open up an opportunity to share Christ.
Other insights gained from interviews with Jonatan and Sara are as follows:
1) Believers are afraid to get into conversations about God because they do not know how to respond to challenges.
2) There are not enough funds coming into small church groups to hire a full-time pastor.
3) Pastors do not have enough time to invest in believers because they must work a supplemental job.
4) People really look at you funny when you put up an anti-abortion poster
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Dublin: pre-conceptions
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Patrick: a servant heart
Patrick Devitt and family put me up while I was in Dublin. I spent the 14-18th with the Devitt family and learned a lot of what it means to be a Christ follower in Ireland.
Uncle Patrick showed me the importance of long-term support for loved ones who don't have a personal relationship with Christ. Patrick is juggling responsibilities between Church/family in a very Biblical manner and I am impressed with his dual role. Patrick serves his family.
I arrived early in the week and was able to see the church in its daily expression. We had a prayer meeting at the house of a church member ill with a brain tumor. Uncle Patty and I helped Peiter and his family with their move out of their apartment. It was a blessing to serve in such a simple capacity. Patrick serves individuals.
The baptist church that Patrick is a member of has tremendous diversity. Nigeria, the Philippians, and Ireland each have a large share the group make-up. They meet at a local school and Patrick wakes up early to turn the heat on so that the group doesn't have to suffer. Patrick serves the Body.
Uncle Patrick showed me the importance of long-term support for loved ones who don't have a personal relationship with Christ. Patrick is juggling responsibilities between Church/family in a very Biblical manner and I am impressed with his dual role. Patrick serves his family.
I arrived early in the week and was able to see the church in its daily expression. We had a prayer meeting at the house of a church member ill with a brain tumor. Uncle Patty and I helped Peiter and his family with their move out of their apartment. It was a blessing to serve in such a simple capacity. Patrick serves individuals.
The baptist church that Patrick is a member of has tremendous diversity. Nigeria, the Philippians, and Ireland each have a large share the group make-up. They meet at a local school and Patrick wakes up early to turn the heat on so that the group doesn't have to suffer. Patrick serves the Body.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Prayer requests Jan 24
bros and sisters,
the Lord has provided tremendously for me in Dublin and here in Malaga. here are some areas of prayer:
thank God for taking care of me and hooking me up with some great friends.
thank God that both of my surfboards weren't damaged. only one. :)
pray for Edgar and Emmanuel here in Malaga. these bros put me up for a week and they're broke. i bought some gas for the hot water to work and chipped in for food. the water didn't get turned off. God provides. pray that these homies would land some jobs.
pray for the church here in Malaga. Parque Victoria is a community center-church. pray that Juan Carlos and his family would be protected from the evil one. Pray that he would lead these sheep well.
pray for malaga media center. pray that they would get the funds needed to do the testimony video project.
pray for ywam and impact world tour. pray for paulo as he gets sponsers ready for the outreaches in november
pray for anita (thank God for making her super cute). but seriously pray that she would take her singing gifts and serve God with them. pray that she'd find a school to learn music and bible (and is in spanish).
pray that I would be smart with money. pray that I would get my spanish amped (it sucks).
pray that I would be protected from the spanish anything-goes culture. pray that i would remain in the Word. pray that I would be in, but not of this culture.
pray that I don't drown in San Sebastian (there are 30 foot waves there now).
pray that I would find and join the hand of God.
Pray that workers would join the harvest.
In Christ,
Jonny
the Lord has provided tremendously for me in Dublin and here in Malaga. here are some areas of prayer:
thank God for taking care of me and hooking me up with some great friends.
thank God that both of my surfboards weren't damaged. only one. :)
pray for Edgar and Emmanuel here in Malaga. these bros put me up for a week and they're broke. i bought some gas for the hot water to work and chipped in for food. the water didn't get turned off. God provides. pray that these homies would land some jobs.
pray for the church here in Malaga. Parque Victoria is a community center-church. pray that Juan Carlos and his family would be protected from the evil one. Pray that he would lead these sheep well.
pray for malaga media center. pray that they would get the funds needed to do the testimony video project.
pray for ywam and impact world tour. pray for paulo as he gets sponsers ready for the outreaches in november
pray for anita (thank God for making her super cute). but seriously pray that she would take her singing gifts and serve God with them. pray that she'd find a school to learn music and bible (and is in spanish).
pray that I would be smart with money. pray that I would get my spanish amped (it sucks).
pray that I would be protected from the spanish anything-goes culture. pray that i would remain in the Word. pray that I would be in, but not of this culture.
pray that I don't drown in San Sebastian (there are 30 foot waves there now).
pray that I would find and join the hand of God.
Pray that workers would join the harvest.
In Christ,
Jonny
Monday, January 19, 2009
financial accountablity
The following sections will contain a running documentation of how money is being spent.
Dec 23 Spent $40 on Amtrak from Grand Rapids back to Chicago
Dec 25 Spent $40 on pants for wedding. Spent $40 on food and entertainment surrounding the bachelor party.
Dec 25-6 Spent $50 on gas from Reno to Tehachapi, to go to the beach and to go to Portland Spent $20 on food during this trip
Jan 9 Spent $112 on Surfboard bag
Rented a movie for $5.
Running expenses before trip:
$30 on headphones, $30 on webcam (used gift certificate),
Received $20 of goods from mom and dad from Walmart. Received moleskin notebook from Dad. I spent $15 in the airport to purchase an outlet converter for the electronics (it has every world zone). I purchased a shell jacket while in Portland for $30, it was used but in great condition.
Running expenses in Ireland:
4.20 euro for sandwhich. 4.40 for bus in and out of city centre to do ministry. 7 euro for phone calls (spent mostly trying to reach Patrick. I knew no area codes :(. 7 euro for a bus ride from the airport to city center, a poor choice as I found later that there was a simple city bus doing the route for 2 euro. I spent 1 euro for a couple quick minutes on the web in dublin airport.
Running expenses Malaga: 3 euro for calls to and from the airport. I bought a phone off of Edgar, one of the guys that I’m staying with. It was 30 euro and then I put 10 euro on the phone.
Dec 23 Spent $40 on Amtrak from Grand Rapids back to Chicago
Dec 25 Spent $40 on pants for wedding. Spent $40 on food and entertainment surrounding the bachelor party.
Dec 25-6 Spent $50 on gas from Reno to Tehachapi, to go to the beach and to go to Portland Spent $20 on food during this trip
Jan 9 Spent $112 on Surfboard bag
Rented a movie for $5.
Running expenses before trip:
$30 on headphones, $30 on webcam (used gift certificate),
Received $20 of goods from mom and dad from Walmart. Received moleskin notebook from Dad. I spent $15 in the airport to purchase an outlet converter for the electronics (it has every world zone). I purchased a shell jacket while in Portland for $30, it was used but in great condition.
Running expenses in Ireland:
4.20 euro for sandwhich. 4.40 for bus in and out of city centre to do ministry. 7 euro for phone calls (spent mostly trying to reach Patrick. I knew no area codes :(. 7 euro for a bus ride from the airport to city center, a poor choice as I found later that there was a simple city bus doing the route for 2 euro. I spent 1 euro for a couple quick minutes on the web in dublin airport.
Running expenses Malaga: 3 euro for calls to and from the airport. I bought a phone off of Edgar, one of the guys that I’m staying with. It was 30 euro and then I put 10 euro on the phone.
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