During our time in Sete, France, we made an effort to spread as much joy as possible. In some instances, it was physical Joy: detergent in the squid fountain late at night. The next morning, our secret mission turned into a beautiful public display that we played in like snow! We took a trip to the carousel in town, pushing Joy (the girl) in a shopping buggy since she was rather ill that day. The lady at the carousel wasn’t sure about 7 adults on her dainty little carousel rides, but in the end with some pleading and Regula’s spunk, she gave in and we had a blast! Another cold day, we painted our faces happy and did a little marching band. We ended up in the park where we gave out balloons and hot chocolate to the kids and teens who gathered around and joined in our fun! Andrea led the pack with a whistle, and the instruments varied from a big empty gas can to a random collection of kitchen utensils, pots and pans. Colin stole the show with his bright yellow pajamas, footies tucked into his cowboy boots!
The Next Wave is equipped with a mini prayer wall in the library where anyone is free to make their prayers public. That way others can join in praying, besides the bonus of learning about each others’ families, finances and futures! When my team arrived on the boat about 6 weeks ago, we each wrote down something we believed God wanted do before the end of outreach, then we abbreviated those onto slips of paper that Loren put up on the prayer wall. My paper simply said: “pray for a Jesus explosion, and that I would get to baptize someone.” A Jesus explosion didn’t sound very safe and baptizing someone was a completely new thought to me, but it was what God said to write down, so I did. We started praying fervently for these God-inspired dreams to come alive!
•••••
A few weeks later, I met Vanessa. We started talking at the park in Palamos on a day when a group of us had gone to play music and meet people. She innocently asked the question that changed her world: “What are they singing about?” She had never heard of Jesus until I told her His story. She believed immediately, and prayed to open her heart to Him on the spot!
I lost touch with her for the next few weeks, since I was too happy to remember to exchange phone numbers the day we met. In those weeks, I prayed every day that I would see her one more time and have the chance to give her a Spanish Bible, at least, before we sailed to France.
When I ran into her on the street the day before we left Palamos, we were both delighted! She came to the boat the next day, and I told her about the Trinity and the Bible and stories from my life to prove that Jesus is real. I mentioned baptism as our sign of dedication to Jesus, and she responded willingly that she wanted to do that! Even when I explained Jesus’ words about laying down our lives and taking up His cross, she was not intimidated. “This is the truth, and I believe it,” she told me.
That is how it happened that I found myself in the Mediterranean Sea a few hours later, immersing a new Spanish believer in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! When I showed Vanessa my request on the prayer wall, her eyes filled with tears. She realized, as we all eventually do, that God’s kind hand had been drawing the way to His heart even before she knew Him!
Last week we left the boat to go to a new base in Montredon. We didn’t know what to expect, but it was all good! The first day we prayed and asked God what He had prepared for us. The answer was great; He showed us a picture of a boat and we were on top of it. We were handing out fruit to people. God was asking us to feed them, like He did with the disciples when He multiplied the bread and the fish! But how could we feed the people?
All week we went to a canteen where we were hanging out with some guys and in the evenings (not everyone) went to this camp of Romany. We stayed with them, and on Thursday we had a bonfire with them. We played with their kids and we played music. Actually, we had a good time.
With the guys we had a lot of fun (me especially) every day. We set up a drum kit with chairs and metal stuff and made lots of noise. The rest of my team was playing games and spending time with some others. I must say that by the end of the week we were friends and on Friday we had the grand finale. God told us to do a drama, so we prepared it (even if we are not good actors). So we went and that day in a miraculous way we had translation for the explanation of the drama and we had speakers for the music! The drama speaks of the lost relationship between God and us and how He wants to get it back. The guys were touched and a couple received prayer, but the most important thing was that they understood what God wants: have fun with us and love us.
The Romany were very happy to have us visit. The kids gave us some gifts (posters of the wrestlers) and they felt God’s love through us. The week was great and through this we understood the simplicity of the message and at the same time more of our and God’s heart. It’s all good!
We’re in Sete, France! Here is our beautiful boat berthed in a miracle - free and without rocking!
The Harpenden students are practicing a drama on the dock. It’s a real wild one with a fight scene (good job, guys!).
And you can see some families taking a walk along the dock. We’ve made some new friends by inviting them on board for a tour.
Concert in the piazza.
Different teams from the boat have gone to a wonderful, established Pentacostal church in Blanas for the last 4 weeks. We shared testimonies, songs, devotionals, etc. They were blessed and SO WERE WE! :)
What a priviledge. Today we went to an “old folks’ home” and sang and played Christmas carols for about 50 old people in walkers and wheelchairs. They were soooo dear. One old lady shouted “ole!” after every song! Others shouted “bravo!”
I wanted to kiss them all on the cheek.
What audience appreciates a visit more then people who have lived a full life, and now rusty with age, cannot leave their building. God bless them with a better new year.
PALAMOS
Sleepy little fishing town in northern Spain, on the Mediterranean.
We fasted and prayed in the new year. We want a fresh manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the boat and in each one of our lives. We feasted and celebrated with the crew, School of Worship from Montana, and a few brand new friends.
At midnight some of the crazy SOW boys jumped into the water. I climbed the crow’s nest.
We worshiped, danced, and prayed all through the night until we saw the first sunrise of 2010. Yay!!!! It was so incredibly beautiful!
Monday, December 21: arrive in Barcelona, settle into church. It’s a basement without windows, but we have heat, hot water, a beautiful Christmas tree, and a sound system to watch movies.
Tuesday, December 22: we pray and worship together, then go to the streets in the afternoon. Half go talk to prostitutes and share God’s love with them. Heartbreak. Most of these girls never chose this career! Half of us go to share sandwiches and hot chocolate with homeless. Wild stories, and obvious addictions. We’re happy, a couple let us pray for them.
Wednesday, December 23: work all day in 2 apartments that belong to a church. These apartments are going to hold hundreds of teams in the future. Teams that will come to minister to this city. Praise God! We’re making the way for thousands that will come behind us.
Thursday, December 24: pray and worship as a team.
Friday, December 25: Special Christmas breakfast together. Half go back to visit the prostitutes they met on Tuesday. They find a couple, but not the one they meant to see. Half go back to the homeless guys and this time get to share their testimonies.
Saturday, December 26: one last morning working in the apartment. We travel back to the boat, waiting for us in the sleepy little town of Palamos in Northern Spain.
King’s Kids is a YWAM ministry to youth.
