Watering Kids' Camp Video

Thought you might like to see a video that the children helped produce during a film workshop at the kids' summer camp.  The song is in English (Compassion Art), but the Spanish dialogue translates as:  "Water is special. We've got to look after it. We've got to look after ourselves too, because we're unique, and because God loves us. He gives us all that we need. He's a generous God."  The images in Spanish read:  What's God like? Loving. Faithful. Special. Good. Caring. Guide. Generous. Kind.
Hope you enjoy it.

Faith comes from hearing

We've just arrived home from summer kids' camp, exhausted, yet excited.  The week has been fantastic.  The weather was baking hot -- up into the 40's some days, but thankfully we had the swimming pool to cool down a bit.  There were 60 kids there, and it was great to see seven of them from our village.  We even managed to see both Spain matches during the camp.

What made the camp special for me was the group of boys that I was with.  Each night they all offered to pray.  There was no holding them back. 

At the start of the week one of the boys explained that he believed that Jesus was a good man, but JUST that -- nothing more, nothing less.  We talked a bit about some of the miracles that Jesus performed, as proof that he was God.  A few nights later, we read the story of Jesus healing the blind man.  When we came to pray he asked God to heal him, after falling earlier in the day and hurting his back!  What a change.  And what a privilege to plant seeds of faith in these lives, and see them growing each day.  Faith comes from hearing.  And oh yes, the next day his back was better, and he was up and about as normal.

Saying goodbye is always hard

Last night we organised a farewell party for Alan and Hazel George.  They're heading back to Northern Ireland soon after almost eight years working in mission here in Spain.  It was both a sad and joyful time, as we looked back over the years and remembered all that they'd done, and all that God had achieved through them.

We first met them way back in April 1999 when we joined them on an church outreach team to Madrid.  That was only for a week, but was instrumental in us eventually leaving NI, and coming to set up home in Spain.  They were to do something similar themselves a few months after us.

At the start of our journey in Spain our paths often crossed.  But when things didn't work out for us at the camp in 2004, we went straight to their door for help and advice.  They welcomed us with open arms, and since then have been a constant source of encouragement.

It's always sad saying goobye, but we know that God has great plans for them as they return to Belfast.  They leave a lot behind -- they'll always be in our hearts, and their generosity and openess will remain with us forever.

Make the best of hard times

It was interesting listening this morning to the Independent's travel writer, Simon Calder saying that we'd lost the ability to travel 'terrestrially'. He was commenting on a family who were 'stranded' in central France beacause their flight back to England had been cancelled due to the plume of volcanic ash over Europe. "Why don't they just hire a car, go to the nearest port and board a cross channel ferry?" he wondered. And he's right. We really have lost that ability to think outside the box. We've become so set in our ways, so dependent on technology, that when trouble comes our way, we just can't cope.

Last week we faced some of that ourselves. The very day that friends of ours arrived from England to stay for a few days, our electrity went off for hours. And as dinner time and darkness approached we began to panic. So we decided the best thing to do was to prepare sandwiches, and light candles. In the end it was great fun -- very romantic and atmospheric. And eventually the lights did come on.

But the following day when we awoke, we discovered that now there was no water! We all had to do without showering. The breakfast dished piled up in the sink, and the toilet couldn't be flushed. So instead of complaining -- I went down to a local natural fountain and brought a bucket of water back to the house. It was enough to fill the kettle and to flush the toilet.

You see when push comes to shove, we can survive. It's just that we need to be creative, and make the best of hard situations.

Good friends

It's been good to have had several visits over Easter -- first from my brother, sister-in-law and wee neice, and then from friends from school and uni, and their three kids. We go for such long periods of time without seeing family and friends, and so it's wonderful to have the opportunity to be able to catch up on all those lost months, and spend such an intensive time together. It's worth it! When they all go, and the house is quiet again, you realize just how important friendships are. Sometimes we neglet them, but when we make the effort, the rewards are plentiful and longlasting.

Big surprise - not what we'd expected

We'd another big surprise last week. After a routine medical check-up doctors detected that Darren had an unusually slow heart rate, and sent him for an ECG test. The results showed that he has an irregular heartbeat. He was immediately sent to the hospital for more tests and has been referred to a cardiologist within a few weeks (22nd April). He’s healthy and well and without any symptoms. But we’d value your prayers as we await a diagnosis. It’s also been very touching that our friends and neighbours have been asking about him and phoning up.

In the middle of these circumstances we trust God as a loving and caring father who knows best. Someone we can run to and find comfort in times of trouble. As we celebrate Easter, we know that he is someone who fully understands, and from despair and darkness, brings hope and new life.

Latest on mum

Mum was operated on today -- the surgeons removed the padding inside her abdomen, and as there was no major loss of blood, they also went ahead and operated on her bowel -- which is why she originally went in. She's now back in intensive care for 24 hours.
She will be in hospital for a while. But we are so thankful that she appears to be out of danger, and has had the operation. Thanks for praying for her.