Final Day in Spain

The Young's took the team to Toledo for a day trip. Toledo is filled with historical buildings from past colonies with breath taking scenic views at every turn. We experienced a very traditional Spanish lunch at one of the local restaurants there.

Overall, this trip has been a very edifying and fulfilling experience for the entire team. The people we visited throughout the week came from all walks of life. We definitely received as much as we hoped we had given if not more through all these visits. Interacting with the church people were also a refreshing change before we head back to the States. The Young family has been taking care of us really well and they will definitely be missed when we leave.


Some pictures of Toledo:

Merry Christmas

Feliz Navidad (Merry Christmas) to everyone from Spain!

Church was filled with much performances today as people presented songs, skits, choirs that they have been preparing for months! The STM team presented the song "What Child is This" with Kelley giving a short background story of the candy cane before that. The Young family also prepared a song which they sang as a family and the two little girls presented 2 solo piano pieces each. Some 80 people attended and the mood overall was joyful. Families prepared dishes and brought to church to be shared with everyone for dinner.

Choir presenting a Cantonese Song.

Skit presentation by the youths.

Another performance by the youth.

STM team's presentation.

A group picture with some of the youth in church.

Christmas Eve

There was a New Year's Eve pot luck lunch today in church. Mrs. Young invited the young professionals to come, but there were many that weren't able to make it. Still there was quite a number of people that came.

After lunch, Elder Mei shared his testimony and how God's guidance in his life. Fang Zhou was present at the sharing as well. He is a freshman from China studying in a local university. Today was the second time he attended church. He seemed eager to learn and asked questions. Please pray that God will use today's sharing to speak to him and that he will come to know Christ eventually.

Praying before lunch.

Potluck.

People that attended.

Elder Mei giving his testimony.

Visiting - Day 5

We were split into 2 groups today. Pastor Young, Elder Mei and Ern visited Mr. Huang Wei Dong's house. Mr. Huang hasn't been to church too frequently recently. Due to his language limitation, he has difficulty obtaining a Spanish driver's licence. The causes him much inconvenience as his work requires him to go from one place to another at times.

Mrs Young and Kelley visited Ms. Zhang. She is a single mother as the father of her one year old daughter has left for China to marry another woman. She is about to launch her consulting business very soon.

Later at night, we went to church for dinner with the youth and their mothers. The youth were there to decorate the church and the dinner was just a token of appreciation to them.

Mr. Huang (far left) with his daughter and Pastor Young.

Ms. Zhang with Mrs. Young.

Dinner in church.

Visiting - Day 4

Today was a long and tiring, yet incredibly fulfilling for the entire team. We went to 3 different locations to visit different people. There were people that came to acknowledge Christ as their Lord and there were those that were at a tight spot spiritually. 

The first place the team visited is a long term rehabilitation center on the outskirts of Madrid. Mr. Fang En Lai and Madam Zhang Su Ping was admitted there due to a stroke a couple of months back. Madam Zhang has been open to the gospel for a long while, but hasn't come to Christ yet. Mr. Fang on the other hand has been resisting the gospel all this time. Church people would visit frequently to minister to Mr. Fang, but he seemed ignorant toward spiritual things. Today Elder Mei explained to Mr. Fang what sin is and how we are all sinners in need of God's forgiveness. The message was kept short and simple, because the focus was for Mr. Fang who just had a stroke to absorb all that was being said. Mr. Fang acknowledged his sin, recited the sinner's prayer, and accepted Christ.

We also visited Mrs. Ling in the hospital. She was admitted because of a tumor growth in her pancreas. She is having a lot of trouble getting a doctor's consultation. In Spain, there is a lot of  procedure and paper work before a patient get's to see a doctor. Her eldest daughter especially has a heavy burden to carry at this time as she needs to take care of the family business in her mother's absence, keep her mother company in the hospital, and take care of her mother's hospitalization issues.

The team headed to Ah Chiang's home for dinner later at night. Ah Chiang has struggled with many spiritual issues in the past. He came to know Christ a few years back, but recently those spiritual issues are bothering him again. Since then, he hasn't been too involved in church meetings. The team laid hands on him and prayed before leaving.

Mr. Fang and Elder Mei. 

Madam Zhang (center), together with Kelley and Mrs. Young.

A group picture. 

At Ah Chiang's (far left) house.

Please pray for everyone mentioned above. 

Visiting - Day 3

The team visited one of the church's cell group today. It consisted of elderly people. Elder Mei gave a compressed version on 祷告 taken from his workshop last Saturday. 5 people attended the cell group. Each of them took turns to voice out their needs and through Elder Mei's message, taught them how to pray for those needs. We ended the meeting with each person from the team including Mr. and Mrs. Young praying for the people present. Do pray for God's blessing be upon this group and that they will continue to persevere meeting weekly.

Dinner before heading to the cell group, with Mayca & Wu Zhen's family.

At the cell group meeting.

Visiting - Day 2

We visited the Chu family today at their warehouse. They are one of the few families in church that actually "made it" in their business and are living a fairly comfortable life. They are currently expanding their business to other industries which will be taking up much of their time from church. Pastor and Mrs. Young are afraid that this new business will affect their spiritual growth. We hope that they will realize that earning more money is not the main priority in life. Do pray for this family.

Later, the team met up with HK and QY. This couple has gone through a tough period because of making rash decisions in starting a business, which resulted in them losing quite a large sum of money. They are currently seeking other business opportunities and start afresh. Please pray that they will have patience to wait upon God's direction to be clear to them before rushing into making decisions.

From right: Pablo (Oldest son), Mr. Chu, Elder Mei, Kelley, Ern (behind), Mrs. Chu,  Pastor Young.

From left: HK, QY, Elder Mei, Ern.

Visiting - Day 1

Today we spent the day visiting various people.

We had lunch at a Japanese restaurant at downtown Madrid with Mr. and Mrs. Pan whom have been to church quite regularly in the past. Since a while back, their attendance in church has been inconsistent due to the restaurant business they are involved in. Do pray for their faith and spiritual growth.

The other person we visited is Madam Ling Muo Ying. She is an elderly in the mid 70's. She recently fell and broke her thigh bone. She also has heart related problems. Due to these reasons she is encountereing a phase of depression. Do pray for God will put His healing hand on her and protect her from the Enemy.

Mr. and Mrs. Pan on the far right.

Elder Mei, Madam Ling, and Kelley.

Sunday Worship

Worship started at 5.30 today. Elder Mei gave a message on Psalm 121. He expounded on that passage and tied everything back to verse 2 - 我的幫助從造天地的耶和華而來。


Earlier Ern lead the youth to a short bible study. It was translated into Spanish by Jenny, one of the youths present. About 13 people attended ranging from ages 16 to 22. 
After service, we had the brethren and sisters meeting which lasted for approximately an hour and a half.

Bible Study with the youth at the stairwell.

Elder Mei preaching.

People that attended Sunday service.

Brethren meeting.

Late dinner at 9.30pm.

The team will start their visiting of church people tomorrow. Please pray for safety for everyone and that those visited will be greatly edified.

Day of Workshops

Everyone had a good rest the night before and woke up refreshed today.

Elder Mei conducted two workshops with a twenty minute break in between on 小組查經與釋經講道 and 禱告. About 25 people attended. A couple of people approached Kelley after that and commented that they found the workshops to be very helpful. It was close to 9.30pm by the time everything ended and people started to head back home. We had our dinner at 11.30pm.

A couple of church members were requesting prayer for Sister Ling Wei Hong, who was hospitalized yesterday due tumor growth at the pancreas. She is still experiencing excruciating pain as of today. Please pray for God's healing hand to be upon her.

Singing before the workshop started.

New comers introducing themselves.

Dinner time.

Sunday worship service is tomorrow. Elder Mei is going to speak on Psalm 121. Please pray for wisdom for him and that God's word will speak to many present.

Safe Arrival of Everyone

The team arrived safely to Madrid, Spain earlier this morning. Ern's flight arrived roughly an hour earlier than Kelley and Elder Mei's flight. Pastor and Mrs Young were at the airport to meet everyone.

Elder Mei and Kelley's flight were delayed at Pittsburgh for one and a half hours. It was definitely a trying moment as they were afraid that they might miss the connecting New York-Madrid flight. Thank God everything worked out okay and they just about made it for the connecting flight with a quick to-go meal in New York.

Mrs Young went through the tentative plan of activities for us when we arrived home. Later at night, we had dinner with some 15 people from church (the faithful few according to Pastor Young).

Pastor Miller sending the team off in prayer.

Arrive at Madrid, Spain. With the Youngs.

Wu Zhen, a church member, also came with a van to pick the team up from the airport.

Elder Mei shopping for his favorite Clementines.

Dinner with church members.

It was decided that Elder Mei will give two of his talks back to back tomorrow, approximately two hours for each talk. Please pray for good health and wisdom for him.

2010年西班牙馬德里短宣之總結