With our wonderful interns, we began our outreach in Brussels in the YWAM base. Back in April, a few of us went for a gathering of different leaders and bases, and while there we felt that we needed to come back and bless the base and the city. In the meantime, all this mess with Brexit happened, and where is the centre of the EU but in Brussels. So already we were amazed by how God had planned something that we only thought was a good idea. While there, we helped to reconstruct their cafe space. It used to be open, but closed down a while ago for reasons I don't know. They as a team have felt that it's time to reopen it, but it needed a fresh start. We demolished, plastered, painting, sawed, screwed, and stenciled for a long week that was physically demanding. In the end, we saw a miracle in the transformation of the place, and the team there was so happy with how it came out. As a barista, I felt so privileged to be a part of the new birth of this place, and am looking forward to working with them in the future in that specific area. To bless someone else's vision/dream in a way that you have also been blessed by other people is almost indescribable.
After that, we spent one night (6 hours) in London before traveling to Vigo, Spain. It's near Santiago de Compostela (famous for being the end point of the Camino de Santiago), and is also a YWAM base that was planted a year ago by some very close friends of ours. The leaders there came to Spain at the same time Chris and Johy came to England, and we have know them for at least 4 years now. We were prepared to do the same as in Brussels, to help them finished getting their house and property ready for the students they are receiving in September, but it turned out to be a very different week. There was a DTS outreach team there from Caceras, another city in Spain that this new base was birthed from. And on top of that, there was a team of 20 American students on a school trip staying with us as well. On the way there, God was talking to me about resting and being family, and I had no clue what that was going to look like, but this week in Spain was so refreshing. We did a lot of outreach in the city centre, and some times of worship and intercession for the region, and a lot of fellowship and team building activities. They were celebrating a Catholic holiday over the weekend, so there was a local fun fair going on, which gave a great opportunity to get to know the locals and talk with them about God. One of our signs simply asked "how was your day?" and so many people were open to sharing about their day, and their life. We got to pray for many people, and encourage others as well. The time there was also so important for the team working there. They have only been there for one year, getting to know the area, getting involved in local churches, and planning for the first DTS that will be in September. It was so good to just be a family, to encourage them, pray for them, and support them.
Now we are back in London with a local outreach for 2 weeks, and then we will begin preparing for the Bones camp and the Notting Hill Carnival! This is my favorite time of year by far. Our DTS also begins on the 2 of August, and we have 14 students coming so far. They will combine with our interns, who will then graduate at the end of August after the carnival.
In this time, I also realized that I need to start my paperwork for renewing my visa! This is a pretty big cost, because they have put new regulations that we need to pay a certain amount for the national health care on top of the visa costs. I have about 2/3 of the money that I need, and I am trusting God for the rest. I need to send my papers by the middle of August, so if you feel to send any sort of support, that would be greatly appreciated!
Things to pray for:
-the rest of the outreach in London
-the Notting Hill Carnival outreach
-the new students coming
-preparations for moving into a 3rd house!
-visa paperwork
Thank you all so much for your continued love and support!!!
