Our cup continues to overflow with joy as we had an excellent and inspiring weekend (while our friends in Ohio finished their annual meeting and those in New York State begun their biennial) in two different places, two of our five congregations in our itinerant pastorate.

On Saturday we were able to share an all-day-of-fellowship with the churches of Turís and Almussafes (mother/daughter churches) in Almussafes (one of our 5). We traveled by train this time and learned how to not focus on the immediate but find out the final destination if we want to reach our goals… Ramón was waiting for us to take us to where we were going to spend the rest of the day. Jesús and Vicky, pastors in Turís, were very warm and welcoming. We shared seminary anecdotes and realized how much we have in common in our ministry walk 100% by faith. Food abounded as well as the fellowship with our new brothers and sisters, including José and Maruja, from Canaries Islands, who are retired yet continue in ministry after 40 years… what an example! Saturday was Valencian Community’s Day and there was a special fair (the Medieval Market) in Almussafes. In this highly Arabic-ascendant town, half way between Valencia and Dénia, we saw places to enjoy and people to share. The spiritual blindness is evident and the need to share the Gospel is imminent. Many in Spain, fed up with religiosity, would rather turn to all kinds of lots (like tarot) before listening to a Christian. We returned home convinced of how important it is to be where God leads us…

On Sunday we left early in the morning to get to the afternoon service in La Vall D’Uixó (one of our 5). Since it was our first time, we left by train to Castellón de la Plana and interpreted the bus schedules to have an option to go to our final destination. We painfully learned that on holidays the schedules work differently, yet fortunately there were taxis by the exit that took us to town; two opportunities to witness! Why? Because since we are 5, when we need to travel by taxi we need to use 2 since their maximum capacity is 4 passengers... We have realized with this that we definitely left Chile and are in Spain instead… Since we arrived in La Vall D’Uixó much earlier than the time for the service, we were able to walk around and scout the place. We had Chinese food for lunch at Casamayor, a nice place to eat in the sidewalk. Then walked to a local “plaza” (community park) with swings and slides and while there, it started to rain… we crossed the street to cover from the rain on the steps of an apartment building and watched the cars go by hoping not to get all wet. When the rain subsided, we walked back to the church area and went to another little plaza where some kids were playing around and we were able to talk some with them. Walking through town, we saw a strong presence of other religions that we had not seen in other towns yet... When service time came, we walked to church and the youth was having one last rehearsal of their worship songs. We were greeted with love and we immediately felt at home! After service, Vicky2 took us to the train station in Nules with Diego. Both Vickys are cousins and involved in the ministry with their daughter church in Segorbe (we’ll be there later this month, one of our 5). We were all encouraged to remain faithful and obedient to God’s mission, no matter our circumstances.

So, now we know how to route ourselves for when we visit Segorbe and La Vall D’Uixó on the same Sundays. We also have a better idea of how to handle our trips to Almussafes and Puerto de Sagunto in our future visits on their same Sundays. Mislata, our fifth, is an easy 7 minute ride on EMT 7… We came home from La Vall D’Uixó with renewed commitment to do all that is necessary and continue traveling to those places where we can be of encouragement and blessing to your Spanish and international brothers and sisters!

This week, we go to UEBE’s annual session in Gandía, October 14-17, while our friends in ABCOPAD have their biennial… Your prayers for Manuel Sarrias, general secretary of UEBE, and the convention’s leadership are appreciated as our celebration is based on 1 Chronicles 29:14b.

It is always so good to live 100% by faith… Read on to Part 2 and you’ll find out why and how!

Together pressing on toward the goal, with gratitude,
Your missionary family in Valencia, Spain,
The BGs