Dear friends, fellow partners in mission and followers in Christ and his mission –

This last fall has been one of the most difficult seasons for me in leadership. We returned from our home assignment ready to start planting a second church. While we were gone there was some critical conflict brewing. We returned to the agony of conflict. Rob needed to remain and clarity, resolution and work hard at reconciliation. It has been a rough road, very tiring but God has given us our daily bread. Much has been accomplished in the last four months that is helping us renew our vision and purpose.

PRAISE GOD

- ALPHA TRAINING IN QUITO ECUADOR – Rob went with a group of two other people in our church to train leaders and pastors in the use of Alpha. We met with leaders of the seminary that is the flag ship and point of reference for all of South America. God renewed vision to reach out among these leaders in Quito. As one man said, the Spirit of God broke apart old wineskins and provided a new wineskin. We went in weakness but God worked way beyond our imagination. Praise God!

- FOR FAMILY – We had the blessing of having Nancy‘s sister Natalie and our nephew Natanael live with us for three months. They are now back in LA. It was such a treasure to have them with us.

- ALPHA SPAIN – Rob has been interim coordinator of Alpha Spain as well as director of publications. We now have a Catholic lay person that is the Alpha Spain coordinator. He is a huge blessing. He is a passionate follower of Christ that God has raised up for this occasion. Rob continues to be a part of the coordination team and supervises the work of publications.

- REGIONAL CHURCH BODY – Rob is now one of six representatives to the regional association of churches in Galicia. Pray for this group and Rob’s participation.

PLEASE PRAY

- Today – Sunday Jan 25th we have our ANNUAL MEETING

o Pray for a meeting where mercy, grace, vision and faith abound but also where truth is spoken in love

o A NEW BUILDING – Yes, in just the last few weeks the possibility of renting with the option to buy a building that is 3-4 times the size of what we have and just around the corner. The challenge is the cost combined with times of recession. We have been praying and today we decide whether this is a step God would have us take or not. We will write more about his later.

- PRAYER TRIP TO MORROCO – From Feb 21-25 we are sending a team of 15 to listen, learn and let God break our hearts in love for the Moroccan people. Moroccans are the largest group of immigrants in Spain.

- HOUSE – Our new house has tons of problems that the construction company does not want to take charge of. We have had to hire a lawyer and are preparing a law suit. This is quite stressful for all of us. Anyone want to come and help fix water, leaking, floor, and other problems in a wood house? You are welcome. Please pray.

- CHURCH PLANTS

o VALENCIA – They have rented a facility and are now holding regular Sunday meetings

o SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA – We have a couple in our church that lives there. Our missionary partners with IT, a family and single gal, are considering moving to Santiago as early as this summer. Pray that God would lift up a family or two from our church that would be willing to move there.

o BARCELONA – Our group decided to die with grace and end the church plant. They have touched many lives but discerned that the core and commitment were not strong enough to keep going. Members of this cell group have integrated into other churches.

- ALPHA COURSE – Pray for continued growth of Alpha Spain. Pray that churches would unite in mission to reach out. Pray also for our local Alpha course that has just started in Vida Nueva.

I end with a prayer and reflection from this week:

I, we, our church tends to forget its mission. We are not called to be only a hospital but an army of love, peace and justice. The church sometimes loses its vision and mission to reach our. It happened to Israel, it has happened throughout history, it happens to me and our church. We are called to GO no just STAY AND HEAL. “Awake oh God and do something new. The key to Alpha which is a lifestyle of relationships, friendships, built confidence where people trust and open themselves up, is not in place in our church and not even in my own life like it should be. You are God. Thank you for renewing my strength and vision. LORD, forgive me for my arrogant boldness to question you but I prefer to be honest with you and let you know how I feel. Where are you? What are you doing? I choose to trust you and live in your forgiveness knowing that your call is as strong as ever to reach out to the lost. TRANSFORM ME, TRANSFORM OUR CHURCH. UNITE US IN MISSION TO THE LOST AND HURTING.

Alpha is like surfing. Alpha is the part of knowing how to get on the board and ride the wave. But without the wave there is no surfing. Without time, investment, personal relationship and trust building inspired by the Holy Spirit, there is no effective evangelism. There is no Alpha, there is nothing that will really work. We need the wave. We are ready to ride the wave but we need to go where the waves are. Where are the waves? What place, day, time will we find the waves? We have the board. We have the know how. TAKE US TO THE WAVES. THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL. Take us to the harvest. Take us to the waves.

Thanks for your interest, time, money and prayers. We love you and are very thankful for you.

Rob