SPAIN/PORTUGAL: TO MALAGA 2.

The Church we wanted to visit in Malaga was a Reformed Baptist. We had been given the address, but, as we normally do, we checked it out on the Saturday so that we knew we had got it right. Dutifully we followed the directions of the "sat nav" to Guadix St.,Churriana, Malaga. We turned down a narrow street - the passenger saying "er...is this wise?" Turn left was the next direction.....even narrower with parked cars and a dead-end! The driver had to make quite a few maneuvers before being able to get back out!

  The "Iglesia" or Church is right at the end of Guadix St. 

On the right is Pastor Juan Bascunana with Oscar, the brother of Sergio in Cuenca. The Pastor's wife played for the singing.

Sergio's brother, Oscar and their parents.

Here are some of the congregation after the evening service, on the balcony at the side of the church, with Malaga and the beautiful surrounding mountains in the distance.

Oscar took us to see Jose Rios, a lovely Presbyterian Pastor, suffering the effects of a stroke. He has known much blessing on his ministry in past times.

He was so pleased to show us his beloved books.

Salvador and Rosi took us to their home for refreshments and then drove us to a  point above the city, where we could admire the view.

 

SPAIN/POTUGAL: TO MALAGA (1)

After visiting the Peregrino Publishing, we ventured even further south towards Malaga. The brick-red soil gave way to brown, then sandy colour.We traveled through miles and miles of olive-groves, planted up the sides of the hills. The weather continued very hot and dry.

 

We explored a little of the beautiful mountains around Malaga, looking for somewhere to overnight. Then found an "embalse" (damn) high in the hills.

 

We had lunch here

And stayed in this shady spot.  (Psalm 121:5)

These flowers appeared out of the parched plant!  They reminded us of the verse in Isaiah 53:2, where it foretells the coming of Jesus the Messiah: "a root out of a dry ground"

 Water was a necessity 

(John 6:35, "He that believes in me shall never thirst")

 

What's round the next corner?

SPAIN/PORTUGAL: TO MORAL DE CALATRAVA.

It was a joy to meet busy publisher, Demetrio Cavanas and his wife and daughter, who also showed us much kindness, and were a help to us.  "Peregrino" is the Spanish for pilgrim, an apt word for the work of providing good books to help Christian pilgrims on their way.

The Publishing House is in the town of Moral de Calatrava. We spent 2 quiet nights beside this damn, wakened only by eager morning-fishermen;  hence the photos taken in the early morning light.

NEWS FROM CUENCA

Sergio and Evelien are grateful to all who pray for them as they work in Cuenca. 

Some sad news is that a lady in the congregation lost her sister in a tragic road accident. Prayer is requested for the grieving family.

Sergio continues to witness at every opportunity.  An elderly couple, C and M, heard the gospel message about the only way of salvation  in Christ Jesus when thay met in the park recently.

M and F were listening to the open-air preaching in the park. F attends the same book club that Sergio attends. She would like a visit as soon as it can be arranged.

A contact from the Red Cross (which Sergio goes to) has attended some of the church meetings on several occasions.  He has borrowed the book entitled "More than a Carpenter" by Josh McDowell.

In Una an effort was made to explain the gospel message to 2 men who were very opposed to it. Then M and his wife appeared "out of the blue".  A conversation had taken place with him a year before. The story of Jesus and Nicodemus was explained to them. They would like to receive home visits.

Prayer is asked:

1.  For a lady who want to do a "Christianity Explored" series in her home with some of the women in the church, encouraging them to invite unbelieving friends and family.

2.  A planned conference where Jose Moreno will present his new book on William Wilberforce.

3. For Sergio who has now signed up as a volunteer at the public library in Cuenca. He has submitted an application to be allowed his own discussion group, to which he gives the Latin title "cogito ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am). Pray this may arouse interest in philosophical and theological thinking, and give Sergio an opportunity to explain his Christian standpoint.

4.  For the unemployed in the church.

5.  For JN who, the last time he visited Sergio's home, said it was impossible to speak with with   him! They will be focusing on the opening chapters of Genesis at their next meeting.

6.  For O who is a regular attender and also for her husband who sometimes accompanies her.

7.  For P, still undergoing intensive rehabilitation.

"We express our sincere gratitude to everybody, who is in some way interested in God's work in Cuenca and pray that God will encourage and strengthen you and us, and that He may add to the church such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47)"

 

 

SPAIN/PORTUGAL: TO CUENCA

We would have loved to spend more time with the dear folks in Miranda de Ebro but we started to head south-east to Cuenca.  On the way we came across this quiet place to spend the night, beside an unused church on a narrow promontory high above a reservoir.

 

Cuenca is a very old town built above the gorges of 2 rivers.

We had met Sergio and Evelien before on a previous visit. They work very hard making contacts to whom they can witness the Good News of the Gopel of Jesus Christ.

Here are some of the believers whom we met at the mid-week Bible-study.

SPAIN/PORTUGAL: TO MIRANDA DE EBRO

Courtesy of the Banner of Truth UK we went on our yearly camper van trip with 3 rather large boxes of Christian books in Spanish for the use of Pastors in Spain. 

Our entry point into Spain was Santander after taking the 24 hour ferry from Plymouth, England. We had 2 overnight stops in the Basque hills.  This region does not feel very Spanish. Even Madrid refers to it as El Pais Vasco: The Basque Country. It rains a lot, it has it's own language and culture, and would like to be independent!

 Just over the border  into Castilla is Mirando de Ebro, just 369 miles from Santander. Our guide book described it as "dusty" and "rather depressing", but we were not there to admire the town. We wanted to make contact with Pastor  Jorge Ruis and his wife Michela and their 4 children.

Jorge is very industrious. He is working in conjunction with the Trinitarian Bible Society, on a translation of the Bible into Spanish. He has also made a metrical version of the psalms and the congregation sings them to the Genevan tunes. He was delighted to receive some of the books that we had brought.

Here is Jorge and his wife Michaela with another couple in the congregation, Diego and Sarah, whom we met up with again near the very end of our trip. They travel all the way from Vittoria Gasteis to be worship in Miranda.

We did enjoy being with them at the service on the Lord's Day morning, and sharing lunch afterwards.  To our surprise we were invited to travel with them North to Bilbao where they have an evening service. That meant going back the same direction we had just come from!