Seeking and Finding

Last night I presented about Spain to Ransomed, my church's campus/young adult group. All of Friday I was excited to share about what God did this summer, but God reminded me of the necessity of being obedient to him about two hours before I started talking to the group. My brother, Jesse, called me from outside the church with the insistence that I come downstairs and "use my Spanish."

I ran down the stairs and found my brother out on the church lawn talking to a Mexican man. "Qué quieres, hermano?" I asked. "What do you want, brother?" The man, a migrant worker, was lost and needed to get to the bus station so that he could work on another farm farther south. So my brother and I walked with him to the station, and along the way, got to talk about what we believed. I never caught his name, but he was excited that "church people" would help him. And as he left us, exultant that he reached his destination, he commented "I am Christ to you, and you are Christ to me."
It really convicted me, then, because I started to wonder whether I was being a good representative for Jesus. Are we seeking opportunities to talk about Christ every day? Are we praying for missionaries that they would be unafraid -- even in light of persecution -- in sharing the Gospel?

The incident with the Mexican man made me so grateful for my experience in Spain, and gave me a reason to keep praying for the work there and in all Spanish-speaking areas. So I ask you, please ask God to show you how you can pray for Spain. You may find that it's a reminder as simple as an e-mail update, or a man standing on your church lawn.

Glimpses

It's been nearly a month since I've been in Spain, but God gives me reminders to pray for the work there. A few weeks ago I was walking through the university campus and saw a student coming across the Oak Grove in a Spain soccer jersey. After doing a double take, I started hailing the youth in what I thought was his mother tongue -- with a few Es-pa-ñas thrown in for good measure. He looked confused and managed a "Uh, sí, hemos ganaron" (yes, we won) with a strong American accent. Disappointed and a little embarrassed, I beat a retreat.

But whether it's misidentifying countrymen or whining about sub-par American coffee, we can turn would-be negatives into a chance to ask our Savior to bless our brothers and sisters in Spain. Even though we can't all go to Spain, each one can have an effect in God's kingdom by remembering our fellow laborers in prayer.

So in your own prayers, ask God how you can pray for the work in Spain. The Holy Spirit will show us how to pray, even when we don't know the specifics.

Pray also that I would utilize every opportunity. I can practice my Spanish while chatting with migrant workers who go through my checkout line at the grocery store. Pray that I would be a light to them.