Getting connected with the workers in the area has been so encouraging! We just wrapped up the first national conference for Christian Surfers International and it was neat to hit the beach with a crew of 40 Christian witnesses and shred some waves! But more than that it was a blessing to see the scope of God's hand. As I get more involved with that cool ministry I'll keep you informed.
Teaching english-paying bills. I've got about 10 hours of private english lessons week by week and it's my only income right now. It's just been a blessing to sit for an hour and half with a Basque student 1 on 1 and get to know one another. The other day we were practicing how to read and pronounce words when I realized that the only material I had with my was my Spanish/English parallel bible. So we read that! I then got to ask critical questions about the text. Sounds pretty sneaky, huh? Not so. I'm speaking with a biology teacher who wants to learn English and she asked me why I came here. I straight up told her that my King is King of the Basque people, but that they're not serving Him. I'm here to help out with that. She chuckled, but she knows exactly where I stand. It's the same for my old boss at the surf shop (I no longer work there). He knows I'm a Christian and thinks I'm kooky. I lug my bible around and he scoffs at me. The other day, I was putting up posters for a Christian surf film, Walking on Water, that we were going to premier for Christian Surfers here in Zarautz. He looked at me and said, "who the heck is organizing this? I don't know anything about this". He considers himself to have a good pulse on the surf culture here. I told him it's something put on by my friends, Christian Surfers. You should have seen his face! He started swearing and asked if just because the group was Christian they could do whatever they wanted. I told him that people will listen to you (and watch your film) if you're like CJ and Damien Hobgood two of the best 33 surfers in the universe (who are Christian and featured in the film). He laughed me out of the store...
Basque classes- I'm enrolled in 6 hours of Euskara (Basque) classes each week. They run for the next 8 months.
The Church- I fellowship with a body of believers from San Sebastian. They are super rad. There aren't a ton of Basque people there, mostly Latinos, but I get fueled there and have frequent talk with the pastor. He knows me, my objectives, my heart, and my struggles.
Networking- I know of 4 or 5 other missionary couples working within 1 hour from where I type this. We speak regularly and I smile as I see where I fit in. God is moving...there are more joining the harvest.
The dirty stuff- The family that I'm currently staying with is spiritually drained. They've been here for 7 years and have shipwrecked their faith with a deadly amount of isolation from other Christians and fellowship. They're tired and I've become a nuisance to them. Without getting into it too much, I was asked to leave the house within the month. This is where it gets interesting. First off, pray for them. I know I came across as a burden, but there is definitely some major spiritual baggage that leads to that feeling (I do believe that I did a fine dandy job of communal living here. thank you Tahoe, Moody, Portland, and Family). If the Lord wants me to continue with the mission here in Zarautz (where I have most of my contacts, language classes, and work), God has to go big. Spain is an expensive place to live. The Basque Country more so. Zarautz is at the top of that pyramid. This is just a test to reassure that this mission is of God and to confirm exactly where He wants me.
Prayer points:
1. Bixente, Izaro, Amaia, Leida, Aritz, Yolanda and other english students. That they may be shown mercy and accept Jesus as the Christ.
2. That I would forgive when I want to get even.
3. May Christian Surfers take off and make a huge impact among the Basque
4. I need a full time job
5. I need housing. I want housing from which I can host people.
6. Praise be to the Lord for the believers that He has brought alongside me.
