Interesting discoveries and *finally* a schedule

This past month as been a very interesting one. After I moved out from my initial host family, I started renting a room in a local flat. I live with a German and an Argentinian, and sometimes I feel like I'm on a reality show (but one of those cool ones without a ton of drama). I teach english in a machine factory 4 days a week and have several other classes spread over the rest of the day. It has been such an answer to prayer to have this steady income, and there's a healthy balance to this work also. Some days are very full, but there are a lot of open blocks in my week. Like I don't feel that I'm too busy.

I've been meeting with an Argentinian believer here in Zarautz. We have a similar vision of doing Church here and we've been praying and sharing our heart with one another. There is a small group of believers here who are looking to do Church the right way. We're praying over this move and talking about our objectives. Some of the things we're really looking for:

1. Be a group that we can invite our secular friends to and not have them weirded out or bored or rejected. In positive words: Love and welcome. It gets way deeper than this, but this point is huge because the Basque culture is just so cold. Many Churches in the area have become "cliques" and aren't ready for the Spirit to create a Basque expression of Church.

2. Be Bible focused. Preach, teach, share, and wrestle with the Word.

3. Mission minded. Our faith ----> streets. Reproduce. Grow.

Please keep the Basque people in prayer. Pray that a core group of believers would see and accept this vision. Pray that the Lord would raise up a Basque believer to help us bridge to this culture.

God moves November (and those other months too)

This is one of my favorite times of the year, when it starts to cool down and the bigger waves start coming in. It's a treat to live in a town like Zarautz. Going through this housing fiasco has shown me that today is a special gift from God. It's not guaranteed that I can stay in Zarautz forever, but I'm here today and I need to be looking for ways to represent him. I'm now renting a room in a flat on the other side of town. It's a calm place. Answer to prayer!!- I got a job offer teaching English at in a company setting. It's in a small town about 20 min from here and it's part time, but it brings my total hours of English teaching to over 15/week. I had to buy a car to get to this remote location and that's been an ordeal. Teaching English has been neat. It's really cool to spend so much time with Basque individuals on such a personal level. We talk about a lot of things, and I use examples and stories from the Bible whenever I can. They know where I'm coming from. I tell them straight out, that I'm here to learn about the Basque people and share the news that their rightful King has come. Nothing sneaky.

Saturdays I work at the surf shop. Good contact point with the culture.

I'm in Basque language class 6 hours a week. It's super fun, but challenging.

Fantastic news! By the grace of God, I and the old host family have been reconciled. The Spirit has moved us to forgive and understand each other a little better. There is peace between us and the future looks so bright. They have been good to me. I give all praise to the Lord for doing something that was far beyond me!


With all of these changes happening, I want to make something very clear. I find it so amazingly easy to think that the next paycheck and lifestyle decision is the biggest thing on the horizon. I do not want to forget why I'm here: there has been a clear calling from the Lord to share the news of His Son among the Basque. I'm not here to make a living or be successful (sure I want those things). I have seen Christian workers distracted and caught up in the world, and they've had good intentions too! Help me, Lord.

Church planting- right now I'm meeting with believers in town and praying over the people. Petitioning the Lord to open up a door for a Basque fellowship. This is what I want to be focused on.

Thank you for your prayers. There have been so many answers in these past few weeks.

God is good.