Monday was the start of our team debrief time, and it was great to begin the process of processing our trip, and well as have a few fun experiences as a team as we begin the journey home.

In the morning, we had a short tour of the center where we are staying. They create media to help people learn about Jesus Christ, and that is a beautiful thing. It was a blessing for me (Amanda) to meet people as Trace spent his summer here last year. We were able to join them for their prayer time.
 
Then in the afternoon we had more debrief time, and we went out as a team to the beach! The weather was not amazing for a beach day, but several of us went swimming in the waves, and it was so much fun.

Our team had a seafood dinner at a place called Moby Dick, which was a very fun experience, and the team time was amazing.

On Tuesday we had breakfast in our different apartments. To start, we met for a devotional and talked through some of the debrief questions. I (Denver) thought this was a good time to stop and look back at what God has done here in Spain and inside each of us. We then had an hour break for more reflection by ourselves.

After lunch we took a bus to downtown Malaga to see the Alacabaza Moorish castle and also a Spanish cathedral. These massive buildings showed ancient beauty and reminded us of how small we are. We then walked around and shopped for a bit before supper at a taco restaurant. The day was a good balance of reflection and growing closer as a team.

Please pray for us as we travel back soon and adjust to Canada.

Today, Wednesday March 4th, was our final full day in Spain.

In the morning we met with a couple who work in the area of Bible translation. They shared many interesting stories about their life and work and it was great to hear from them and learn a bit more about ministry.

After this our team did lots of debriefing as we prepare to return to Canada tomorrow. During the afternoon there was some free time where some people went out one last time, and others stayed back to relax and pack up.

Please pray for our team as we prepare to travel tomorrow and settle back into our regular routine back at school. Pray as we prepare to share stories of how God is working here in Spain. (Jesse)

Editor's Note: this blog post covers the youth retreat weekend.

On Friday, our team packed up and said goodbye to Algeciras. We drove to the camp that Renacer Church has been using for the past few years. The camp had around 35 youth and young adults (including our team). Our team was in charge of running most of the activities and chapel sessions.
 
We arrived at camp in the afternoon on Friday and reunited with many of the people that we had met during our previous events with the youth from church. There were also many new people that we hadn't met yet. We all became friends very quickly.

The theme for the camp was prayer. I (Brynn) had the opportunity to speak in the Friday night session. I spoke about why we pray in order to set the stage for the rest of the sessions diving deeper into the topic of prayer. Trace shared his testimony as well.

Some members of our team were able to lead worship with the Renacer young adults. It was such a blessing to sing songs both in English and Spanish. Even though we didn't all know exactly what we were singing, it was still powerful to know that we were all worshiping God together.

Saturday was a full but amazing day of camp! After breakfast we had our second session where we worshiped, I (McKenna) shared my testimony, and Denver led the talk. Then we all went for a walk / hike. The Spanish countryside is so beautiful! Then there was some time where we played games and did crafts. There was bracelet making, a big game of Uno, a game of spoons, and a couple games of chess. It was a great time to connect with people and the campers.

After lunch we did a selfie / scavenger hunt that Lois and Xander planned. We were put into small groups and ran around the olive groves and goat farms taking creative funny photos together based on the prompts we were given. Then after that we had a talent show! All the performances were dances and were very entertaining.

We were given a demonstration on how to make Moroccan / Saharan tea. Lots of sugar! The preparation process is meticulous as North Africans share tea to demonstrate hospitality and build relationships, share stories, and to conduct business.

Our Saturday evening session was filled with more impactful and energetic worship. Lois shared her testimony, and Andrew did his talk on prayer. After another late supper, there was some more fellowship and game time. There was a lot of high energy.

Thank you so much for praying for us!

Our last day of camp on Sunday started out with breakfast and a final session/chapel. We played a lot more songs and really just had a blast - fastest I've (Adrian) ever done some of those songs!
 
Some of us then spent a very long time taking pictures together, specifically in authentic Saharan/Moroccan clothes. They were brought from an older camp worker originally from there. There's probably over 100 pics out there of that. A few of us were given special gifts of these unique robes.
 
Then we had a HUGE paella lunch for our final meal. We ended with heartfelt goodbyes - definitely people and memories to miss and remember.
 
Please pray for the team as we spend the last few days of our trip in Malaga debriefing and preparing to return to Manitoba on Thursday. All yall's support by finance and prayer has been greatly appreciated and a significant blessing.

Hello friends and family!

On Thursday we had a day of preparation and rest before camp this weekend. In the morning we met as a group, and talked through some plans. We figured out most of the plan for camp, and then we dispersed to go do our laundry.

There were three laundromats in the area, but it still took a couple hours for the whole group to finish. During this time we also had some very interesting interactions with some very interesting people, so that was quite interesting.

For lunch, we went to a shawarma place near the hotel. This is my favourite kind of food, so I was quite excited. After eating we went shopping for some food and other things we needed for camp.

After some more rest in the afternoon, we went to a restaurant for dinner around 8. This was another great time of experiencing the culture in the area, and noticing many things that were different than we are used to.

This weekend we are running a youth camp. Please pray for energy for the team, and that we may have deep and beautiful connections with our new Spanish friends.

Wednesday was another travel day for us.

We reversed our initial journey (from Algeciras, Spain to Casablanca, Morocco) now travelling from Africa back to Europe. After a quick and early breakfast, we took Ubers to the train station, then boarded the high speed train from Casablanca to Tangier.

In Tangier (Morocco) we went through security and customs and boarded a ferry, taking that across the Mediterranean to Tarifa (Spain). We then took a bus from Tarifa to Algeciras, playing some games along the way (mainly Once Upon A Time). I (Maya) finally beat someone at chess - RIP Adrian :)

We checked into our hotel, resting a bit before supper. In the evening we enjoyed some great Moroccan cuisine at one of our favourite local restaurants. Our team ended the night with debrief and prayer back at the hotel; some fun group shenanigans followed.

Pray that we would serve and lead well at the youth camp north of Malaga this coming weekend.

Hello everyone!
 
I'm happy to report on another day of our trip here to Spain / Morocco. Today was our last full day in Morocco and we were able to do a few more things before we leave.
 
First things first - we got some Ubers and made our way to Anfa park. There we went on a prayer walk throughout the park and also prayed for the city. I thought it was really cool to pray over this place where so many people visit and pray specifically for those fasting right now that they may encounter God and the power of Jesus' love. It was great to see many people in person and pray for the real needs they have.
 
After the prayer walk we came back to share lunch together in our apartment building. Then we had a little bit of downtime before welcoming some local workers to our apartment. We had a great time of fellowship, sharing pizza and playing with some really cute kids. It was so cool to hear the different stories of each family and increase their little meeting size from 6 to like 25! The family of God is everywhere and what a blessing to be able to worship in a place like this. A great blessing. That was how we spent the afternoon and evening as we connected with the local believers and learning about their work here.
 
Prayer would be appreciated for these workers as they learn the language and figure out which team they are going to join for the future. Prayer for this country and the people here who don't yet know Jesus and prayer for safe travels tomorrow all the way back to Algeciras.
 
Thanks for listening and God bless!

As-salamu alaykum,
 
Today as a team we had the privilege of going to an Arabic language school where we received a short two hour language taster course. During this session we learned a few simple Arabic words, phrases and how to use conjugations. This time was both informational and highlighted to the team the challenge that learning Arabic can be while also showing that it is possible to become fluent, potentially within two-thousand hours.
 
After our sessions, we had lunch with the owners of the school and got to hear part of their stories; their call to their work and stories from their time spent in North Africa. It was encouraging to hear how God has been using them and for the growth that their program has seen. It was also good, though challenging, to hear about some of the struggles they have had to witness.
 
Later in the afternoon we had some rest time. Some of us chose to explore Casablanca in the area where we are staying while others took the time to rest up for what is coming next.
 
Later in the evening we went for supper at a restaurant called Yone where they served us eight different courses which were all very excellent. It was a rich time of fellowship and laughter. It also taught us what it looks like to break a Ramadan fast.
 
To close out the day, we spent some time reflecting on the last two days with all of the new experiences and stories we have heard. We also spent time in prayer for the people of Morocco, the couple that we met with, and for the church here in Morocco.

Pray for our last days in Morocco, that we are sensitive to listening to the Spirit and travel safely back to Algeciras on Wednesday.

Good morning folks!

Today we started off the morning by getting to sleep in a little bit and then eating some breakfast. We then had a time of worship and prayer together as a team. This was a very nice time as it was good to recenter ourselves on God and be reminded of why we are here in Morocco.

After this, we got to prepare lunch together. Some of us walked to a nearby store to get some groceries and then we made mac & cheese for lunch, which tasted amazing!

The plan for the afternoon had been to tour the Hassan II Mosque, which is the second largest mosque in Africa, but our plans ended up getting a little bit disrupted because of Ramadan. We were not able to tour the inside of the mosque, but we were still able to walk around the outside and pray for the Muslims who were praying inside the mosque, the tourists who had come to see the mosque and were watching from the outside, as well as the whole city of Casablanca.

It was fascinating getting to walk around the mosque. There was so much attention to detail in everything, and it was beautiful, but there was also a heaviness to it at the same time. I thought it was an interesting contrast that we could go there and be praying in our hearts to God, interceding for this place and these people, while they were inside praying to Allah.

After that, we walked along the ocean and got to see what a Moroccan market looks like in the older part of Casablanca. It was very busy and very crowded with lots of motorcycles buzzing around, but very cool and exciting at the same time.

In the evening, we had supper together as a team and then had some relaxed time together, which was very nice after a busy day.

Please continue to be praying for our time in Morocco, as well as the city of Casablanca, and the entire country of Morocco. Pray that God would be working and moving, and that change could come to this city and country.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support!

Hello ?

Yesterday, on February 21st, we had another travel day as we launched our journey to Morocco. We awoke rather early and were at the Algeciras Port shortly after 9:00. By 10:30 we boarded a bus to Tarifa, and from Tarifa we boarded a Ferry to Tangier, in Morocco.

The ferry ride was interesting, and a bit of a challenge to walk around on without stumbling due to the waves. Having left for Morocco at 12:00 Spanish time, we arrived at 12:00 Moroccan time. We travelled to the train station in Tangier and had a two hour long high speed train ride through the beautiful Moroccan countryside. We arrived in Casablanca at 3:15.

After some long debates amongst taxi drivers, we figured out how to get to our apartments, and the ride there was very different from most car rides I’ve ever been in, as no one used turn signals, and instead preferred to honk, speed, and weave through traffic.

We settled into our very nice apartments around 4:15, and in the evening went out for dinner at a place called “Oasis Cafe.” above a gas station! The food was very good and there were even cats wandering around the restaurant (cats are everywhere in Morocco).

We finished off the day with some debrief and prayer in groups. Overall it was a nice day of mostly travel and settling into our new home for the next few days.

Please continue to pray for our team as we are in Morocco for the next few days, that we will be open to learning from others and making good connections with the people we meet.
 

Today we got to sleep in as yesterday was so busy. The day started with a great breakfast and then the team met at Carl and Lisa’s place for a devotion, debriefing, and preparation for the youth night.

After that, the women went out with a few local women for lunch and to connect. The rest of us went to a local restaurant near our apartment and tried snails for the first time - they are very good!

We then started cleaning up the apartment that the guys stayed in so that it will be quicker in the morning to get everything done. Some of the team also prepared for the youth night by shopping for snacks and preparing worship for the night.

The youth night at Renacer was amazing and it started with worship in both languages. Then two testimonies from both groups which were powerful reminders of how God works in unique ways in different people. To close we had snack and played two group games that were really fun.

We then had a late supper with them at Burger King and then said a heartfelt see you later as we travel to North Africa tomorrow.

Please be praying for us as we settle into 4 days in Morocco. A few of the team are still not feeling healthy, and there are a few adjustments as we settle in to a new country and culture.

Thank you for reading this update and praying for us.

Denver Reimer

Greetings, loyal readers!!
 
Today we had a lovely day of team building and of adventure! We travelled in the morning by bus to Gibraltar, which is a beautiful mountain across the bay from Algeciras - but part of the UK. It was a nice change of pace to be able to speak in English with most everyone, and communicate more easily. Once we made it to Gibraltar we fueled up with snacks, and began our hike.

Most of Gibraltar is a massive rock (or mountain) which currently serves as a wonderful tourist location, with tons of displays and exhibits, tunnels and forts from the 1700's all the way until World War 2. We were tourists for the day, going almost all the way up the mountain on our 10 km hike, and back down in over 4 hours! The hike was steep, and difficult, but it was so much fun.

Near the top of Gibraltar, there are so many monkeys!! They seemed very very cute and tame, until one tried to get into Andrew's bag and knocked him over! The monkey managed to open his bag but did not get anything out of it, praise God. During that same encounter, a few members of our team were approached by some upset monkeys, and one jumped on my head! From then on, I was terrified that the monkeys would jump on me, and all of a sudden they were everywhere!

When we made it back down, we had fish and chips (when in the UK...) and made our way back home to Spain just in time to go bowling with the youth from the church! We had such a fun evening with them, and even went out for dinner after, at 10pm, only getting home after 11.

It was such a fun day of fellowship, laughter, and fun, and a day where all of our available energy was drained from us. But what a blessing we were able to be a part of it all, even that we got a little sunburnt, and that we got to be exhausted from a day of hard walking and beautiful fellowship with our brothers and sisters.

Pray for us as we head to Morocco for the next five days.
 
Amanda P.

Hello there!

We had another great day in Algeciras! The place is wonderful, and the people are amazing, and God is moving.  Today we spent the morning finishing up the fence we were working on yesterday at Antonio and Esther's, and then had some YUMMY burgers for lunch.

The afternoon consisted of people getting around to different things. Me and some others, as well as some of the church youth spent time practicing music for our upcoming time at camp (next week near Malaga, post-Morocco). Others took siestas, and walked a small part of the city where we spent a bit of time in a Cafe.

Before supper we went to a prayer meeting at the church. This was a time of worship and prayer with some members as well as hearing a testimony. Almost none of it was done in English. While that meant understanding little, we were still moved by God and His stories of His ministry.  We then had supper, with just our group, at Antonio and Esther's.

Some of the team went to bed early, for the 19th will be a BIG day.  

Please pray for the health of the team, as a few of us (including myself) have been under the weather. Secondly, pray in general about our time in Morocco - it is Ramadan which will lead to some interesting opportunities to think about food, prayer and fasting.

Finally, pray we will continue to seek, trust, and grow in Jesus.

Adrian

Greetings Brothers and Sisters Christ!

Yesterday was another good day here in Algeciras, Spain! We got to help Antonio & Ester out by working on a side fence project next to their house (Casa Emmaus). We started by taking out the old fence and then we put up posts for the new fence. We took a break for lunch to have cous cous, a traditional Moroccan/North African dish. It was very tasty!

After lunch some of us kept working on the fence by pouring cement around the posts while the rest of us had siestas (afternoon naps). Siesta in Spain is from 2-5 pm and is a period when businesses close for a long lunch and rest. This tradition is helpful in summer when people want to escape the hottest parts of the day.

In the evening we had three friends come over who shared their testimonies with us. They are girls similar in age to our team and each from another religious background. Their stories of their life experiences were very powerful and showed how God is faithful and brings freedom to everyone.

Lastly, we did some orientation and  preparation for camp next week with Antonio & Ester and friends from their church.

Thank you for all your prayers thus far! Please keep praying for us and the ministries in Spain.

McKenna

Yesterday we went down to the port of Algeciras, and purchased tickets for the ferry to Morocco for next week.

We went to a Moroccan restaurant that the previous two MX3 Spain teams had also been to on their mission trips and had our first little taste of Moroccan culture - tangine, cous cous and kebobs.

Then we went on a prayer walk. We broke into teams of two or three and walked along the coast praying for the port, the city, and the people here. The port of Algeciras is sort of a gateway between Morocco and Spain. In the summer there are a lot of Moroccans who travel back and forth between the two countries. Because of this, there are ministries who connect with people as they come and go on vacation or arrive to work in Spain. We specifically prayed for that ministry and that it would be fruitful.

My group also talked with Jenni about what it looks like to go into ministry and be called by God for a specific purpose.

Later that evening, some of the youth from Renacer Church came over and we were able to fellowship with them. A bunch of people on our team were able to talk and play some games with them despite the language barrier. We are beginning to really connect with many of the youth here.
 
Unfortunately many of us are also getting a bit sick and could use prayer for healing. 

Brynn 

Hello friends!

Today was our second full day in Spain, and it has been so wonderful. Us guys woke up in the small apartment we are sharing, still feeling the jet lag. We all met for breakfast at the EMC center, and had some time as a group preparing for the day.

Then we walked to Renacer Church, and had an amazing service. The highlight for me was the worship time, everyone loved the Spanish song we had prepared, and it was beautiful to all be worshipping God together. Amanda also shared her testimony, which was beautiful to hear, and people in the church really appreciated it.

We had lunch at the church with the young adults, which was a great time of fellowship together, taking time to connect intentionally. After lunch was done (around 4:30), a member from the church brought us on a tour around the center of the city. We loved getting to learn the history of the area, and it was great to keep connecting with the young adults group. All of us went back together to the EMC center, and fellowshipped there for the evening.

Despite my social battery being very low, I absolutely loved all the connections with people throughout the day. It is obvious how important community is to the church here, and that has been beautiful to see.

We appreciate your prayers for health and energy as we are going to be quite busy over the next week. 

Trace 

Yesterday we arrived in Algeciras, Spain!! After breakfast at the hotel in Malaga we walked/drove to Malaga airport to wait for the bus to take us to Antonio and Esther (in Algeciras). THE BUS RIDE WAS SO PRETTY ALONG THE COAST OF THE MEDITERRANEAN!!! Lois beat me in a one and a half hour chess game ♟️?

Antonio and Esther were SO warm and expressive, and meeting their daughter Jeni was a blast. We arrived at their home (the EMC Center) in the afternoon. After a tour of the finished downstairs and unfinished upstairs, we went on the roof (see picture above). What a view, guys…

After this Jeni split us into two groups and we went on a scavenger hunt that was designed to help us explore the city! Supper was a delicious soup made by Esther and BREAD of course ?.

Our team appreciates your prayers for us: that we would be prayerful in all that we do, always taking time to be refreshed in the Spirit (personally and all together). And that we would be able to bless our hosts as much as they are blessing us.

Maya

I can't believe we're in Spain! We had quite an exciting first couple days traveling. Thursday we left Winnipeg on a flight to Edmonton leaving at 1pm. On that flight I actually got to meet a random lady and have a conversation with her the whole hour and a half long flight. She shared about her life, the ups and downs and how even though it was quite hard sometimes she could always see the good and part of that was the church she was involved with who was like a family. I asked how I could be praying for her and she said that I could be praying for her mom who was getting older. It was a really nice conversation and a great way to start the trip.

After Edmonton we flew to Amsterdam where we had a long lay over to explore the city. I thought it was interesting to see the cultural differences not only in the architecture of the city but also the prevalence of drug use throughout the city. We didn't have too much time there but good to explore. Then we left Amsterdam for Malaga, Spain - had some food and got to our hotel.

Over two days of travel we basically had no sleep so everyone was very excited to find their bed for the night and get ready for tomorrow as we travel to Algericas and meet our hosts for the first week.

Pray for our team – energy and confidence to take the opportunities that we encounter.

Xander

Our team will be posting updates on this blog site over the coming 3 weeks. We appreciate your prayers as we serve and learn in Spain and Morocco.

Today (Saturday March 1) was our first full day of debrief in Cordoba. It was an incredible blessing to simply sleep in and take the day at our own pace. We had the opportunity to explore the city and witness some of the incredible beauty built up throughout the centuries here in Spain. Myself and three other guys found an amazing empanada restaurant for lunch. We were able to enjoy the amazing food in a small square surrounded by the beauty of European architecture.

This was not only a day of exploring and rest, but a day of reflection. Our time in Cordoba today allowed for us to reflect on the many lessons and experiences we’ve had in Spain. Today was an opportunity to humble ourselves and examine what God has impressed upon our hearts. Reflecting on our many ministry experiences and exposure to the work of God’s kingdom in Spain.

After many hard days of witnessing God’s kingdom work and partaking in his kingdom work in Spain; today was a time to reflect on everything we have learned through those experiences. With such a heavy dose of ministerial work and cultural adaptation, days of debrief like today allow for us as a team to fully take in everything God has revealed to us through those experiences.

A prayer request as we near the end of the trip would be for tender hearts to fully grasp what God is working in our hearts through this experience in Spain.

Evan Penner

Friday was our team’s final day at Manantiales de Vida camp in the hills of Southern Spain. We said many goodbyes to the friends we had made from the Renacer church in Algeciras, as well as the campers who we had connected with during our two and a half day stint at the camp. It’s always hard to leave new friends behind, and we will likely not see any of them again, which makes the goodbyes that much more difficult.

Next, our team travelled to Cordoba by train in two separate groups, because one group had to go back to Malaga to drop off the rented van we had been using for the trip to camp. We have experienced many modes of transportation on this trip, from driving to flying to taking a ferry, walking, and now riding the train. It was a cool experience to see the hilly countryside flying by on the hour-long train journey from Malaga to Cordoba.

Once we arrived in Cordoba, we faced a 30 minute walk to our apartments in the steady rain, crossing an ancient Roman bridge. Fortunately, our things didn’t get too wet except for our feet and shoes. After settling in, we had pizza together at a nearby restaurant.

After a long day, beginning with farewells and travel, we were all ready to take the opportunity to rest for the night.

Prayer Requests:
- Health for our team 
- Wisdom and insight to see where God has been moving and teaching us during this whirlwind of a fortnight in Spain
- Strength and energy to finish our trip well, there’s only a few days left until we leave for home!

Owen Friesen

Thursday, February 27 was our second day at the camp, and most of it was spent doing camp activities and sessions. It was a more relaxed schedule than we are used to in most Canadian camps, as a lot of the activity time was spent simply talking with people or playing casual soccer or basketball games.

One more organized activity we did was a hike, which brought us up to an amazing view of the area around the camp. It was great to be able to spend time with some of the campers during that time. We also had two sessions, where students shared about joy and peace, as the theme of the camp was the Fruits of the Spirit.

Something that stood out a lot from the sessions was the worship, as we could see that the people leading and some of the others did not have the opportunity to worship with other believers very often, so this was a great blessing for them. It was also a reminder that we can take worship for granted, and often don’t realize what a privilege it is to be able to worship all the time. It was also very evident that the Holy Spirit was at work during this time.

Overall, it was a day of connecting with new people and seeing how God is at work in the lives of people at camp.

Calli Banman 

Today (Wednesday February 26) we left Algeciras yet again but this time for the last time. Our team split in two groups to travel to camp - one group travelled in a rental van and the other half of us got to take two buses to get there. Travelling went smoothly, and we have the Lord to thank for this.

Arriving at the Springs of Living Water Camp was special as we got to see friends from Renacer Church we had met previously and were able to get to know them better. Once we arrived at camp we had lunch - those of us travelling by bus got there late so we all got a round of applause as we walked in. After lunch we played some games - a name game of sorts and electric hands. It was so much fun getting to be silly, laugh, and play games with the youth at camp.

Then in the evening we had the first session. Ethan shared about love through the story of the prodigal son, then Amy shared part of her testimony with us. We also sang worship songs together, both hype actions songs and slower songs together. This was such a beautiful special moment. Some of our new friends helped us lead worship and watching them lead worship touched my heart.

The rest of the evening was spent hanging out with the youth and getting ready for bed. We have been so thankful for all the opportunities that we have been having on this trip.

Morgen Penner 

On Tuesday, our time in Ceuta came to an end, and we said our goodbyes to Pastor and Mama Lina. It was hard to leave these two, who taught us so much, and experienced many things with.

We caught the ferry back to Algeciras, seeing the beautiful views on the ride. When we arrived, we checked into our hotel and had some delicious food for lunch (shawarma!). After this came the all important task of doing our laundry, taking up a lot of space in the laundromats around the city. It felt good to come back to a place that was somewhat familiar to us, and participate in "normal life" there, doing simple things that others in the city were also doing. We met at the Magic Flute for supper, a Moroccan restaurant close to the port. It was delicious food, and we had good times of laughter together. We had a chill end to the day, with some prayer, as well as some final preparations for camp.
 
Continue to pray for our team. As I am writing this, we are in Cordoba, and there is so much to think and pray about from the past weeks. As we reflect on our experiences in Spain and debrief together as a team, pray that the Holy Spirit would give us wisdom and discernment. It is so important for us to understand and remember the ways we have seen God working. Also pray for health and energy for our team, as this time has been very tiring for some. Praise God for all the ways He has protected and provided for us so far!

Sam Loewen

Another chapter of our trip came to an end today. On Monday - our last full day in Ceuta, we got to work with our hands, doing all sorts of odd jobs for Pastor and Mama Lena around their home. Between weeding the gardens, painting, welding gates, fixing drain systems, and constructing concrete pyramids on top of gate posts, it was a full day for everyone (some more than others, especially the pyramid builders).

For myself personally, I found it satisfying as I watched these jobs come to completion. It was fulfilling to know that these were now a few less things for Pastor and Mama Lena to worry about, as they continue to work hard to keep their ministry going.

We were all tired by the end of the day. Pastor and Mama Lena invited us into their home for tea and debrief. I think we were all amazed by the beautiful guest room we entered. Stunning and elaborate Moroccan patterns were carved into the ceilings and walls. The couple told us it took three months to complete. Anyways, our conversations over tea was a nice way to end our time with them. It was so good to reflect, so much was seen and experienced during our stay.

Ceuta will always hold a special place in my heart. God taught me so much about His love here, and provided me with many stories and people to be inspired by. Please pray for the Church in Ceuta. This place is filled with people who are searching for a better life, pray that this searching would lead them to Jesus. Also pray for Pastor and Mama Lena, that the Lord would continue to bless their ministry and give them strength.

السلام عليكم - salaam alaikum (may peace be upon you).

Kyla Fast

I believe it is safe to say that today was one of the wildest days many of us have experienced in a while. We started the day around 8 with strategically moving our team from our home base in Ceuta to the Moroccan border. From there God answered our many prayers and we had no problems at the border crossing into Morocco. But that’s where the fun really began.

Once in Morocco, the plan was to pile 18 of us into a van and make our way towards our destination - an orphanage in a nearby city. Once we had crammed into the van, several of the nearby taxi drivers who were angry at us for not using their service began yelling at us in Arabic, lying on the road, and blocking us in with their cars. After praying, some of us leaving down the highway on foot, some more praying, a police escort, and some more praying, we made it out of this tense situation within a couple hours with no further problems. With this being our first impression of the country, we later found many, many more very kind people in Morocco.

In our evening debrief, the team reflected on how much peace we had throughout the whole ordeal because of our intentional focus on giving the situation over to God to do as he pleased. Today really showed us a new aspect of fully trusting God that we are often to comfortable to see in Manitoba.

Although this unfortunately caused us to no longer have time to make it to the orphanage, it meant we had more time to spend with a very kind Muslim family who are long time friends of our hosts. They invited us into their beautiful home for a traditional Moroccan meal for the afternoon. Their warm hospitality was very much appreciated by the team and something we don’t often experience from those we don’t personally know in Canada.

There were also many other events from today that seemed to disrupt our plans that are far too extensive to put in one post. But through it all we are trusting that in some way God was orchestrating it all for the sake of his kingdom.

Thanks for your prayers as they are being answered every day.

Rylan Toews

On Friday our hosts took us down to the beaches of Ceuta to meet migrants, share tea, build relationships and invite them for lunch and a service the following day.

Today, we had a simple “church” service with them, where we sang worship songs together and some of us shared our testimonies, mine included. We then had lunch and got to know them better through good tea and conversation. Most of them came from northern Africa, and had traveled over 6000 km from their homes to find work, with a mixture of walking and vehicular transport.

However, Ceuta was not their final destination. These men plan all plan on going to another northern European country - hoping to find good work so they can send money back home. Another reason they had left was because of a significant conflict that is happening in their home country. Through conversation, we had found that their journey was not easy. Some of them had experienced deep scares from jumping barbed wire fences and swimming across dangerous waters to get here.

A couple of us had the opportunity to share the Gospel with them as some of the men had many questions. When they were told that we study the Bible, their response was, “What’s the Bible?”. It was truly a deep and enriching time not only sharing with them what the Bible is, but also learning about what they have been brought up with. It was interesting to hear what they know about their holy book, and their perspectives on religion and culture.

A prayer request that I have is for these young men to have their hearts opened to Jesus. It was so difficult to realize that they had never really heard about Jesus or the Bible. Please pray that the words they have heard today will not be taken lightly, but that they will take a step to learn more about Jesus and the freedom that He provides for us.

Another prayer request is for sleep. With me and many other people struggling to have a good nights rest since we arrived in Spain, it has taken more effort to have the energy to keep up with the busy days. So pray for sleep and that we may have the energy we need to continue to share the good news of the Lord and have an attitude of love!

Pray as well as we head off to help at a youth camp tomorrow. Our blog posts are a few days behind what is actually happening.

Anthony Baker