Monvee!

Well what a shock to take a look at my blog and realize that it has been an entire year since I last wrote on here. I could not believe that it has been that long. Obviously I am in need of some new motivation to get on here and share some thoughts.

In fact, I am in need of motivation to do lots of things so I am making some changes. One of those is that I am headed back into the gym to get back in shape. I decided not to wait until New Years to make a change so this morning at 5:30am I was up and working out. Yes...I do know that is very early and yet once I got there I felt pretty good.

Another area that I am working on is a more consistent devotional and prayer life. Sometimes working in ministry makes it almost harder to want to be consistent in spending time with the Lord personally. I find myself viewing the Bible as part of work rather than as a letter from God to me so I knew I needed to make some changes in that area of my life as well.

So today I started working with a program called Monvee. It is a tool to help customize a devotional plan for 60 days that fits your own personal learning and creative style so that you are more motivated to be in the word. We are not all created the same and what speaks to me, might not mean anything to you so they help you develop a plan for spiritual growth.

For me, one of the things they suggested was that I blog. So here I am, back on my blog and in the coming days you can expect to find me posting new things I am learning as well as how this new tool is working for me in the area of motivation and creative ideas to help me in my spiritual walk.

So until later...

Fall Update!

Hey everybody! I have taken a bit of a break from the blog for most of the summer and early fall due to finishing up the last three classes on my Master's Degree. But the end is in sight and in a few weeks I will be back keeping this updated with all of the latest mission and local outreach project opportunites that you can be involved in at Colonial Woods.

I will probably throw in a few mental ramblings of my own as I am studying through the books of Luke and John this year. You just never know what you'll find on here.

So check back shortly and I will have a new design and layout as well as come great new content.

Until then....

Sunday the 27th!

Our return trip began early in the morning (4am- or 10pm Saturday Michigan time). We said our tearful goodbyes to Howard, Ruth, Pastor Eduardo and our host families. We arrived at the Santiago airport with plenty of time to get to our gate. We praised God as our trip seemed to be starting out extremely well (with only a minor glitch of Mindy being stopped by security as she realized she had a souvenir letter opener in her carry-on which they quickly detained. Yet somehow Karlie was able to get on with a finger nail file lol) We arrived in Madrid on time and got on our plane for the states. We boarded with ease and all found our seats. Stephanie Hamrick and I both took a dose of Dramamine to help us sleep on the 9 and a half hour plane ride. We both quickly fell asleep only to wake up 2 hours later as we realized that the plane was still sitting at the gate due to air traffic control issues. So the 9 and a half hour plane ride turned into 12 hours. Luckly the Dramamine caused me to sleep through most of it.

When we arrived in Chicago, we quickly discovered that the flight that was coming from Detroit to Chicago had been cancelled due to a tornado and bad storms in Detroit and all the outgoing flights that night had been booked solid…. Hmm….. that makes this smooth trip home a little more interesting.

Ann got in line and rebooked us the only thing available, tickets to Flint first thing the next morning, Monday. Once we had our boarding passes, the group soon decided that we would rather rent 3 cars and road trip it the 6 hours back home. Although we would be arriving around 3am, this would be best since some had to work the next day and some had to get home to their children. We called and booked rental reservations for only $125 total! We arrived at the rental place and found out that the man on the phone was a little off in his quote…. About $600 dollars off. That left us with a little dilemma. This was WAY more than we could afford. So, the only option was to rent one car for the people who needed to be home and the rest of us would get a few hotel rooms and leave the next morning. Chuck, Michelle, Gary, Ann and Karlie were in the car ready to go and the rest of us were on the bus back to the airport to find a hotel, leaving me, the less than capable assistant leader in charge for the night… yikes! 10 mintues later Ann calls and says she needs my mom in the car since she paid and she was sending Gary in her place.

After some kinks in the bus system, we finally meet up with Gary and headed out on the shuttle for the hotel. We are all sitting there talking about how nice it will be to finally sleep horizontally instead of in a chair when we noticed that a suitcase resembling Gary’s carryon is sitting on the curb of the hotel that we just dropped a bunch of people off at. He was convinced it was someone else’s and we prayed that Gary’s is still on the shuttle. Ha ha… nice try! It was Gary’s. And it just so happens to contain his passport and boarding pass for Monday’s flight. Gary and Anna get back on the shuttle as I go to check us in for the night. Praise the Lord it was still there and they came back in one piece ready for a big dinner at McDonald’s and a restful night’s sleep.

This morning we got on our flight and made it home safe and sound (Finally after about 40 hours of travel). Although I was a little stressed out when there were only 2 seats left on the shuttle to the airport and the rest of the group waited to get on while Kari and I checked in. Oh and let’s not forget that Kari’s luggage somehow got lost on the way to Flint… No, we cannot make even one flight without some glitch.

Although we do not return home with stories of hundreds of new commitments to Christ, we do know that our work was well worth it for the kingdom of God. We cannot wait to hear, whether in this life or the next, of how this work has spurred on Pastor Eduardo and his church and all of the fruit it bears . We know that people heard the word of God proclaimed and we now leave it in His hands and trust that He will finish the work there.

Thanks so much to those that supported us financially and lifted us up in prayers throughout this crazy adventure. Keep Spain in your prayers as they are a nation that is in major need of Jesus! Also, pray for Howard and Ruth, the missionaries, and Pastor Eduardo and his church. Although our ministry there is over, they have a long road ahead of them.

Besos y abrazos,

Steph Langolf

Saturday the 26th

!Adios España, nos vemos!

The crazy 10 day trip to Spain has come to an end. We have finally all made it home safely and are quickly starting the normal life routine again. Due to the crazy schedule of the last day and an early start to our travels home, I (Steph Langolf) am just now getting to post the update of Saturday as well as our return travels (and if you thought our travels to Spain were crazy, just you wait!!!)

Saturday’s ministry was probably one of my (Steph Langolf) favorites of the trip. We arrived at Howard and Ruth’s house looking forward to helping out at a kid’s fiesta in the middle of one of the town’s busiest plaza’s. None of us should have been surprised when Howard told us that were going to be spending the time beforehand passing out tracks and sticking them on the windshields of cars! I am pretty sure that every single person in Villagarcia and Santaigo have been handed at least one track if not multiple ones. We joke about the tracks and the fact that we distributed over 6,000 of them; however, that is over 6,000 times people have seen the message of Jesus’ love and the hope we have in Him.

After distributing a few hundred pamphlets, we all met up in the Plaza Galicia in the middle of the town’s busiest commercial district. Steven, a man from Marin and two of his helpers had set up games and crafts for children of all ages. I had the pleasure of making balloon animals with Gary. I think in the 3 hours I sat at that station, I successfully made 5 swords and 3 dog/giraffe/some strange animal with four legs and a head. I popped more balloons than I can count. I believe I heard the Lord say to me that the balloon animal ministry is not my calling. However, I was so blessed by just being able to talk to all the children and translate for Gary as he amazed me with his ballooning skills. I cannot even begin to tell you how many people asked me and others why we were doing this. We had the pleasure of telling them that the local evangelical church was putting it all on at no cost. They were so surprised to hear that and it was a great community outreach. Pastor Eduardo and his gang were able to talk with many people and pass out lots of literature and bibles. Praise the Lord!

For lunch we went back to the church and had a big meal of traditional Spanish Paella. It was delicious, yet most of us were stretched to trying weird food since the shrimp still had eyes and legs and the mussels still had barnacles on the shells… gross! Later at the pastor’s house we had the privilege of trying octopus with the suckers still attached. Yeah, that was interesting. My mom, Mary, and I were blessed enough to go up to the mountain with our host family to see the beautiful Atlantic coast and overlook the entire city. At the very top of the mountain was a cross. Being up there reminded me of Moses and how when he went up the mountain he saw God, but when he came back down, his people, the Israelites, God’s chosen people had been blinded by lies and built a golden calf idol to worship. Although this cross overlooks the beautiful Spanish countryside of Galicia; at the bottom of the mountain, the people are blinded to the truth, held captive to worldly things and false idols, and most importantly in need of a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

A Day With Gary!

How can I put a whole day into just a few paragraphs? Days here seem
to fly by before you know it. Today was a day full of sunshine,
authentic Spanish food, about 5 miles of walking soar feet...again.
Tomorrow is our last full day in Spain and I would like to share a few
things that I have learned while on this expedition.

1) You don´t have to see it for it to happen: I have yet to have
a conversation with anyone about the gospel but I have heard many
awesome stories about the people of this wonderful country. Some are
posted in previous blogs but just a few minutes ago (about 12:15 am
Spain time) Pastor Eduardo told us that two people have called him
today about the tracts that we handed out and one is coming to church
this Sunday.

2) Turtle paws are only good for walking: Sometimes we have an
idea of what the Lord has planned so we do our best to complete that
task no matter how we may dislike it. We may complain and grumble
about it and may even get it done...but did we? I´ve learned this
week, including today that it is easier to just pray about it first.
We can really never get our little paws around what the Lord has in
mind. Ask Him and he will provide in the same amount that we ask. So
put on your most comfortable tennis shoes and get going.

3) Music is universal: We went to a concert this evening, here in
town, made up of about 60 members of a church about 40km (about 25
miles) away. They were great. I found myself really being drawn in by
the music. Some songs I knew, some I hadn´t the foggiest idea what
they were saying. All the same we had a great time.
Lastly...

4) Friends are a must: I have 11 absolutely amazing friends. The
11 other people that came on this trip have become more to me than
just "the group". They have become my true friends. They have uplifted
me with words of encouragement and gratitude. They have supported me
through stressful times (doing the drama for the first time is nerve
wracking) with prayer and a pat on the back. They also take the time
to listen to my concerns or worries with heartfelt feedback from the
heart. They will even help you shop (This may have nothing to do with
10 of them being women...nah!...sure it does).

Thanks for reading

Straight Up News-Double "A" Style

A Day in the Life of the Spain team as seen by Anna and Ann...but mostly Anna!

-A brisk walk to the train station, amounting to a few miles
-40 min. train ride to Santiago
-Arrive in Santiago with excitment for the day

-Break off into "buddies" and start the journey...First we found a comfy spot on the sidewalk of rocks and prayed...we prayed out of Ephesians 5, asking God to reveal the mystry of the gospel through us to the people we would come in contact with...from there we began a prayer walk through the bustling streets...we never actually approached the Cathedral ,as we did in days past, we stayed mostly in the sorounding streets...

-Lunch Time! for lunch we went ot a cute little buffet style resturant...it was a huge blessing because a missionary couple that is a friend of the Mosers, bought the whole team lunch!

-After lunch we went walked around for a "siesta" break and looked in a few shops-

-Next it was back to bussiness...Ann and I went to a park that was near...we talked and prayed some more...I went to the bathroom and came out to find Ann chatting with a lady on a bench...I figured I would walk a little and let her continue on with the conversation but, little did I know that Ann was Struggling a bit...there was more confusion than actual communication going on because the woman spoke absolutly no English, and for those who do not know, Ann is not quite fluent nor remotely famliar with the Spanish vocabulary...so when I finally decided to join her and the woman Ann decided to go and find one of our Spanish speaking friends to asissit with the situation...I was then left with a dear old non-English speaking woman who seemed very intriged with the track Ann had given her...I then decided to attemtped to share my almonds with her, she declined...a short time after, I saw Ann and Ruth Moser on the horizion!...Ruth sat down with the woman and spoke with her about the Lord and even got to read her a few passages from the Bible...Ann and I sat on the other side of the bench and prayed...we once agian prayed out of Ephesians "...wake up oh sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you"...Ruth was able to talk to her for about 30 min...as we watched the woman walk away we prayed again that the seed that was planted today would blossom and grow...

-DRAMA...today was the first time that we have been able to do our drama..we did it right in the middle of a square, sorounded by shops and cafes...it drew a lot of attention...it was nerve-wrecking the first time...we di d it twice and had a good crowd for both...no matter what languge anyone spoke I truely feel the drama can relate...

-After that we packed up and walked to the train station to head back to the church for our 10 o clock dinner...it was good!

-Now it is bedtime!!...to get all rested up for tomorrow...

This has been Straight News with Anna and Ann...for the unedited version and deleted scenes speak with one of us...

We're In the Lord's Army!

Today we were Prayer Warriors on the front line, pushing back the darkness of Santiago. Our prayers were for the veil to be lifted from the eyes of the people, and that God would shine through. The Spanish speakers took to the streets while the team scattered through the city to pray for divine appointments, and anything else God placed on our hearts. Today we tried to break down the boundaries, just enough to get God through. Satan is here, and our goal was to push our way in. We all feel that that wall is starting to crumble. Those out on the streets felt more acceptance today than any other day. People were taking tracks and bibles, and actually keeping and reading them! The mission is not over, there is still a lot of work to do in the city and this country, so we must continue to push down that wall to get through. Please keep these people in your prayers. Pray for us tomorrow as we set out once again to reach more people, pray for hearts to open and ears to listen. It hasn´t been easy to speak to others, and rejection is more common then acceptance. However we all have some pretty amazing stories to tell.

Today I (Kari) had the opportunity to partner up with Stephanie Langolf. We spent a good hour just in prayer and bible reading to prepare us for the day. We prayed for the team, for the church, the people, the city, and much more. God led us to three people today to speak with. Stephanie did all the talking (since she´s the Spanish genius ;) I did the praying. On our way to speak with some homeless men she had met yesterday, Stephanie and I felt drawn to a man on a bench. While we did not save him today, we planted the seed of God and gave him some information. After walking away, Stephanie turned around and said that is the same bench she met the homeless men yesterday. We both know that the bench at the same location was no accident, no coincidence, but divine appointment. While leaving the city today, I passed a woman on a bench reading a track, a woman that yesterday had said no to our group. God is here, and he´s not leaving!

There are many more amazing stories, Mary talking to someone from Portugual, Stephanie an Agnostic, Chuck a Buddist, and many more. Just know that God is using us, and we are being obedient in our faith. This mission has caused us all to grow personally on our spiritual walk. We are questioned on our faith, rejected and discouraged, tired and sore. Yet all of us go out every day to do God´s work. Ann asked me today to tell her the best thing on this trip and I thought I´d share it with you. For me I´ve grown so much personally. I´ve been praying out loud, talking to people in the streets, and sharing what God has shared with me. This has been my biggest and best reward so far. I have seen growth in all of us, it´s been amazing to watch us all work. Throughout the city today, we saw our team praying and sharing, we´ve been encouraging each other, and building each other up. I am truly blessed to be here with these people, and share this experience.

Well now that the serious part is over...I´ll share some of the fun stuff we´ve done today! We went to another couple´s apartment for lunch and had delicious sandwiches, and then went off to shop. Karli left her bag on the counter in a store, Anna bought cologne for men (thinking it was for a girl, have to love spanish!), Gerison (a church member) got lost and his group walked around for an hour, and we rode a train with tons of college kids. We´ve all gotten introduced to Café con leche, I´m convinced its the best coffee in the world! We´ve tried some delicious Spanish food, the best so far is Tortilla Español, hands down!!

Well its getting late and the rest of the group will arrive back at the church for dinner (yes its 10:35pm!) Please pray for us tomorrow to go with the same motivation and encouragement we had today. Pray for our drama to reach the hearts of many tomorrow, and help us to be obedient to God´s calling. I hope everyone has a wonderful night! We love you all!!