SPANISH PRAYER DAYS

October 25, 2009
We have just enjoyed spending a beautiful autumn weekend with the other members of the Spanish ECM team, an annual autumnal event.
 
Over 60 of us, including children, guest speaker Rogeilio Prieto enjoyed a variety of seminars and teaching as well as the necessary AGM, while the children were wonderfully catered for with a variety of activities.
 
Friendships were renewed, new friends made and future bridegrooms sought out, and that was just the 4-7 year olds having lunch together today!!!
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
It was especially encouraging to be altogether as an ECM family and share each others prayer needs, for health, for difficult pastoral church situations, for our children, ageing parents etc. We also shared in a time of prayer for other families across europe, using their prayerletters as a means of updating ourselves with their prayer needs.
 
Shortfall in personal support for existing missionaries, or slowness in raising 100% required by missionaries waiting to go out for the first time, was a common theme for prayer.  Please continue to pray for the workers in Europe and the different family stressers they face, including finance.
 
Comments (0)

PEDICULOSIS HUMANUS CAPITIS!

October 16, 2009
Just when we were settling to claim autumn as our favourite season of the year, and having said goodbye to our visitors from Costa Rica, we were surprised by another visitor. This time most unwelcome. Yes, we had forgotten about that annual school circular advising about the annual outbreak of pediculosis.  You have guessed it.  We knew Gabriel´s class had a case of nits, but like all things, anyone else but our child would get it. Not this year! 
 
A necessary but not so pleasant way to spend a Friday afternoon after school.  Well the house now smells like a giant aromatherapy candle.  The product that Edgar bought this time has no chemicals. Ah I hear you say, not sounding good. But wait…this stuff causes the bugs to get drunk and then dehydrate.  Sounds cruel enough for me.  Lets hope it works. 
 
Comments (0)

MISSING TEDDY

October 15, 2009
FAVOURITE TED MISSING!
Have you seen this missing teddy in the North West of Madrid?
 
 
 
Sadly, Gabriel´s life-long 6 year old faithful ted, Daddy teddy got lost in NW Madrid.  Should you see him, please inform or return to one sad owner. xx Thank you.
 
Comments (0)

STAFF TRAINING

I don´t think Student leader staff training events are quite as boring as they look in this photo.  Edgar could be forgiven for looking absent by the 4th hour of this long talking session.  But I rather suspect behind that fancy apple mac laptop, he, like all the others, except the guy on his boss´s left, he has already sent some e-mails, played some game with the volume down and even written me a romantic poem.  Whatever, the staff training sessions, which Edgar attends 4 times a year are intense.
 
 
University and High school workers training days.
 
Edgar works closest with his other high schools staff and volunteers. Here we have pictured the 4 staff workers with a couple of volunteers , David, Eva, David, Ada, Edgar, Ronaldo, David( popular name, I know! and his baby daughter!) Each leader is responsible for looking after volunteer youth groups in their area of Spain.
 
 
Comments (0)

SPECIAL VISITOR

October 5, 2009
Gabriel was only 6 months old when we last visited Costa Rica.  Now as an active 6 year old, we were excited as well as nervous to have Edgar´s aunt coming over from Costa Rica to visit.  At nearly 90 years of age, never having left her homeland, we weren´t sure exactly what to expect.
 
 
 
Castles and palaces were among the favourite weekend visits, bargain hunting in the markets,  as well as tapas and drinks under glorious changing autumn chestnut trees.  In the middle of the visit, our car was broken into and our substitute car was none other than a very cool cream mini one.  The car repair took not the promised 2 days, but 8 in all.  We had fun time zipping around in our hire car with aunt Chris, and when we had to go to the garage to collect our old faithful, there was no charge, because it had been a break in.  The other fun thing was a mini is my dream car!!!  Quite an unforgettable visit. 
 
 
Comments (0)

SCHOOL BEGINS

September 19, 2009
First Day back to School
 


 
Reception Class that is for Asier (4) and Year 2 for Gabs ( 6).
 
After a fantastic summer, of 6 weeks HA, mainly based in Scotland, and 3 weeks back in Madrid, we headed back to school.  Me too! We trot off to our respective parts of the school for around 9.00am. So far so good. A few tears in the mornings, and that is just me! This year I have Year 6 class again, and so far I am liking the group I have. Gabriel has a great young teacher Miss Niki and Asier has a good family friend Anne-Marie as his reception teacher this year.
 
On Friday morning, I took off my teacher hat and popped down to the dining hall with my mum hat on, to accompany Gabriel and all the other mums or dads for a mediterranean breakfast.  The school lay this on every year, as part of their efforts to encourage a healthy mediterranean diet.  Fresh bread spread with olive oil and homemade tomato puree, with fresh fruit and tea or coffee. Lovely easy start to the day!  It was a good chance to say hello to some of the other mums from Gabri´s class I have been getting to know this last year. Lots to pray about already. Staff, kids in class who are struggling with family issues, and our own kids for this academic year.
 

 
 
Comments (0)

A DAY IN THE MOUNTAINS

August 26, 2009

It´s hard to talk about the weather when you are on the mainland, but here goes.

We spent a lazy day with the boys in one of the national parks near our home.  We ended up at the river most of the day for swimming and exploring.

       

 

The end of the afernoon we were back home for ´merienda´.  Afternoon tea in the summer can be many cool  options.  Today was chilled pineapple slush and FARTONS. The wonderfully named long iced buns from Valencia.  They are usually served with a wonderful icy slushed root drink called ¨HORCHATA¨, but it is hard to get an authentic tasting one out of Valencia.

 

 

 Asier and Gabriel weren´t complaining and they disappeared along with the pineapple drinks in minutes!

 

Comments (0)

TRADING IN FOR A NEWER MODEL

August 21, 2009

 

´Yes, I think it IS time, Edgar.  I think HE ( our faithful old car never did get a name, it just was never a girl car), has given us his best.

Over these months you have responded so generously to our car fund.  Thanks especially to a dear church fellowship in Scotland, we now have the exciting task of looking for a new car.  As my dad said, the car is not just for ourselves, it is a gift to be used to serve the church we are serving here in Spain.

So now where do we start…all that talk of HORSE POWER is confusing for starters. We started looking at different models to our current car, on a day´s visit to Warwick castle, at the end of our Home Assignment…..Like the look of this beast, just not so sure about the lack of side protection bars and space for rear child seats. 

 

Mmmm, quite nice model, not sure about the yellow though!

 

 

Comments (0)

Get free blog up and running in minutes with Blogsome
Theme designed by Viewfinder Design