¡Bienvenidos!…Welcome…Fàilte…

Well the new diary is bought for the school year sept 07-june 08. Rather nice it is, but so far empty.

Summer holidays are winding down as the weather cools and first signs of autumn are already around. 2 and 1/2 weeks left of hols, at least for me and the boys, Edgar has been back working since mid august. Some of his time is being taken these weeks, hunting down good visual youth resources and  video editing, for use in seminars, talks for youth events this term.

This week I will begin to plan the programme for the preschoolers sunday school (ages 2-4) for our church here in Villalba. We are looking for a new teacher for this year to substitute the lovely Lidia, who is in England learning to speak Queen’s english and study. I begin teaching an hour’s english every morning for the next 2 weeks, to 2 neighbours girls, Irene and Nuria.  That will help get into the swing of preparations for the autumn term. It is always hard to get down to it when you work from home.

There are some great family activities to look forward to in the last couple of weeks of school holidays before Gabriel returns to nursery on 12th Sept: special storytelling/puppets in the main library, and a mini celtic connections weekend, of pipes and fiddle concerts, some free in the local parks. See you there Jimmy!

One of many many cases of disappearing children. Many cases where the truth about what happened is still to be discovered. Pray for closure and comfort for the McCann and other unknown suffering families.

Driving to Mountainview International Church this morning for their Sunday morning service we were shocked to read on the motorway noticeboard that 1682 people have been killed in car accidents on Spanish roads since 1 Jan 2007. We are just at 19 August. Frightening! We are never really ready to hear that  someone WE know and love has died or badly injured.

 We received other shocking news just today,of dear chums from WGNC in Glasgow who had a terrifying accident, along with other brits while holidaying in Norway. I don’t know what I want to really say with that except we are SO grateful to God that Donald doesn’t have life-threatening injuries, but still serious to warrant prayers for healing and recovery along with the other British tourists injured.

 Goodnight and hug those close to you a little harder tonight. Keep praying to a God who knows and cares.

 

Jane’s close friend Tracy from Blackpool is heading back to England  29th August,with husband Ainsley and Madison their 2 year old. They are still settling the matter of Ainsley’s new job and are expecting their second baby mid December.

 On 28th July, a tired, tanned and happy Edgar arrived back from national camp - this year held near Guadalajara, near Madrid. The camp went well, many teenagers coming from Christian families but still searching for God to be real and relevant for them.

Less than 24 hours after his homecoming, Edgar recieved a tragic phonecall: the father of Andrés (14) was killed in a road accident while taking himand a friend home from our camp.  Edgar saw Andrés and his mum Carmen at the funeral but are  are still in hospital with cuts to hands and feet.  Andrés. A double tragedy,  Andrés first dad died in an accident, and his step-dad had been married to his mum just 3 years. It seems so unfair, and it is true what the bible says that we will have to wait till the end of time for everything to be put right in this broken world of ours.  It hurts deeply in the meantime, and  God weeps with us too.

Jane had tough  but serious conversations about the challenges to faith during such circumstances with friends from mums and toddlers.