Spain

I have no idea how to describe our week in Spain. Incredible, refreshing, God-filled and insane are all words that come to mind but to actually describe WHY is kind of beyond me! I feel like I came back to Ukraine a completely different person than when I left - recharged with new purpose, passion and something released in me - in both Steve and I - to see God do new and amazing things here in Zaporozhye! 

G42 is a very tight-knit community. There have only been 200 or so graduates in the last 5 years so mostly everyone has heard of everyone and it was really nice to actually meet all of these people face to face. We also met up with friends who we went to school with and staff members who we know well. There were about 50 of us for the reunion (including staff and current interns) and it was a great sized group. 

View from where we stayed: 

Arriving in Mijas, or just meeting other G42 people anywhere is like instantly having new family members. You're automatically part of the group, you're automatically loved and welcomed into someone's life. It's hard to describe unless you've experienced it and it was really awesome for us - just having come from Ukraine where we've had to work really hard for the relationships we've made and people can seem a bit cold and unwelcoming at times! We met so many amazing people this week, people who have said "yes" to God and are living for Him in everything they do. Not everyone we met has a solid plan but they know who their Father is and they know that it is worth their life to follow Him.

 Some of us at "OCP" or the Orange Chair Place - it's actually called Bella Vista but it's a G42 favourite and we've always referred to it as OCP (There is also the blue chair place that I'm not sure if anyone knows the actual name of).

We kicked off the week Sunday night with a worship night at one of the intern houses, called Mijouse ("mee-house") where we were actually staying for the week. Mijouse used to be a church so the interns live on the main floor and the actual church sanctuary is upstairs so we used it for many of the large group gatherings. Having a worship night first set the tone for the entire week - it was amazing to be altogether just celebrating and praising God.

Throughout the week every alumni had the chance to share what they have been doing since G42 and what God is doing in their lives. Everyone had amazing stories, whether what they are doing now looked like they thought it would when they graduated, or not. There were sessions/classes/whatever you want to call them throughout the week - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each of the four main teachers (Andrew Shearman pictured below) took a turn teaching a time or two.

One morning the men did a "man hike" up the mountain, lead by Dave Hearn who used to be in the U.S. Air Force.

At the same time as the man hike, the women had a picnic brunch in the park.

The leaders of G42: L-R: David Fredriksz, Andrew Shearman, Dave and Rebecca Hearn 

Wednesday evening we had an open mic night - or rather - a three hour talent show. Mostly everyone was involved and it was actually great (despite my apprehension about open mic functions)! So many funny acts, songs, poems, we even learned some salsa dancing.

After morning class on Thursday there was a group outing for the afternoon to Malaga, which is the closest major city along the coast. Steve and I had never been during our six months in Spain so it was nice to finally see it.

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 Steve jumped into the sea from the port.

Friday morning we took time to pray for and encourage each alumni as we all prepared to go back home (or wherever). Everyone headed to the beach for the afternoon and then at night was the reunion closing ceremonies. The current interns cooked up a tapas feast for all of us and offered to baby-sit the boys so we could enjoy some free time.

 Us and Brian. 

 Us and Andrew. 

 Us with the Hearns. 

The closing ceremony ended up being another worship night/party! It was so amazing just doing what we do best - hanging out together, having fun and praising God! There was singing, dancing, more praying and more encouraging one another.

We spent the weekend in Mijas after the reunion was officially over. The teacher for the next week of regular classes, Herman Haan, came for the weekend and we had really loved the week he taught while we were at G42 so it was fantastic to spend time with him. There was a festival in the town square and a lot of the reunion people hung around as well. Friends of ours were staying at Hotel Mijas so we made use of their pool as well, which was much nicer, closer, cleaner and easier than the beach!! 

On our very last night (Sunday night) there was another worship session on the roof of our friends' apartment building. 

 We got to say our good-byes and spend time praying with people and enjoying our last night in Spain.

G42 and Spain mean so much to us - it's definitely another home for us. We always come away feeling so refreshed and excited to continue doing what God has called us to do, it's amazing.

We are happy to be back in Zap now. We're here this week and then will be headed to Young Life camp next week which is going to be awesome. We're planning our Just Youth service for this Saturday (the 16th) so we would appreciate prayer for that event. We are still without a constant worship leader/band and music is a big draw for kids. We have one potential guy (who was apparently on X-Factor Ukraine ?!?!) who we've asked to come (he's a friend of a friend) but we do have some back-up ideas just in case. Steve also needs to prepare a message this week so pray for that as well.

Thanks for reading and for your continued support!