Descargando (Unloading) y Repartiendo (Distributing)

The last few days at work have consisted mostly of unloading and distributing food at the latest addition to Mission Urbana's list of locations. Currently, M.U. is in a critical time of expansion and transition. In addition to their main location, they are in the process of purchasing another place for Bible studies and worship services. (This new location is where the guys on our team will be doing construction once the papers all get signed.) The European Union has also been lending M.U. the temporary use of a place for distributing food to families. Then this week, the local government of Valencia (Ayuntamiento de Valencia) decided to jump on the bandwagon and lend M.U. another warehouse to distribute city-donated food to families. Thus, M.U. now has four locations (two for their own services, and two for the distribution of government food). Our job, then, on Wednesday and Thursday was to clean out the warehouse, unload the tons and tons of food from the trucks, and distribute it to the families waiting to receive their monthly rations.

Waiting to unload the food at the new warehouse

Eunice, the secretary (and many other things) at Mission Urbana

Some of the people waiting to receive food at the new locale

And outside M.U.'s main location

[Side note: Many of the people who come through M.U. do not appreciate having their pictures taken, especially in connection with M.U. Because of that--and because it is often difficult to juggle a large camera around on the job--I do not know how easy it will be to take photos of our main work at M.U. I will do my best to share with you all my experiences there, but I cannot promise the inclusion of as many photos as would be preferred.]

In another sense of "unloading," we were able to relax a bit this weekend and enjoy a trip to Valencia's famous science museum and aquarium.

An infrared screen

Hypnotic jellyfish...zzz...

I was in an ecstasy among all the sea creatures--

both unfriendly...

...and friendly!

Then, to "distribute" a bit of that enjoyment, we went out again tonight with Marta and Carlos, our friends from church, to celebrate Marta's 25th birthday.

Nothing like a fun night of expensive ice cream and bad bowling to celebrate a birthday!

The birthday girl--and Alexa's ever-present funny face in the background ;)

I have just about hit the half-way point for my time here in Spain. It really has gone by much more quickly than I expected. Not only that, but many things have turned out differently from my expectations. I'm working on a reflections post, which will discuss many of these thoughts and insights from my time here so far; and hopefully, it will be up in just a couple of days, so check back soon!

In the meantime, I leave you again with just a few praises and prayer requests.

Praises:

• The team is really beginning to come together now, as we're getting to know each other better and working to complement each others' strengths and weaknesses.
• Beth, the final member of our team, arrived safe and sound from Chicago this week.
• We're all getting into the swing of things at Mission Urbana.
• God is giving us many random opportunities (especially on the Metro) to meet people, initiate conversations with them, and build at least an elementary relationship with them, which will hopefully lead to opportunities to share a little bit of our faith with them. For example, today I had the unique chance to converse in Chinese with a 17-year old kid from China. He left us his e-mail and phone number, and the team really hopes to develop a deeper relationship with him. Many of the other times, we end up befriending some English-speaking African immigrants.
  
• I don't believe I have cooked this many meals before in my life (granted, they are very simple), and I am enjoying it immensely. =)
  

Prayer requests:

• One of the reasons the purchase of M.U.'s new location has been held up is because the president of M.U. is being hospitalized for prostate infection, and he cannot sign the papers. Please for his quick recovery, both for his sake and for the sake of M.U. Until these papers are signed and the purchase completed, the guys cannot begin construction work on the building. His name is José María.
• Alexa and I (and I think maybe Levi again) have been fighting a cold for the last few days. It's mostly just congestion for me now, which is not serious, but rather annoying.
• My computer screen has also been acting up for the last couple of days. I'm afraid my electronic friend and I do not have much longer together. Please pray it will last at least until I can get back to the States, so I can complete the assignments that are due while I'm here, and so I can back up my latest files.
• Please pray that I will have enough time to fully engage in our work, fellowship, and activities, while still having enough time to complete my assignments, update this blog regularly, and most importantly, spend personal time with the Lord growing closer to Him.

As always, thank you for your prayers, and don't forget to check back again soon for my reflections update. ¡Que Dios os bendiga y nos vemos muy pronto!

~Joanne