The above couple is Alex and Marybeth (Alejandro y Maribel) who are the leaders of the immigrant ministry with the associated residence and church. She is an american who grew up in Chicago and he is a spaniard, through and through. I've enjoyed the times I've gotten to sit down with them. They are the ones who will be direct supervision and giving me work to do. Alex is a visionary. He has grand ideas about what he wants for this church body and for the people. Growth! Maribel is his faithful wife, sidekick, who cares about people (I can tell).
I'm learning a few things about the heart of the missionary. The missionary who spends their days and years in a different country with a different people in order to spread the word of God to a world that needs it. First, I'm learning that creativity is an extremely important asset. Alex and Maribel don't have alot of money, not alot of support, so one of the ways they make extra money to pay for these big dreams they have for the church is by scavenging for scrap metal and redeeming it for cash. I went with them on Friday to take a van full of rusted steel drums, a refrigerator, piping, stuff they found on the side of the street, and he recieved some euros for it. We then took that money straight to the equivalent of Home Depot or Lowe's and bought supplies for our work day on Saturday and a new hot water heater for the other residence. Creative! Their eyes are always open for scrap metal by dumpsters and their neighbors always know to let them know if they have a spare refrigerator laying around. That's one example of how this missionary couple will do whatever it takes to provide for their little sapling of a church with constant self sacrifice. I think it's beautiful.
Second, I'm learning the need for creativity when reaching the people and building relationships. I've heard from several people that one of the best ways to plant a church is to have a very specific people you are targeting that have a very specific need. Basically meet people where they are at. Alex and Maribel have chosen to minister to immigrants because they are in a very vulnerable place in their lives. A new place, a new culture, away from family and friends, need a job and a home and a living. If the church can step in and help facilitate that process and be a "family" that provides something comfortable in the uncomfortable environment, then great! It works. It will always work when the church targets a specific need in a community.
Also, from a conversation with a lady in the church, Maria, I learned a bit about the difficulties in reaching the Spanish population. She is a Spaniard and said that they are a very closed people. They are taught to not show emotion, don't admit trouble, don't talk about your problems. The deeper you bury it the better. She has a heart for young people and we were talking about the differences in the youth in America and the youth in Spain. Our youth group at home is very open, they want someone to talk to, they want to express their feelings. In Spain, they don't. They won't. How difficult the job is for the church to somehow break down the cultural barrier to reach a people who don't want to be reached! To show them a God who wants to heal them when they don't know they need healed! And when that people is localized together in a society, living together in their ignorance and indifference, and the church is supposed to be a light. Seems so hard. A difficult and arduous task.
I think in short I'm beginning to understand the heart of the missionary. The missionary who has a deep desire to break down those walls, not let things of this world inhibit the gospel, and take a message of love to anyone and everyone. (Sounds ALOT like what Jesus did when he started his ministry!! Chew on that one awhile.)
