The Reign in Spain

A Big Day/Prayers Needed

It was two years ago today that we left home for the mission field.  While we've definitely faced our share of challenges, we have also experienced many joys and great support from so many people.  God has also blessed our work here, and we are as sure as ever that we were called to this work.  We only hope that our efforts bring the light of God's love to many, and glory to God.  And as always, we are grateful for your prayers and support.

We certainly need prayer at this time.  We had hoped to be able to make a trip back to Spain, albeit temporary, beginning next week.  Carrie had hoped to work on coordinating the summer children's program in Rivas, and Michael would have been driving a support vehicle for a bike tour across Spain's northern tier.  Twelve riders will be experiencing Spain's beauty while following a historic pilgrimage route, all the while raising support funds for Spain's Country Shares Account with FM World Missions.

However, for health reasons, we will need to stay in Portugal at this time.  Carrie has been experiencing apparent allergic symptoms for almost a month and a half (without knowing what, if anything, she is allergic to), and the symptoms of a bad cold for nearly two weeks.  A pregnancy test came back positive, but the doctor was unable to find any evidence of an embryo, which should be apparent by this time.  So, it does not look good, and barring a miracle, this will mean another unsuccessful attempt at having a (long-awaited) baby.

We will go back on April 30 for a reexamination.  In the meantime, please pray for a miracle, as well as the stength and endurance to go through this difficult time.  Carrie is feeling weak and tired and still sick, all of which she would gladly endure for a baby, but the doctors have told us not to get our hopes up.

She was also tested this morning for a virus, which may explain some of the symptoms.  We should find out the results on Friday, but are strongly hoping for a negative, as this particular virus can persist for several months.

Perhaps God has a great plan behind all of this, but we have yet to see what it is.  In the meantime, please keep us in your prayers.

In Christ,

Michael and Carrie (Caty) Hamley

P.S.  On another note, our car is also not doing so well.  We may have to have nearly $1,000 worth of repairs, and are trying to decide if it's worth it.  Please pray for wisdom on this matter as well.

Won't You Be Our Gecko?

Like many places where it's warm much of the year, Portugal has its share of lizards.  It's not unusual to see one or more sitting on or scurrying around any wall or other surface out in the sun.  We see them in the church yard all the time.  (And now that we've moved to the apartment above the church, I guess that makes it our front yard as well.)  Most of these are skinks or other small lizards.  They're pretty cute--although less so when they get bigger.

We were a bit surprised, on a recent Tuesday evening, when we opened the door to the Santa Marta church and found, staring at us before quickly disappearing, a gecko.  Geckos are also small lizards, also fairly cute and harmless.  We've seen them before, but not in Portugal.

When we served a year in Honduras, teaching at a Christian bilingual school, we learned about geckos and their value.  In Honduras, when a person or family moves into a house or apartment, it is an altogether welcome and appropriate housewarming gift to bring them a pair of geckos.  You see, geckos eat termites and their eggs, and termites are impossible to avoid in Honduras.

As we've learned, there are also termites in Portugal, particularly in the haphazardly built area of Santa Marta.  We've started to see the damage from them in the wood beams along the ceiling of the sanctuary.  And each time we move the wooden pulpit to clean under it, there's less pulpit to move.  So our gecko is most definitely a welcome guest at the church.

The battle against termites is a lot like the spiritual battle we undertake here on the mission field.  Termites are destructive agents, and like the devil's principalities and powers, once they're in place, they are hard to remove.  And they reproduce: generation upon generation of destruction, whether of buildings or of people's souls.

But we don't fight this battle alone, of course.  God is on our side, or rather, we are on His.  We also count our supporters and prayer partners among our contingent.  The prayers of those who lift up missionaries before the Lord are among the greatest weapons in this spiritual battle.  While it is easy to see and know the problems that are before us, we know even more surely that, because of your prayers, countless other pitfalls and problems have been avoided--taken out of our way before we encounter them, through your efforts and God's grace.

We hope that you don't mind our thinking of you as our "spiritual geckos."

Blessings,

Michael and Carrie (Caty) Hamley