Sleep

Sleep.  The one thing I lacked greatly during our time in Spain.  Sleep. The one thing I seem to not be able to get enough of since I returned to NY.  Sleep.  A blessed gift not to be taken for granted.  Arriving back in NY late Friday, August 9th, yet another anniversary of my 29th birthday, I found myself ready to hibernate.  Twelve days of intense ministry in Spain, preceded by short sleep as packing and last minute trip preparations left me and my team mates ready to catch up on some rest.

Sleep.  A small sacrifice for the gains.  Outreach in Puerta del Sol, Las Aguilas park, Robledo de Chavela, and San Martin de Valdeiglesias and a daily VBS meant that the gospel was shared with a good number of people in Madrid.  We had opportunity to make good connections and build relationship between the Iglesia Evangelica at Las Aguilas and our home church of SGT.  We were encouraged to see progress made in the Spanish church construction, the very site we had prayer walked last July during our time in Madrid.  We were blessed to be a small part of a bigger outreach, as the adults and youth from Las Aguilas church came out in droves to be part of the ministry that took place in the parks, using testimony, music, drama, dance, puppets, and clowns to share the Good News.

Scripture admonishes us both to sleep (Psalm 127:2) and stay awake (Mark 13:36, I Thes. 5:6).  The importance both of being alert to wiles of the enemy and opportunities to share the gospel as well as of making sure we get the rest our physical bodies need are not to be denied. I am glad for the time to stay spiritually awake and sow seeds while we were in Spain, and for the time of physical renewal of rest as I wait on Him for direction for the next step.