To Morocco...

Roman aquaduct in Segovia.

It’s about 2 a.m. here in Spain, and I’ll be flying out in four hours on my way to Morocco for six weeks of intensive Arabic language school. The last week has been a whirlwind experience. I packed up everything I wasn’t going to take to Morocco, and stuffed that stuff and my motor scooter into a cargo van and drove 1,600 km (960 miles) from La Coruña to Barcelona, stopping to visit Segovia, Avila and Tarragona on the way. It was so great! I hadn’t driven like that since I’d left the States. The ten hour drive from Houston to Hillsboro always gave me time to think, reflect, listen to music, think some more, talk to God, talk to myself, and think some more. This trip was no different. I was of course aided by the fifteen pages of reflection papers I wrote for my intern credits at North Park seminary.

There’s nothing quite like writing a series of reflection papers to show you how much you’ve changed. There’s also nothing quite like these reflection papers to make you feel like you haven’t accomplished anything, and that you’re not really very useful in ministry. I’m sure I’m my own worst critic, but it was hard not to look back over the last fifteen months here and see all the missed opportunity, lazy days, and plain apathy towards the work here and even towards Christ Jesus.

Then, it seems redemption comes in two ways. First, God takes you aside, and shows you that really, you’ve been faithful to Him, and that He’s worked through you gracefully to grow His Church and His Kingdom; and you are humbled. Then, he sends other people to let you know how much you’ve meant to them, and how God has worked through you, and how they’ll never forget you, and how you’ve really connected with everyone; and you are humbled even more. I’ll say it again: I love this job!

I want to thank you all again for reading, encouraging me, supporting me financially, and praying for me. Please continue to pray for me as I go to Morocco and live with a family I don’t know from Adam, as well as a quick and deep understanding of Arabic. I will also be traveling with three other men: Andy, Ken and Chris. Pray for our safety, of course, but also that we will be able to have open ears, eyes and hearts to see how our LORD is moving among the people of Morocco, and how we can lovingly come alongside them and further the Kingdom with them.

Welp, I’m going to try for three hours of sleep. Here are some pictures from the road trip, as well as my best attempt at a 70s outfit for a party we had last week for youth group. Please excuse the bad panoramic image. I'm still learning in Photoshop... Enjoy! (click to enlarge):

Segovia, just north of Madrid.




Windmills outside of La Mancha (think Don Quixote).









The rental van I slept in at the Prime Meridian (that's zero degrees longitude!).








Far out...







Those are pink sunglasses, and a mop, for my mop...