Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-3

We are thankful for YOU, our friends and supporters!
The Apostle Paul modeled for us when he often opened his books with thankfulness.
1 Cor 1:4,  I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God given to you in Christ...
2 Thes. 1:3, We always give thanks to God for you, brethren...
Eph 1:16, We do not cease giving thanks for you...
Many of you have been on our support team, praying, encouraging, giving for the entire 15 years of this journey.  We could not have fulfilled our calling to Spain and Western Europe without you.  Thank you!  As we begin retirement, we want to make sure you know just how special you are to us and how much we appreciate your love and support!! 

 
The Spanish YL Staff

SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE SEEN GOD DO DURING THESE 15 YEARS

It’s amazing to look back and testify to what God has done in Spain and in Western Europe during these past 15 years. As the first staff in Spain, we moved to Madrid in 2004 to start Young Life. God was faithful. He opened doors for international ministry and national ministry, provided kids to meet, and gave us an understanding of the language and culture... Today Spain has 9 YL staff (8 Spaniards) covering 6 different areas of Spain. We have seen many Spanish kids come to know our Lord and study the Bible for the first time.

We were blessed to work for Western European Region for 7 years, during which we traveled, led, and trained YL staff and volunteers in 5 Western European countries. We cherish our European friends and their families. We look back at these 15 years with great joy and gratitude. God worked through us in amazing ways to establish and grow ministry, but also in us to grow us in Christ. What a privilege and an opportunity to trust Christ in our lives!

We found that teens are teens around the globe. We saw how they enjoy music, games, crazy humorous skits, adventure and especially being loved with the Lord's unconditional love and accepted for who they are. Many of our European teenage friends are now following Jesus.

THANK YOU for making this possible through your support and encouragement.  We will continue to fight the good fight, just in a different venue. May each of us listen to the Lord’s call on our lives and respond and follow Him. If we follow, God promises He will make us fishers of men!  (Mt. 4:19)

Photos over the years:
 - Adult staff at 2 events with YLWE, in Belgium and on a boat in Israel
 - 2 groups of Spanish kids from Madrid, many of whom are now following Jesus!

WHAT’S NEXT?
Barbara has recovered from her surgery (appendectomy/ colectomy) on August 27. We are celebrating healing and a great pathology report.  All this hasn’t kept her from making plans to serve here in Nashville with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) an organization that appoints volunteers like Barbara to walk through the judicial process with minor children who have been neglected or abused and advocate for them.  God has confirmed this call on her life with Micah 6:8, “…Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God." and Dt.10:19, "show love for the alien, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt..." Please pray with Barbara, as she finishes her CASA application process, taking a 24-hour training in January. 

Jim has decided to go back to being a YL volunteer leader.  YL Nashville has placed him on the team at Glencliff, an urban high school here in Nashville that is 52% Hispanic.  He loves the YL style of ministry and feels called to reach those kids who might not be reached otherwise.  He’ll be volunteering at the school on Tuesdays and Thursdays with students who don’t speak English. He hopes to help with classes for parents learning
English.  Of course, there’s weekly YL club, campaigners, and camp. (This makes 46 years that Jim has worked with teenagers!)

We are so thankful that the Lord answered our individual prayers, leading us to our next places of service.  

Jim and Barbara's plans?
To enjoy our blessings and our 8 grandchildren!

Jim and Barbara