So we are in the farm, and now we have internet. It's great but we have a limit of 5 GB download and upload per month, so it's going to be tight with 6 internet users in the house. We are going to have to ask guests not to use laptops etc.. thats ok. Still no phone but it is coming, I can at least skype but not with video.
I am going to cut down on images as well which I hope doesn't make my blog boring, we are working on a solution but this is the best we can do right now.
I am challenged by this way of life, its hard yet also very rewarding.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Brief update
I stole the photo's from Brian Houston I think it's one of my friendlier poses. It's been hard but fulfilling work, no more need for the gym or jogging, wood cutting is the way forward. I am Axe man! and I have started calling Bruce chain boy because of his expertise with a chainsaw, although he thinks I should stop calling him that as it sounds a little weird.
Still no internet, I am down at our centre and have just been getting emails but for some reason I can't reply to them from here. The guy is coming to install the internet tomorrow morning which should be great, it will be a few more weeks before we have a phone because telefonica are basically the worst telephone company in the world.
I was 39 yesterday and thank you to everyone who left a message, one more year until 40, we had steaks and wine last night of course we had vegetables and other bits and pieces but the steak and wine made it perfect, plus the single malt whiskey and Monte Cristo number 4!.
I've been sleeping well probably because pushing a wheel barrow up and down a hill is pretty close to fatal exercise but it's good for the heart.
It's been uber windy, which is great for fire wood but not so great for chimney smoke...
Anyway the views are fantastic this one is from just outside our front door......
If you have emailed me in the last few weeks and are awaiting a reply, it will come soon.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Internet Cafe
I am not enjoying the internet cafe experience, but here I am with a quick post!
The move has gone well, we are now living surrounded by boxes, but that is okay.
The electricity stopped working on Friday for 2 hours just as it was getting dark, Tracy got it sorted with our land lady in the end, there are a few teething problems. We have no hot water, which is okay for me but for the girls who have hair, it is really cold. Hopefully it will be fixed today. We should get internet by Thursday, but this is Spain.
Wood chopping is fun, thankfully someone bought us the chainsaw so we are making it happen big style. Don't worry we are not chopping down trees just cutting up the wood that has fallen over. With half a million square metres of land we have loads of fallen to keep us going.
Nearly shot a rabbit the other day, Bruce, the boys and I have got shots of at 6 in total but we have missed every time. Don't worry our day will come.
We have the kitchen sorted it's the only room with heating at the minute, and we have a few mice, nothing traps won't sort out.
The landladies husband is showing me how to prune our vines this week, he has already shown me how to do the pomegranates and fig tree.
The boys are happy and so is Tracy, we are just ploughing on.
Anyway I need to get back and cut wood......
keep praying
The move has gone well, we are now living surrounded by boxes, but that is okay.
The electricity stopped working on Friday for 2 hours just as it was getting dark, Tracy got it sorted with our land lady in the end, there are a few teething problems. We have no hot water, which is okay for me but for the girls who have hair, it is really cold. Hopefully it will be fixed today. We should get internet by Thursday, but this is Spain.
Wood chopping is fun, thankfully someone bought us the chainsaw so we are making it happen big style. Don't worry we are not chopping down trees just cutting up the wood that has fallen over. With half a million square metres of land we have loads of fallen to keep us going.
Nearly shot a rabbit the other day, Bruce, the boys and I have got shots of at 6 in total but we have missed every time. Don't worry our day will come.
We have the kitchen sorted it's the only room with heating at the minute, and we have a few mice, nothing traps won't sort out.
The landladies husband is showing me how to prune our vines this week, he has already shown me how to do the pomegranates and fig tree.
The boys are happy and so is Tracy, we are just ploughing on.
Anyway I need to get back and cut wood......
keep praying
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Next week
I'm going to make an advance apology for a lack of blogging.
We are moving to the farm on Wednesday, it's going to be a very busy week. Thankfully we have some friends from Northern Ireland coming out to help us, Stevie Smyth the leader of Northdown CFC, Chris Mahood our good friend who was with us in the summer and Brian Houston, no not the leader of Hillsongs but the excellent singer song writer from the emerald isle.
We have a lot of pressing needs, here they are in order of priority if you could help it would be great don't stress if you can't give, if your the praying kind please pray.
1. Internet connection: due to the remote location, we need a special system. As you are aware, a large amount of our work involves the co-ordination and running of teams; the internet is essential for making this happen. This will cost 1200 euros.
2. The property is 200 years old! We need one central wood burner which will heat the rest of the house; we are surrounded by forest, so once it is installed, there will be no further heating costs. Wood burner, cost and installation is 850 euros.
3. With the need for a large amount of wood we will need a chainsaw. This would cost 150 euros
4. Again, due to the remote nature of our property we will need a separate telephone line antenna which will cost 120 euros
5. In order that we can work the land and have enough equipment for others to work the land with us, we will need a selection of farming tools; these will cost in the region of 200 euros.
6. Although we will not become full time farmers, we would like to cultivate several of the fields; to do this effectively, we would need a reasonably hard core rotavator; this will cost 600 euros.
We are looking to raise 3200 euros very quickly. At this present time one euro equals one pound, scary......
Remember this isn't to fund Brians dream of living in the country but God's dream of having a place of respite, prayer and care here on the island.
If you have hope rather than fear in todays present financial climate please hit the donate button.
Please remember us this week......
We are moving to the farm on Wednesday, it's going to be a very busy week. Thankfully we have some friends from Northern Ireland coming out to help us, Stevie Smyth the leader of Northdown CFC, Chris Mahood our good friend who was with us in the summer and Brian Houston, no not the leader of Hillsongs but the excellent singer song writer from the emerald isle.
We have a lot of pressing needs, here they are in order of priority if you could help it would be great don't stress if you can't give, if your the praying kind please pray.
1. Internet connection: due to the remote location, we need a special system. As you are aware, a large amount of our work involves the co-ordination and running of teams; the internet is essential for making this happen. This will cost 1200 euros.
2. The property is 200 years old! We need one central wood burner which will heat the rest of the house; we are surrounded by forest, so once it is installed, there will be no further heating costs. Wood burner, cost and installation is 850 euros.
3. With the need for a large amount of wood we will need a chainsaw. This would cost 150 euros
4. Again, due to the remote nature of our property we will need a separate telephone line antenna which will cost 120 euros
5. In order that we can work the land and have enough equipment for others to work the land with us, we will need a selection of farming tools; these will cost in the region of 200 euros.
6. Although we will not become full time farmers, we would like to cultivate several of the fields; to do this effectively, we would need a reasonably hard core rotavator; this will cost 600 euros.
We are looking to raise 3200 euros very quickly. At this present time one euro equals one pound, scary......
Remember this isn't to fund Brians dream of living in the country but God's dream of having a place of respite, prayer and care here on the island.
If you have hope rather than fear in todays present financial climate please hit the donate button.
Please remember us this week......
Thursday, January 08, 2009
¡Que frío!
Hoy es muy frío, éste es el día más frío que hemos tenido aquí durante los ultimos 3 años. Pero estoy alegre que no estoy en Inglaterra en este tiempo por que es mucho más frío allí.
A mi me gusta tiempo frío pero solamente cuando estoy trabajando fisicalmente. Tengo mucho a hacer hoy, tenemos que paquetear muchas cajas para estar listos para la mudanza grande. ¡La cosa más dificil está intentando organizar nuestra línea de teléfono, cuando tratas con telefonica necesitas un siquiatra!
Puede ser frío a fuera pero es caliente en mi corazón. Este calor viene por que sé que Dios me ama hoy para quién soy, no para lo que hago o alcanzo. Mi canción preferida de la adoración español es " encienda el fuego en mi corazón"
¡No significo probablemente que es mi favorito de verdad; solo que es fácil a aprender y es muy repetitivo! ¡Si vas a una iglesia pentecostal en España y cantan esta canción, esperas que vas a repetir el estribillo por lo menos 72 veces!
Entonces ya es la hora para empezar mi trabajo otro vez con manos fríos y corazón caliente.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
24-7 prayer in America
I saw this at our 24-7 prayer gathering in September and then was reminded of it when reading Carla Hardings excellent blog this morning.
It's a year of tremendous build up with the hope and dream of seeing prayer ignited on all the campuses of America throughout 2010.
If you live on that side of the pond, please get involved, check it out at www.campusamerica.org
Monday, January 05, 2009
God's Dream
As we look to the new year, I have been reminded of something I wrote whilst still in the UK in November 2004 after we had just visited Ibiza for 4 days the previous month. I am amazed that I wrote this whilst dreaming at my desk in the office of the church I was leading at the time. We need these moments of vision to drop back on.......
Here's what I wrote in a little visionary moment:
You often hear of two centre holidays, we need a two centre base.
We want to model a way of planting and establishing bases that is sustainable, reproducible and true to our DNA. We need to develop a rhythm of working within our communities that allow for intense out reach, connections, friendship and involvement but also model a lifestyle that is reflective, recharged and intimate.
We have to model a different way of being. What drives us? Why are we different? Were can I see this expressed?
As a reflection of 24-7 prayer the words intimacy and involvement drive. And this is how we want to build on the Island of Ibiza.
We don’t want to create a dualistic approach to spirituality, rather a holistic approach.
Here is our vision that has been bubbling up with various missions team members for a number of years. This is nothing new just a developing of 24-7 prayers heart and vision for the Island of Ibiza:
San Antonio Town Base
A place of involvement.
This is the ongoing development of what has already been happening with missions teams, we feel now is the time to have it on a more permanent basis. We want to establish a permanent prayer room, meditation place, coffee shop a centre were we can host DJ lessons, Dance lessons, drop in centre a light house in the darkness. A place for team to operate out of and refer back to whilst out working in the centre of San Antonio. A real connection point with the wider community.
In many ways this will be our missions centre
1. Top quality venue to connect with passers by.
2. A place to offer a multiplicity of training course : 6 dj lessons 1 hour a day. Dance lessons, meditation classes etc...
3. A call in counselling centre pregnancy advice, sexual health, drugs awareness.
4. A place to chill and have great coffee and conversation.
5. A place to sell cheap water and give away fruit!
6. A place were people can serve who aren’t even in to clubbing.
7. A possible venue for alpha type courses and other spiritual gatherings.
8. A gallery to exhibit and sell artwork and other products.
9. First aid place with a recovery room.
10. On site we will also have the coolest prayer room in the world.
(2 things in hindsight: obviously we don't need a coffee shop when there are so many great coffee shops near by and we can bless them with the business , and also we don't need a recovery room when we have such a great relationship with the health centre and they are the trained professionals!)
Finca Base
A place of intimacy.
Once again this is a dream people have already had. A centre to host teams, to train missionaries, a place to create and dream, a home, a recovery centre, a retreat centre, a place of pilgrimage. Not a hidey-hole but a place that reflects the rhythms of our community
In many ways this could resemble a 21st centre monastery.
1. A centre to host different types of teams, lots of churches want to send people on short-term missions, Ibiza is close and practical to get to.
2. A great place to host younger teams churches will be happy to send them if they know they are in a safe place. A great place for younger teams to work out from on practical community service and engagement projects.
3. We will be able to offer training courses, missions, leadership development, year out schemes.
4. It would become a place of retreat for Christians and Pre Christians
5. We would have an artist studio and other space for creativity.
6. A great place for the 24-7 missions teams to recharge, reflect and live.
7. A place were we could look after the damaged people we will meet
8. An office centre
9. A spot for pilgrims to visit.
10. A place to invite all our new islands friends!
So now as I look back and when I look forward, I need to remind myself that this is God's dream that we are part of.....
Here's what I wrote in a little visionary moment:
You often hear of two centre holidays, we need a two centre base.
We want to model a way of planting and establishing bases that is sustainable, reproducible and true to our DNA. We need to develop a rhythm of working within our communities that allow for intense out reach, connections, friendship and involvement but also model a lifestyle that is reflective, recharged and intimate.
We have to model a different way of being. What drives us? Why are we different? Were can I see this expressed?
As a reflection of 24-7 prayer the words intimacy and involvement drive. And this is how we want to build on the Island of Ibiza.
We don’t want to create a dualistic approach to spirituality, rather a holistic approach.
Here is our vision that has been bubbling up with various missions team members for a number of years. This is nothing new just a developing of 24-7 prayers heart and vision for the Island of Ibiza:
San Antonio Town Base
A place of involvement.
This is the ongoing development of what has already been happening with missions teams, we feel now is the time to have it on a more permanent basis. We want to establish a permanent prayer room, meditation place, coffee shop a centre were we can host DJ lessons, Dance lessons, drop in centre a light house in the darkness. A place for team to operate out of and refer back to whilst out working in the centre of San Antonio. A real connection point with the wider community.
In many ways this will be our missions centre
1. Top quality venue to connect with passers by.
2. A place to offer a multiplicity of training course : 6 dj lessons 1 hour a day. Dance lessons, meditation classes etc...
3. A call in counselling centre pregnancy advice, sexual health, drugs awareness.
4. A place to chill and have great coffee and conversation.
5. A place to sell cheap water and give away fruit!
6. A place were people can serve who aren’t even in to clubbing.
7. A possible venue for alpha type courses and other spiritual gatherings.
8. A gallery to exhibit and sell artwork and other products.
9. First aid place with a recovery room.
10. On site we will also have the coolest prayer room in the world.
(2 things in hindsight: obviously we don't need a coffee shop when there are so many great coffee shops near by and we can bless them with the business , and also we don't need a recovery room when we have such a great relationship with the health centre and they are the trained professionals!)
Finca Base
A place of intimacy.
Once again this is a dream people have already had. A centre to host teams, to train missionaries, a place to create and dream, a home, a recovery centre, a retreat centre, a place of pilgrimage. Not a hidey-hole but a place that reflects the rhythms of our community
In many ways this could resemble a 21st centre monastery.
1. A centre to host different types of teams, lots of churches want to send people on short-term missions, Ibiza is close and practical to get to.
2. A great place to host younger teams churches will be happy to send them if they know they are in a safe place. A great place for younger teams to work out from on practical community service and engagement projects.
3. We will be able to offer training courses, missions, leadership development, year out schemes.
4. It would become a place of retreat for Christians and Pre Christians
5. We would have an artist studio and other space for creativity.
6. A great place for the 24-7 missions teams to recharge, reflect and live.
7. A place were we could look after the damaged people we will meet
8. An office centre
9. A spot for pilgrims to visit.
10. A place to invite all our new islands friends!
So now as I look back and when I look forward, I need to remind myself that this is God's dream that we are part of.....
Thursday, January 01, 2009
The year in reveiw
Just thought I would have a reveiw of 2008,
January started with my hair growing experiment, which in hindsight I feel was a disaster!
Then we had the exciting new develop of getting our new centre which was to take our work here to a whole new level.
Also in January we had the great news that Bruce would be joining us, he's a star and has been a real blessing to me and the rest of the team.
Then in February, I had a great time in Madrid, Ireland and Scotland, hanging with various friends and drinking Guinness..
The 27th was a momentous day I shaved my hair off!
I also tried my first video podcast the backing music was a disaster.
Then came March, we recieved the keys for our new building, Chris and Jude from N.Ireland came to help us paint it and then Ben and Chris from Guildford came to help build a wall. There was bit of pain in having to find a years rent in advance, but we made it!!!!
April happened, my wife turned 40! She still manages to look young and beautiful and I love her more and more as the years go by.
Sally, Robb, Kwok, Wendy and their children came to help add the finishing touches to our centre and they did a superb Job, and it has been fantastic to have their ongoing love and support of all we do throughout the years.
We also had Caroline Kennedy come out to help us and train us in the whole area of pregnancy counseling, which was great.
May was the beginning of our summer season, Bruce arrived and our centre opened. We soon started getting 20 people a day pop in it was fantastic. I also had to go to England for various meeting with the International Leadership team of 24-7prayer which I am a member of, it was challenging and as a movement 24-7 prayer never ceases to amaze me. I also went sailing with the guys.
June marked my 500th blog post, and loads of work in the west end, we had teams join us to serve on the streets, we hung out with prostitutes, prayed with people, chatted with workers, took drunks home and saw more than 100 people a week use the centre, it's at this point where your feet hardly seem to touch the ground.... and the adrenalin carries you along. We saw Wayne Rooney on his stag do.. which wasn't really a highlight just interesting.
July was definitley the busiest month of the summer, enjoyable fulfilling and tiring. Hot and humid. I don't have a lot to say about it other then it's a blur with loads of stories check them out here
August was a holiday which was totally awesome, I love France. We then came back and had the joy of baptising Kris Goudie
This was wonderful and for me personally made the last 3 years here totally worthwhile.
September saw life get a little easier, although we were still very busy the nights were cooler which believe it or not makes a big difference. I travelled to the Uk for the home gathering which was fantastic. The centre was still attracting 100 people a week and in all honesty by this point it had exceeded our expectations.
October saw us draw our work in the Westend to a close, we loved every minute of it I never imagined we could do so much with so little. To say we felt God was with us would be an understatement.
I had the chance to go to Canada which was so fulfilling and probably the most restful preaching trip I have ever been on, this was mainly thanks to the wonderful Chris Jones and his marvelous family.
Then came the best end to month ever, we had the chance as a team to go to Ireland and England and it was so amazing how well we were looked after, how much we were given and how spoilt we were. Friends who love us restored us after a strenuous summer. We came back refreshed for November.
November was the beginning of a new rhythm, time to hunker down, restart language learning, praying at different times and beginning to ask God to breath on our dream of getting a farm and place of retreat. We spent a week in prayer just eating soup asking God to lead us to this new place. I wrote this on November 11th
"We met so many people in the summer who needed a break from life in the madness, we also know a lot of people around the planet who need a space to recuperate and get some feeding, we would also like to have somewhere to train people. We would love to run a 3 - 6 month winter training course.
We need a farm, a finca and that is what we are praying about this week. It's a big ask and poses a number of questions. Let's forget about finance, because where ever we live will need to be big and it will take a miracle.
The thinking behind a farm is that if someone is needing a break from life you don't just want them sitting around thinking to much, they need jobs to do, to keep them occupied.
When I first became a christian my life was in quite a mess, the only way I made it was to get out of my existing situation and make a clean break whilst I developed a healthier lifestyle. I see this with a lot of guys like myself.
We also are really drawn to the concept of community living, but how does a group of christians live in a farm in the hills without looking like a cult? People already think we are weird.
It needs to be near San Antonio, it needs to be quiet, it needs a well, it needs land, it needs outbuildings, it needs to be big, it needs to be a place of healing." what happened next surprised even us!
December brought us the farm and my mind has not stopped racing since............
All I can say is "Thank You" thank you for reading, thank you for praying, thank you for giving, thank you for visiting, thank you for standing with us.
And heres to Him who can do immeasurably more than we can ever ask or imagine. And heres to 2009 "venga!!!"
January started with my hair growing experiment, which in hindsight I feel was a disaster!
Then we had the exciting new develop of getting our new centre which was to take our work here to a whole new level.
Also in January we had the great news that Bruce would be joining us, he's a star and has been a real blessing to me and the rest of the team.
Then in February, I had a great time in Madrid, Ireland and Scotland, hanging with various friends and drinking Guinness..
The 27th was a momentous day I shaved my hair off!
I also tried my first video podcast the backing music was a disaster.
Then came March, we recieved the keys for our new building, Chris and Jude from N.Ireland came to help us paint it and then Ben and Chris from Guildford came to help build a wall. There was bit of pain in having to find a years rent in advance, but we made it!!!!
April happened, my wife turned 40! She still manages to look young and beautiful and I love her more and more as the years go by.
Sally, Robb, Kwok, Wendy and their children came to help add the finishing touches to our centre and they did a superb Job, and it has been fantastic to have their ongoing love and support of all we do throughout the years.
We also had Caroline Kennedy come out to help us and train us in the whole area of pregnancy counseling, which was great.
May was the beginning of our summer season, Bruce arrived and our centre opened. We soon started getting 20 people a day pop in it was fantastic. I also had to go to England for various meeting with the International Leadership team of 24-7prayer which I am a member of, it was challenging and as a movement 24-7 prayer never ceases to amaze me. I also went sailing with the guys.
June marked my 500th blog post, and loads of work in the west end, we had teams join us to serve on the streets, we hung out with prostitutes, prayed with people, chatted with workers, took drunks home and saw more than 100 people a week use the centre, it's at this point where your feet hardly seem to touch the ground.... and the adrenalin carries you along. We saw Wayne Rooney on his stag do.. which wasn't really a highlight just interesting.
July was definitley the busiest month of the summer, enjoyable fulfilling and tiring. Hot and humid. I don't have a lot to say about it other then it's a blur with loads of stories check them out here
August was a holiday which was totally awesome, I love France. We then came back and had the joy of baptising Kris Goudie
This was wonderful and for me personally made the last 3 years here totally worthwhile.
September saw life get a little easier, although we were still very busy the nights were cooler which believe it or not makes a big difference. I travelled to the Uk for the home gathering which was fantastic. The centre was still attracting 100 people a week and in all honesty by this point it had exceeded our expectations.
October saw us draw our work in the Westend to a close, we loved every minute of it I never imagined we could do so much with so little. To say we felt God was with us would be an understatement.
I had the chance to go to Canada which was so fulfilling and probably the most restful preaching trip I have ever been on, this was mainly thanks to the wonderful Chris Jones and his marvelous family.
Then came the best end to month ever, we had the chance as a team to go to Ireland and England and it was so amazing how well we were looked after, how much we were given and how spoilt we were. Friends who love us restored us after a strenuous summer. We came back refreshed for November.
November was the beginning of a new rhythm, time to hunker down, restart language learning, praying at different times and beginning to ask God to breath on our dream of getting a farm and place of retreat. We spent a week in prayer just eating soup asking God to lead us to this new place. I wrote this on November 11th
"We met so many people in the summer who needed a break from life in the madness, we also know a lot of people around the planet who need a space to recuperate and get some feeding, we would also like to have somewhere to train people. We would love to run a 3 - 6 month winter training course.
We need a farm, a finca and that is what we are praying about this week. It's a big ask and poses a number of questions. Let's forget about finance, because where ever we live will need to be big and it will take a miracle.
The thinking behind a farm is that if someone is needing a break from life you don't just want them sitting around thinking to much, they need jobs to do, to keep them occupied.
When I first became a christian my life was in quite a mess, the only way I made it was to get out of my existing situation and make a clean break whilst I developed a healthier lifestyle. I see this with a lot of guys like myself.
We also are really drawn to the concept of community living, but how does a group of christians live in a farm in the hills without looking like a cult? People already think we are weird.
It needs to be near San Antonio, it needs to be quiet, it needs a well, it needs land, it needs outbuildings, it needs to be big, it needs to be a place of healing." what happened next surprised even us!
December brought us the farm and my mind has not stopped racing since............
All I can say is "Thank You" thank you for reading, thank you for praying, thank you for giving, thank you for visiting, thank you for standing with us.
And heres to Him who can do immeasurably more than we can ever ask or imagine. And heres to 2009 "venga!!!"
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