FRUITFUL TIMES OF QUARANTINE

FRUITFUL TIMES OF QUARANTINE

BIRTHDAY & TESTIMONY

QUARANTINE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

When all the social distancing began and the shops began to close down no one knew how long the situation would last. Six weeks later I am one year older and have enjoyed a really special birthday on April 17th, full of surprise and celebration. Before my birthday even began Loida my amazing girlfriend had multiple items shipped to the house for me to enjoy on my birthday morning. I started the day off with cookies, coffee, and a birthday card. The celebration continued to our weekly Bible study where I was able to virtually celebrate with the Calling All Skaters community on a video chat. Next was a delicious lunch with a gorgeous girl who surprised me with a video she had edited including friends from all over the world wishing me a happy birthday. By this point I was already filled with so much joy but it didn't end there. Next came the presents Loida had sent me and a gift from all the participants of the video. I opened my gifts with Loida on a video call, of course, I was beyond blessed by all the thoughtful and very useful presents. My friends at the house also made this day very special by ordering pizzas for dinner and hanging out laughing and playing games to close out the night. Oh I almost forgot, the cherry on top was the amazing cake Loida had specially made for me, of course it had a chocolate skateboard on top! Maybe I was stuck home on my birthday, but it didn't change a thing, I felt so loved and went to bed overflowing with thanks for the people God has placed around me and for another year of life. 

We started studying the book of Ephesians with our Calling All Skaters community! As you can see we are having a good time virtually connecting with each other and getting in the word. Skateboarders from Peru, Colombia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA together growing in faith and our calling to know God and make Him known. 

CAS BIBLE STUDY!

We started studying the book of Ephesians with our Calling All Skaters community! As you can see we are having a good time virtually connecting with each other and getting in the word. Skateboarders from Peru, Colombia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA together growing in faith and our calling to know God and make Him known. 

MACBA MORNINGS TESTIMONY

The police car door smacks shut and I look at the young man who has just been forced into the back seat, he looks back at me eyes glazed over with tears of regret and shame. The police drive off and everyone goes back to skating as normal. This is not an uncommon thing to see happen at Macba, the number one skate plaza in Barcelona. Skate plazas draw not only skaters from all over the world but all kinds of people, druggies, tourists, homeless, and other rejects that may not fit into our categories. This day, in particular, I was skating as usual when two men who had been sitting close by jumped up and grabbed a young man. Revealing their identity as undercover policemen, they quickly searched him and found the drugs he had been selling. Within seconds the police car was there, the young man was handcuffed and through his tears was begging to be given another chance. The discussion didn't last long before he was gone and everyone was left gossiping about how this young skater was selling drugs and had been under watch by the police for some time. Situations like this one and others have led our community of Calling All Skaters to start Macba Mornings, a weekly time of intercession for the skateboarders of Barcelona and specifically the rough scene at Macba. 

The reason I have shared this story is that there is a testimony that goes along with it. Weeks after the arrest I began to see the same guy back at Macba, the place many skaters call home. Whatever happened with the police didn't seem to have done much good, the guy was still openly smoking weed and acting the same as before.

Some time went by and I was able to chat and skate with this guy a few times, trying to get to know him and build a relationship. Last week a friend from Calling All Skaters Danilo told us he has been reaching out to a skater from Macba and has invited him to join us for Bible study. Since the study is opened to everyone we told him that he would be more than welcomed. So last Friday we all log into the video chat and to my surprise guess who the special guest is? Yep, it's the young guy from Macba who I had seen arrested for dealing drugs. He joined us in the Bible study and was very encouraged by the time and is eager to keep learning about God. I am so blessed by this fruit of Macba mornings and am praying that God continues to work in this guy's life as he spends time with our community. 

PRAYER REQUESTS 

- For God to continue using us to bless the skateboarding community regardless of the current limitations. It seems that there is a new level of openness and that hearts are seeking out truth more than ever!

- Encouragement for people in the ministry struggling during this time. 

- For YWAM Barcelona and all the complications that have come with the temporary closing of our offices and cancellation of all discipleship schools/programs. 

- Financial provision for the creative department of Calling All Skaters (PanamaLab and other needs)

- That God would prepare us for the transition back into "normal life", that we would get fresh vision and hear God's voice clearly in regards to how we can meet the needs of people after all this is over.

- That during this time God would fill us with more passion and love for Jesus. 

Thank you fortaking the time to read this post, I send my love and prayers from Barcelona. 

And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!

God Bless  Dave