Saturday, May 31, 2008

Granada, Spain

We await news from Granada...
In the meantime McDermott Scholar, Alyssa McMenamy wrote the following article during her recent visit to Granada.
Granada, the fruit of Spain, the pomegranate of pithy flesh and thousands of tiny seeds, cultivates a trifold history of Arabic, Christian and Jewish influence. The gypsies, Arabians and Castillians contribute unique flavors to the savory picture that flows over all senses. Flamenco, the dance of Andalucia, with the backdrop of La Alhambra brings passion and meaning to lives filled with tradition and modern urbanity. The ancient songs of undulating voices decry times of war and of first loves. The wild stamp of feet and the rustle of many-layered skirts beat the rhythm of a simulateneously raging and trickling river. Granada is a medium-sized sprawl of urbanity. Never before have I experienced the urban life in such vivid color. The people live in high rise apartment buildings. Few homes are within the city. Shops on lower levels with apartments above belie the intermingling of residential and commercial zones. Beautiful parks with running trails and benches beneath beckoning branches of shady trees provide respite from the congested air. The city has wonderful treasures in remote locations with intricate networks of streets that begin and terminate at seemingly random intervals. Such is the paradise of an avid Spanish student. Small enough to allow glimpses of friendly faces on the street with an urbanity that reflects the character of New York.The Sierra Nevadas provide a breathtaking backdrop to the skyline of the city. The ancient Moorish palace, La Alhambra, winds along a slope over looking the city, reminding the populace of several hundred years of Moorish rule. Andalucia prays upon the heart and awakens the deepest desires to dance with abandon.
We hear that the whole family is currently taking spanish classes ~ How 'bout some comments in spanish from our spanish speaking friends out there?!
Díganos por favor de su amor para Jesucristo
(Please note that this item was posted by a friend helping with the Blog, but all posts entered this way automatically say "posted by Gloria, Hatcher, Reid, Harrison Geary".

What constitutes a successful mission trip?

Train from Madrid to Granada
A Successful Mission Trip

How does one determine if they are successful or not?

It is a question that I have been pondering and praying about for some time now. As an American and a businesswoman there is a part of me that wants to quote statistics or “bottom line” information.
I want to be able to report things like, “We won 6000 souls!” or “We shared the Gospel with 1 million people!” Now that sounds like a successful mission trip…or is it? I don’t know the answer, but in my spirit I feel that being able to quote these statistics does not “in itself” mean a mission was successful, at least not in the eyes of God (and of course the eyes of God or God’s opinion is truly the only one that matters!). It is my flesh, my business training that says I need proof. I am beginning to believe that only God knows if our time is successful.

Are we following His will?

Are we seeking His face?

Are we being obedient to His call on our lives?

Are we listening for and heeding His still small voice?
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matthew 7:21-23

Almost daily I wonder if we are doing enough. Should we be bolder? Are we speaking to as many people as we can? What if that woman who just stopped and asked us for directions needed Christ and I didn’t even mention Him to her?

I asked the boys what they thought would make our mission trip successful. Harrison said, “to tell others about Christ”. Reid offered, “to know Him more” and Hatcher felt, “if one person, even if that one person was in Gaffney (our hometown) was saved because we went, then we have been successful.”

What do you think makes a mission trip successful?
I think and ponder this question, and then another more important question arises…

What do you think makes a life successful?

Our mission trip is important, but it is only a portion of my life… when I stand before God on judgment day…will He be pleased when I report the results? ….of our trip? ….of my life?

I don’t know the answers, but I know that I need to continue to ask the questions of Him until I do.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:4-5

Please do share your comments by clicking "comments" below :-)