Happy 35th!

We celebrated our 35th anniversary on July 19th with over 500 campers and leaders at the YL camp, SharpTop Cove. Our Spanish teens enjoyed the best week of their lives, and we were there to share it. While Jasper, GA, isn't exactly a romantic getaway and that many teens doesn't necessarily make a date, we enjoyed being a part of the fun. Hopefully, when the camping season is over the middle of August, we'll get away for a weekend somewhere in Spain. 35 years!! Could either of us possibly be that old???

YL Camping, Summer 2010

We enjoyed a week of basketball camp the week of June 21-25. Each year the camp gives an opportunity to meet new students and their families and interact with them in a positive, fun environment. Special thanks to Steve Shipley and Janet Cockrum who came from the US to coach.

We're now in the Tennessee with 13 students from Madrid for our USA Summer Camp time (see photo above at the airport in Madrid). The students are living with families in the Knoxville, TN, area and working on their English in an immersion experience. We have several activities planned for the month, not the least of which is a week at Sharp Top Cove, the YL camp in north Georgia, July 18-25. After a few more days with the families, we'll return to Madrid on July 30.

In August we'll be taking students from Madrid to Joventura, our YL adventure camp in Catalunya, near Girona. It's a beautiful area that mixes the mountains and the sea. We'll be there from August 7-14.

Finally, the YL Madrid staff will be working on the Camino de Santiago, a historical pilgrimage in northern Spain, in September. We'll be working in a small hostel owned by Campus Crusade for Christ for pilgrims walking the Camino. Each night we host 10 pilgrims, providing them with a bed for the night, a family style dinner, and the love of Jesus. During the day we serve coffee, tea, and water to people who stop to rest and use clean bathrooms! Last year we talked with people from 34 countries in 5 days and had pilgrims form 17 countries spend the night with us.

Mission Conferences 2010

We spent a busy two weeks in late February and early March at mission conferences in Knoxville, TN. After speaking at a conference on ministry in Europe at a church in Knoxville, we spent four days with the wonderful people at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church presenting the YL Madrid ministry to them. Barbara spoke to their women's group on Saturday. They were great hosts and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them. On Sunday we finished at CCPC and then shifted to Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church for their conference which lasts a week. It was good to be back with our home church which sent us out in 2004. Jim returned to Madrid on Friday while Barbara finished the week giving more presentations. After giving 15 presentations in 10 days, we both were tired but very satisfied. It's always good to share our vision for the work in Spain with friends and supporters. Thanks to the Sharps, Beamans, and Peters who hosted us.

YL European Conference 2010

We spent four great days in January at the European Regional Conference in Catalunya, Spain. The Young Life staff from three regions came together to hear from our President, Denny Rydberg, participate in workshops about minstry in our various countries, and just enjoy being together. There were staff from more than 15 countries in the United Kingdom and Europe. We had a great time of inspiration, fellowship, and fun. All of us headed back to our respective countries ready to get back to work.

Holidays in the US

We spent four wonderful weeks with our children, grandchildren, and families in the US. Thanks to the Mayes family, we were able to use their home in Asheville, NC, for the week of Christmas. All nine of us were able to enjoy the comfort of a home for the holidays. We even had 6" of snowfall left over from the week before for a white Christmas. This was the first Christmas for grandchildren, Riley and Wyatt. Trips to Nashville, Knoxville, and Little Rock to visit family and friends filled the rest of the time. We head back to Madrid today rested and ready to get back to work.

Riley visits Madrid

Daniel, Virginia, and our granddaughter, Riley, visited Madrid last month. One of the hard things is living so far from family in the US, so it's a special blessing when our family comes to visit us. We enjoyed time together at home, sightseeing in Madrid, and a quick trip to Rome to see the sights there. We're looking forward to having the whole family together for the Christmas holidays in the US.

David Beltran Joins the Madrid Team!

We are thrilled to have David Beltran, a 27 year old Spaniard from Madrid, join us on the Young Life national team. David is pictured here with Kate and Mary before he left Madrid.

He is currently in Knoxville, TN, observing Young Life ministry in the area. David landed in the states last week and has had the opportunity to participate in the Young Life banquet, attend Knoxville leadership training, attend a UT football game (American football), and worship at Cedar Springs Church. We look forward to his return in mid-December and hearing about all his adventures.

We are so thankful for the Reynolds' family, as they host David for these next two months. Also, we appreciate Tim Teague's investment in David and the impact it will have on the students in Madrid.