Mother´s day in Spain

You know, photoshop is getting easier and easier. I wanted to make a special bookmark for our ladies in church, but balked at using photoshop. So glad that it didn´t take all night. 

Happy Mother´s Day in Spain! 

What better verse than Proverbs 31?

Oh, that my boys will be able to call me blessed. 

They sure do like to goof around! 

We went out to play with the dogs and play soccer. It was a riot! So glad we chose to just hang out with the boys at the park. They are growing so fast. 

A gorgeous sunny day with my boys, makes for a happy mommy!

I know it´s not Mother´s day till next week but, Happy Mother´s day to all you Moms out there. Cherish your kidos while you can! What do you hope to do for Mother´s day?

Joining with, 

We were interviewed!

 Our neighbor missionaries in the next country over, the Andrzejewski family in Portugal, took the time to ask us about our ministry and mission here in Spain. We would love for you to hop on over there and read it. As well, as get to know the Andrzejewski family and their ministry. 

You can also click on the picture to head on over to Portugal. 

Now, we can visit mission fields in one click!

Serving Jesus with joy, 

Our New Church Building

We are moving in! This is the new building for Liberty Baptist Church, Gijón, Spain!

Remodeling and getting a new building up to city code is expensive! We knew we needed to do these changes and get permits but, it seems at times very overwhelming. We know the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and cares for every bird. That gives us comfort to know He will continue to care for our family even if the dollar drops time and again.

Let me go back a couple of months to explain how we got to this point.  For 2 years now we have needed a new building for services, and  for community activities in Gijón, Spain. When we came back from our third furlough, the end of January, God brought us to the exact building. We have been praying and praying for this move, so when the right one presented itself, and the funds to sign the contract, it seemed like a dream.

We just met for the first Sunday in our new church meeting place for services. Liberty Baptist Church now has a new home! Even though, we are still without water and building permits, we had a very blessed service, praising God for all the recent miracles we have witnessed. We thank God for all those who have given to make this possible, as well.

This past weekend, we had friends from Germany come on a missions trip. They paid for the materials and decorated the room I will be using for teaching English as an ourtreach ministry. It is the only room in the building where you can sit and not get dirty.

We covet your prayers as we are embarking on a new journey in uncharted territory for us.

Missionary in Gijón, Spain

www.gospel2gijon.blogspot.com

www.gospel2gijon.com

One day is as good as another.

It´s not that I am not romantic or that I don´t enjoy roses and chocolate, but isn´t it so much more special if your sweetheart does something special for you out of love, any day of the week? I mean, PHOOEY with Valentine´s Day if you have your valentine everyday of the week!

My hubby and I had a talk the other morning about the acts of love we do for each other. I wanted him to see the things I did for him out of love. (like make his dinner) I told him how much I appreciate it when he does special little things for me. (like wash the dishes out of love not because I need the help) It isn´t necessary to wait around for the roses. Roses die. Chocolates get eaten, but a good dishwasher lasts forever! ( I did get chocolate, too!)

Of course, dates out with your sweetheart is very important, especially when your conversation with your children around the table normally consits of football, school, and disgusting bodily functions. Four way conversations with boys are very difficult to follow after having taught fourth and sixth grade math.

My hubby and I had a few opportunities to go out on dates in the United States when we were with our families. Joseph´s brother took us out for Sushi! That was a treat. (Look closely at my plate, you won´t see any sushi there) Joseph seemed to have gotten adicted to the delicacy, though.

We are going to escape tonight for a quick round of Spanish Tapas! We love living in Europe!

What special things do you and your spouse do for each other on a daily basis? How might you celebrate Valentine´s Day with your sweetheart everyday?

"That you love one another, as I (Jesus) have loved you."

Weeee´re BaaaaaaCK!!!

"Look out Gijón, because the Contreras family is back!" I  just felt like announcing this. It feels great to be back to our home after 5 1/2months of traveling.

Actually, it seems that some of our neighbors didn´t even know we were gone. Now how did that happen? I thought we made enough noise for all of our neighbors to be thankful it was quiet for awhile. I mean, if they can hear our hamsters in the apartment below, how many other things do they hear? With three very active boys, a loud mommy, and a football player for a Dad, our poor neighbors might wonder if the roof will cave in someday. I am glad they didn´t miss us too much.

All in all, most have been very receptive of us being back. Many even wrote us while we were gone. We sure did miss our home and our friends here in Spain. Actually, it is almost as if we never left. The very first night we got back from our long 5 1/2 month furlough, my husband said he felt as if he had had a wonderful dream that we traveled all around the world and had done all these great and amazing things. It was not a dream, but in many ways a dream come true.

Here are some pictures from our travels across the USA.

Near Big Bear Mountain in Southern Califonia -

right after Thanksgiving

The boys first snow experience of the year at that mountain Christian family retreat.

Then we came to the end of the Route 66!

and Hollywood.

We spent, in all, 2 months in Texas, 2 months in California, and 1&1/2 months in Florida, traveling by car through all the states in between.

We got back to Florida for Christmas and New Years with my family.

The Everglades - for my oldest son´s 12 birthday.

We all got to hold a baby Allegator.

and of course the beach!

Our last day together for maybe another 2-3 years. Bitter Sweet.

Just a peek at our latest adventure - Belgium for a Missionary Conference

Now, I will start blogging once again, to keep you all up to date on our lives on the other side of the pond.

Final Flashback

For a little while anyway.

Yeah, *sigh* ... I just don´t have much time to blog these days. Didn´t think I would say it but, blogging has become last on my "to do" list.

Not only has summer started and I want to be out more, I am taking care of a 5 month old baby every day too. She is precious, don´t get me wrong. I just forgot how much time one little baby can take up. I know I already blogged about this, so I will just go on and on about how sweet and bubbly she is. She is growing and has adjusted to being with our family. Oh, and she loves her feet!

In retrospect of camp coming up,  here is a Photo flashback picture of one of our first camps together in Spain. Our boys were ages 6, 5, and 4. We finally got to enjoy and work at the camps as a family!

Camp Ebenezer in the Barcelona area

Family camp 2005

Monte Calvario Campamento Bautista

Family camp 2005

I was going to link up with the Completing Him Challenge with some wedding pictures too, but I have already posted some. If you would like to see them. Please go HERE. 

This week´s challenge is to pray for your man! Pray specifically. I pray for him but, the list Courtney had on there just blew me away. I realized how specifically I really should be praying for my dear husband.

I will be starting another challenge as well. This one is very very important to me. I don´t want anything getting in the way. This one must become a priority. Discipline has been an area that I have needed to work on. Discipline in fitness, healthy eating, in my house hold chores... well, and one other area.  I have wanted to make more time for is my daily Bible reading. I read, but I must admit, it´s been a long time since I have really delved in.  Here is what I am committing to.

Read through the Bible in 90 days!

Well, hope you all will miss me a little bit. I will miss you all.  Be back to post pictures when I can. Meanwhile, maybe you will join in on some of these challenges too.

Running The Race!!!

Yes, I know, it may seem a little different in the line of missions, but I am using it as a means to get to know more ladies in the community. I pray to use training for The Race for Women, every year to meet more and more ladies.

This year, I ran alone, got to know a few ladies, met my goal, got my prizes, and went to church. Next year however, I would love to have a group from our church sign up, and have a verse ironed on our shirts with the church´s name!

A little bit about The Race for Women. It´s a  5 kilometer (3.2 mile) race to promote breast cancer awareness and to raise money to help support research for the fight against it. There will be a total of 9 races throughout Spain this year. This has been the sixth year that the Race for Women has taken place. Gijón had a great turn out of about 3,000 women! It was amazing to participate in something so beneficial and widespread. It even was on the city news this afternoon. I actually saw my head pass by the camera.

Here I am before the start, bright eyed and bushy tailed! literally.

My cheering section! It was so great to see their faces when I crossed the finish line!

I am behind the that lady in front. hehe (my dh tried to get pictures, but someone always got in the way.)

Came in at 29 minutes flat! possibly in the top 200 or so!

Here´s some of the ladies that came in after me.

I finished! Praise the Lord!

The verses that have gotten me through many soccer practices, difficult situations and now my first race is,

Psalm 121: 1-2

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

Let´s keep running the race that is set before us. I am remembering that the spiritual race is far more important.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith,

Nine Years Ago Today!

Friday Foto Flashback takes us back 9 years to when my youngest son was born. He was born in Barcelona, Spain. The second of my sons to be born in Spain. He considers himself Spanish even though he holds an American Passport. He loves America and Spain. He has the best of both worlds.

He loves his family, he loves to laugh, run, and play football with his family! Both kinds of football - Soccer and American football.

He is helpful and caring. He cares for those who are sad, or sick. I believe this comes from him having gone through a bit of sickness himself. He had open heart surgury as a one year old, and has been several times in the hospital due to asthma. He understands other´s suffering.

Here´s the card I made for his day. 

This free scrapbook made with Smilebox

Flashback Meme to Catching UP Adventure

Alicia at More than Words started "Friday Photo Flashback" had so many pictures from her PRE-digital camera days, she thought it would be fun to scan them and share them. We are having so much fun doing this, that we would love for you to join us, too! So dig out the photo albums and put your scanner to good use! Don't forget to sign in to MckLinky on Alicia´s blog so we can all visit and comment on each others blogs!

I am going to flashback to our first days in Gijón. We were "on our own" with no other missionary families. We were taking care of a church work while the other missionaries were on furlough.


God brought us a sweet family from the States to fellowship with. The husband was here playing basketball for the team in Gijón. They had two very sweet little girls as you can see their blond heads in this picture. The other family is a faithful sister and her two children from the neighboring city, where we worked for 3 1/2 years. Our boys had a great time! My youngest is the one standing in the front with the bald head. 

Spring 2002

Jump ahead 8 years.
Catching UP with our most recent excursion.  We planned a spur of the moment outing with the brothers and sisters in our mission. Amos ,our most elderly brother and Asturiano, said we would go beach hopping. Of course we have to do this before beach season, so early May was perfect timing.

But first, cave exploring!

Next, swinging or in my case hanging with sister Evelyn.

On the way to the first beach/picnic site, we saw some true Asturianos harvesting their fields.

Before we ate, the guys went crabbing with Amos.

The Crew -

 Columbians, Chileans, Bolivians, Americans, and Spaniards

On the way to another beach,

these locals posed for my camera.

The third beach!

Lastly, we visited Llanes, where my hubby and I celebrated our 12th anniversary last year.

Blast off! 

We had a lovely day with dear friends fellowshipping and talking about Jesus.

Glad you made it to the end of this photo journal!  There is lots of work to do here in our little mission. Why not come and join us on the gorgeous Green Coast of Spain?