Kris Mahnke's Missionary Journey

Long time, no speak.

Hello! It's been quite some time since my last post, and I've been busy.

I finally found a job. I'm working part-time as a cashier at the Wal-Mart across the road from where I live. It's a job where I get to serve the local community, learn more about being flexible, and influence all kinds of people as I check there purcheses. In other words, it's good preperation for the future.

Do I still believe that I'm called to mission work. Yes! I don't believe that God changes His mind, but He does have a purpose and timing for everything. All that He does is in preperation for the next step, and the next, and the next... He told me once that all will be revieled at its proper time, so I'm waiting on His timing for my future.

In the meen time, I'm continuing to volunteer with the children in my church. I'm teaching the Pre-K/Kindergarten Sunday School class, and teaching a missions lesson (Misisons Alive!) once a month during children's church. I'm also the children's music director and had a leadership role in our recent VBS.

We did Studio GO! Game Show VBS, and I led the music as well as the daily service projects. The service projects were my favorite part. It was hard work getting the kids attention, but they were faithful to do whatever was asked of them. The whole idea was to show them that service doesn't have to be the big stuff that we do. When we encourage others, listen to biblical instruction, care for the needs of others, and take the time to apreiciate the things that others do, we are serving. The kids even learned to serve by being quiet during story time so that everyone could hear the story. Can you imagine 29 kids being whisper quiet? They did it! They also got to sign little "serving feet" and add them to our service wall each day. That wall was full at the end of the five days. The kids were really excited about those feet!

Last week we had an excellent family camp in Cowden. Rev. Jerry Coates was our camp speaker, and Rev. Nick Clark led worship. It was great! The Holy Spirit was really working in the services. One man was delivered from over 20 years of demon-possession! Please pray that people would gather around and disciple him.

In other news, for those who haven't heard, our Pastor at Tower Hill retired. So, we are in a search for a new shepheard. The good news is that the Great Shepheard is still in control and has great plans for our church body. The Lord won't let us down because He still has work for us to do! Do pray for us, however - that we would have unity and harmony as we look to the future, and that we would trust the Lord.

I mentioned that I'm teaching the "Missions Alive!" curriculum. We're finishing our Africa study this Sunday with Ethiopia. Then it will be time to finish making our country posters and plan the public service in which we will share what we have learned. Please pray for God's hand in this. By the way, the kids, as well as adults, raised an offering to feed a hungry child in Rwanda. So far we have $465. That's enough money to feed 1 child for 1 year, and another child for 3 months. We could end up with enough for 2 kids for 2 years! PTL!

Keep all of the above in your prayers, along with my relationship with the Lord. Pray that I would continue to grow in the Lord, draw closer to Him, and be willing to do whatever He leads me to do.

Blessings to all in Christ,

Kris

Ready to Fly

As some of you already know, I will be flying out of Arrecife next Tuesday, the 28th of October.  I will  be flying to Madrid in order to spend a few days with the Hamleys and the Fajardos before I fly home on Friday, the 31st.

It's been quite a journey and now it's time to go back to the states.  Please pray for a safe journey and a blessed time in Madrid.  Also pray for me as I say goodbye to friends in Lanzarote and Madrid.  

In addition, keep praying for God's direction for my future and the future of the churches in Spain.

God bless all of you for your special prayers and support on my behalf, and on the behalf of the FM Church in Lanzarote.  You may never know how much your efforts for the sake of Christ are appreciated, nor the impact that they have had on others. 

Will any of us ever know the impact our presence has had on others in this life?  God knows, and that's what truly matters.

Thank you all for your presence in my life!

Much love and blessings in Christ,

Kris

'Gotta go to work.'

Recently, I asked a lot of you out there to pray that I would have more work to do.  Thanks for your prayers!  After, a long restful summer, I now have lots of work to do, along with the rest of Iglesia Emanuel.

This weekend, for example, the pastor is with the young people on a camping trip.  They are enjoying a bit of 'fun in the sun'  while Pastor Vito teaches them from God's word.

Also this weekend, the Thursday afternoon children's ministery changes to Saturday on account of the new school season.  This will be the same type of informal ministry that has been going on, however it doesn't take a fancy program to impact the lives of many children - just Christian people with open hearts willing to reach out.

In addition to the Saturday activities, there may also be a new 10 am SS class for children ages 1-11.  The pastor has asked that I assist with this ministry as well.

I will also be helping with the Saturday youth meetings after the children's ministry in the park.

So, please pray for all of the church leaders, myself, and all who will be willing to help with these important ministries.  Pray for kingdom impact, and that God would continue to teach His church more of His heart and how we can change the world for the sake of Christ.

Also pray for the Christian concert that is planned for next Friday in front of the 'Gran Hotel.'

Blessings,

Kris :) :)

A Cup of Cold Water

Over the past few weeks, at the Spirits leading, Iglesia Emanuel has been returning to the same park were our summer VBS program was held in order to continue ministering to the kids.

It started with a simple mandate from one of the leaders of the church - that we would go to these children, who are still at the park each day, and offer them no more than a cup of cold water.  So, a handful of folks from the church have gone to the park on Thursday afternoons offering the kids some games, a Bible story, a scripture verse and, of course, water.

During this time, two of the men in the church have been playing a game of soccer with the older boys in the park.  That has opened the door to a new ministry for the church.  Each wednesday these men are going to the sports center in order to form youth soccer teams for boys ages 11-15.

Please pray for these men, Manolo and Moisés, as they make contacts and work with these young boys.  They´ve been taking down names each week for their roster.  Pray that this list of names would become a list of boys who are filled with the Holy Spirit and reaching out to others - including their families - in the name of Jesus!

Continue to pray also for the fall outreach coming soon, and for all of the planning. 

PTL!  He´s AWESOME!  HIS works never fail!

Blessings,

Kris

Another New Start

Well friends, it took a little while, but with the help of church friends I was able to move to a new apartment - one that is much less expensive and closer to the church

It´s a tiny, rooftop apartment, but after a recent prayer walk the Lord gave me these verses: (Prov. 25: 24-25) "Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.  Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land."

Talk about perspective!  I have much to thank the Lord for!  He´s brought me through a lot, and I need to share His "good news" with my new neighbours.

Pray with me in this regard - that I would find ways to reach my neighbors for Christ.  I´ve already met a couple of nice ladies.  I hope to meet more folks as I go on more prayer walks.  Care to join me?  You could take a prayer walk in your community and pray for mine - Argana Baja - at the same time.

Thanks so much!

Kris

P.S. - Although my new place is less expensive, I still need more financial help.  You can give through my blog, www.krisanne.typepad.com.  Thank you very much!

P.S.S. - PTL!  My new place has a washing machine!  No more washing clothes by hand!  PTL!

Summer Evangelism

WOW!  It's hot here!  How's the weather where you are, folks?

No matter.  We're having a great time with the children this week.  As you all have been praying, the children of Argana Alta, Arrecife, Lanzarote have been having a great time singing, playing games, listening to inspiring stories, and learing a lot about God at ''Rancho Avalancha.''

Leonor (pictured here in front), along with her young friends, has done a great job of teaching the children what it means to ''follow our leader,'' (God) as they sing and play the exciting VBS songs.

The children have also enjoyed the ministry of our Dominican brother, Radamés.  In fact, last night he gave an altar call and many children went forward! 

Please keep praying.  God is answering!  We'll be at the church building tomorrow night.  Pray that many will come out.  Also pray for the Saturday event which takes place in the center of Arrecife across from the post office.  God is moving!  PTL!

Saharra Desert in Lanzarote?

Friends, did you know that you don´t have to visit Northern Africa in order to see the Saharra Desert?  Come to the Canary Islands and the desert will come to you!  It´s true.  I´ve seen it for myself!

Actually, they call this phenomenon "la calima,"  and it happens when the Saharra Desert gets stirred up so much that the east winds blow the sand onto the islands.  The reason that we are affected is that we are in such close proximity to Northern Afirica - closer than to Spain.  I´ve personally thought of taking up a collection to show some kids back home.  "Look, the Saharra Desert!  And I went to Lanzarote!

The bad part is that it makes everything very dirty and it can also make normally beautiful mountain views almost invisible.

While no one likes the affects of "la calima," many desire to learn English.  Please continue to pray for my ESL classes.  I now have a class on Wednesday in which I teach five adults.  PTL that one of them already had the curriculum for the class - a complete course!  Pray that God will use this class as an opportunity for me to be a witness for Him.

Bessings,

Kris

Happy Birthday with Shekinah

WOW!  What an awesome way to celebrate my 34th birthday!  I was even sung Happy Birthday to in Portuguese by new friends from Lisbon! While it was tough to celebrate my birthday without my family, I still had one of the best birthdays of my life.

With Pastor Cindi Angelo´s worship choir, "Shekinah," leading the people of Argana Alta in awesome praise and dance, how could I not have a great birthday!

Afterward, I was able to talk with Cindi and some of the girls from the choir, and I found out that Cindi and I share the same birthday.  How cool is that?

It was awesome to talk and make friends with these ladies, even though their Spanish and mine isn´t the greatest.  That actually made it better, because there was no intimidation.  We could relax and freely speak our own, slow, broken Spanish without fear.  It was great!

Please pray that I would be this free in using the language with those who are more fluent.  Spanish is really a great language!

Blessings,

Kris

P.S. - That´s me at the far right of the picture and Mariela (black shirt and jacket - from Iglesia Emanuel) in the center.

Adjusting to the Climate/Evangelism

When I came here I knew that I was coming to a place that was warm and sunny year-round.  It´s not cold here, right?  I certainly wasn´t thinking of adjusting to the climate.  Then I was warned about the strong island winds.

To tell the truth, the wind feels good when the hot sun is beating down on you, but after dark is another story.

The other night I was leaving a house prayer meating only to find myself cold and wishing I had dressed a little warmer.  Then I saw a temperature sign that read 21deg. C.  That´s about 70 F.  70 F and I was cold!  70 F!  I´m from Illinois.  70 F and the kids in Illinois are putting their shorts on! 

I tell you it´s the wind.  It´s your friend during the day, but after the sun goes down you learn the meaning of the term "wind chill."

  However, none of that stopped Iglesia Emanuel from having a great, Easter weekend evanglism.  I´ll have more to say about the evangelism in my next newsletter, but once again it was great to see the children enjoying the games, music and stories.  Again, one of the highlights was seeing the Emanuel kids participating in the evangelism by doing their musical mime routines.  One song was entitled, "Escribeme" and it basically says, "Sign me up!"  I´m ready to follow Christ.

Please pray that God would continue to touch the hearts of all who attended this blessed event, and that more children and families would make a declaration to follow Christ.

Also pray for the evangelism happening this next Thursday -Sunday.  Shekinah, the 20-person worship choir from Cindi Angelos FM church in Lisbon, Portugal, will be here holding an evangelistic worship conference.  Pray for their safety in travel and that God would prepare their hearts for this time of ministry.

Happy Easter!

Over the past month, Iglesia Emanuel has been getting ready for the big, Easter weekend, evangelstic event.  In the process, hundreds of gospel tracts and invitations have been placed in mailboxes, under doors, on car windsheilds, and in the hands of the people.

Please continue to pray for this event, which takes place Friday and Saturday.  There will be games and activities for the children from 5-6:30 pm, and an adult, evangelistic service from 7-9pm.

Pray for God to touch the hearts of all who read the tracts, and that many will come to know Christ personally at this event - children and adults alike.

Pray also for those of us who will be working with the kids - for Godly patience and wisdom.  I´m told that last year around 60 kids came.

Last, but not least, pray for Rev. Bonafcio as he brings another stirring message from the heart of God!

Blessings,

Kris

P.S. - Also pray for my neighbors.  One has gone to church with me once, and another wants to go this Sunday.  Pray that I would have wisdom and boldness in my Christian witness to them, and that I would reach out more to the people in the community.