Kris Mahnke's Missionary Journey

Jubilant Praise

This past Tuesday was the third monthly unified worship service for the local evangelical churches.  Every time, the services get better and better - especially the worship in song.  This time, with a whole sanctuary full of people - standing room only - we practically tore the roof off of the building with our unified, passionate praises to God!

Please pray for all of the churches and pastors in Lanzarote - that every one of us would live out this jubilation, and let our lights shine just as brightly out in the streets and in the presence of our neighbours.  Pray also that this light and joy pouring out of us would draw others to a relationship with Christ!

Lost and Found

Since I moved into my new place, I´ve been doing a lot more walking - checking my residency status, searching for teaching resources... In the process I´ve become lost several times and wondered why God didn´t show me the direct pathway home. I could have saved time - time that could have been used more ¨produuctively.¨

However, all of this walking has helped me to begin to get my bearings and THIS has given me more confidence. The more I venture out there, the less lost I feel, and the more the streets and places become familiar. Praise the Lord! Even when I feel lost and don´t understand, He´s at work!

Pray for me and others in the church as we make our way through the streets of the church neigbourhood handing out tracts and invitations to the upcoming Easter weekend evangelistic event.

Also pray that I will gain more confidence in the language and be a bolder witness to all those around me.

Blessings,

Kris

Hello from Budapest!

Yes, I’m in Hungary at the Budapest Ministry Center. This week I had the opportunity to participate in New Missionary Orientation along with the Hamleys, Millers, Mellingers, and some international missionaries. It has been an awesome time of sharing experiences, learning from ministry leaders, and seeing a bit of the culture through the eyes of those who live and work in this great city. I feel uplifted and very refreshed.

Please pray for all of us as we return to our respective areas of ministry - that we will take with us what we learned and shared here, and that we will also have a renewed sense of passion and vision.

Blessings to all,
Kris

What´s Goin´On?

Hi friends!

Some of you have been asking me what´s going on here.  I just haven´t found the time, until today, to let you all know.

Anyway, I´ve been continuing to get to know the people of the church.  In fact, on two occasions I´ve had the opportunity to stay in the homes of some of my new friends for a few days.  Talk about hospitality!  It´s rather funny.  When I was growing up, we had evangelists and ministers stay at my dad´s farm many times.  We let them sleep in our travel trailer and made sure that they ate well.  My mom was really good at entertaining them.  Now I´m the one that´s being shown such gracious hospitality.

Sometimes it´s hard, however, when I want to do more to help and I´m told, ``No.  No.  Here.  No.  You relax.´´

I´ve also been starting to build relationships with some of the children that I will be working with.  They are a real delight.  I can see, too, that they really want to know more about Jesus.

That seems to be true of the teenagers as well.  We recently began to have house prayer meetings (adults and young people included).  We meet at a different house each night.  This is a great way to reach out to those who were previously unable to make it to the Thursday night prayer meeting at the church.  In a couple of those prayer meetings I have heard the young people pray with such passion and devotion.

It´s awesome to hear the youth praying in Spirit and in truth.  They are so honest and humble in there prayers, and there is a deep hunger for God that is expressed.  When I here this it not only warms my heart but makes me think that these young people have so much to offer their local church.  They too can be strong witnesses to their community, and this I pray for.

Speaking of reaching out the the community, in all of the prayers there is a deep desire to see the lost souls of Lanzarote enter into a relationship with Christ.  Right now there is a great opportunity to do so. 

It´s Christmas time and the church is beginning to make preparations for the special service to be held on December 23.  The ladies in charge of the program have expressed that EVERYONE is to take part in the service, as well as let the community know about it.

Just as is happening in the U.S., Christmas is continually becoming a time for receiving gifts, more than celebrating the birth of Our Saviour.  Please pray that many would come to the service at the church and would discover the ``Christ´´ of Christmas.

There is a car available for me to drive now.  It´s 20 years old and has it´s problems, but it runs.  It was a free gift donated to the church.  Please pray that I would quickly learn to drive it.  It´s a stick-shift.  It may be a few weeks before all of the paperwork goes through. Hopefully, by then I will be ready for it. Pray as I navigate the narrow streets as well.  Driving here is really different.

Also pray as I apply for my temporary residency card.  There has been a little discrepancy over my paperwork because it went through Madrid (capital of Spain) and not Las Palmas (capital of the Canary Islands).  Pray that all of this will work out quickly and that I will be able to take care of everything here, rather than in Madrid.

I´ve discovered that there is a free Spanish class for immigrents.  I haven´t been able to find the exact location of the class.  I just know the approximate area and the name of the street.  I hope to enroll this week.

Also pray for New Missionary Training taking place in January.  Pray for all who will be participating, as well as those who will be leading.

One last thing to share.  I mispelled a word in my last post.  The local dish that has become my favorite food in Lanzarote is called ``Potaje,´´(pronounced poe-tah'-hey)  not Potata.  I don´t want to misrepresent anything.

Whooo!  So much going on!  I hope that I have not overwhelmed you.

Thank you all so much for your prayers!

Blessings,

Kris

New Beginnings

Mis amigos,

¡Aquí estoy! ¡Aquí estoy! ¡Aquí estoy!  Here I am!  Those are the first words that I said to myself as I entered the Arrecife airport in Lanzarote.  It´s so hard to believe that I am finally here!  WOW!

I made many friends during my very first day on the island.  First, I was greeted by the mother and two Irish sisters-in-law of Pastor Vito.  This is a diverse culture. 

I was taken to the mother´s home and fed my first bowl of Potata - a type of stew that is local to the Canary Islands.  They asked if I was a little hungry and proceeded to give me a full bowl, plus bread and some local cheese, along with a banana and fresh squeezed orange juice.  Apparently this is the time of year when people can pick free oranges off of the trees.  Everything was delicious.

Soon, I was picked up by Mari, Pastor Vito´s wife, and taken to their home - my new home for my stay here in Arrecife.  It´s a very nice typical island home - attached to the other houses on their street.

Later on I met the oldest daughter of Vito and Mari, along with her boyfriend.  Mari and I picked him up from work and took him to who his parent´s - Argentinians - home.

Still later, I met an Aussi and his Cuban wife.  They took me to the local ¨deportida¨ (sports center) where he and his friends - including some of Pastor Vito´s brothers - played a game of soccer.

During that time, I also got to visit the local food shopping center.  It didn´t seem a lot different than what I´m used too except for the fact that they sold a lot more chocolate and plenty of ¨fresh¨ fish.  Given the strong smell of the fish I´m a little questionable as to it´s freshness.

Later on, we headed back to the pastor´s house and had fellowship around a dish of french fries with melted cheese.  We all ate out of the same two dishes together.  We stuck our forks in the fries and cheese, then dipped them into a dish of tuna, garlic mayo, and tomato sauce.  It was fun, but definitely took me out of my American, semi-germophobic, comfort zone - especially since two of the people were sick with colds.

Speeking of, I´m suffering from, as my new Irish friends would say, a ¨wee bit of the drips.¨  That´s par for the course when adjusting to the time, as well as extreme climate change.  As the Madrid team joked, ¨She´s going to the sunny island and suffering for Jesus.¨

Today, I also had my first Paella - the national dish of Spain.  That included my first muscle.  It was all very good.

WOW!  I´ve already experienced a lot! 

Please pray about my language acquisition.  My spanish is a little rusty, and my listening comprehension needs a lot of work.  Pray that I will pick it up quickly!

Also pray for continued relationship building, as well as God´s continued direction and blessing.

More news in the weeks to come.

Kris

In the Home Stretch

Hi Friends!

It's hard to believe it, but we're finally in the home stretch of this leg of the journey.  Thusfar it has been a long, tedious, and sometimes very taxing one.  However, it's all worth it.

Speaking of long journeys, the 2007 JFL Football season has finally come to a close.  What a close it was.  On Sunday, October 7th, both Shelbyville Rams teams won their games. 

The heavyweight game was an especially eventfull and exciting one for my oldest nephew.  There were a couple of bad calls - surprise, surprise - along with a misunderstanding that almost ended in a big fight.  The commotion was kept under control, however, and the Rams came out with a 46 - 16 victory!  30 points!

In the week prior to that game, I finally received the news that I've been waiting for.  Those who received my latest newsletter via e-mail already know this.  My application for a Residence Visa has been approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Madrid!  I can finally go to Spain! I leave for Madrid on October 31st, arrive on November 1st, spend about 6 days there and then fly on to Lanzarote. 

You all don't know how excited I truly am.  The dream is finally coming true!  I've been dreaming about this trip since I first felt called to mission work in 2001!  I thought that I was ready to go back then, only to find out that I had more education and training to go through.  I was disapointed at first, but after all that I've been through in the past six years (Has it really been that long?), I know that I wasn't even close to being ready back then.

Now, it's finally happening.  I know that this planned 1-year trip is just the beginning and that I'm not yet an official "career" missionary, but it is still the dream of a life time come true!  PTL!

Thanks so much for all of your prayers, friends.  Keep it up!

This week, pray for the sale of my car.  Since putting an ad in the local newspaper I've had one man come and look at it.  His only response was that he'd have to think about it.  Please pray that it would sell quickly, to the right person,  and for a really good price!

Also pray for my sanity and rest in these last two weeks of perparation for my departure.

Blessings to all,

Kris :)

The Rams won! The Rams won

...the Shelbyville JFL Rams, that is. It was awesome! I'm not a big sports fan, especially not of American football. However, when both of my nephews are playing, it's a whole new ball game - literally! My nephews played for their JFL (Junior Football League) teams this past Sunday. 10-year-old Chase's less experienced, lightweight team lost, but 13-year-old Colton's heavyweight team won, 12-14!

In fact, Colton, one of the team leaders, was one of the star players that day. He had two tackles, was the second leading ball runner with 67 total yards, ran 28 yards with the ball (the longest run of the game), and scored the two point conversion that won the game! WOO-HOO! Go Rams!

It reminds me of Paul's words in 2 Timothy 4:7. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." The younger team may not have won their game, but if they keep fighting the good fight (practicing), someday they will have the skills to win like the heavywights did.

The honest truth is that for all of their effort, the Rams heavyweight team didn't look like they had a chance to beet their larger opponents after a disapointing first half. However, as a local newspaper put it, after a pep talk from one of their coaches they came back stronger in the second half of the game. The Rams gave it all that they had and came out on the victory side!

It's the same with this missionary journey that I'm on. At times it may seem like a loosing battle, but, if I remain faithful and don't give up, someday I will have the victory!

I must keep remembering whose in control of everything - God. He'll see that it all comes to pass in time.

Right now there's no new news. It's still a waiting game. That's all I could get out of the lady at the Spanish Consulate. I've done my part and they've done theirs. So, now we wait again for a response from Madrid. Please keep praying that this will be resolved quickly. There are a lot of people awaiting my arrival in Lanzarote.

In the meantime, I'm glad to have time to enjoy my family. How about you? Have you been to any good ball games lately?

Keep the faith.

Blessings,

Kris

I've come so far. PTL!

Hi folks!

First off, I must apologize for the long delay in typing another blog.  Please forgive me.  I was hoping to have more news to give when I typed this one.  There isn't much more to say.  I received the required letter from Europe, sent it on to the Spanish Consulate in Chicago, and they were supposed to have sent it to the Ministry of the Interior in Madrid last week.  So, for now, I still wait, but God is faithful and I know that He will work it out very soon!!  I know it in my Spirit!!  PTL!

It's all taking a long time, but look how far I've come!  A year ago I was no where close to having all of my financial and prayer support!  Now I have all the funds and more besides.  God has provided for all of those little glitches and changes in plans!  I have well over a hundred people praying for me as well!  How awesome is GOD?  AMEN!!

As I was having my devotions today I was reminded of how far I've come spiritually.  After spending time in the word and reading today's "Light From the Word"  I opened up a journal that I had written in college.  I wrote this after going through one of the darkest times of my life - some great mistakes that led to the loss of a great friendship.  As I read through my old journal I was reminded of the great pit of dispear I was in.  I was so depressed and desprate for God to fill me with love, joy, hope, and peace.  In reading this I realized how far I have come since then. 

God has brought me through so much in my life and has filled me with His love.  Sometimes I forget that.  Then He reminds me of how much he smiles when He looks at me.  He smiles and the Word says that He sings over me!  He sings over all of His children!  How glorious?  I often times feel so underqualified for the task, but God reminded me that, as I wrote in the journal, "With Christ, I am enough."  In fact, I am more than enough!  I am because He is and He is in me!  PTL!!

Keep praying!  I need your prayers so much more than you can imagine!  The enemy wants to steal kill and destroy, but the Holy Spirit in me is greater than the spirit of darkness in the world!  AMEN!!

Blessings,

Kris

Glitches - ya gotta love 'em!

Hi Friends!

Is everyone enjoying their summer?  I know that I had a great time last week!  My home church had their annual VBS (Vacation Bible School).  This year's theme was "Avalanche Ranch - A Wild Ride Through God's Word."  The kids had a great time, and so did the adults who volunteered.

My main job was to help another lady teach the new songs and motions to the kids.  The song that impacted everyone the most was one that we almost left out because it was a slower song.  I've personally heard the song, "Were You There," hundreds of times at Easter, but never really appreciated it - that is, until I heard the children sing it.  If you don't know the song it goes through the crucifixion and resurrection story.  The mood throughout the song is very somber until the last verse.  I told the kids to really sing that one loud, and they did.  I could hardly sing along for being so choked up!  They sang these words with all of their might:  "Were you there when He rose up from the dead?"  If hearing 15 children sing that verse loudly doesn't speak to a persons heart, I don't know what will!  It was beautiful!

Well, you probably were wondering about the title to this week's blog.  It isn't so much about Bible School, although there were some minor glitches there, as it is about my mission.  I received word yesterday that I need another letter from Spain before I can be approved for my Residency Visa.  Because my name was not on the letter from the Spain Ministry of Justice, I need a seperate letter from the host organization stating that they have invited me and will take full responsibility for me while I am in Spain.  This is a little tricky because the president of that organization is currently on a 3-month home assignment in Germany.  However, I'm told that I will have the letter in a few days.  As my boss told me, "There are always glitches before the launch!"  Amen to that!

Pray this week that all of these glitches will be worked out quickly so that I can leave on July 14th!

Also pray for the fall follow-up to my church's VBS - that the children and their families will make firm commitments to the Lord and grow in their relationships with Him!

Keep praying for the sale of my car.  I need to sell it A.S.A.P. in order to cover expenses while I am home.

Thanks so much for all of your prayer support.  I can't tell you how much it's needed and appreciated!

Blessings to all of you,

Kris :)

Change

Hello friends!

For those who do not know, here's the latest news.  There has been a change in plans due to government red-tape.  For the moment, I'm still here in Illinois.  My Residency Visa has not yet been approved by the Spanish government.

So, I have a new departure date:  July 14th, 2007.  The new plan is for me arrive in Madrid on the 15th, stay there until the 19th, and then fly on to Lanzarote.  This will give me a few days of ministry preparation with the Fajardos (Spain Area Directors).  They too are flying to Lanzarote on the 19th in order to help with the VBS (Vacation Bible School) that will be going on.  I believe that all of this will make for a smoother transition into mission work in Lanzarote.

Please keep on praying! 

Pray that my Visa is approved before the 14th so that I can make the trip to Chicago and get my passport stamped on time. 

Pray also that I would have a smooth transition into the ministry and culture in Lanzarote. 

Also, keep praying for the sale of my car.  It needs to sell quickly and for a good price!

Until next time, God bless you all!

Kris :)