Hello from Oviedo Spain!
In Romans 15:28, the apostle Paul states his desire to bring the gospel to Spain. However, history does not record that he was ever able to fulfill this dream. But God has given us the opportunity to bring His precious Word to this nation. In our prayers, we want to fulfill this dream that Paul had and that Jesus Christ has to reach the people in this area of the world.
For those of you who may not know, we (Rev. Mancini & Bro. Matt Wesson) are with Rev. John Robles and his family here in Oviedo, Spain, which is located on the northern coast. (Rev Robles is the president of Operation Latin America. Over the past 5 years, he has been coming to encourage the work in this area. He asked me if I would come and minister here.) We are here to preach and teach in 4 different churches (including an all-gypsy church!) and a drug rehab center; teaching church structure, reverence of the pastoral ministry, and to lift up and encourage the body of Christ, and win the lost. It is also our mission to help strengthen and encourage the overseeing pastor of the work here;s Pastor Luis Manuel Rubiales Aguado, and the late pastor's wife sister Mado Fernandes.
Our journey began November 7th, 2011. Even before we left Connecticut, we faced our first challenge. Our connecting flight from Bradley to Philadelphia was cancelled. This threatened to disrupt the schedule for our entire trip. Thank God for all those who are praying for us, for God opened another door to take a twin-prop plane from New Haven to Philadelphia, and still make our flight to Madrid. (We didn't even know there was an airport in New Haven, and US Air was the only service out of that airport!) Praise God for providing a way!
We arrived in Madrid on time and then faced our second challenge! Unbeknownst to us, Rev. Robles’ flight was delayed. In the case that we did not meet him at the airport, we were to meet him at the hotel. So now we are on our own at Madrid airport and in a country we have never been to. We called our hotel to arrange a shuttle, only to find out that there is none! Not having our interpreter with us, it was difficult to determine the correct cab fare or a bus to the hotel. (The taxi drivers would not take us, because it wasn't far enough for a high fare!) This is why it is so important to have a pastor and church like ours that is praying for us, for God once again provided a miracle!
While we were pondering our situation at the shuttle stop, we talked to a businesswoman who was waiting for her shuttle. We asked her where her shuttle was going, hoping that it might be on the route to our hotel. She told us that the Holiday Inn was right across the street from the Crown Plaza, where she was staying, and that she would ask her shuttle driver if he would drop us at our hotel. But, when she called her shuttle driver, he was stuck in traffic! She told us to come with her, that she was hiring a cab, and that her company would pay for it, and we could ride with her for free! Praise God, but this is not the end of this miracle! While we were riding to the hotel, we asked what she did, she laughed and said that she worked for the Holiday Inn, and is a general manager for 2 hotels in Portugal, and is here for meetings. She gave us her business card, and invited us to come visit her at her hotels in Portugal! We found later that cab fare from the airport runs 20-25 Euros, which is about $30-40 U.S. Dollars. Praise God for making a way for us again, and thank you, who are praying for us; it is making a difference!
God Bless, Rev. Mancini
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