July 2004 Update

Hello All!

I hope summer is finding you all well and getting some relaxation time in.
Summer started suddenly here at the beginning of June. I left on the first
of June for Impact's European conference in Austria, and it had been cool
and rainy for the most part. I returned on June 6 to blazing sunshine and
unbelievable heat! One of my main summer activities this year is learning
how to stay cool and hydrated in the hot, dry Madrid summer. I am really
feeling at home here now, though. Just over the past few weeks, I've come
to the realization that I really LOVE living in Madrid! God is amazing!
Even before I had started thinking about missions, or Spain, or anything
along those lines, He already knew He would put me here, and He knew I would
love it. Wow!

Things are slowing down now that July is here. The semester ended at the
university here in late June, so many of the contacts I made among
international students have moved back to their home countries now, and the
ones who live here are on holiday! I'm enjoying a little bit of extra time
to relax, work on learning to play guitar, paint, and start to develop
relationships with the several new internationals that have moved into the
city--some for the summer, some for longer. Here is a quick recap on some
of the things I have been updating you on.

Monday Night Group
The community group from Monday night and another one from Wednesday night
have done some switching around because of people moving away and new people
coming in, so now I'm leading the group that meets on Wednesday night in my
house. We eat together, pray, worship, and do Bible study together.
Everybody participates, and I really enjoy the atmosphere of everyone
ministering to each other. In doing church through community groups, I have
been made more aware than ever that the church is the people, not an
institution or a building, and that we all work together as the body of
Christ. The group looks different every week because of people coming and
going, and will probably continue to do so for most of the summer, but
that's part of the fun of the international community. right now we're
studying Colossians and trying to see what we should study once we're done
with that at the end of July.

The Alpha Group
The Alpha course ended in late May, still with some great discussions.
Sonya, Alex, and Matilda are keeping in touch and may be getting involved in
some more Mountainview groups after their holiday travels. Please pray that
God continues to work in their lives to bring them closer to HIM.

GBU group on campus
The Bible study on campus, led by my friend Ana Maria, kept meeting until
finals were over. When the weather was nice, we started to have our
meetings outside. To an American student, that sounds really common, but
this took alot of courage for some of the students here. Seeing a group
praying together on a university lawn is not a common thing here, so we got
some strange looks!

Ana and I have met a few times to talk about planning for the group next
year, mostly talking about vision for the group and where God may be
leading. Ana is such an encouragement to me, and it's fun to watch her grow
in her passion for God and as a leader. I'm excited to see what God does
with the group she's leading next year, and glad that she and I will be able
to continue to meet regularly.

Plans for the Fall
God has been making it increasingly clearer that it is His will for me to
attend school at the university here in the fall. Actually, I'm getting
really excited about it now that it's getting closer. Originally, I was
under the impression that I was going to be "doing ministry" and going to
school on the side, but I'm realizing now that going to school here is
ministry. Being a student and being a Christian at the same time isn't
something that happens very often here, and I'm seeing that God wants me to
obey Him in going to university, and He'll be the one that takes care of
when, where, and how ministry happens. Yet again, the same question comes
up as last month...what if LIFE were ministry?

Support for School
The school program I am doing here costs roughly 1500 euros, which is around
$1900, depending on the exchange rate of the day. I'm asking God to provide
for this as well as additional monthly support, since going to school here
means I will be six months later than planned in coming home to raise more
support. If you would like to pray with me specifically about this, or if
you would like to support me financially, you can email me at
kwills@impactministries.tv. We have an amazing God who can provide in
amazing ways!


Prayers:
Sunday--pray that I would grow daily in my love for God and would trust HIM
in every aspect of my life

Monday--praise God for the wonderful family He has given me through the
Mountainview International Church. Continue to pray for His will as we seek
God together as a church.

Tuesday--ask God to bring the people across my path that He has for me to
meet, and for me to be responsive to Him when this happens!

Wednesday--ask God to raise up more Impact staff to come work in Madrid

Thursday--ask God to continue to draw Sonya, Alex, and Matilda closer to Him

Friday--pray for the new Wednesday night community group, that God will lead
us to the curriculum He wants us to use to bring us closer to Him and to
each other as a community

Saturday--ask God to provide the necessary funds for me to go to school
here. Praise Him for being the great provider!

Thank you so much for your prayers, support, and encouragement! God uses
you in amazing ways!

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to His power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and
in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Gal.
3:20-21


Praising HIM,
kelly wills