sharing on the streets of Benalmadena

Yesterday i did something i haven´t done for a long time, i went out on the streets to talk with people about there faith and share the good news. Its always a challenge to me because i can get shy (believe it or not), and so i have to step out of my comfort zone and once i have done it once, i can talk for England or Spain. We had 4 great conversations and one lady in particular who said she would come to our easter service. i always get a buzz from doing this and i always wonder why i don´t do it more often.....

hi from España

Hi guys, i´d love to report to you that its raining and cold but its Sunny and warm eeeekkk sorry bout´that. I´m currently covered in white paint from painting the office this morning so people are looking at me strangely in this internet cafe.

Things are good here, Naomi is well and so are the rest of the Coleys. Howard preached at a Spanish speaking fellowship yesterday and all went well there. I preached about the apostle Paul, past, present and future and recieved good feedback. its an issue that i have faced so i am sure others are in the same boat from time to time. its a real art to not allow your past to distract you from your God given destiny. anyway i´m going into preaching mode again.....

My parents are coming out to see me next week and i cannot wait to see them, its only been 4 weeks, what a big softie!! anyway keep up the emails and the calls and keep me in your Prayers.

p.s please Pray for our new youth house group that starts a week on thursday. will let you know how it went.

lots of love from Dave

Young & older

Well today i started painting the office and manage to cover myself but nevermind. i also started work on a sermon for this sunday morning. i´m enjoying working here and trying my best to remember peoples names. You would think it would be easier considering i come from a church of over 500 people. but i still manage to get it wrong on quite a regular basis. We had a dedication yesterday for a little baby boy called Javier, he is so cute and didn´t cry! we had a faith meal after church in celebration. well i´m off to cell group now so no rest for Holy (joke) bye for now. Dave

practical stuff

Well i finally have a phone now in Spain if you ring me i will give you my new number (joke) mi numero es 0034 695 115496.
i also have a bank account in Spain now and i´m currently waiting for my debit card to arrive. So thats all good.
I have been working in the church office this week, it a big change from what i´m use to but i am absolutely loving it, so no complaints from me. this last sunday i was inducted into the ministry of the Church by John Knox head of the federation of Elim churchs in Spain. God is so good even when i have a tinge of homesickness and missing my friends and family i know his presence helping me. i already have some really fgood friends here, Lucy, Sam and Alex, Howard and Sue, Senger and Jackie and of course Naomi who has helped me settle in so well. you could say God has blessed this boy and i´m very grateful for that. still have no internet access at home so unfortuantly my updates are a tad sparodic, but they should get more frequent. please keep me in your prayers and let me know whats happening with you guys too. Every blessing, Rev DJH

a new life

i have been in Spain for one week now and it has seemingly flown by. I must be enjoying myself, well i am, to quote Macdonalds "i´m Lovin It". God has been good to me over this transitional period and i think there is still a lot more transitioning to do. i had my first service in the church yesterday and they put on a welcome lunch for me as well as a birthday cake which was a lovely suprise. i feel well and truly welcomed!
the strangest feeling i encountered was whilst waking up one morning last week the realisation hit me that i was living in a foreign land and i´m not planning on going back, that was strange and it took me by suprise. I also was taken back by the emotion i felt saying goodbye to my family i had the saddness of leaving entwined with the happiness of arriving in Spain, my head and heart have been all over the place, but i think they are both begining to settle down now. I also had the nice suprise of Naomi picking me up from the airport, she was allowed to leave work early, that also made things more easier when arriving.
so looking forward i am excited as to all that God has in store for us all here the elim family fellowship. next week i´m being officially inducted into the church when John Knox head of elim españa will be visiting Benalmadena. so i will sign out by thanking you all for your ongoing support both in Prayer and provision. watch this space for more of my Spanish steps.

focused advertising

i know i should have other things to worry about today, but i find personalized adverts aimed at me about weight loss and regaining a full head of hair. if i wasn't insecure then i am now lol. anyway the sun might bring my hair back if not i will have to wait for heaven, until then i will be happy i mean it hasn't stop jean luc picard.

anyway catching a plane later you may have heard about it......

on the edge of the boat

Well its the day before i leave, i can't believe its here, it feels so strange. i have been working upto this date for such along time at one point i thought it would never come. i have used the term mixed emotions so much this week. i said good bye to my dad today and my nan yesterday my mother and brother are taking me to the airport to make sure i leave the Uk and all her teritories.
There has been more than the odd tear and i think a few more are on the menu tomorrow tambien. i was thinking as hard as it is for me to leave everybody it would be harder to stay with the "what if i had tried it" thoughts.
i will be seeing my parents in spain in march so that will be nice.
On the other hand i'm really excited, i can't wait to see Naomi again, i can't wait to get into my new flat and i can't wait to settle into a new ministry. i just wish i could have the best of both worlds.
God has blessed me so much, please continue to remember me in your prayers.

will miss all my friends in the UK so much........

watch this space to find out if i sleep well on my first night in Spain!!

Back at Derby Elim

its my own fault i should never had boasted! all winter i have been boasting about the fact that i have not had a cold whilst all in sundry suffered. i well and truly have one now and as you will be aware from medical science men tend to get a stronger strain than women, but far be it from me to moan, although i have been up all night with it!!!
i managed to get through my sermon on sat night at aog church in coventry. We had a great evening and many responded to the call to step out in faith. Yesterday i returned to my home church the City Church Derby. it was great to catch up with so many familiar faces from the past and share a challenging word about taking more risks in life. i get very reminicent when i go back to Derby elim and this was no different, plus it was good opportunity to meet with my friends Dan and Dave who pastor the church there.
i'm going to post again tomorrow and share with you just some of the thoughts and emotions i have regarding my move to Spain.
I'm missing Coventry Elim a lot and on the other hand i cannot wait to take the plunge more about that later......

Back in Cov

for one night only, i'm back in the sky blue city preaching at Christian life ministries (A.O.G) at an 18 -30 meeting. i'm still 32 until the 18th feb so i think i can manage to sneak in. although so called friends remind me i look 42. all i have to say is that i will look younger in heaven and a full head of hair.

Count down is on i leave a week on monday (16th) it feels so real now!!!

Good Bye Coventry

Well, i can't believe it but i have left Coventry now. emptied my flat (which was no mean feat) filled the Car and headed down leicestershire way. Sunday was an emotional affair it took all my strength to stop myself from breaking down and becoming an emotional wreck on the floor. Even though the future is so exciting it doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye. its natural that your life becomes entwined with those around you (they call it loving community) and you do life together, my heart has something missing now. but i know with all my heart that i'm doing the right thing. a lot of my blog will talk about Spain so i hope you don't mind my indulgence in talking about Coventry for a moment.
I never really liked the city much at first but it grew on me, certainly i have made some great friends and i will look forward to keeping intouch over the years to come. I owe a lot to Cov-elim, you put up with my jokes and sermons and my mistakes, you gave me space to grow, to mess up and on occassions succeed. there always be a place in my heart for Coventry although you must realise i'm not talking football that place is reserved for the rams.

i'm in Kegworth for 2 weeks doing some itenerate preaching, then i head out to Spain on the 16th of feb, to start the next chapt of the exciting adventure God has called me on.

please keep me in your Prayers over this time of transition. P.S go and see Valkyrie its a great film.