Kevin & Joanne Wood
Church-planters in Spain with SEND International

Praise & Prayer Update
Tuesday, April 18, 2006

1. Please pray for the first event we are holding in Sigüenza, an exhibition and conference about the Bible and Don Quixote, by a Spanish historian who is also an evangelical. The exhibition runs from Friday 04/21 through Tuesday 04/25, while the conference will be Saturday evening 04/22. Please pray for good attendance, and that the exhibition and conference will spark interest in reading and understanding the Bible.

2. Praise that plans are coming along for the visit by a team from Chelten Baptist Church (Philadelphia area) from June 27 through July 7. They will help us conduct an English workshop and a basketball clinic. Please pray that we can soon confirm the use of the necessary facilities in town, and for the other preparations.

3. Please pray for our cell group meetings and worship services, as we are having a difficult time keeping on a regular schedule. Please pray also that God would bless these events and that there would be interest from others in our community to attend.

4. Please pray that God would give our team wisdom as we seek to purchase a commercial storefront property for use as a community center (English classes, etc.) and for church services.

5. Praise for a refreshing time for Joanne and the rest of the SEND ladies at their retreat at the end of March.

6. Please pray for our SEND Spain Annual Conference, April 27 through May 1, that it would a time of learning, growing together, and refreshment. Please pray also that God would give us wisdom as we discuss important matters related to our ministries here in Spain.

"Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart." [Luke 18:1]

As always, thanks for your prayers and support of our ministry here in Spain.

Kevin & Joanne Wood
Avda. Juan Carlos I, 32, 1D
19250 Sigüenza (Guadalajara)
SPAIN

tel. (from USA): 011-34-949-39-16-00

The Pakistani missionaries, Edgar Pace & Shamshad Masih, who visited with
us in April, have returned to Pakistan. They send their thanks &
appreciation through Dorothy Wilder who had made their travel
arrangements in the USA.  They have left feeling truly encouraged &
blessed by your love, friendship, support & prayers.  While here, they
spoke in at least 12 different states as well as Ontario, Canada.  Your
generous offerings contributed to having all their travel expenses
covered & the balance was sent to the Outreach Foundation to be divided
between their 2 ministries.  Edgar & Shamshad left the USA hoping that
you have a much better understanding of the incredible open door that
still exists in Pakistan & of the unique fruitfulness of both these
ministries. 

They would appreciate your continued faithful prayer &
support.  Dorothy also asks that you pray for their safety.

Submitted by Edward C Thornburg

The Rev.Christian & Kay Zebley, missionaries in Kamakura, Japan (a small
coastal city south of Tokyo), are celebrating the birth of their 1st
child, a daughter, Anna Elizabeth, born Dec. 5, 2003.  Baby Anna is
already a missionary, transforming many neighborhood relationships from
"acquaintances" to "friends" who want to see the baby and stay to talk.
Christian & Kay have been in Japan 6 years.  They worked as Eng. teachers
the 1st year and then began to develop youth ministry.  Much time needed
to be spent in training and preparation. They have made several trips
with youth delegations with the goal of organizing a youth leadership
team.
They worship regularly at a church with 120 members (big for Japan) where
they work with the youth group and children's ministry.  Christian
preaches in Japanese 4 times a year and assists with communion.
Christian & Kay lead Bible studies with the youth & speak at Children's
Church.
On the 2nd Sun. each month, they attend Meiji Gakuin Church in Yokohama
where Christian preaches & Kay offers the children's sermon.  This is on
the campus of the complex, founded in the 1870's by Presbyterian
missionary Dr.James Hepburn, grown now into a large university with
several graduate schools, 2 jr. highs & one high school.  Every Tues.
during the semester, Kay & Christian offer a student coffee house titled
"Peace Cafe" in a ministry of hospitality.  The Japanese culture has
strong psychological barriers between individuals & neighbors as a
reaction to being crowded up against so many strangers, so fellowship
takes time.
Our plan is to organize youth from past summer delegations into a core
national leadership team in 2004.  Also, we are recruiting highschoolers
from each of the 16 presbyteries to attend the Youth Triennium this July
at Purdue University.  There have already been bonds formed with youth in
the Detroit Presbytery where Japanese youth were housed during the 2001
Triennium, with some of the Michiganders visiting Japan in 2003.  Two of
the Japanese youths have decided to enter the ministry.
Please pray for the development of  "The Pink House", a 75-yr.-old
parsonage purchased by the mission property holding body, to become a
Kyodan Youth Center.