Open the gates!

July 14, 2010 found us in an airport on our way to the Southern tip of Spain... a city called Algecerias. We were going to be there for 2 days and then take a ferry to the northern tip of Morocco, a city called Tangier. Why do you ask? Well, let me tell you! The company we work for was doing a summer campaign in the Mediterranean region this summer... I will write more on that maybe tomorrow night! Our family decided at the end of last year that this was something that God was calling us to be a part of. We were with a group of people, some from here in the states and others from Europe, along with a few workers from Spain and Morocco to seek God and really spend time in prayer for all that would be happening in the Med this summer. So, why Spain and Morocco you might be wondering? If you look on a map you will see that there is a channel of water that runs between the 2 countries that leads into the Mediterranean Sea (The Straits of Gibraltar). We wanted to spend time in both of these countries to pray and ask God to "Open the gates" of the Mediterranean for all the work that will be going on there! It was a great few days of prayer and worship!  We also spent time praying for each country that borders the sea. Psalms 24 was the bible passage that kept running through my head during the few days...

 The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof,
   the world and those who dwell therein,
²for he has founded it upon  the seas
   and established it upon the rivers.

 ^{3 )} Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
   And who shall stand in his holy place?
⁴He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
   who does not lift up his soul to what is false
   and does not swear deceitfully.
⁵He will receive blessing from the LORD
   and righteousness from  the God of his salvation.
⁶Such is the generation of those who seek him,
   who  seek the face of the God of Jacob.  

⁷ Lift up your heads, O gates!   And be lifted up, O ancient doors,

   that the King of glory may come in.

⁸Who is this King of glory?

   The LORD, strong and mighty,

   the LORD, mighty in battle!

⁹Lift up your heads, O gates!

   And lift them up, O ancient doors,

   that the King of glory may come in.

¹⁰Who is this King of glory?

  The LORD of hosts,

   he is the King of glory!

We didn't do any sight seeing really in either country... but both countries reminded me a bit of parts of Turkey that I had been in.  The ferry ride was amazing... it is only like 9 miles wide at its narrowest point. So, you are going down and you have Europe on one side of you and Africa on the other!  When we got to Tangier we then took a bus into the port town and then had to take taxis to where we were staying. The taxi drivers would only take 3 people at a time. So, we all had to split up. I think traffic laws are merely a suggestion... it was crazy!  I knew everyone on our team by this point, but had a bit of a panic attack when I put Devon in a taxi with 2 other people (neither one being Jon or I!), I turned to Jon and said, "don't tell my mom what I just did!" (I guess she knows now!) Ty also got into a taxi with 2 other people and then Jon and I with one other person got the last one. I was relieved when we made it to our destination and both boys were standing there alive and well! Thank you God! They thought it was fun to drive up the narrow streets full of people... I did not! July 18th found us again at another airport headed to Rome, Italy... come back tomorrow and hear about that! Here are some of my favorite pics from our first few days!

Devon brought Wallace with us

                           
   

flying about the clouds!

 playing at the airport in Spain while waiting for another team member to arrive on a different plane!

our first meal in Spain was actually a Moroccan dish called Tajine... so good!

we were reunited with Fanta Lemon... yummm!

                                           

on the ferry, that is Africa in the background!