A year ago, we did not know that we would still be here in the U.S.A. But after Paul and Barnabas’s 1st missionary assignment they stayed in Antioch a long time with the disciples, reporting all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. We are not finished reporting yet and challenging churches to be concerned about a corner of the world called Las Tablas. When we leave for Spain, the Lord will have tripled the number of people who are praying for this work! At present we are up to 84.5% support. We are in the process of generating, certifying, and translating various documents like police clearance, medical clearance, and marriage license. After we receive the letter of invitation from Spain we must take all of the documents and the applications to the consulate in D.C. After Spain’s Consulate receives our requests for working visas, it will take about two months for them to be approved. By this time the remaining 15.5% of support needs to be in place before we can purchase plane tickets.
Muhas Arrive in Madrid – Apartment hunting
Hey, everybody! Are you praying for an apartment for us in Madrid? If not, get goin’! If you are, “Thank You!” and please keep it up!!! We saw another apartment this evening and we really liked it. It’s around 1000 sq.’, 3 bdrms., 2 bths. (perfect for church planting and visitors!!!), tankless hot water, includes 1 parking space, the condo costs, a storage space off the garage, AIR CONDITIONING(!!!!) and the appliances. It has laminate wood floors, is in a fairly new building (just 3-yrs.old), decent views, updated windows that are more energy efficient, bathrooms with marble, a great front door that couldn’t be broken into without removing the entire wall, crown molding in the living room – this may be way too luxurious for missionaries!!! We have an offer written up and hope to send it tonight if we get the “OK” from the powers that be. Please pray that if this is the building and apartment where God wants us to live that the owner would accept our offer. Thank you so much for all of the prayers and responses we’ve received. You are too sweet! All our love, Scott and Lorna P.S. We miss you!
Posted in Muha Update
Las Tablas Church Picnic – May 23rd
Last weekend the Las Tablas Bible Study went to Parque Robledo near Segovia to visit an area called Boca del Asno.
Thought that you may enjoy some of the pictures.
Posted in Church activity
Muha May Update
I heard the sound of the whip cracking as I cowered fearfully in the corner, “WE NEED ANOTHER UPDATE WRITTEN, SO SIT DOWN AND GET IT DONE NOW (!!!), WOMAN,” yelled my irate husband, Scott. I desperately tried to appease him by reminding him in my most humble attitude and with a meek voice, “But Milord, I believe God has one more prayer yet to answer . . . that of my visa.” Another crack thundered close to my head and I trembled, “OKAY, BUT AS SOON AS THAT ANSWER COMES IN, I WANT THAT EMAIL OUT TO ALL OF OUR FAITHFUL, PRAYER SUPPORTERS, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME, WENCH?” to which I whimpered, “Yes, Milord, as you wish.”
Well, here I am writing to tell you our faithful God answered our prayer and my visa to Spain has also been approved. How miraculous is that!!! Normally, a husband’s visa is granted within 2-3 months of applying. Scott’s was granted in one (for some unknown reason, he has also received his temporary residency, work permit and I.D. number, which is normally given after you get to Spain and apply for it). The wife’s visa usually takes another 2-3 months. Mine was approved in 3 weeks. So
“here I am to worship, here I am to bow down,
here I am to say that You’re my God,
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy,
altogether wonderful to me . . .”
We have train reservations to Chicago for May 11th where we’ll pick up the visas and we’ll then have three months to arrive in Spain. I guess it’s time to start packing – we really don’t have that much stuff to take; a lot was left in Venezuela and that will be replaced at IKEA in Spain =) We’ll need to finish up raising the remaining $300/mo, in support. Last, we’ll be setting a farewell date and buying the tickets
Thanks for your faithful prayers, your love and encouragement and your generous support.
Love,
The slave driver and his wench, aka. Scott and Lorna
Posted in Uncategorized
Muha’s April Update
Happy Spring!
Yes, I know winter is still hangin’ around and so are we. But we’re hoping both will be gone soon!!! We’re thinking maybe May would be a good time for a farewell celebration.
Okay, I’m not sure I’ll be able to do these answers to prayer justice on paper without facial expressions or being able to use my hands, so you’ll just have to imagine how excited we are. You know how it goes when you’re looking to do God’s will and you don’t really see, hear or feel His direction. You read the Bible, you fast and pray, you seek wise counsel and still you’re not sure, so you make a decision and pray God would “be a light to your path.” Then, God, who was patiently standing by waiting, watching to see if you have the faith to trust Him, starts to fill in the blanks. All of a sudden you see answers to prayer and then you “hear” God’s voice through a verse in the Bible and WOW (!!!), that gets you excited and BAM (!!!), you’ve got the feeling you were looking for when you first started the journey. Well, that’s what He’s been doing since our decision to go to Spain. We didn’t have a vision or hear the bells and whistles. We didn’t feel this tremendous peace. We just felt we needed to make a decision, so, with the knowledge we had, we did. And then we proceeded to get our papers in order.
Posted in Muha Update
Holding the Ropes for Las Tablas
One day in 1793
, William Carey, the Father of Modern Missions and some friends were discussing the need for foreign missions. Andrew Fuller, a fellow minister who was at that gathering, recalled, “We saw there was a gold mine in India, but it was as deep as the center of the Earth.” Fuller asked who would venture to explore that mine. Carey spoke up and addressed his friends: “I will venture to go down, but remember that you must hold the ropes.” By “holding the ropes,” Carey meant consistently praying for him, financially supporting him, and regularly communicating on his behalf with the churches in England. His friends agreed.
Since 1988 many of you have been our faithful “rope holders” and we want to thank you fo
r the time and effort that you have put into bringing us and our ministry before the throne of grace, and for faithfully supporting us. It has been an honor to be serviced by you. However, to get to Spain we will need more “rope holders”. The expenses are higher and the spiritual battle will most like be harder. We live in a day when “holding the ropes” is considering just praying and sending money. Holding the ropes also includes staying in contact, providing feedback, constructive criticism, and maintaining lines of accountability
Posted in McMillan Update
Muha update
Last Monday evening Scott talked me into going to the disaster movie, 2012. It’s not the type of movie I would normally choose, but being the submissive wife you all know me to be, I said, “Sure Babe, whatever makes you happy, makes me happy!” I think that sounds more Stepford Wife, than submissive wife, but . . . off we went. When we got home, I promptly forgot about the movie, but poor Scott relived it all night long.
The world, as we know it, was about to end. Miraculously, our family had received tickets to escape the devastation and impending doom. The countdown was on and we had precious little time to get the few things they would allow us to bring and meet at the “ship.” Frantically, we packed necessities and only the most valued of memories. It was time to go. We took one last look, hoping to capture in our minds all we had experienced and all we would be leaving behind. As we rushed out the door, Scott looked back to see Addie sitting in a pile of her junk and yelled, “Come on Addison, there is no time left. They will not wait for us; we have to go . . . NOW!” “But Dad,” she cried out, “I can’t find my ticket!” Scott woke from his nightmare with a start. His heart was pounding, panic had set in, he had broken out in a sweat, and his hands were around my neck!
The nightmare really happened. Okay, the “hands around my neck” was a bit of an exaggeration and the scenario isn’t as frenzied, but it is true that the “world” as we’ve known it for the last 18 years has ended. The countdown is on, even though it’s a little less frantic, to the time when we’ll again be packing up needed items and some valued memories and be on our way. We’ll take one last look, as we pass through Venezuela, hoping to capture in our mind all we had experienced and all we’ll be leaving behind. Then we will make our new home in Madrid, Spain. We had wanted to leave in Feb. but with living inside the city limits of the capital, close to a subway stop and a strong Euro, we’ll have to raise an additional $1,000/mo. in support. We would love to leave in March, but we’re leaving it in God’s hands and know we’ll get there when He wants us to get there. One of our supporting churches has increased their monthly amount by $150.00, another missionary talked with us about transferring $200.00/mo. from their already full account into our’s. Scott has written ten churches where we have contacts, to ask if they would consider taking us on. There are two advantages to supporting us: 1.) We’ve been on the field a lifetime and are persistent (some would say stubborn, I prefer persevering), meaning, we’ll stick-to-it despite the difficulties, and 2.) Because we’ve been on the field a lifetime, we only have about 10 more years until retirement, so even though it’s a hardy commitment, it’s not a huge commitment of 40 years or so. If we had just 7 churches giving $100/mo. or 14 individuals giving $50/mo. or 70 people giving $10.00/mo. (okay, you get the idea) then we’d be on our way and out of your hair. Please think about it, pray about it and if you feel God nudging you to give in faith, please respond. He’ll provide the resources necessary. Send any donations or pledges to: TEAM, P.O. Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60189-0969, Scott and Lorna Muha-Madrid Account. Thank you so much for whatever you can do! All of our love, Scott and Lorna
P.S. To those of you, who prayed for Zach, thank you so much!! And to those of you who prayed for him and wrote us a note (which, by the way, encouraged him greatly) thank you too so very much. This is what he texted us today, “I passed!!! I am officially part of the MBA school (at the University of Florida) now, woohoo!!!” Thanks, everybody!!!
Posted in Muha Update
Sunday Evening Meetings in Las Tablas
On Su
nday January 10th the Las Tablas Bible Study group switched their meeting time to Sunday Evening as many were not able to make the Friday evening meetings. For the last two weeks they have had great attendance. On Sunday January 17th TEAM missionary Mark Johnson led the Bible study. You may enjoy looking at some of the pics from the evening as they also celebrated David Chamorro’s 5th Birthday. Check it out at: http://nuevaiglesialastablas-madrid.blogspot.com/
Posted in Las Tablas Service
McMillan family get together
Grace and Peace be yours in abundance to you who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours…
First we’ll share a few ways that Grace and Peace have abounded in our lives: Sharon had the follow-up visit with the surgeon on Nov. 11th but had to wait an additional week for the complete pathology report. She has DCIS (ductile cancer in situ) which is not invasive and the tumor was small, 7mm. This is all good news as far as cancer goes. She is still doing therapy stretching exercises with her right arm to combat the effects of the surgery. The next step is an appointment with an oncologist on Dec. 22 to determine what further treatment will be recommended.
Thanksgiving gave us a week to be with Melissa and some time with Sharon’s side of the family near Charlottesville, Va. This is final exam week for our daughter, Melissa who finishes her 1st semester at James Madison University and has adjusted nicely. Heather is in Hopewell, Va. with grandparents, working as part time church secretary for West End Presbyterian Church while preparing to leave in February to teach English as a second language in Seoul, Korea.
Getting better acquainted with brothers and sisters in Christ at both Occoquan Bible Church and Capitol Hill Baptist Church has been a priority. Besides having people in our home, we participated in a 7:00 am Tuesday morning class on counseling entitled, “How People Change”. We attend a home group which has been reviewing the book, Respectable Sins. The Sunday School class is studying I and II Peter. Besides this, we listen to lectures from a course called Islam Through Christian and Muslim Eyes. Sharon read the book by Orson Wells, Homage to Catalonia in which the author makes the observation back in 1936 that Spain seemed to be the most atheistic European country. We both helped out at the 2 evangelistic Christmas Teas offered at CHBC. Together with the Muhas we have been developing brochures and info packets to distribute to our supporters. Peter and Scott are also contacting new churches to see if they would be interested in pursuing church planting in Madrid. We are so grateful for the input of everyone who gives us ideas and helps to push our info technology ability to higher levels! We are trying to blog and twitter to help the younger generations keep track of us.
The hand of God is evident as events take place to prepare for the Muhas and McMillans to begin working in Spain. 5.84 million people live in the greater metropolitan area of Madrid, the 3rd largest city in Europe. Las Tablas is a new housing development on the northern side of Madrid comprised of various nationalities. Already a Friday evening get together has been established by a few local believers who gather with interested guests for a study through the book of Mark.
About 100 people attended the recently held marriage seminar. We communicate back and forth on issues relating to doctrine and practice as well as personal matters, to begin the process of team building since we have not worked together before.
The following is an excerpt from a church planter already working in a different area of Madrid:
“There were about 75 present (at the Thanksgiving dinner), a little less than half non-Christian, including multiple nationalities. At one table of 8, there were 6 different ones! That´s indicative of the reality of immigration in Europe that is changing the cultural landscape, and the way ‘church’ is done in Spain.”
As we prepare to serve the Lord in a new church plant in Spain one of the challenges we face is the need for additional financial support. Our monthly financial need for Spain is $8090 a month. That amount includes; salary, insurances, transportation, ministry expenses, retirement, and other services. We do not have a guaranteed salary with TEAM, just the amount that comes in through those who partner with us. Our present monthly income is an average of $4075, which means that we are at 50% of the level we need to leave for Spain in June of 2010. Please be in prayer with us as we contact those churches and families who will want to invest in the church plant in Madrid, Spain. With the additional medical expenses we have been stretched more than usual. When we move to South Carolina in January we will look for part-time jobs to offset recent expenses. We anticipate grace and peace to abound in our hearts as we follow and trust the Lord.
Another move is approaching: #19. We love everywhere we go, but it hurts to leave from wherever we are at present! New address as of January 5th: 137 Haywain Drive,Chapin, SC 29036
Joyfully in Christ,
Peter & Sharon McMillan
Posted in McMillan Update
Meet the McMillans
In September of 1989 after a year of Language School in Costa Rica, Peter and Sharon along with their two children, Ben and Heather left for a camping and church planting ministry along the coast of North Eastern Venezuela. They were assigned by TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) to work with the national church organization to find land and develop a camp and lay training center. A 50 acre farm was purchased in December of 1990 and the development began. Over the next eight years 21 work teams from the USA and the regional church organization worked together to build 8 buildings to house the 200 plus campers and staff
During those years at the camp Peter and Sharon also served as church planters. Rivers of Living Water Church started off as a children’s ministry. Gradually adults began to attend the church services. After taking 17 adults through a two year Bible training program, Peter was able to appoint 3 of them as elders. When Sharon was not homeschooling the children or attending newly born daughter Melissa, she was helping out with the church music or teaching and training teachers for Sunday School. In 1995 the church assigned a team to begin a new church plant which they supervised for about two years. Then, in 1998 they began another church in the mountain village of Gran Pobre as well as work with the youth. With a ‘67 Ford Pick-up truck they hauled helpers up the mountain and picked up eager children each Sunday morning. During those ten years Peter had a part in helping the church organization change to a elder ruled leadership. In 1999 Camp Chuparipal was turned over to the regional church organization, with its own camp director and board.
After home assignment Peter and Sharon began a church in the city of Lecheria. For the next 10 years Peter was the team leader for Metropolitan Bible Church. Along with his role as an elder, Peter was in charge of Bible Institute program and the overall administration of the church plant. Sharon again played a key role in the children’s ministry, training, teaching, planning children’s programs, discipling ladies or teaching English class as an outreach. Together Peter and Sharon would visit and counsel couples. In any given week they might attend a group baptism conducted at the beach or a river, respond to the security alarm at the church building, read by candlelight at night during one of the numerous power outages, visit a member or relative of a member in their home or in the hospital, spend hours texting people by cell phone. The Metropolitan Bible Church now has a Venezuelan full time pastor and two elders to lead over 200 in attendance.
After twenty years in Venezuela, the Lord has now called Peter and Sharon together with fellow TEAM Venezuelan missionaries Scott and Lorna Muha to a new church plant in Madrid, (Las Tablas) Spain. They will be partnering with the Chamorros, an Argentinean family and the Tablante family who were former members of the Lecheria church in Venezuela. Spain is less than 1% evangelical with 7000 cities with no established church. Together we are trusting the Lord for much fruit as we endeavor to plant a church in an area of more than 100,000 inhabitants where there is no established evangelical church.
Peter and Sharon are presently in the USA and working on their transition to Madrid. Pray that all needs will be met so that they can begin this new ministry by June of 2010. Ben is married to Hannah, Heather is preparing to go to Korea to teach English and Melissa is a freshman at James Madison University.
Posted in Meet the Team
