Category Archives: Muha Update

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!

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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.

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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!!!

Happy fall, everybody!

We’re sitting in a doctor’s office waiting for Scott’s bi-annual, bladder cancer check. By the way, it turned out clean. Thank you for your prayers. It seems we’ve been spending lots of time in hospitals lately. I guess that means we’ve passed the 50 mark (not “just” passed, but looong passed it) and the appointments mirror that fact. In May, as most of you know, I returned from Venezuela early to begin radiation. Thankfully, they were able to double my dose and I was finished in half the time, three weeks rather than seven, with few side effects. I’m now on hormonal therapy, taking a pill a day, for the next 5 years, again with few side effects. I’m so thankful that what began as, “Positive?”, “Did you say malignant?”, “What did you mean carcinoma and subsequent treatment?” turned out to be Stage 0, contained and non-aggressive. I praise God almost everyday that I didn’t have to hear “Stage 4”, “chemo”, “little we can do”, as four dear Christian saints have heard and have had to bear up under. What a blessing they’ve been to us as they, in their suffering, have been a light to the world, a city on a hill that can’t be hidden, they shine so others can see their faith and know the God who is their rock.

In between doctor visits, we’ve been enjoying Tigers’ games (…well, sadly, not any more), college football (watching is so much funner-yes we teach English- than reading them on Gamecast). We’ve eaten strawberries, blueberries and all the other fresh fruits, corn on the cob, ice cream… in cream puffs (thanks, Mom)…with Sander’s hot fudge over the top. Speaking of “over the top” that would be our weight. Of course, I have my hormonal therapy to blame for that. Scott, on the other hand . . . hey, I’m just sayin’ . . .

Well, for those of you, who have not yet heard, it looks as if we might, possibly, maybe be on our way to Madrid. Why so hesitant? We just haven’t seen the writing in the sky nor had that burning bush experience from the Lord saying in that deep, James Earl Jones voice, “Go to Madrid!” But we have researched the great need there, sought the Lord out in Bible study, prayer and fasting and believe He is working in hearts there. Now, we have committed to go and join that work. The target area is just within the city limits of Madrid, which makes it a bit more expensive (uh-oh, I may start talking about raising additional support; you might want to stop reading right now!!!). It is also within walking distance of the subway, which makes it more accessible. Just eight years ago this area was a pasture where sheep grazed. It is now a thriving, urban neighborhood where apartment buildings have grown up and are housing more than 140,000 people, mostly young families. There are two Argentine families, who arrived a couple of years ago and are trying to start a church in Las Tablas. Presently, some 20-30 people meet on Friday evenings to study the Bible. Wow, in Spain, that is like . . . miraculous!!! Samuel and Viviana and Oscar and Cristina are very excited to have us come alongside them, since they work full-time and are unavailable to dedicate 24/7 to the ministry. From our limited time getting to know them, they seem to be sincere, humble, charismatic people who love the Lord and have a heart for the people of Spain. Also going along with us are Pete and Sharon McMillan, former missionaries to Venezuela. Some of you may remember a Woodside Project Build team going to Venezuela in 1996. That team built several cabins at the camp the McMillans started. Along with Pete and Sharon there is another couple from their church in Venezuela. We are excited about how God has put this international team together when we are talking about starting a multi cultural church.

We’re preparing to leave the U.S. toward the end of January. Upon arrival in Madrid, we’ll need to buy a car, find an apartment and furnish it (we’ll be taking very little with us), and because of language and cultural differences we may spend a year, more or less, orienting ourselves to “sounding and becoming more like Spaniards.” I’m thinking that means a lot of watching, listening and learning. During that time, we’ll be assisting Samuel and Oscar and their families in whatever way we can.

From what we have observed, European culture is much more reserved than what we are used to as Americans and from what we were exposed to in Venezuela. We need to learn to be cordial without being overly friendly, respectful of their time and space, sensitive to the Holy Spirit concerning with whom we share Christ and worst of all (for me, especially ), we need to learn to listen and let them take the lead in initiating the conversation.

We’d like to ask for your prayers for the following:

Zachary will be taking the GMATS this Tuesday. He’s thinking about continuing his education and going back for his MBA. Please pray that God would bring to mind all that he’s learned and studied, that he would have God’s peace and not be nervous and that, if this is God’s will for Zach, that God would lead him to the perfect university setting. Addison – please pray that she would know God’s direction for her life and have the faith, fortitude and focus to follow it through. Financial Support will increase due to higher costs in Europe. Please pray that God would provide it. Let us know if you or your church would be willing to join with us in reaching Madrid for Christ. Wisdom in using our remaining time here in the States. Our future co-workers, Pete and Sharon McMillan. Sharon has recently discovered she has breast cancer. The surgery went well. She will most likely continue with radiation and hormonal therapy. Please pray for her complete recovery. Thank you so much for your prayers, for your faithful support, for your calls, cards and emails and for the encouragement we receive from you loving and caring for us. Love, Scott and Lorna