Centro Superior de Teologia in La Carlota, Spain

We left the Camino de Santiago early and arrived here at CSTAD (Centre Superior de Teologia) early on April 16, 2013. This is a college of theology of the Assemblies of God.

La Carlota is a small town outside of Córdoba, Spain. We are set to help with remodeling of CSTAD. Presently we are awaiting permits, but are moving things out to storage bins while we wait in confidence that God will bring the permits, money and workers through.

We have had the pleasure of meeting these fine students and staff here. The students are so hungry for God and most come here on a shoestring budget and trust God to provide the finances. The school has been running in the red or a decade and survives only by the grace of God.   There are only 3 paid staff and the rest volunteer. All the teachers volunteer there time. Hardly any of the students have the finances to pay for their education. Spanish government provides some with scholorships. It has been great to hear some of the students testimonies and the extreme difficulies they overcame through miracles of God to get to this place.

We had the awome opportunity to share our testimony at Chapel hour. I wondered if it would be beneficial for any of the students, but for several days afterward we were approached by students who told us how it applied to their lives. So glad our story could be a benefit to some.

The students here care so much for everyone and we feel like family here already. I wish I could help each student with their financial needs. $4000 euros a year gets you room and board and meals. The cook here is fantastic. So much better than camino meals!

We are blessed to be a part of this. I wish we could do more.

BARCELONA

Well after the nightmare of getting to Barcelona (i.e. delayed, diverted and missed flights, lost luggage etc) we had a great couple of days. We stayed at a cute little bed & breakfast in the old town called Casa del Born. Pablo and Anna spoke great English and gave us all the info of what to see or avoid. It was like visiting relative. I would highly recommend staying with them if you ever go to Barcelona.   We loved the food and the people were very nice. We never felt scared or fearful.

In Barcelona the work day starts at 9 and EVERYONE takes a "siesta" between 1-4 even the school kids. If Anna had not told us this we would had thought something special was going on because EVERYONE comes out of their offices at the same time and it looks like some parade or something. Anyway they then go back to work until 9 or 10 p.m.  So people are eating and shopping until 1 pr two in the morning.   The place is constantly alive. There are so many places to eat that there are no lines or waiting. They have daily menus "menu dia" which consists of 3 courses for average of 12 euros. All day and night they have tapas (very small dishes) to snack on. It was really fantastic.  The food was excellent.

The architecture of course is marvelous. Most the buildings are ancient and have such character. Lots of building by Gaudi some famous architect who had an interesting sense of style.  I saw no single family homes. All apartments. The wonderful buildings are made with tall windows that open to the air and light and most have little patios. Much character. The city has main streets that surround little squares I guess you might call them that have walking only streets so you can walk all around the shops etc with no cars. Its great. Old world style.

WhAt i found amazing was how clean it was foe how many people live there and are up all night. Virtually no trash. Lots of graffiti but only on the metal delivery doors but never on the old ancient stone building.

Here are a few pictures to enjoy. Couldn't up load too many.

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LEAVING TOMORROW!

We will be on our way to Spain tomorrow!  So excited!  We will fly into Barcelona, Spain and stay at a small bed and breakfast called El Balco'n del Born for three nights then take a train to St. Jean Pied de Port.  Counting the hours.

NOTICE EVERYONE!

We are in full speed getting read to leave for Spain to do our Camino and work on a MAPS project.  From now until we finish our Camino part of our trip (approximately May 1) I will be posting mostly on my camino blog (see link).  So if you want to keep up, check it out.  I have a separate camino blog because lots of future pilgrims may use it to get useful info for their caminos, as I did from pilgrims that went before me, and I'm sure they don't want to shuffle through all my other posts that have nothing to do with the camino.

We have our Euros and Passport and everything in between.
We are ready!

TIME TO GIVE UP MOLLY!

We are on our way to Colorado to drop Molly off with our daughter, Alisa.  Molly is 13 years old and hope she can handle us being gone for 3 months while she stays with two big dogs and two little kids.  Yikes!

 We are pretty much ready to go.  We have our euros, our passport, our maps, our reservations, plane tickets, train tickets.  And of course our Bible!  The map below shows the route we are taking.  Starting on the right and walking left (east to west).  St. Jean Pied de Port, France to Santiago, Spain.  Almost time!

ALMOST ON OUR WAY!

We are leaving in less than one month to Spain.  We are leaving March 18, 2013 and will be gone until June 17, 2013.  We are so excited!  Can't wait to walk the Camino and work on a MAPS project in Spain.  I have set up a separate blog just for our camino so that those who go after me in the world can link on my blog and get some information on how to prepare and what to expect.  I know blogs of others that have gone before us helped us a lot in preparing for this trip.  My camino blogspot is www.cranecamino.blogspot.com.  Check it out if you want to keep track of our camino.

We went to Houston today to meet our son, Matthew, and take a class on treasure hunting for Jesus.  What an awesome way to get past that fear of stepping out and witnessing to people for God!  This is going to help us a lot while we are in Spain.

WHAT THE NEW YEAR HOLDS

What do the Cranes have planned for the new year?  Well, Kevin is presently working on a MAPS project in Waxahachie TX, while I am preparing for our trip to Spain in March.  It is a lot more work getting ready for a 3 month trip then I thought.  I have to get my taxes done for one.  Blah! 

The first 3 months of this year will be spent working at Lakeview Camp and Conference Center in Waxahachie TX.  The next 3 month will be spent in Spain.  The first 6 weeks will be walking the Camino de Santiago and the next 6 weeks will be working on an overseas MAPS project in La Carlota, Spain.  We are anxious to leave, but too much to do yet to prepare.   

Most of my friends and family know about our past bed bug experience from our last European trip, and because of how horrible and expensive that was to get rid of them, we will be packing light and bringing back nothing.  So planning what to take that we can leave behind is a challenge.  But leaving things behind is cheaper than the possible expense if we bring back bed bugs.  

We are not backpacking it across 500 miles, just walking.  We are having our bags transferred from town to town.  I'm not up for lugging 50 lbs 500 miles. Neither is Kevin.  We have our hotels reserved.  We are also not up for staying in hostels and sharing a bathroom with who knows how many people.  Although the company would be nice, sleep is something I enjoy and need each night, especially if I am walking all day! 

We are hoping and praying to meet a lot of people who we can give a good word to and pray for on our walk.  So everyone be praying for God to show us those people and give us words that God would have them hear to help and encourage them.

Our second half of our trip is to refurbish a Bible school.  We don't have a lot of details about the job yet, but are again hoping to meet students that we can encourage and pray for.  We want to do more for the kingdom of God than just build while we are there.  Our work in MAPS consists of a lot more than just building buildings to give pastors and other leaders a place to lead, but we are there to build lives as well.  We hope to bless people along the way, and we always get blessed in the process.  We seem to do better at this with strangers than with family.  

After we get back in June from our trip, only God knows where we will go from there.  But I'll keep you all informed as God informs me.  

I miss my kids and grandkids.  I hope to see all of them sometime this year.

Written by Angie