Everything was in order: transportation to the airport, tickets, luggage. Everything. We woke early, we left for the airport early, we arrived at the airport early. We prayed, asking the Lord to bless the trip. We were convinced that everything would go just as we expected. It was going to be the best trip, ever. The. best. trip. ever.

Only it wasn't.

The first hint of inconvenience came only minutes after getting in line to check-in. An airline agent hurriedly passed by and asked everyone in line if we were simply going to Madrid or if we had connecting flights to the United States. We cheerily answered that we would be going on to the States as he rushed off only half hearing us. Nina immediately said, "Uh-oh. I bet there is a problem with the flight."

No way, I thought. This is going to be the best flight ever.

We eventually got to the front of the line and were promptly told that our names were not on the "list." My heart sank. What list? How do you get on it? Why not? Only to be replaced by...Well, put our names on it. Quickly!

We were soon moved to the ticket counter in order to resolve the situation and there we met a Portuguese family in the same proverbial boat. There names were not on the magic list either. Since our names weren't on the list, we were told that we couldn't board the plane, but the more that they talked it became apparent that the only real problem was that the flight was overbooked and they didn't intend on letting us board. Almost everybody else would be boarding. Only we wouldn't, along with the other family.

Eventually we were told that we would be going to Madrid on the next flight out, but it would arrive in Madrid about a half hour after our original flight would be departing for Dallas. The best trip ever suddenly turned into just a really long stay in the airport.

Football in Portugal? Really? The kind with an oblong ball, helmets, pads, goalposts...to borrow a phrase - the whole 9 yards?

I recently heard about an American football team in Braga that has only been around for a short time. They are called the Maximinos Warriors. They have a logo, you tube videos from portions of a few games and practice in the old soccer stadium. From what I understand, the team is made up entirely of college students who started off playing flag football for fun. According to the website for the American Football League in Portugal, they have roughly 30 players, but I heard that guys keep coming to practice wanting to join the team. Whether or not all of them know the rules or concept of the game is yet to be seen.

But, it sounds great, sort of like a pee-wee league for grownups.

I plan on stopping by practice tonight to see what it is all about. While there, I'll snap a few pictures for proof. Until then, a downloaded jpg of their logo will have to serve as proof of their existence.

We have friends in Spain who are missionaries and minister to the local American football team there. As a matter of fact, Bro. Joe plays defensive back as well as serving as the "chaplain" for the team. Before you start getting any ideas, my playing days are over, but I'd love for the Lord to open a door to do something else to help the team.

Thursday night for prayer meeting in Barcelos we had a Portuguese man come to service. He is an older man (60s) who had never entered into any other kind of church besides the Catholic church in his life. He seemed extremely nervous, but stayed for the Bible study. We offered him a Bible and he said that it meant a great deal to him, gladly accepting it. He actually confessed that he wavered between coming and not coming for sometime before entering the service, which explains the noises that I heard during prayer time. He apparently made our doorway the the valley of decision, opening it and closing it a few times before coming all the way inside. He came back last night and is a very needy man spiritually. I believe he has a tender heart that longs for peace. His family is falling apart before his eyes, and he needs Jesus. Pray that the Lord would minister to his needs and that he would trust Christ with it all, very soon.

We had another interesting visitor who showed up before service last night.

Bulletins and Breakfasts in Barcelos

The work steadily continues in Barcelos. Last week we finished distributing the first edition of our church newsletter, The Barcelos Messenger. Printed and folded like a small newspaper, it included several articles, a word search, announcements and other things. We like to think of it as a “super tract” because of the amount of gospel material that it has in it. I believe it was well received and pray that interest will pick up with each edition. Our plans are to publish this newspaper quarterly. We were able to place it in several coffee shops and our local gymnasium.