Christmas News from Spain

December 22, 2009

Phase I of the Cinderella’s House Project-caring for Spain’s sex trafficking and prostitution survivors-is complete, Betsy Blanchard reported in her December newsletter.

Betsy submitted a 50-plus page Cinderella’s House needs assessment to Spain field leaders earlier this month. “While the research and networking [were] very beneficial and a wonderful process in many ways,” she said, “writing such a report has been quite a daunting task for me . . . way out of my range of experience. But my loving Father knew this and sent people into my life to help me in this process.”

Betsy’s next step is to build a team that will begin connecting with those they hope to reach with the freedom of Christ. Outreaches in the New Year will include distributing small gift packs to some of young, prostituted women on Granada’s streets, most of whom are poor immigrants.

“This time of year is especially painful and difficult for these women, since they are so far from home and family,” she wrote. “Please pray for traffic victims all over Spain during these days!”

Advent Outreach

The veteran Alliance worker also said she is enjoying participating in a bridge-building outreach-directing a community children’s choir at a facility in Granada where church services are held. The choir is made up of about 25 local school children who have come to the center to learn Christmas carols in English. Parents have been invited to attend the choir’s public performance December 22.

Betsy asks for prayer that the outreach will open many eyes to the true meaning of Christmas, open doors for building friendships, and create community awareness about the Christian services that are held in the facility. “One of the mothers asked, after one of our practices, if she could come to the services!” Betsy exclaimed.

“These are generally wonderful days in which there is more openness to talking about the reason for the celebrations,” she concluded. “Many Spanish families have extravagant manger scenes and other religious decoration on display, but they often have no meaningful relationship with Christ.”

What You Can Do

Pray for . . .

* All of the provision necessary for Cinderella’s House to begin its full scope of ministry in a timely and God-honoring fashion.
* Opportunities during the Christmas season to share about the real reason for celebrating-the birth of the Prince of Peace!
* The many thousands of women caught in sexual slavery in Spain. And for Spanish men who regularly seek out prostitutes, most often with trafficking victims. Sexual addictions, including pornography, in this country are largely considered normal behavior.

Help keep Alliance workers like Betsy Blanchard on the field. Consider a year-end Christmas gift to Alliance Great Commission Ministries.