Guess again

"Green dust" is what I called the phenomenon in Spain, whence a college student named Rachel emailed me to convey the spiritual oppression that hovers over the place, and the difficulty of finding other people who believe in "absolutes."

I wrote a column around the letter for WORLD, not at all guessing I was engaging in a Holy Spirit networking on Rachel's behalf. I had pretty much written off Spain --- and all Europe --- as post-Christian and doomed.

Then the emails rolled in:

Natalie, a missionary in Mexico, directed me to friends Pastor David and Elisabet in Barcelona. So, coincidentally, did Art and Juanita. Joyce told of "lots of vibrant churches" in the Pueblo Nuevo area and sent contact info. Gordon and Kathie are Christians living in Madrid, but are willing to drive the six hours to Barcelona to meet Rachel.

Sharla spent her junior year in Barcelona a while back and is still in touch with the former pastor's daughter. Sharla had hung out a lot at their house. The present pastor is British and speaks flawless Castillian. He recently had Sharla and other Americans over after church.

"B" sent contact info for YFC directors for Spain. He and his wife Barb were missionaries in Seville with TEAM for 13 years. Benjamin is an American college student in Barcelona who wants to meet Rachel.

Elijah complained to the Lord that was the only believer left in Israel. God replied that as a matter of fact he was wrong: God had 7,000 believers there that Elijah knew nothing about. So there.