Divine Appointments: A Loving God at Work
For twenty years, Carla and her husband served as missionaries with World Partners. Their journey took them from Ecuador, where they were dorm parents, to Spain, where they initially planned to open a coffee house ministry. After the stock market crash halted those plans, they started a house church. Years later, due to health issues and family needs, they returned to the United States. However, their mission in Spain was not over.
This summer, Carla returned to Spain with her friend Chelle to assist with an English camp – a ministry she and another friend, Pauline, had established years prior. This year, the camp was held in the Valencia province at the personal request of a town council member. They knew the camp's true purpose goes beyond teaching English; it's about sharing the Gospel by placing American Christians in non-Christian homes, allowing them to “live Jesus” to the local families.
Stories of Faith and Connection
The trip, staffed by only Carla and her friend Chelle, was filled with challenges—like temperatures exceeding 100 degrees and no air conditioning—but God's hand was evident through a series of "divine appointments."
The most powerful of these was a reunion that seemed straight from a movie. When leaving Spain six years ago Carla was unable to bring Groucho, her cat, back to the States and had to leave it with a neighbor. With an unexpected break in her schedule, Carla was able to visit the old neighbor's home. She not only found her cat, who instantly recognized and cuddled her, but also the cat's new owner, a woman named Desiree.
Desiree tearfully admitted she had just prayed, asking God if he even saw her. Overwhelmed by her husband's terminal cancer and mounting financial problems, this serendipitous encounter was her answer. Carla and Chelle prayed with her and encouraged her while reaffirming God's presence in her life.
Carla's friend, Chelle, was also facing personal struggles back home. For her to see how God orchestrates in our lives and the three weeks of living and working with other Christians in a supportive environment was a much-needed time of renewal. The experience strengthened her faith and resolve to overcome the challenges she faced when returning home.
A Legacy of Faith and Invitation
Carla’s journey is a powerful testament to the idea that God can use small acts of obedience to create a profound impact. The success of this year's English camp, from the town council's glowing praise to the transformation she witnessed in her friend Chelle, is not just a reflection of their hard work—it's a demonstration of a loving God at work.
As Carla looks ahead to July 2026, her focus isn't on a bigger team or grander plans. Instead, it's on a simple, yet courageous, invitation: to invite others to step into a story bigger than themselves. She is calling for those with a servant's heart—a nurse, a high school student, or anyone willing to say "yes"—to join her in Spain. It is an invitation to be part of the next chapter, to experience divine appointments firsthand, and to continue the legacy of a simple English camp that is changing lives, one story at a time.
