Shirley and I went to Spain with a feeling of expectation that this was both a break for each of us and something God wanted us to do.  Our agenda was to pray about the soldiers Cromwell sent to Spain during the Civil War and also to pray on Katie’s land that God would release her and Peter, and enable them to sell their house there and move back to Huntingdon permanently. 

Our Bible readings on the journey over confirmed our expectations and we had a sense that God was wanting to plant a seed of healing in the land. 

Shirley; Due to Royalist soldiers being sent to Spain during the Civil War, I have for many years had the desire to put my feet on Spanish soil.  As Katie has a home there, which is up for sale, I knew if I was going to stay with her, it had to be now or never, so tickets were booked.

For me, the second day at the Alhambra was the high point of the visit.  The Muslim Moors invaded Catholic Spain from North Africa and established this vast palace and fortress complex in the mid-14^th Century.  Whilst some of their legacy is good in that they introduced irrigation systems which allowed the land to flourish, it was still an invasion.  As we looked around, I was asking God why He had brought us there and what did He want us to pray or do.  In a place with so much history that affected the whole nation, it was clear God would have something to say about it! 

Shirley; Apart from spending time with our friends in their beautiful home, I agree with Vanessa that our day at the Alhambra was the highlight of our trip.  As she has done such an excellent job in her report, which I entirely endorse, I will only add that I too was asking God what He had brought us to the Alhambra for, recognising that the Royalist soldiers would have been sent to the north.  I was soon to find out as you will read.

 

 As we were praying generally about the history, I felt God say that He brought Shirley to this place because of the anointing for healing, reconciliation and redeeming history that she carries.  Something could be released because she had put her feet to the ground.  We have always believed the reconciliation work we have been involved with in Ireland could be used as a model for healing between nations, even if the history did not involve Cromwell specifically. I put my hand on Shirley’s shoulder and spoke it out.  I knew it was a big thing to say, but still I was not expecting Shirley to react so instantly.  She just seemed to break as though God had touched her deeply and tears flowed.  It was an awesome moment and we all knew it to be true.
 

Shirley; I wish I could put into words how I felt when Vanessa spoke the words to me; I just knew it was God.

There is something mind-blowing about what God can do when we are obedient.  It seemed really simple, just going and putting our feet to the ground, but that was all God had asked of us and He would do what He wanted to do as a result.  There was a sense of “job done” at this point.

Shirley; Not knowing that Sinn Fein leaders were in Spain, we spent the evening seeking God and praying for the people in northern Spain, including the Basque Separatists. So you can imagine our amazement when we heard the news of the ceasefire on our return.

 

On the last day we heard that Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein leader) was in Spain to talk with the Basque Separatists and help bring about an end to the terrorism in the North.  We had by this point established that the men Cromwell sent over would most likely have landed in the North and we believed it had sown rebellion in the land.   This was the history that God was wanting to redeem, and even though we were in a different part of the country, it didn’t matter to God.  We asked God to confirm all that we had prayed and believed.

Other highlights were seeing Katie (as a Catholic landowner in Spain) forgive the Moors for the invasion and believing that God’s healing grace would flow from that place, just as the water flows because of the irrigation in that very dry part of the world.  It felt as though she was there for just that purpose and there was a sense too that the Lord will release her to the next part of her destiny.  We prayed on her land and took communion, as we have in other places, and believe that despite the economic reality, her property will sell soon.  It will be a miracle as it has been on the market for over a year and not a single prospective buyer has even been for a look.  Mind you, once someone comes to look, they will undoubtedly fall in love with the place!  Katie and Peter have done a fantastic job restoring a derelict house into a very smart and comfortable home with fantastic views of mountains and olive groves.  It is a beautiful and peaceful place and I was very happy to spend the weekend there.  It was so nice to have warm sunny weather and Katie’s excellent hospitality meant for a relaxed and enjoyable stay.  I felt truly blessed to be a part of this mission trip!

The icing on the cake came after we had returned home and heard on the news that Eta (the Basque Separatists) had declared a “definitive cessation of its armed activity”.  It was the confirmation we had asked for and an amazing answer to prayer.  We serve an awesome God! 

Vanessa Murphy

Arise Team Member

Shirley Bowers
Arise Leader

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Visit to Andalusia

Shirley and Vanessa’s visit to Spain was important with regard to our agenda concerning the Irish soldiers send to Spain during the English Civil War.  However I felt this visit was also an opportunity to show the wealth of history, culture and beauty of Malaga, Cordoba and Granada all provinces of Andalusia in southern Spain.  They were captivated by the whole area and now have a vision of Spain that does not just say ‘sea, sand and sun’.

For me there were many highlights, but one was on Monday 17th October, when delegates were gathered in the city of San Sebastian, Northern Spain for a peace conference that would lead to a change in the decades old Basque conflict.  They included Gerry Adams, now TD for Louth, Bertie Ahern former Taoiseach of Ireland, Jonathan Powell one time chief-of-staff for Tony Blair, and former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, all veterans of Northern Ireland’s peace process.  By the end of the week there was good news; ETA said “they have decided the definitive cease of its armed activity.”   God is good and I am blessed to be part of the Arise team.

Katie

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