I study French and Spanish at the University of Glasgow and for part of my course, I was able to spend 9 months serving with ECM in Roquetas de Mar on the south coast of Spain, just outside the city of Almería. Its port is often used as a way into Europe for people coming from North and West Africa, which means about a third of Roquetas’ population is made up of immigrants.

I worked with a small church, Iglesia Evangélica de Vícar, where I was involved in various ministries that seek to share the gospel with people from a variety of different communities, many of whom come from a Muslim background. A typical week saw me helping at a drop-in centre which provides second-hand clothing, free coffee, and pastoral support for local Moroccan women. I taught English to different age groups of Moroccan children and basic Spanish classes to both Moroccan and Nigerian women. I also had Darija (Moroccan Arabic) classes to help me as I sought to build relationships. At the weekend, I helped at a Christian kid’s club, with a surprising majority of children attending from Muslim homes. I also helped with my church’s youth fellowship and played the piano for the worship band.

This past year I have learnt a great deal about building relationships with people from all nations, especially Muslims, which has been new for me. God has also been teaching me that even when it seems like progress is slow and time sometimes feels “wasted,” He is always working, in ways that we don’t often see. He is, undoubtedly, working out His purposes and doing a work much greater than we can ever imagine.

Kate Campbell, a Northern Irish Short-Termer in Spain

The Centre

The Nigerian Church

The Kids Club

The Vícar Church