Student Volunteer Request

    Organization: International Mission Board                      

Country of Assignment: Spain

City of Assignment: Cáceres, Badajoz, or Trujillo

Region: Western Europe

Primary Project Type: University Ministry

Contact Person: Chris Smith (Team Leader/People Group Strategist for Extremadura)

Email: harvestbuilders@hotmail.com

Team Website – http://www.prayextremadura.com/

Family Ministry Website – http://www.byhisgrace.cc/harvest/ 

Church Plant Website (in Spanish) - http://www.luzdevida.org/ 

Detailed Job Description

The University of Extremadura is divided into two main cities and totals 27,000 students. There are around 13,000 students in Badajoz and another 13,000 in Cáceres.  We lived in Badajoz for over 5 years with a local ministry focus on university students.  After being in the states for 6 months we went to Cáceres in March 2007 where we currently live and are working to plant a church. 

The most effective way to reach students in Spain is through friendship evangelism, meeting and interacting with people in "natural" settings which include hanging out in the local restaurants, playing sports, going to classes, talking to students in the dorm, helping with English, etc.  There is a special program that allows students to come as a "visiting student" where you are enrolled in classes (which are all in Spanish) and can live in a university dorm for a semester or year. We have various possibilities depending on the different levels: 1. Visiting student (not necessarily for academic credit but could be) med to high level of Spanish 2. Study Abroad Spanish classes (in Cáceres) Low, med, or high level of Spanish 3. Study Abroad Spanish classes (in Trujillo) Low, med, or high level of Spanish. Advantages of this program include being able to interact with students on a continual basis. Our vision is that the students would take the gospel back to their hometowns of which many have no or little evangelical witness, which would lead to a church planting movement throughout the region. Qualities we are looking for is someone who is a self starter, extrovert, spiritually mature, flexible, open to creative ways of ministering, has good people skills, and has a willingness to serve and learn. It is important that you have a strong spiritual foundation. Methods of feeding oneself spiritually without relying on the church or groups of other Christians is crucial and required.

You will attend classes for the academic year (beginning of October through the end of May) under the platform of a student learning the language and culture. Once students accept Christ you will be active in their discipleship and sharing the vision to reach their hometowns.  You will be interacting with lost students on a continual basis, so it is important that you have a strong spiritual foundation. You will need to have a plan of spiritual survival in order to "keep your head above water" in the immense darkness found in the university setting.  Methods of feeding oneself spiritually without relying on the church or groups of other Christians is crucial and required.

In addition to being actively involved in friendship evangelism with students, you would also be helping the Smiths in various ways to reach the region of Extremadura.  Traditional forms of evangelism such as: crusades, tract distribution and open-air events have not been effective in reaching Spaniards. Thus, it is crucial that one accepting this position understand that this type of evangelism.

Extremadura Team Strategy

Our strategy includes reaching university students from various towns and villages where there are still no reported believers. Part of this strategy includes using an incarnational witness at the university. As traditional forms of evangelism are not effective at the university, someone living in the dorm and attending classes as an incarnational witness can be very effective in reaching students and helping those students to then go to their network of friends/families in their hometowns.

Status of Christian Witness/Relative Responsiveness

Spaniards are very indifferent to religion as a whole and are typically resistant to the gospel. There are small evangelical churches (around 40 members) throughout the region and a Baptist church of 50 members that we partner with in city of Badajoz.

Language Comments

We would prefer that you have some base in the Spanish language and that you take some classes before arriving to Spain.  Before approval, the team leader would like to interview the potential student volunteer to assess their language level.

Dates

Arrival Date: Early September

Departure Date  Late June or July

Specific Instructions on Dates

To secure dorm housing, we must be notified no later than June 01 prior to the September arrival. Preference will be given to those who can serve the full academic year, but it would be possible for a student to come for a semester (from September through December). The specific place will be determined in consultation with the team leader depending on the language level and arrival date.

Field Cost

Costs per day (which includes housing, utilities, transportation, food, and miscellaneous expenses): $22

Other costs: $940 (tuition for the academic year at the university) - This will depend on the specific program.

Total estimated field cost: $7,276 (this might be more or less depending on the specific dorm and the exchange rate).

Minimum Education

The student must have completed their freshman year in college.

Health Considerations

In Spain, walking is much more common than in the States. You will need to be able ride public transportation (mainly the bus) and walk. No vaccines are required, but both hepatitis series (A and B) vaccines are recommended as well as an updated Tetanus shot.  Modern hospitals as well as various clinics are available. The main hospital is located only blocks from the main university campus.

Geographic Setting

The climate in Extremadura can be described as very hot summers, mild winters (though it feels colder), hardly any fall and a brief spring. The fall and spring months often include much rain. The cultural religion is Catholicism, though the actual number of practicing Catholics is very small. Less than 1% of the population of Extremadura (1 million inhabitants) are believers. 

The culture is typical southern European, with holidays and folklore rooted in Roman Catholic tradition. Family and community structures are fairly tight. Meal schedules are considerably later than American with lunch typically served between 2-3p.m. and dinner around 9-9:30 (later in the summer). Most shops close from 2-5 for siesta. Clothing is typically more formal and darker than that found in the U.S. with tennis shoes almost NEVER being worn except to exercise. 

Housing

We will try to get dorm housing in a single room. All meals, utilities, and laundry would be included.  Other options include staying with other students in an apartment or with a Spanish family.

Visa Information

You will need to start the process for your visa (and the University registration) as soon as possible. Please contact the field immediately upon approval for the request.

Things to Bring