THE GREAT OUTDOORS

by Chris Mathieson

I awake from my foreshortened siesta to grab a cup of coffee from the machine which I set after lunch. This is late June. It's about 38 degrees celsius outside and I need a coffee and a shower to jolt me from my doziness before we head for the city centre.

We emerge from the metro, past Les Misérables, and head down a dirty lane where the real ones live, towards the City Mission HQ. After preparing the equipment and a time of prayer, the team head out at about 6.30pm.

A ten minute walk brings us to La Puerta del Sol, Madrid's Piccadilly Circus. The cobblestones are hot enough to bake a pizza as we set up the board in broad sunlight, facing into the only shaded area of the square. The public want the shade, although soon the sun will have gone down enough for us all to feel more comfortable. It is 35 degrees as we begin to preach, thankful that it is now a little cooler.

Despite the heat, people are already emerging from their hides. Usually there is a mix of Moroccan and East European vagrants, local pensioners and bargain-hunters, young people awaiting a date and assorted police uniforms. With the heat the shoppers rush by all the quicker for the air-conditioned temptations. But we welcome a hotch-potch of tourists who sit around the fountains and drink in the atmosphere. Perhaps 200 listen to us, but most move on after a few moments, leaving 50 to hear from start to finish.

After the brief board presentation the team gets into action: "What do you think of that?" gets a selection of fairly standard replies, but among them one person is really interested. The counsellor suggests they dive into the nearest bar for a welcome Coke while the team continues. A newly arrived believer is looking for a church: where do we hide our evangelical churches in this city? Two immigrants and an unemployed Spaniard are given the address of the mission to get help with food, accommodation or a job search.

In the end no-one has made a decision for Christ, but many have been pointed in that direction, others helped in various ways and a lot of sweat poured onto the pavement. Was it worth it? Yes! Every year thousands hear the Gospel through the team's regular work; some respond.