Day 8 (night 6) watchtowers and waiting ...

The photo above is a picture of one of the many watchtowers or pirate towers as the locals call them that have been built along the coast between the 16th and 18th centuries which were built to alert the locals of potential pirate attack. When the alert was sounded the locals would run and hide in the local parish churches which were built like small forts. The towers would be armed normally by two watchmen who had at least a small canon as well as such lovely protective measures like boiling oil (how very medieval). The photo was taking during a prayer walk we took in the mid afternoon and if you squint you can see Sant Antonio on the horizon. Like the watchmen who once occupied the towers we took to attempting to protect San Antonio but instead of canons we used prayers asking for gods protection on the town and it's residents. Hearing peoples prayers proved quite difficult as the wind was really up battering the waves on to the cliffs however it just help to remind me of the power of the ocean and the marvel of gods creation.  (Also I have managed to take some rather excellent (in my option obviously) of waves breaking on the cliffs).

The evening was very strange for me in the sense that whilst the rest of the team seemed busy beyond all belief I spend (what felt like) most of my time within the walls of the prayer room, which for someone who is 'doer' should have been really very difficult. However I actually found it a very rewarding time being able to spend time in prayer and reflecting on what has been or was going on. Each hour do prayer actually passes by very quickly and it is great to prayer in a group, at times it did just become me and my partner for the evening but it is good that the team on the streets have that prayer support back at the centre. If worst comes to the worst there is an ample supply of red bull which one of the bars donated...
We did also spend sometime on the streets and had a one very positive conversation with one PR who stopped to tell us about a conversation he had with one of the 24-7 prayer team last week who had provided him some useful life advice and that he had realised that somethings in his life needed to change. We spoke for at least 20 mins, and whilst we were standing in a very rowdy west end we managed to talk to the guy easily almost as if we were with some sort of invisible bubble.This was very positive for me (and the others obviously) as it shows the conversations that the team are having are having some positive impacts even if the results are not instant.
We finished at 4:30ish which at this point it is worth pointing out that the rest of the team (not me as I am a good boy ....) grabbed some BBQ ribs from the local rib place which apparently were wonderful... I may well have missed out there...

Time to get ready for another night on the streets .... Paul out..

Bible verse

Isaiah 62:6 (NIV)

6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;
    they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the Lord,
    give yourselves no rest,