Over 150 students at the Ark Christian Ministries in Converse, Indiana, listened to Rebekah Hannum and Gabriela Balestrini discuss their lives and ministries.
One night in particular, Hannum shared a story that the audience was not expecting.
“It was such a good story, a true testament to how powerful and loving our God is,” Lauren Annis, a college helper, said. “I think it event sets an example to all that heard it to trust that God has it taken care of.”
As Hannum got up to speak, she told them a bit of her backstory. She told the students that she suffered in the past from kidney failure and had multiple kidney transplants. While she was in Spain for her mission, her kidney began to fail again.
Hannum knew that she needed to get back to the United States so that her transplant team could get her the help she needed. First, she needed to get to Madrid from Galicia, and then from Madrid, she could fly to the United States. She was in a wheelchair because she was unable to walk due to the fluid buildup in her legs, so she had to have her sister come and help her.
As they went up to get their tickets at the airport, the clerk said, “Hay un problema.” The flight was overbooked, and Hannum would not be able to fly to Madrid. After the shock set in, they began praying to God to guide them through the mess. She told the students that she was desperate for a ticket. It could mean life or death.
“The pain of not being able to get on the plane was definitely temporary due to the fact that God was without a doubt in the story,” Jack Sullivan said. “He knew at that time someone needed help”
While in the waiting area, she asked a missionary couple if she could have her son’s ticket and if their son could be carried on the mother’s lap. The family agreed. Hope suddenly came as they went to the lady who dealt with the boarding passes to tell her. However, the lady told her, “No, we cannot do that.” Hannum felt like she received a punch in the stomach.
All hope seemed to have been lost. Hannum watched as everyone else boarded the plane. They thought the flight was full. There were only three names left on the computer screen. One of them was her sister. With two more names left, the ticket lady picked up the microphone to call the last two names. She called out the first name and said, “Jesus Bueno.”
But Bueno never showed up for his flight. Hannum took the ticket and went to Madrid. Once she got there, a gentleman by the name of Julio helped her. Julio said, “I will have you taken care of.”
“I was so surprised,” Annis said. “I’m pretty sure I sat there with my mouth open the whole time. It just kept getting going one little miracle after another, just kept getting better.”
Julio went to the front desk, and no words were exchanged. According to Hannum, the woman never looked up. She was typing on her computer. A couple of moments later, Julio gave them the tickets and helped them all the way to the end. Hannum told Julio that God had sent him. Julio kneeled by Hannum’s wheelchair and said, “God sent you an angel.”
“I don’t think I will ever fully understand how missions have impacted my life,” Hannum said. “It has become such a part of me that I can’t really imagine my life without it. My personality is like the disciple Andrew. He was always bringing people to Jesus.”
Hannum, along with others, are putting their lives aside and putting others first.
“My heart is for that initial meeting between an individual and Christ,” Hannum said. “So, my life in missions is that same thing but on a greater scale. How can our team introduce the whole community to the Order of Jesus Christ? How can we help our state of Galicia know the God of the Bible? How do we start a work here that will outlast our own lives? This mentality drives me and always keeps me moving forward.”
Since Hannum was in college, she wanted to tell people about Jesus.
“As I grew up and was in college, my mind turned more to career choices,” Hannum said. “So, I ended up in missions partly due to calling and partly due to logical conclusions. What I mean by this is that I knew that the Lord had been working in my heart toward mission work, but I also had to logically conclude, ‘If I want to preach the good news to the whole world, what career would that lead me to?’ Missions seemed logical to me. I attended the Missionary Convention (the former ICOM) in 1996, and the Lord really moved my heart. The next summer, I did my internship in Venezuela, and the rest is history.”
In Venezuela, the project she worked on was building a Christian camp. Balestrini attended that camp, and it changed her life.
“I did not grow up in a Christian family,” Balestrini said. “That’s why my knowledge of Christ began when I was 16 years old. Reading the Gospels helped me a lot to learn about Christ, and the more I learned, the more I could understand and feel a faith that was growing in me.”
Balestrini felt like a part of her was missing.
“Over time, I was able to understand that it was the work of the Holy Spirit revealing to me who Christ was,” Balestrini said. “I was able to understand how he was the Father’s response to my deepest needs, and that through Christ, I could have a spiritual relationship with God. Christ has changed my way of understanding life, its purpose and destiny. How to relate to the people around me, how to help people with their needs, and how to face the uncertainties and challenges of everyday life.”
Balestrini thanked God she was able to share Jesus with more than just friends.
“My family began to notice the changes in me, and I was able to share with them what I was learning and experiencing,” Balestrini said. “Little by little, each of them began to read the Bible on their own, approach the church, and eventually get baptized. Each one with their ups and downs has been able to know Christ and see their lives transformed by following and obeying Him.”
Balestrini decided to make a long-term commitment and go into missions full-time.
“I was aware of missionary work and the need to make missions a fundamental part of all work and service in the Christian life,” Balestrini said. “Therefore, from very early in my Christian walk, I participated in missionary trips in different states of my country, Venezuela. Although dedicating myself full-time to missions was not my life’s plan, I was open to the possibility.”
When Balestrini learned of the spiritual need in Spain, she felt deeply moved and was willing to go.
“How could I ignore that less than one percent of Spaniards were followers of Jesus?” Balestrini said. “I prayed. I asked for directions. I talked to some people in the church and my family. I prayed again until I could, with a focused mind, decide to go for a year as a mission trainee. Once there, it was obvious to me that it had to be a full-time and indefinite service to see a group of believers in Spain.”
The work has continued for the last four years, and they are about to return to continue the ministry.
“We are in a sweet time of ministry in Spain,” Hannum said. “We are enjoying the fruit of our labor in regards to the contacts we have made with a few churches there. This is especially helpful regarding our social media outreach, Follow Me Galicia. More and more people are interacting with our content, and we are so grateful to the Lord for that. In our community, we are enjoying a time of great connections via our Cornhole Club. We have some more Spaniards getting involved, and that is very exciting for us. In our Bible study, we are seeing growth in the individuals that attend. As a matter of fact, one of our teenagers just gave her life to the Lord last month. She was baptized, and we are thrilled to have our first individual surrender to Christ.”
Cornhole is a way that they get people interested.
“Cornhole Ordes is a sports club that we have created to connect with our community,” Balestrini said. “We have realized that Spaniards like to be able to have spaces where they can practice some physical activity. Cornhole is a new and little-known activity in Spain, so many people come with curiosity to learn. That gives us an opportunity to meet more people in our town.”
The ministry is multi-layered, allowing for ordinary activities to become a time when people can learn about Jesus.
“At the moment, we have a constant group of about 20 people who have committed to knowing the game, practicing it seriously, and participating in championships,” Balestrini said. “The greatest benefit it has brought to our ministry is that several people who have started playing cornhole are now attending our Bible study, and most recently, one of them has given her life to the Lord in baptism. We see cornhole as a bridge to connect with our community and with those in whom God is working to bring them closer to Jesus Christ.”
At the time they first went, Spain was only one percent Evangelical (Protestant Christianity). Even though missions have their ups and downs, Hannum and Balestrini have both loved the work they do and don’t plan to stop anytime soon.
“I think most missionaries would say that it’s when a soul comes to Christ,” Hannum said. “It is satisfying and rewarding when someone surrenders their lives to Christ in baptism. I think another rewarding part is seeing it work in all of its phases as well as growing as a leader and as a team member. Investing in the Kingdom and bringing the Gospel to an area that hasn’t ever seen biblical Christianity. Living it out is a privilege and a benefit that not many people get to experience. It’s amazing. Difficult sometimes, but amazing.”
