Current Events

The current state of politics and news coming out of the United States affects us deeply here in Spain. To remain silent or ignore its impact would be, in a sense, complicit. While we do not wish to engage in partisan debate or take sides, it is important for us to share how these events influence our lives and ministry abroad.

To be fully honest, we often do not know what to believe. Having lived outside the U.S. for 17 years, we have seen firsthand how different news outlets around the world present events through their own lenses. The news in the U.S. is not the same as what we see here in Spain or across Europe. Online articles often contradict each other, and what we hear from people on the ground or see on television can be entirely different from what is reported elsewhere. Social media algorithms, driven by location, reading habits, and networks, shape the content we consume, making it nearly impossible to trust platforms like Facebook or Instagram as accurate sources of information. We hear wildly different opinions from both sides of the political spectrum, leaving us wondering if people are even living in the same reality.

As Americans living in Europe, we are frequently confronted with questions, assumptions, and even accusations about the state of our home country. Some people are angry about what they see happening in the U.S., and that anger gets directed at us simply because we are the face of America standing in front of them. Others are deeply confused and look to us for answers we do not have. Some laugh and dismiss America as a nation in chaos, comparing it to a child throwing a tantrum. Others express genuine fear, asking why the American public cannot recognize warning signs they themselves have lived through—dictatorships in Spain, the trauma of Hitler’s regime, or Soviet control in Eastern Europe. Their concerns are not hypothetical; they are rooted in painful, lived experiences.

In these moments, all we can do is listen. We do not have the answers. We cannot explain the complexities of a nation divided. But we can empathize, show compassion, and seek to understand their past and their fears for the future. Still, we don’t know how to fix it.

Beyond conversations, the ripple effects of U.S. politics are tangible in our work. We have cross-cultural worker friends facing visa loss and deportation from their countries of service in retaliation for American policies. European colleagues are canceling work and travel plans to the U.S. out of fear. American friends ask us what it takes to leave the country and live abroad for a season. Donors are losing money and cutting back on support, directly impacting missions and workers worldwide. Ministries reliant on aid now face funding cuts that threaten their very survival. In some cases, these cuts mean the difference between life and death, and when aid disappears, American workers are often blamed, creating dangerous situations.
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We do not have the answers, but we do want you to understand how global politics affect ministry workers and the people we serve. Please pray for all cross-cultural workers navigating these challenges. Pray for wisdom, courage, and open hearts as we listen to and walk alongside our international friends. The interconnectedness of our world means that political decisions made in one place have profound consequences everywhere. May we all seek to be voices of hope and love in the midst of uncertainty.