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| Group at Madrid OM headquarters |
The year I lived in Spain, the nation was already thirty years into Francisco Franco's near forty-year dictatorship 1936-1975). My curiosity led me to delve into that period of Spanish history. I uncovered many interesting facts, events, statistics, and ongoing repercussions from the abuses of power of the Caudillo de España, Dei Gratia (Leader who wields political and military power, by the Grace of God). It is not surprising then, that thinking so highly of himself, as though appointed and empowered by God Himself, his regime became "the most purely arbitrary in the world," according to historian Stanley G. Payne in a quote on Wikipedia:
Franco had more day-to-day power than Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin possessed at the respective heights of their power. Payne noted that Hitler and Stalin at least maintained rubber-stamp parliaments, while Franco dispensed with even that formality in the early years of his rule.
As dominant rebel leader early on in the Spanish Civil War, he was proclaimed head of state October 1, 1936, The three-year war put an end to the Second Spanish Republic, democracy, free elections, women's rights, and so much more. Regional autonomies were terminated, their local languages forbidden, only Spanish names allowed. An entire generation suffered the loss of their heart languages and given names.
Hundreds of thousands lost their freedom, even their lives, in the war of attrition to rid the Spanish State of enemy elements--anyone that opposed the Francoist regime, which became the sole legal party known as the National Movement.
In his book Spiritual Revolution: the Story of OM, Ian Randall writes of the beginnings of Opertion Mobilization in Spain. In the early1960s, George Verwer was living in Madrid with his little family, wife Drena and baby Benjamin. Although no one else saw it that way, he referred to an "open door for the Gospel in Spain." Evangelical literature was not allowed to be printed or distributed; however some good Catholic books were legal, among them a modern translation of the Gospels and A Dios por la Ciencia (To God Through Science), "one of the best Christian books I have seen!" said George.
The small growing team around the Verwer family distributed literature by mail from their home outside Madrid. They took addresses from the five-volume telephone directory and sent letters offering a free Gospel of John and a correspondence course using a Portuguese address. They had four Spanish young people working full-time on the project. Twenty thousand replied in the first two years!
Other creative ways used to spread the Good News included a rented bookstore that sold books acceptable to the Catholic Church and also stocked postage stamps, catering to the thousands of stamp collectors in Madrid. George himself had an interest in philately and urged his supporters to send stamps, even entire collections.
One special visitor, Christa Fischer from East Germany, came looking for work and was given a book in German, Peace with God by Billy Graham. Days later she gave her life to Christ and joined the team! She later married Ray Eicher and spent her life serving God in India.
The team members were often arrested and taken in for questioning. I had heard stories of their run-ins with the Guardia Civil (military police for civilians). However, in 1966-67, we were experiencing more openness.
In a letter to my family dated December 18, 1966, I referred to the second referendum law during Franco's rule.
The first referendum in 1947, asked the question, "Do you approve of the Law of Succession to the Headship of the State Bill?" and was intended to revive the monarchy and granted Franco, Head of State for life and de facto regent, the power to appoint the next King or Regent.
The second referendum, December 14, 1966, asked, "Do you approve of the Organic Law of the State Bill?" supposedly to limit and clearly define Franco's power and create the office of Prime Minister.
Wednesday was a holiday here in Spain so everybody could 'vote', excuse me, I should have said, "say yes to Frnco" Everywhere you go there are signs saying Sí, Sí, Sí; people almost walked around nodding their heads affirmatively from the power of suggestion. (December 18, 1966)
The organic law was promulgated January 11, 1967, during the third stage of Francoist Spain, now run by technocrats and experiencing a significant economic reversal, the Spanish Miracle.
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| El Rastro, 1966 |
. . . four of us girls went to the Rastro. We set up two tables in different places, two at each--one giving out tracts, and the other shouting the names of the books and talking to customers. We made up a real interesting sentence with the titles of the books: ¿Qué es la verdad? [What is the truth?] Aquí va la respuesta [Here is the Answer] La Biblia dice . . . [The Bible says . . . ] Paz con Dios [Peace with God] El Secreto de la Felicidad [The Secret of Happiness]. We sold about 1100 pesetas and had opportunities to talk to some, and gave out many many tracts.
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| The old post office building |
I wrote about the office work that kept me busy in addition to special correspondence course mailings.
December 11 I've got loads of work here in the office. This week we are going to send a Christmas card to all the CC students (about 1,090 by now) with a letter encouraging them to study the course, since only about 30 or 40 have sent the first lesson. I also have plenty of other work, letters, translation work, etc.
December 18 So for two or three days we were addressing envelopes, folding, filling, stamping. And then, Thursday morning, Lois and I drove to town to take them to the post office and also do other business. I say we both drove because even though Lois was at the wheel, it was team work; I'd tell her where to go, what to watch out for, and also helped her let out the hand brake and put it, the gear I mean, into reverse. It was an interesting experience. Lois was worn out when we got home. I'm glad I wasn't driving!
Peter O'Brien, the team mechanic gave us, my friend Lois and I (pictured standing together in the Madrid OM headquarter's group photo above), two Saturday driving lessons before we were allowed to take the van downtown Madrid.
We were also involved regularly in outreach working with churches, visitation every Wednesday afternoon, and responding to those who came to us for help. I remember one woman, an alcoholic, who stayed with the team off and on with her toddler. We had to be very vigilant while she was there. The little boy cried a lot.
Visitors from other OM teams joined our household occasionally. Judy Sieffert was sent from the accounting office in Belgium to help Lois with the book keeping. She was always grateful that George Verwer had not rejected her because of her handicap. She was privileged to serve on OM and travel even as a polio victim on crutches. Judy commented on my customary Spanish phone response in the office, "Dígame." "Tell me" or "Speak to me" instead of "Hello."
Jonathan McRostie, our European director, also paid us a quick visit and shared a stirring message. Then he was headed to the US to speak at the leaders conference that my brother Lynn attended.
There were three families on our team of different nationalities: Federico and Marta Aparisi, our Spanish leader and their new baby, Federico II, born November 30; Gerry from Great Britain and Jean Davey from the US and their girls; and Pepe and Judith Barrios from Mexico and their little boy Danielito. We functioned as a family and helped as needed. When baby Federico cried so much in the night we single girls took turns doing their laundry.
We had a wonderful cook and housekeeper on the team from Southern Spain. I remember her getting up at 4:30 A.M. every other day to scrub the three flights of stairs. We had assigned chores as well. Mondays and Saturdays were my days to wash dishes and I had cleaning duties as well. I'm not sure whether we occasionally took turns cooking or if I volunteered to prepare dinner one time. I wanted to treat them to cuisine I had enjoyed in Argentina. The problem was that I took on more than I could handle. The ñoquis were labor intensive, the meal was very late and threw everyone's schedule off.
A more successful culinary attempt happened over Christmas break. Those who could went home for a few days or to be with friends. Only seven adults and three children remained. Santi the cook was gone, so we took turns. I described Christmas weekend in my December 28 letter.
Saturday 24 It was my turn to make breakfast. I had soaked some very old rocky bread in milk the night before for a while, and in the morning I fried it in deep fat and then covered with sugar. Was very good, even if I say so. Did a lot of cleaning all day, fixed up Christmas cards in artistic arrangement. In the afternoon Lois and I went to the Casa de Baños. Since we don't have hot water here we have to either heat water in too small quantities or walk 10 minutes to the Bath House and take a shower for 1 pta. (peseta). At the same time I was able to dry clean all my clothes at a laundromat close by for 125 ptas.
I was invited to spend the evening with my friend Violeta at her sister's home. I was sad at first to miss the time with the team. It was a night like any other really. Victorina was sewing. I worked on the letters for the Christmas program: PORQUE DE TAL MANERA AMO DIOS AL MUNDO [For God so loved the world]. Others helped me. We ate and fellowshiped till late.
The highlight of Christmas day was talking to the children about their parts in the program. Three of them made a public profession of faith.
Between ministry and the mundane, life was full. On this side of eternity we many never know what became of the many people we encountered and worked with. But we keep on keeping on.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Gal. 6:9 NIV)."
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