Although this adventure has just begun for Frank, Nathan, Joel, Luke, Matt and Daniel, the prequel to this story started a year ago when Frank went to Morocco with Frontiers for two months during the summer. From this experience it brought a dynamic and transformative meaning to the word faith from his encounter with a unique people and culture. Thus, a simple idea to come back the following year with a team began to form . To do what I hear you ask?

Our vision or goal is to encourage and serve the local church and wider community in Melilla.  We’re hoping to run a spontaneous sports camp at the beach making friends with the locals, particularly with the Rifis – a sub culture that is a mixture of spanish and moroccan.

Melilla is a unique place geographically – Although it is situated in north Africa and is in Morocco, it is in fact a Spanish town. It is known locally as the “la puerta de europa” (the door of Europe). Culturally it is also unique managing to fit in a small location Christian, Islamic, Jewish and Hindu traditions. You’ll hear more about this later on.

Considering the fact that Melilla is a gateway into Europe many refugees from other parts of Africa travel to the “Gurugu mountain”, which overlooks the small town. There they wait an opportune time to climb the fences and gain access to Melilla where they can claim refugee status and a chance to enter into mainland Europe. However, this is thwart with danger as the fences that surround Melilla are heavily patrolled by the authorities and suffice to say their treatment if they are caught, and most are, is sub-human. Therefore, we are hoping to visit the refugees in the Gurugu mountains with supplies and friendship.

As the days and weeks progress we will keep you posted with photos, videos and stories of our time in Melilla and the Gurugu mountains.