Across the Globe: Tifiny Valenzuela and Raices Madrid
I met Tifiny on a “family blind date” over churros in one of the oldest 24/7 churros shop in Madrid a few years back. It was a connection via mutual friends who knew we had the same heart to reach the people of our city. Their kids were adorable and it has been wonderful seeing their family ministry grow as they create a warm and welcoming atmosphere where people can learn what it means to be a disciple of Christ and be an active part of God’s family.
Joy Matienzo: Hi Tifiny, Thank you for sharing your story with us today! Let’s start with where you are from and how you envisioned your future when you were young.
Tifiny Valenzuela: I am a country girl at heart from the beautiful state of West Virginia. Other than being a little distracted at times in my childhood, like wanting to be a “diving girl” after watching the movie Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken, I grew up with a passion to be a teacher.
JM: How did you meet your husband and did you know when you got married that you would eventually be launched out of your comfort zone into the nations?
TV: I went to university to get a degree in education. While I was there, a love for the Lord and a hunger to know Him and serve Him was birthed within me. I continued my studies but took regular mission trips and was actively involved in ministry on campus. As my studies were ending, I was telling everyone, fully convinced, that after I graduated, I was going to be a missionary in Africa. Then, in a split second, my life changed. I was walking to a conference room on campus to prepare for our weekly Campus Crusade for Christ meeting, when I saw a guy at the end of the hallway visiting from California. That night we talked about our hearts for ministry, missions and discipleship. I couldn’t believe the Lord had woven a heart together like mine. Less than a year later, we were married, and I moved to California to start our life together as a married couple. He owned his own business working as a real estate appraiser and I happily joined him in his work. We served locally in our church and were a part of missions in different ways.
JM:How did you know that you and your young family were called to Spain?
TV: We had been married for four years when we found out I was pregnant with our first child. We were preparing to become a family of three, completely loving life as we worked in southern California, serving in our church and walking with the Lord. Five days before our baby was born, we entered into one of the biggest trials of our lives. The trial lasted for more than three years. My husband had several times of fasting and praying to seek refuge in the Lord. During one of these times, he felt the Lord speak to him about Spain. We began to pray for about a year, before sharing it with anybody. We could not run from the call the Lord had placed on our lives. It was just a matter of waiting for the Lord to deliver us from this terrible trial and give us the green light that it was time to go to Spain. We now have three children and have been living in Spain for six years.
JM: What kinds of opportunities have you seen God open up where you are in Madrid?
TV: I believe that every missionary that comes to Spain has a heart to reach the Spanish people. That was our expectation as we transitioned to a life in the center of Madrid four years ago, to plant a church. The Lord began to bring many “refugees” from South American countries, especially Venezuela, into our lives. As these businessmen, nurses, professors, etc. came here to Spain to seek refuge, they had to start their lives all over from the bottom. In this, they desperately began to seek the Lord and He led them to us. To this day, most of our church is made up of people from all over the world, but mostly from Central and South America. In their brokenness, we have been able to see the Lord transform their lives, restore their families and watch as spiritual fruit is produced in their lives.
JM: What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a missionary family?
TV: One of our biggest challenges inside our family has been dealing with the spiritual warfare/impact that being on the mission field has had on our children. It has been obvious that we have an enemy and the spiritual warfare here in Madrid is so evident. We have a twelve-year-old that has, since living in Spain, dealt with major anxiety issues and panic attacks. Walking this road with our daughter, as a mom, has left me, at times, in a place of desperation for the Lord to come and bring help and healing.
One of the biggest challenges in the ministry, besides learning the language and the culture, has been watching people that we love and have invested into, begin to get comfortable in their lives and slowly distance themselves from the Lord and from us. It’s almost as if we can see it coming when jobs come, a partner is found or economic stability is accomplished. Oh, the heartache that we have experienced watching, knowing, that this world will never satisfy the thirst that is within them.
TM: How do you balance ministry and home life creating a safe space for you kids to flourish both personally and spiritually?
TV:This is something that is always changing, as ages and seasons change, we are always learning and growing in this. The fact is, our kids, all three of them, love to be with people. They would not mind if we had people in the house every day of the week, which we have lived at certain times in our ministry. But just because they enjoy the “ministry life” does not mean that it is the best thing for our family during that season. When the pandemic happened, it gave us the gift of being a family again without distractions. Yes, we were still doing ministry and during the second half of the quarantine we had a girl living with us, but it gave us time together. Three meals around the table a day. Talking, reading the bible, laughing, singing, playing and creating. Even though it was such a tough time for the world, it gave this momma rest and the gift of having my children under my care 24/7. I was even able to homeschool the kids for three months, which is not allowed here in Spain. This shifted our thinking about ministry and how our family is our most important ministry here. We do not have to have a “busy” ministry to have an effective one. There will always be a pull to fill our schedule, there will always be people to fill that schedule and needs to fulfill, but there is wisdom in having balance and boundaries.
JM: How has your ministry evolved to meet people’s needs due to the global pandemic?
TV: There has been many physical needs that have been met due to the crisis of not being able to work due to the quarantine, but I believe more than anything, the people were in desperate need to gather together again. After months of not being able to do so, the people were ready to be together. The Lord opened a permanent space for us as a church last September and people have been meeting there ever since. Our relationship with the people, the sense of oneness, has been so special and unique since the pandemic began.
JM: What are some of your favorite memories loving-on the people God has led you to in recent years?
TV: Here we are, planting a church in the middle of Spain, a place where there is less than two percent of evangelical Christians, preaching, leading worship, discipling, meeting needs, etc. but I have realized in the last few months that one of the most important ministries that I have here is my one-on-one relationships with women. I feel like this has been the place that I have had to walk out sacrificial love so much, but it also has been the place I have seen the most fruit. Day in and day out love and time with these ladies. One, in particular, walked into our lives two years ago. I have journeyed with her through economic crisis, spousal violence and adultery, familial issues in her country and yet we have seen personal revival in her, restoration in her marriage, transformation in parenting and loving her family, a heart to serve in the church and a heart to go to battle in prayer.
JM: What would you say to women who are praying about moving their families overseas?
TV: Even though you go without expectations, you have them hidden in your heart. You will be disappointed. You will have times that you think it is not worth it. You might even be bitter towards your husband or doubt his calling. But through it all, I can honestly tell you, it is worth it. The Creator of the universe has called you by name and has given you the privilege to serve Him. He is trustworthy. He is with you. A life of faith, to many, looks crazy. That’s okay. Be a little crazier. Trust Him more. I have found that the more we trust Him, the grander the adventure and the more we see Him work and provide. In this journey we have taken of being missionaries, the coolest thing has been that I have fallen more in love with my Savior because of the dependence and desperation I have had to have through the difficulties. It is worth it, for He, Himself, is the reward.
You can check out our church and ministry on Fb – https://facebook.com/raicesmadridcc/To partner with us through Go! Ministries – https://goinchrist.com/missionaries/entry/73/
