The last few years I have been doing summer mission in Ibiza, Spain.  Ibiza (pronounced Eye-bee-tha) is a small Mediterranean island off the coast of Spain that is often known as the party capital of Europe.  It is an intense environment to show the love of Jesus.  A small team from England decided to move there to help bring peace and love to the island through prayer and mission.  Here is a short video about these guys:  Prayer as Mission

Once while in Ibiza, I encountered a guy named Lee.  He asked me what 24-7 Ibiza was, as I was wearing a 24-7 Ibiza t-shirt.  I told him that it was a Christian organization that focuses on prayer and kindness.  He looked at me in confusion and after a long pause he said, “In Ibiza?  You’ve come to help a bunch of drunk people?  Why?  Why don’t you go to Africa and work in an orphanage?”  Half drunk himself, Lee continued, “People in Ibiza don’t deserve help.  They choose this lifestyle.  Why don’t you go help kids with AIDS?”

I still think about this encounter.  What struck me was how hard it was for Lee to accept that 24-7 Ibiza wanted to help those that “didn’t deserve it.”  He was all right with people receiving help if they warranted it, but not those who chose wrongdoing purposefully.  He was begging to ask these questions, “Is help only for those who deserve it?  Is mercy only for those who warrant it?”

Oftentimes, when you walk someone to their hotel that has had too much to drink in Ibiza, they will offer you money to compensate.  The response is always no.  When they persist and persist, the team will say, “Hasn’t anyone ever done something nice for you without asking for something in return?”  Mercy.  Shown in the simple act of walking somebody home.