Eva Spengler is a long-time friend of Loom who has been involved in the development of our training and resources since the very beginning. It’s our pleasure to introduce you to Eva today!
Loom: Tell us a little bit about yourself (for example, where you grew up, favorite foods/hobbies, and any other interesting facts)
Eva: I was born in Sweden as the 9th of 10 children. My family immigrated when I was young, so I grew up in Illinois. My sister and I were the only two to go into missions after we graduated from college. My husband, Mark, and I went into YWAM in Switzerland (that’s where I first met Janna Moats). We enjoyed leading students on Middle East field trips for 5 years, and then on to Italy and Greece to help launch Mercy Ships. Those were exciting years!
During those ten years in Europe,and now with two children, my passion for art was growing. I have always loved color, fashion and art, and even as a child my family labeled me as a dreamer. So it was very natural to me to take some art classes in college, and later art courses in YWAM. Eventually I began to see how I could use my art in missions, and then with kids at risk.
L: What it something that keeps you up at night, something you’re passionate about?
E: I’m passionate about connection through art: how do we tap into the creative part of a person who has experienced trauma–where creativity gets stalled? How do we unlock that and bring healing and expression? It releases people to move forward.
How did you first learn about Loom? How have you been involved with Loom since then?
Because I had worked with Janna on staff of the University of the Nations, in Hawaii, I joined some of VIVA network conferences and later the Children at Risk School in Singapore. I was also a part of many Celebrating Children Workshop (CCW) meetings while the curriculum was created. My role was really to ask , “How do students tangibly experience this knowledge?” And how do we make it come home for them? How do they deal with trauma with themselves and with children? Poverty can be a trauma too. How do we bring a transformation of thinking? We need to show them how to expose and name what is hard, to see themselves how God sees them. Half the ‘healing’ is knowing Father’s intentions in creating us. He wants good for me and for children. He didn’t intend for us to suffer.
L: What was the experience of the CCW like? What do you feel you learned from the experience?
E: The greatest joy is seeing people who are thinking in and surrounded by poverty to realize the wealth that they have by understanding God’s intentions. I can give them the tools, but they’re the ones that change their family and their culture. It’s incredible to watch the tenderness coming out and the joy they discover in being with their kids and family as strong, vulnerable leaders.