Unknown to them, but known to the Lord, Reimar and Ada Nägelen were sent out by Torchbearers Klostermühle Bible school in 1968 to begin a work in Spain which later became “Mar Cristalino”. They served faithfully up the coast in Valencia for over 20 years conducting house parties, children´s Bible camps, holiday weeks, and many other activities. Meanwhile, in 1974, Paco and Nona and their children (Anna, Mary, Ruth, John, Joe, and Paul) moved back to Paco´s hometown, Alicante, to start a Spanish church. Paco found “Rio Frio” (a small country house built in the 1960s) quite by “accident” and knew immediately that this was the house for them. He purchased it and soon thereafter began expanding the house to provide room for church services with a dream of one day having a Bible school. The room that is currently the conference hall used to be a garage and the chapel.

    In 1990 Paco and Nona retired from the ministry officially but unofficially continued to minister to Spanish-speaking people. Paco had always enjoyed Major Ian Thomas´ preaching and the children grew up listening to his tapes for family devotions. After Paco retired, he and Nona began praying about the possibility of a Christian organization using the house. In 1992, Nona called Ravencrest in Estes Park, Colorado to ask if Torchbearers would be interested in using Rio Vida since “Mar Cristalino” was being closed due to a government land annex. Major Thomas was busy preaching around the world (of course!) but was given the message when he returned and carried it around in his wallet for over a year. After sending various people to visit the house and report on the potential, he came himself in 1994 to see it. He was then able to foresee what Rio Vida could become!