Lessons from the Green Way

I wanted to have some time alone with God on this last Sunday morning in Spain, so I set out walking a trail called La Via Verde, the Green Way, from the neighborhood of Batoi. It used to be a train track, now converted into a paved path for foot traffic and bicycles. At first, I was just going to walk to the bridge that can be seen from afar, but upon reaching it, curiosity moved me on to see what was on the other side. Seeing that the path continued, and that it went through tunnels and woods, I decided to walk to the end of it and then return. (I walked 3.5 kilometers before I realized it doesn´t end--then I turned around and walked back.) I walked along, talking with God silently, enjoying the view. It was crowded with people out for exercise--families, cyclists, old folks out for a leisurely stroll, and people walking their dogs. I wanted to commune with God alone, and I kept a look-out for a side path or even just a rock in the shade off the path where I could sit alone and think. Not finding anywhere that I thought was safe from scorpions, I continued to walk among the crowds, moving to the side for cyclists and stepping around dog piles that hadn´t been picked up. I became frustrated and asked God to show me a quiet, shady place to meet with Him.  A poem came to mind, which had also surfaced when we were on the mountaintop near Javea earlier this month. It goes roughly like this:

I wanted to be close to God

And climbed the highest steeple.

But God said, ¨Go back down again.

I dwell among the people.¨

(I don´t know who wrote it)

God seemed to say to me, ¨You don´t get to be a hermit--you must seek me and walk and talk with me among the people and amidst the busy-ness of life.¨ He said I could walk and talk with Him in any location. It´s not about where I serve Him, or even in what capacity, but about walking and talking with Him, building relationship, just like I have been with Susanna this month, and just like I have with Mike for 27 years. God´s goal isn´t for me to serve Him or to work for Him. His goal is to be with me and enjoy my company! Sometimes He may want to get me alone for a grand revelation, but usually He just wants to go for a walk with me. How presumptious for me to seek out a quiet place to go and almost demand, ¨Now talk to me!¨ This is no replacement for daily conversations and relationshp-building. In fact, if I´m too busy for Him on a regular basis, why would He impart great wisdom to me on the rare occasion that I delegate as ¨God Time¨?

Wrapping up

It´s with mixed emotions that I think about the past month. I´m ready to go home, no question, but I really do love this city and these people! If I could have my family here with me, I think I would be content to stay indefinitely. I do miss the dark green of the cornfields at this time of year, and the sweet smell of the heavy air (though I don´t miss the humidity). I miss being able to see forever-or at least it feels that way-as the mountains, though they are beautiful, and the city give me a bit of a claustrophic feeling sometimes. I love being able to walk everywhere I need to go. I don´t miss having my own car at all (probably because Carla is so good about taking me whenever I need wheels). I do miss the quiet of the country-the neighborhood here is so noisy (as previously mentioned). I miss being in total control of my own schedule. Mostly, I miss my husband, my best friend, but I can´t think about that and keep myself together!

This week we finished up English camp for adults and we finished working on Charlie´s house. With the work done, the team met at Mark and Carla´s to do some baking for the final program and to have pizza and swimming at the home of British friends, but Susanna and I skipped out and went to the coastal city of Alicante. Now that´s a beautiful city! Perfect weather, the Mediterranean Sea and a medieval castle! We spent a good part of the day assembling a camp care package to send to Emily. I wanted to make sure all the goodies in it were typical Spanish. Then it ended up weighing too much-the overage of 35 grams was going to double the postage, so we opted to tear it open and remove a couple of pieces of candy instead! We couldn´t find any packing tape, and I´m really hoping the scotch tape we resealed it with will do the job. If not, well, Ems, know that I tried.

The castle at Alicante - view from the beach

We went to the beach but they were flying a red flag, meaning there was a rip tide warning, so people aren´t supposed to get in. People did anyway, but we just waded. We wanted to go to the castle, but in order to catch our return bus and get home for the English class program, we didn´t have time. In fact, we ended up practically running to get back to the bus in time!

Today the American team rode the train to the city of Valencia, another coastal city. Riding the train was fun, but I think we overwhelmed the Spaniards around us with our loud English. First we did a little shopping in the city and visited an old church. Then we visited the Lladró factory, where they make porcelain figures by hand. Very interesting, but I don´t think I would pay their prices. The process is quite detailed and performed by artists who train for years. We ate lunch at an American restaurant called Foster´s Hollywood, and the big deal that we were looking forward to all morning is that they give FREE refills--a big deal here! But I was disappointed because when we got there, they had Pepsi, not Coke! So I had water instead.  :(

Flowers on the plaza-a long row of vendors, just like in the movies

More shopping after dinner, and I think all our souvenirs have been purchased. The train ride home was interesting because we were trying to hop a 4:30 train, but turned out it was the arriving train, not the departing one, so we ended up inside the turnstiles where people board the trains a good 20 minutes before our time. Once you´re in, they won´t let you back out without paying again (although Elizabeth found out that if you go to security and explain that you really have to go to the bathroom because they rushed you to catch a train that wasn´t yours, they will allow for that!), so we just sat down on the floor to rest. By then we were sweaty from hurrying and exhausted from walking all over the city. Adding dirt from the train station floor just didn´t seem to matter.

Part of our team locked inside the boarding area, waiting patiently

At this point, we´re kind of in a holding pattern. Our work is done and we just have two days left in Alcoy. Some families are going to the beach tomorrow, but Susanna and I have planned a relaxing day in Alcoy. We plan for a late breakfast out, then a leisurely walk around town, maybe a bit of shopping, and a long nap in the afternoon. That sounds like a perfect last day to rest up before spending Sunday packing, weighing my suitcase, and repacking (most likely), then 16 hours of travel with the sun never setting on us until we are at home in our own beds!

Thank you for praying for us this month. Please continue to pray us home, and pray that the Lord will continue the good work He is doing in Alcoy, Spain. Phil. 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 



Make me a servant

This week we've been hard at work on Charlie and Inma's house. They are the couple who sewed with me during the children's English camp, and painting inside their apartment has been our main project these past two weeks (after helping rid them and their daughters of lice). I mentioned before that their 6 year old little girl is very sick and the doctors have given them almost no hope that she'll live much longer. Charlie has a bad heart and Inma has a physical limitation in her ability to walk. Charlie has been unemployed for 4 years and Inma cleans a business part time for a small income.

Nick has really taken the lead on this project and I'm so proud of the job he's doing. (Susanna, my hostess, said to me "Nick is special to you isn't he?" I said "Yeah, he is. Why do you mention it?" she said "You have affection for him and it shows when you talk to him-like a mother's.") He has identified needs around the house and has been almost completely in charge of the paint crew, working non-stop all morning every day and even going back in the evening on a couple of days

The team has filled in cracks in the plaster ceiling, spackled holes in the walls, moved furniture, painted every room in the house (walls and ceiling) and even added decorative stenciling, borders and lettering. We have tried hard to help them with the lice problem, but we're still not 100% sure that it's all cleared up so everyone who works there wears a bandanna tied around their head and shampoos with vinegar every night. I have been working at the church with some girls. We're using Carla's sewing machine to make curtains out of sheets for each of the bedrooms. The leftover pieces of sheets we had weren't quite big enough so we created somewhat of a patchwork effect to use small pieces to make full sized curtains.

Tomorrow we are sending the family to the beach (they haven't been able to afford to go in 5 years even though it's less than a half hour away) and while they're gone we're going to scrub the place and then put it all back together complete with new bedding and curtains. We can't wait to see their faces when we show them the finished product!
Some host families have been worried about the potential of us bringing lice into their house (understandably). It's a tough call for us to know how to deal with their concerns but overall the team has such servant hearts! I was reminded this morning that Jesus said, "Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me." Some may see Charlie's family with their health problems, poverty and lice as the "least of these", but we know that Jesus took on the job of the lowest servant when he washed his own followers' feet, and it is His example we want to follow. If we get our hands dirty in the process, well, I guess that's a small price to pay for the blessing Charlie's family is receiving.

El Horario

I haven't written much yet about the Spanish schedule. I hear it's not the same in all parts of Spain but in Alcoy it's like this. The stores open at 9. I guess some businesses start earlier, like factories. They eat what seems to be a second breakfast around 11, then by 2 pm everyone quits work and goes home for dinner. They eat a big meal together as a family and then everyone takes a nap. They sleep until maybe 5, then they eat a snack before going back to work. The stores are almost all closed from 2-5, and you can't really do anything during siesta, so you might as well take one too! The stores close again at 9 pm and everyone goes home for supper. This meal is served in courses and can last as long as 3 hours! Around 12:30 in the morning, the neighborhood outside my window gets really noisy as people go out for walks and to visit on the street. Recently I drove past a park at 12:20 am and the playground was full of children playing and the benches and chairs were full of adults just hanging out visiting! I can't get my body to adjust to staying up that late, but I do appreciate siesta time!

Serving

English camp for children is over This week and next our mission is to help out in tangible ways to people who for whatever reason can't help themselves. Painting, yard work, cleaning and other such jobs are on our list. I'm glad that we are able to help my hostess Susanna, who is a single mother, because the building management of her apartment has been negligent in doing some work she needs done. They sent in a worker who started the job then left it half finished and didn't clean up after himself. So we plan to swoop in, do the job, and clean up--probably all in one morning. That's the beauty of having a good-sized team, even if we are mainly inexperienced. At least we are able-bodied and willing.
Besides this work, one of the families in the church has discovered lice! So we are helping to disinfect their house and to pick the nits from their hair. Carla has arranged for the little girls and mom to get free haircuts from a lady in the church and then our team will begin picking and cleaning!
The boys have moved donated furniture to some people who had no furniture in their house.
And in the midst of the work, we eat together, we talk, we laugh, and we discuss what God's will for each of us might be. Right now it's to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people of Alcoy, Spain. Keep praying for us as we miss our families more each day. Pray for Mark and Carla as they minister tirelessly to their community. Their influence here is obvious and far-reaching. I love listening in as they "pastor" the American team as well. There are some real God conversations going on here, especially with the young people as God has them in a situation where they are depending solely on Him and listening for His voice.
In case you thought we were on a European vacation, think again! First off, if I were going on vacation, I would take my husband and kids, whom I miss dearly! Second, we are working very hard between a few enjoyable days off. Facebook posts usually only show pictures from our tourist experiences, but these are the exception not the rule. Most of all we are walking a very fine line of living our faith in our host homes without being offensive. It's not easy and it's not comfortable. But it's our main purpose here, and we pray that as we plant seeds and water, that God will give the increase.

Church family

An ocean between and two different languages but the history book I looked at with Edgar's family could have been from Rock Prairie. It recounted the 40-year history of the church in Alcoy. It was Edgar's great great grandmother who was the first Christian in Alcoy and who helped found the church here. They were still under the dictatorship of Franco, who abused religion to manipulate and control people and who required everyone to attend Catholic mass. (This weekend I saw a wall where he had people killed by a firing squad if they disagreed with him! And, incidentally, they were also not allowed to be buried in the cemetery.) The evangelicals here went obediently to mass on Sunday mornings to stay alive, but then met in secret on Sunday nights. They continue the habit of meeting on Sunday nights even though now they are free to pursue their own religion. In the history book, they have recorded the weddings, baptisms, children's programs, socials, holiday events and more. In the pictures you could see the families grow up and a few pages later it was their children on the stage. A large part of the church is related, having descended from three sisters who are currently matriarchs in the church. But others have joined and, just like at home, the church is their family.
The pastor, Pedro, has been part-time pastor at two churches. The other is in a coastal city more than an hour away. He preaches there in the mornings and then at Alcoy in the night. Tonight he announced that the other church has called him to be full time so he'll be moving his family there. The business meeting was just beginning as we were leaving and already there were tears. Monte Sion is the only evangelical church in this city. Certainly God has been faithful these 40 years and will continue to be, but as we know, finding a new pastor is a difficult process, even in a country where there are churches everywhere you look. Mark and Carla, though Pedro and Maria Jesus are their dear friends, will stay with the church to try to help them through this difficult time. Pray for the church in Alcoy.

Sewing class

When Carla asked me to come work at English camp, I understood that it was like a Bible school set up without the Bible since it's partially sponsored by the city. When I (finally) said yes, I said "I really don't want to chase small kids around." So Carla gave me the job of hanging out with parents who wanted to wait for their children during the camp. With the help of my mom and donations of fabric from Rachelle, I took supplies to teach them how to quilt. They call it patchwork (though it sounds more like "pash-welk" when they say it).
We started with 2 parents, a couple. The dad is an American named Charlie who has lived in Spain for some 30 years. They have a young daughter who was born with serious health issues. They told me that the doctor said not to be surprised on any given morning if they wake up to find her dead! I'm not sure of all the health problems but I know she has a hole in her heart, some brain issues, and doesn't walk well. Charlie has been out of work for four years and struggles with depression as a result, understandably. He told Carla that quilting in English camp has given him a reason to get up in the mornings! He's really good at it too! Now he's trying to figure out how he can start some kind of business around this new hobby. Others who have become regular attenders are Maria Jesús, the pastor's wife, and her mother, my hostess Susanna and her daughter, Elizabeth's host father, Felo, who is currently out of work, and 2 or 3 others who drop in periodically.
I took patterns for Grandmother's Flower Garden and Cathedral Windows quilt projects. The people here are strong willed and creative, though, and after being taught the basics, they have created their own unique patterns and projects.
As I have taught them the basics of quilting, they have taught me the vocabulary of sewing--words like needle, pins, stitch and baste are new to me. They seem to take pleasure in teaching me and often take the time to write down new words and repeat them until I can say it to their satisfaction.
The mornings are so easy and relaxing for me that I feel I'm not really contributing to the camp. But then I remember that our purpose here is to build relationships and to share God's love. If not for the hours spent quilting, would I have ever known about Charlie's little girl, whom they said would not live more than 5 years but is now 6? Would I know that one of my new friends is a recent widow who has had to move to Alcoy because she couldn't stay alone in the bigger city and that she misses her husband dearly? Would I know that Elizabeth's host family can't even bear to think of this month ending because they love her so much? Just because I'm having a blast doesn't mean the Lord's purposes aren't being accomplished. Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Iglesia Bautista Monte Sión

On Sunday we attended the Spanish church that helps to sponsor our English camp here in Alcoy. The pastor's name is Pedro and his wife is Maria Jesús. All the Americans sang with the choir because our host families were invited and we wanted to do something special for them. The choir director's name is Charlie but he is Spanish and doesn't speak English. It didn't matter though because he is able to lead a choir with just his body language and facial expressions. He is very animated and likes the choir to sway and clap and be very active. He leads by example so he basically is dancing around the stage to lead us. Combine Charlie's leadership with the voice of Mark Hanson and you can imagine how we rocked that service! The choir had learned and practiced in advance some English songs so that we could join in. Also during the week before, Carla taught us a couple of songs in Spanish during our lunches together. What a blessing it was to hear "Shout to the Lord" in Spanish and to know that our Heavenly Father is not an American but God of all the Earth.
I'm humbled by the prayers of the Spaniards. In English there is only one word for "you" but in Spanish there are 2-one is used with friends and people you are close to (tu). The other is used to show respect to people you don't know, the elderly and professionals (Usted). When the Spaniards pray they call God "Señor" which is translated Sir or Lord. But they also address Him as "tu" and not "Usted". This is a strange and somehow perfect combination because it shows that although God is all-powerful and majestic, He is also our loving Father.
Using translators, Abby and Nick shared their testimonies about how God had led them to this point. If you know them, ask them to share because their stories are powerful! When Abby talked about leaving her grandfather knowing he has cancer, there was not a dry eye!
I directed a group of the younger members of our team to perform a wordless skit put to music. Some of you will recognize the skit Lifehouse Everything Three of the Americans and three of the Spaniards had performed it before so it was easy for us to put together in a few lunch-time practices during the week. They performed it beautifully and the message was clear in any language!
After Pedro preached (and I admit I didn't catch much of the sermon because he speaks very fast), we ended the service with more singing. The finale was a medley of Down by the River, Amen, and Oh Happy Day featuring Mark.
Afterwards almost everyone wanted to kiss us on both cheeks. Even Susanna commented that we had an instant connection with our Spanish church family. It didn't matter that we had just met them and that we couldn't really understand each others' words--we understand each others' hearts. This is the view from the church windows. In the close up you can see that there is a cross on the mountaintop.

The party

Left to right: Susan from Indiana, me, Elizabeth, Carla, Edgar, and (I´ve got to find out her name!) all from Spain

On Friday night, the Spanish church planned a traditional Spanish fiesta for us Americans. We drove to a big, old house in the country up the side of the mountain. I didn´t get the opportunity to take photos along the way, but the view of Alcoy and the surrounding area is just breath-taking! Our families had told us to dress up in our best clothes, and Susanna had given me a wrapped present that I wasn´t to open until I got in Carla´s car. Actually, the host families were invited but Susanna had to take her daughter to the airport that night and couldn´t go with me. The gift was a flower hair clip, a headband, and clip-on earrings (She even noticed that my ears aren´t pierced). When we got there, everyone had flowers in their hair, and many were wearing the traditional Spanish costumes.

They took us inside the house to an open air courtyard where there were tables of food set up like appetizers and in the center of the room, a large ham from which a man in costume was carving pieces and basically forcing them into our hands. I wasn´t crazy about the ham--as Nick described it, it looked like uncooked bacon, though I´m sure it had been cooked in some way or other. I wondered aloud what part of the pig it was, and Elizabeth said I probably didn´t want to know. We found out later it was the back or top of the pig. (There´s probably a term, but I don´t know it in Spanish or English.) Carla had told us we would be eating several courses until after midnight, so I didn´t want to spoil my meal with too many appetizers, so I tried a bit of most things but didn´t eat much.

There was goat cheese (pretty good), potato chips, nuts, olives. You can see the ham on the left side of the photo just behind the beer bottle. At the bottom of the photo on a blue plate, you can see the Spanish tortilla, which is not anything like what I expected. It´s thick and made from eggs, potatoes, and I´m not sure what else. Reminded me of an omelet. The Spanish are very concerned about presentation, and you can see that the tables were laid out prettily.

They put on music--a variety from Spanish pop to Spanish traditional to American pop. Elizabeth wondered whether the dancing would be before or after the meal, but that question was answered when everyone began to dance right away. Occasionally a mariachi band would come in and interrupt the DJ with a traditional song--sometimes from Spain, sometimes from Mexico. Some of the ladies attempted to teach us to dance. This video is of Elizabeth learning a dance.

We danced and danced until my feet hurt. Eventually they brought around a basket with sliced bread and a tub of something like butter, except they told us it was whipped olive oil. I forget what it was called, but it was really good. I only ate half a slice of bread because I didn´t want to spoil my meal. Later they brought around a plate with grilled pork chops--different shape but same taste and texture. Apparently taking something off the plate you are offered isn´t really optional if you´re an American because they enjoy watching us experience their food. The man with the ham forced seconds on me even though I told him that I had already tried it, thank you very much. He said in Spanish, "Oh, you´ve already tried it?" I said "Yes, thank you," to which his response was, "Okay, try some more!" I felt like the guy in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. So I had some more. Still hadn´t improved. Around midnight I was kind of hungry and my feet hurt, so I asked someone when we would be having supper. "Didn´t you get any meat?" was the response. Apparently we had been having supper on our feet all night long!
Even though this was a church party, there was beer and wine served. Culturally, this is not seen as inappropriate, and not a single person drank in excess or was drunk. I tried both and didn´t really like either. The wine isn´t sweet like I expected, and the beer, well, beer just never has tasted good to me.
That was the night I learned what a famous person my son Luke seems to be from his trip here last year. Since it was the first time I was meeting most of the people from the church, almost every one of them introduced me to the next person with "This is the mother of Luke!" followed by a big smile, a kiss on each cheek and a story about something Luke had done and how much they miss him and wish he had returned. He made quite an impression, and I´m proud of him for continuing to leave a positive reputation everywhere he goes!
Luke´s host brother Edgar is also an impressive young man. As I have watched him working with the children in English camp this past week, I have seen a mature and caring young man of God. He has been one of the main translators between the group of Americans and Spaniards who are working together on this project. His presence is calming and the young people listen to him. During the party I saw someone hugging the wall not wanting to dance (Nick), and I watched as Edgar went over to him, pulled him out to the dance floor and taught him some moves. Edgar carries the party with him, and I can only imagine that he and Luke together were quite a dynamic duo!

This is me with Carla Hanson, our full-time Alcoy missionary and my good friend.

Modesty, anyone?

I was prepared for topless women at the beach. But I haven't been to the beach yet. I was not, however prepared for the gym. This morning we went to a nearby gym that has a couple of pools. At this gym, you can pay as you go to use only the pool--3.5 euros, I think, for one entry. When we entered the locker room there were a couple of older women getting dressed and chatting. One of them was completely naked and stopped drying periodically to talk with her hands. I thought, "Well that's awkward". We swam some laps and did some exercises in the pool, sat in the steam bath and then rubbed ice on our skin. I'd never heard of this but Susanna says it makes your skin tighter and younger looking so, hey, why not try it? When we got back to the locker room Susanna showed me the showers all in one room. Not unusual for a pool locker room. There were 2 or 3 others in there when I started to wash my hair. When I opened my eyes, they had all taken off their bathing suits and were just showering naked as if they were at home!. Needless to say I did not take mine off and maybe they think I'm dirty, but, well, I'll just let them think that. I went to get my towel, and Susanna said gently, "There are private dressing rooms through that door if you want". I definitely wanted my own dressing room! Not surprisingly I didn't have any trouble finding an available one!

Salt and Light

We understand that the Spanish people have been subject to a corrupt government and a corrupt church. We´ve been told that in the past the government has used the church to convict people through their supposedly private confessions and to take advantage in other ways. I´m not saying that all the Catholic churches in Spain are corrupt, or even that the church is corrupt now, but only that there has been abuse in the past. And the government also has changed within the last generation. But because of this history, the people are suspicious of any organized religion. So we tread lightly. Carla reminded us that we are the salt and light of the earth, but that no one wants salt dumped on their food or a light blinding their eyes. We pray for opportunities and we pray for wisdom to know how best to use those opportunities.

Susanna and I have had a couple of conversations about my faith and the evangelical protestant church here in Alcoy. She explained that many people aren't interested in church because all they do is talk about sin and about how God wants to punish people for their sin. I tried to explain that my faith isn´t about religion or ritual or punishment, but about love. I told her that I go to church not because I have to, but because I want to. I explained that, yes, I sin, and yes, God has a right to punish me for my sin, but instead he chose, in love to offer to redeem me instead. Because of his amazing love for me, I CHOOSE to live a life that is glorifying to Him. No one makes me, and no one holds me accountable. I tried to explain that God is our loving father and that Jesus is my loving groom, who accepts me with all my imperfections. My behavior, my choices to attend church and to try to live well, are not a requirement, but a choice that I offer as a thanksgiving for the incredible love He has shown me!

Sometimes we wonder if what we are doing here is actually making a difference. And even though we know it is only our job to plant and water and let God give the increase, and even though we know that the increase may not happen until long after we are gone, we hope to see results.

Last night since it was just the two of us, we went downtown to the old part of the city to have supper. I was so impressed with the historic European atmosphere there. They close off the side streets, and the restaurants set up tables in the middle of the streets. We ate next to an historic building just next to the Plaza of Spain, and I was absolutey in awe of the mountain view and the architecture! We talked about how strange it is for me to be in the mountains and so far from home. She talked about how hard it must be for me to be away from my family, and yes, I cried right there in the street in public, and she cried with me. She recognized what a sacrifice it is for me to be here. And I explained that in spite of the difficulty of missing my family, I have a deep seated peace because I know without a doubt that God has brought me here for a purpose and to do His work. We had a long conversation about God and His presence in our lives. We talked about the strong love of a mother, and how we would give or do anything in the world to protect our children. Which led to talking about how much God loves us. Susanna told me her story and I told her mine. We talked about how during the hardest times of our lives, God was present, even if we didn´t recognize Him. I told her about God´s love and how when we, like a rebellious child, hold Him at arm´s length and refuse to let Him love us, He loves us anyway. He sits nearby, watching to make sure we don´t hurt ourselves, and He waits for the moment when we are ready to run into His arms again. We seem to understand each other already in a deeper way than many friendships.
I thank God for the friendship Susanna and I are developing and for the work He is doing here in me.

All kinds of different

Okay I expected the language difficulties and the different food and schedule but there are so many little things that are just, well, weird to me in Spain. For example, the calendar begins on Monday not Sunday each week. The regular paper size for copiers, printers and even notebooks is more narrow and longer than ours. Which means it doesn't fit on my fun clipboard that I always use when teaching. The toilets in public bathrooms don't have a seat and some have the tank up high on the wall and you pull the chain to flush. Others have a button on top of the tank too small to push with your foot. Almost no one has a clothes dryer but they don't really need it because the climate is so dry the clothes dry in a short time on a clothesline outside apartment windows. The elevator has 2 doors. The inside one slides open and closed automatically like you would expect but the outside one is on hinges like a regular door that you have to push or pull. Almost every time I take it alone I forget this and stand there waiting for the door to open for quite a while before realizing that the elevator arrived some time ago!
The language is problematic because I learned Spanish in South America, which is quite different than that of Spain. Think about the curious words used by the British and Australians. Today I described a woman on our team as a female monkey! Quite different than what I meant to say--that she is blond! The word was correct in SA but my Spanish hostess got a good laugh and shared the story with everyone. I referred to the car as a carriage several times before she eventually pointed it out to me. Guess she isn't aware of my royal heritage! Even words I expected to be universal among Spanish speakers like computer and "cute" are different. My hostess Susanna says if people weren't told they would assume I was South American not North American. Although sometimes they look at me like I'm from outer space when I try to communicate.
The money is different too and I'm constantly pulling out my phone to use the currency converter. Europeans carry more coins than we do and the bills are different sizes. At the ice cream shop today I ordered a coke light (which does NOT taste like diet coke!) and didn't quite understand the price (which it turned out was way too high-1.80 euros for a bottle) and while I was trying to figure out the coins, the clerk reached over and took 2 euros out of my hand. I guess he was a little too busy to wait on me to look at each coin individually!
Every day we experience something new. And every day something that was new begins to feel a little more comfortable. By the end of the month we might just fit in. Okay maybe not!

Day 1

It´s 10:00 pm and we are just back in the house after our first day. I´m trying to type on a Spanish computer, and the keyboard is arranged differently, so if you see lots of typos, that might be why! This morning we began the English camp for children. My job is to entertain the mothers who want to wait for the children, so I brought lots of quilting materials (Thanks to my mom, who helped come up with the projects).  Today there were four people who stayed to work with me. They loved the quilting idea, and we chatted while we worked. It was a pleasant morning, as I love to do handwork anyway. One of the parents is an American man who has lived in Spain since he was 16 years old! He and his wife both stayed. He said the quilting reminded him of his childhood in Kentucky.  Two others stayed. They were all fascinated with the rotary cutter and quilting mat--apparently those aren´t common around here. They explained to me that in this city, the weather is so pleasant that people spend most of their free time outside walking, visiting, being neighborly, and that´s why not many people know how to do hand work like quilting or other stitchery.
It truly is a beautiful city built on the mountainside. We walked home from the English class this evening and it was a lovely walk.

The evening class began tonight for teens and adults. There are three classes: beginners, intermediate, and advanced. Carla Hanson teaches the beginners, I teach the intermediates, and another American named Sara teaches the advanced. We run two back-to-back sessions every night from 5:15 to 9:00. First we teach a session for about an hour, then the students go to conversation with the other Americans for about a half hour. When the second group comes in, they begin with conversation before we teach the second session for another hour. This way the teachers get a break between sessions and the Americans who come in for conversation don´t have to wait around for a class to end. Tonight Sara and I went out for ice cream during the break at a place Luke mentioned last year, Albino´s.  The owner of this particular store is a member of the church that sponsors English Camp, and when he figured out who we were, he gave us free ice cream!
My family is as sweet as can be. They are very concerned with my comfort, almost to the point that I worry about messing up their schedule. I have my own room with a big window floor to ceiling, which I left open all night last night and not a single bug bothered me! Imagine! If I hadn´t been so tired last night, I would have liked to stay up for the big soccer game for the European cup between Spain and Italy. The whole city was partying, but I was so tired that I couldn´t hold my eyes open. I feel asleep immediately only to be awakened by fireworks and screaming. Apparently every time Spain scored, they set off fireworks. So I ended up putting earplugs in my ears and slept soundly. Someday I´m going to be sorry to say that I was in Spain for the big game and didn´t take part in any of the festivities, but, well, jet lag kind of took over and didn´t really give me an option. It´s been a good day. My hostess and her daughter are wonderful, the city is beautiful, the English camp team is a great group of servants, and I am glad the Lord saw fit to send me here now.