A New Record

Since we prepared to move to Spain we heard things about the unemployment rate in Spain.  However, today the top news story has caught our eyes and our ears and our hearts.  When you meet someone new, no longer do you ask where they work, because it is highly likely they don't have a job.

Today the statistics say that 27.2% of Spaniards are unemployed.  In the first quarter, more than 237,400 new people are unemployed.  That brings the total to a little more than 6.2 million people.  Let me put that in perspective for you.

The entire population of Tennessee would almost make up the number of unemployed in Spain.

The entire population of the Madrid province does not quite cover this number.

The entire population of Hong Kong is right at 6 million.
If you are in a group of four people, at least one is unemployed.







But the story gets worse - 3.5 million of those people have been unemployed for more than a year.

Almost 2 million families have no one employed in the household.


And for those who are under 25, the unemployment rate is 55.7%.  That is almost 3 million.

And don't forget - this does not take into account the underemployed.

Keep praying for Spain!  The days ahead for many Spaniards are not filled with hope.

Cultural Confusion

I am constantly encountering moments when the culture around me and the culture in my head do not match, but normally that occurs between a Spaniard and me.  But occasionally, I hit a situation where I realize that the more time we spend in a new land that we create a third culture - some mix of our old and our new culture.  And interestingly, this third culture looks different for everyone.

The other night I had this concept hit me smack in the face, in a crazy kind of way.  I am looking for a tortilla keeper and have not found one yet, so I emailed two friends (who are both from the US but live near me) and asked if they had ever seen one.  One immediately wrote back that she had not seen them and her solution. The second conversation, however, had me rolling in the floor with laughter.

Here is the email I sent...

Ok Spanish Shopping Experts - I am looking for a tortilla keeper - you know the terra cotta color dish, usually plastic now a days, that is meant for putting steamed tortillas in for serving.  Have either of you seen one?

What immediately came to your mind?  

Here is what I wanted...

However, in Spain we also have another product that is referred to as "tortilla."  

This product is fried and is made of eggs and potatoes.

This was the tortilla that popped into my friend's head until I sent her the picture.  She wrote out for me what was happening in her head as she pondered my question...

HA!!!   Yes.  I DO know what THAT is….it's just not what I was imagining.  In MY head, I was wondering how you'd put a TORTILLA (DE PATATAS) in a sealed container without it getting soggy!!!  And since you said STEAMED tortillas…I was really not understanding where on earth you'd eaten yours.  Perhaps in Illescas they like STEAMED Tortillas de patata.   But yuck!

HA!

Oooops.

A funny, yet simple reminder, that "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas (or North Carolina) anymore."  

The Little Things

Once again yesterday, I was "soaring" through life I got a quick slap in the face that said "you are not in America any longer."  It was a good weekend, albeit exhausting.  I taught for four hours in Spanish and think they understood what I said.  I had a relaxing lunch with a wonderful Spanish couple and even laughed at the appropriate times (if you have ever learned a foreign language you understand that humor is one of the very last things that develops).  We entertained a Spanish friend for pizza and numerous rounds of UNO and laughed and exchanged stories for hours.  We went to church and I got the sermon - toes stepped on and all - in Spanish.  And then, all I wanted to do was mail a box to Hannah.  Compared to the rest I felt like was walking towards easy street.

Uh no.  The first problem, my box weighed more than 2 kg.  This means that it is now treated as a package and not a letter.  (A letter is anything, regardless of whether it is in an envelope or a box, that is less than 2 kg - new fact I learned yesterday)  I had the wrong paperwork filled out.  No problem, except for the fact that with packages you must list everything included in the box, including the package of Spanish candy I was sending her.  Uh oh - if you list it on your paperwork you cannot send food.  So now I have a 2+kg package, not letter, with a package of candy in it that cannot be mailed and a long form in Spanish to complete regarding the package that I do not understand, and a great gentleman at the post office who is trying to be helpful but has such a strong accent I have no idea what he is saying.  Solution - take everything and go home.

So now I have two packages, both weighing less than 2 kg with the paperwork I understand completed and will make attempt number two to mail them.

You know, it isn't the big things in life that trip me up - it is always the little things that come along just about the time I think I am making progress.  Today I am also off to two different banks - one to pay our car taxes and the other to complete the process for opening a bank account for our non-profit agency.  Wonder how many surprises are ahead of me today?

Off the Shelf

Wow!  Two blog posts in a row.  After a month of not finding the time to write I am trying to get a little back in the groove.  I have definitely missed my time of writing.  I wonder if anyone missed reading.

Tomorrow I am teaching a workshop on Christian Education at our base church.  And bigger than the fact that I am teaching tomorrow, is the fact that I am teaching it in Spanish!  Oh my!  It is going to take a miracle to survive the day.  I alternate between being excited to finally be doing something with my language and scared to death.  At one moment I am scared to death no one will show up and the next minute I am afraid someone will show up.

This week I was in a three day training conference on how to be a Life Coach and how to incorporate that skill in my ministry.  It was a great week and I can't wait to apply what I learned.  Anyone wanna volunteer to be my first "coachee?"  But as I was leaving today the instructor was telling me he would be praying for me tomorrow and we were talking about the emotions I was experiencing.

It has been difficult to describe the emotions of being reduced to toddler stage language in a place where there is so much that needs to be done.  But he summed up.  It was the feel of "being put on the shelf."  That was it!  So much of this past 18 months I have felt like I have been sitting on the shelf.  My language skills were so low (and continue to need lots of work) that there was nothing "productive" that I was being used for.  All around me were co-workers overwhelmed with all that needed to be done and I was sitting on the shelf.  At times I felt like dust was gathering and maybe had been forgotten.  At other times I felt like maybe the shelf was getting so full something (meaning someone) might need to be packed away. Its been a hard season of "sitting on the shelf" and as I move closer to my Spanish proficiency exam I am beginning to have that feeling of "being picked up and examined" and it brings both excitement and fears.  What will life look like off the shelf?

Tomorrow is a chance to temporarily come off the shelf and is a gift.  I think it will also be the motivation to put out the last push for preparing for my exam.  Check back in a day or two and I'll tell you about the view from off the shelf.

Friendships

If you asked me what was the hardest part of life in a foreign culture I would say it is the lack of relationships.  Oh, I have friends and I have co-workers, but sometimes they are work.  There is the language issue with my native friends and there is the distance issue with most of my co-workers.  I think this is a hard adjustment for anyone who moves to a new culture, but I think I felt it particularly strong because I left a position on a church staff that allowed me to walk the halls of the church on almost any given day and be greeted by many, be stopped for conversation by many, and to always have a phone message or email from someone.  My life was people and relationships at every level.

And then boom - that was gone.  In one fail swoop.  But after 18 months (can you believe we have been here for 18 months already) God has begun to gift those relationships back.  Oh, the language is still an issue, but God has placed 3 very special women in my life that have turned Illescas (where we life) from just our ministry site to home. 

I am not a spontaneous person.  I love to plan my life out to the finest detail.  Spain is a spontaneous culture.  So trust me, I am learning.  I have also learned that I love the spontaneous part of Spanish relationships.

Let me introduce you to my "gifts."

Martha (pronounced Marta) is my neighbor.  She and her family are from Columbia (the country, not SC) and have two children - Laura who is 8 and Daniella who is 5 months.  She has incredible patience with my language and is always full of encouragement.  She is a fellow evangelical believer and we so often are sharing scriptures that have touched our hearts or prayer requests or stories of our faith.  Monday night around 8:00 our phone rang and it was her husband.  A couple days earlier I had mentioned I wanted to learn how to cook platanos.  They were at the the store and saw platanos that were ripe and were calling to see if we could come to dinner on Tuesday night and have platanos.  We had a prior commitment and had to say no.  Immediately they changed the question.  Could we come to dinner tonight (meaning Monday) at 9:00?  Yep - I threw some cookies in the oven and grabbed a soda and she fixed chorizo and platanos and an hour later we were sitting around their table sharing dinner.  It's those phone calls that tug at your heart and remind you that you have roots growing.

Lisa is a Spanish woman who lives one street over.  Her husband works for the Bible Society of Spain in Madrid.  They have 3 children (from 16 to 20).  I haven't been able to spend much time with her, but when language finishes there will be more opportunities. Tonight, as I was sitting at the table recovering from an all day workshop, the button at our gate rang.  I looked out the window and there was Lisa.  She was going for her evening "paseo" (a stroll) and wanted to know if I wanted to join her.  As in right that moment.  Grabbed my sweater and for the next 30 minutes we walked and talked. She speaks English and I have given her permission to correct my Spanish.  She was so full of encouragement.  She asked me if I was ready for our proficiency exam in May.  I asked her what did she think.  She responds "I haven't seen you in a while, but you are so much better!"  Oh what a fabulous gift.  We chatted about our kids.  We chatted about what God is doing in our lives.  We chatted about some struggles.  We walked off a few calories (I wonder if it was enough to eat the last Reese's Easter Egg and come out even?).  It's those door bell sounds that remind you that your house is no longer just a house, but a home and a safe haven.

Maria is a Spanish woman we met through English class (I used to go to English class with my tutor to hear different Spanish accents and to let her students hear a native English speaker).  We became instant friends.  She is pregnant with her first child.  She went to English camp last October with us and since then has been over to our house for dinner and games several times or we have gone out with her for tapas or her birthday celebration.  Scott ran into her the other day and she "suggested" we get together again soon but do it on a weekend because then she could stay later (she leaves for work around 6:30 AM so when we get together on the weeknights she leaves early).  Tonight as I was driving home from Madrid I looked out the window and she was passing me.  She waved and smiled and made me laugh.  I followed her to our exit and as we approached where I would turn off I waved goodbye, but she pulled over and expected that I would do the same.  She got out of her car and opened my door to give me a hug and the Spanish double kiss.  We inquired about how each was doing and then she wanted to know if Scott had told me he saw her and about getting together on a weekend.  I said yes, and in my American mindset was trying to think when do I have a weekend free. She says "so Friday?"  As in two days away.  I explained I am in Madrid every day this week until the same time each day.  So she looks at her watch, says "so, until 6:40.  How about 7:30?"  When Maria is around you laugh and smile and she teaches me crazy Spanish sayings.  Maria and I are friends just because.  No hidden agendas.  She knows that we are evangelical believers and she has clearly expressed that she is not.  She trusts our friendship regardless.  But today, as I was processing the fact that if the world were to end tonight, I would miss her for eternity I was saddened.  There were tears over that realization.  And it is those tears that remind you that we are home. 

Slowly, but surely, God is gifting with new relationships.  Relationships that are unlike any of the relationships I had in NC.  Not better or worse, just different.  And I am extremely greatful.  And it's those realizations that you have friends right around the conrer that remind you that it will all be ok, that you can do it.  Oh how blessed I am!

The Life of a Stone

How can something the size of a pea cause so many problems?

I haven't felt great for about two weeks.  I assumed I had a urinary tract infection, but unless there are no other options, I avoid going to the doctor here at all costs.  Not because the medical care isn't good, but because navigating the medical system in a foreign language is just a big headache.  If it was just language it wouldn't be so bad, but it is not only language, it is a whole different system.  Everything is done differently.

Monday I gave in and went to the doctor.  Nope, not an infection, but instead a kidney stone.  That was definitely not part of DELE prep plan.  While waiting for the next scan, the stone decided it was done with my body and would move on out of there!

Wednesday night I thought I was dying.  Not from the pain, but from nausea.  At one point I made Scott promise me that when I actually am dying he will do whatever it takes that I don't experience nausea in my final hours.  I know, crazy!

After nearly forty eight hours of nausea, sleeping, pain, and fretting over what I really should be doing, I have finally returned to the land of the living.

Scott has been a great nurse, substitute mom, and foot massager.  He has definitely earned several gold stars!

84 days until the DELE - it is time to return to the books!

It's Legal, but...

(don't worry mom, we were safe)

Last night a friend and I went to Madrid to see Les Miserables in Madrid.  It didn't show in English until 10 PM so I had been waiting for a girl's night out.  Our plan was to drive to the edge of Madrid and park at a metro station, take the metro into the middle of Madrid, see the movie, and repeat plan towards home.

We had the address of the Metro station and a trusty GPS.  We decided to go to Madrid early so we could have time to walk around and not stress over a late train or something.  Thank goodness we made that decision!

We got to where the GPS said the Villaverde Metro Station was located, but it was just a big open field.  We could tell where the train tracks were, but not the station.  Deciding to try again we made a left turn.  And immediately both of our worlds were rocked!

Right in front of us was a prostitute.  Oh yeah, I've seen one before, but this was different.  We saw her being picked up.  We drove down a little further and realized we were must be in "their area."  There were ladies on every corner and every few hundred feet.

We finally found the train station, made it to Madrid with time for ice cream and to share a burrito before the movie, and watched a fabulous movie!  Then we took the train back to our car.

It was now 1:30 AM and we both wondered how life in that area would have changed by that hour.  So we drove back by.  (Don't worry mom, we were safe!)  Our hearts broke.  Our worlds were rocked. We were almost speechless.

There were probably 50 ladies out in this area.  They had fires built alongside the road - not sure if they were for the heat or for "customers" to be able to see them easily.  Some were in groups of 2 or 3, others were by themselves.  We watched one lady get out of a car.  On another corner was a man paying a lady.  Some were dressed like you see on TV, some with a little more, and one with a lot less. She had on a shirt and underwear.  Yes it was 35 degrees outside!

Our hearts broke for these ladies.  What drives a woman to this point of desperation? I read the news and understand about human trafficking, so we assumed that was a possible explanation. Although I cannot literally imagine it, I can also perhaps understand being so desperate for money for food or housing that they see this choice as their only option.

The other question we asked is how many of these women think so little of themselves that they think this life style is all they are worthy of?  What causes a woman to see herself in such a way that she thinks she deserves this?  The only answer we came to was they were never taught how God sees them.

My heart broke for these ladies.  I left thanking God for the father I had that showed me how God saw me.  I thanked God for a husband who showed our daughter the true love of a father.  I repeatedly kept saying "there but by the grace of God."

I also left wondering what might God have me do with these images?

Prostitution is legal in Spain.  It doesn't happen only in dark alleys.  It happens on public, major streets. Where does these women go when morning comes?  Do they have homes or families or do they sleep in a park?  Are there children somewhere?

The experience was nothing like what you see on TV or in the movies.  There was nothing glitzy or exciting.  It was dark and depressing.  It was incredibly sad.

I won't too quickly forget what I saw and I just pray that each of those women we passed last night might one day see their value as a woman, created in the image of God, who sees who they were created to be, and said "and it was good."

Cocido

Sometimes the food in Spain makes sense and other times I have a hard time wrapping my brain around it.  For example, you will find eggs on about everything.  Amazingly, the combination is pretty good a lot of the time, although occassionaly I have to work at liking it.

For example, this past Saturday I had pizza with boiled egg on it.  I know, sounds a little odd, but it was actually really good!

In the summer we often have gazpacho - a cold tomato, cucumber, vinegar type soup.  It makes great sense because it is so hot here and that soup is very refreshing.

Just recently I discovered another food that makes perfect sense - cocido.  It is the perfect rainy, cold day kind of food (like today).   It's kind of like a deconstructed stew (can you tell I like to watch food shows?).  In actuality it is all cooked together in a big stew pot then served separately.  The first plate is a noodle soup that is served using the broth of from cooking the gazpacho beans.  Then you receive a plate of gazpacho beans, vegetables, and a variety of meat, including pork, beef, and chicken.  Normally you leave the table so full you can't walk.

I saw it advertised on a lunch board today at the "bar" (remember these aren't an American bar) where we went for coffee and Scott agreed it was a great spot for lunch. (A definite treat to eat out)  And now, after eating the whole thing, all I want to do is crawl up under a blanket and take a nap!

Girlfriends

A few days ago I reflected on the days that it easy to forget we live on the "other side of the ocean" and that life sometimes just goes with the flow.   But today isn't one of those days.  It's one of those days where you realize there is a really big hole in your life in those first years of living here.  A hole that is the size of girlfriends.

I think the thing I miss most is that "really close, tell it how it is, share your deepest thoughts, no fear of judgement, willing to laugh and cry with you, encourage you and correct you" girlfriend.  You know the kind of friend that comes along just a few times in your life.  Don't get me wrong.  There are lots of people here who are friends - both Spaniards and co-workers.  But it is hard to have that kind of relationship without strong language and my co-workers who speak English live in different cities.  That kind of friend is definitely walking with the same faith in God as you are, and since we are living in a town with little to no evangelical presence that kind of friend is definitely a rare gem here.

I have also realized that I don't think I ever told these friends how much I appreciated them.  Think it is one of those things I took for granted.  But today, I realize just how valuable of a gift a girlfriend is.  I also realize how important they are to a gal like me.

So today I am yearning for a cup of coffee, a box of chocolate, and some serious girlfriend time.  But, instead I'll take some Spanish homework (so that one day that kind of relationship might be possible here) and a skype call about potential new ministry material, and maybe I'll cheat on my diet and have some chocolate!

Comedy of Errors

So today was a comedy of errors... 

We had learned of a place in the mountains near Madrid where we could go sledding.  (By the way, did you know there is not a verb in Spanish for sledding?)  Although the train took longer than driving, we decided to take the train.  It allowed us to study and relax and impossible to get lost that way, right?

Well, we never got lost, but nor did we sled.

• First discovered train doesn't go where we want until 1.. It was 10 so we decided to drive.
• Got 3/4 of the way there and they have posted you can't go further w/out chains.
• Found a park with undisturbed snow and Scott and Alex had a mini snowball fight.
• Decide to go a little ways back, have lunch, and get train in 2 hours.
• Went to buy tickets to be told due to weather train closed for day.
• Decided to come back to Madrid for pizza at our favorite pizzeria (it is on the opposite side of Madrid so it is rare treat to be close enough to go) but discovered it is closed on Mondays.
• Went to a mall with indoor skiing.
• Had lunch in the food court - where I chose Taco Bell - that is really bad - both in taste and for my diet.
• Found out it is more expensive to ski inside than the real thing.  
• Scott and Alex decided to play putt putt and I found a comfy chair for studying phrases with "por and para.".  

But hey, we were together, we laughed a lot, reminded ourselves we were in Spain and this was normal, and came home content.  Will we try another day?  Hmm, that is still to be determined!

How Do You Say That?

One of the hardest parts of learning a new language (besides the vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling, and verb conjugations) are all the colloquial phrases.   I have about given up on actually using them, but would love to at least understand them when someone says them to me.  So, I thought I would share a few of my favorite with you (besides, if I have to type them here maybe some of them will stick in my brain.)

Spanish:  Ponerse las botas
Literal Meaning:  To put on the boots
Colloquial Meaning:  To eat a lot

Spanish:  Estar manga por hombro

Literal Meaning:  To be sleeve for shoulder

Colloquial Meaning:  To be totally disorganized/Don't know where to start

Spanish:  Cambiar de chaqueta   

Literal Meaning:  To change the jacket

Colloquial Meaning:  To change your mind

Spanish:  Ir de punta en blanco  

Literal Meaning:  To go to tip in white

Colloquial Meaning:  To be well dressed

Spanish:  Pasarse las noches en blanco   

Literal Meaning:  To pass the nights in white

Colloquial Meaning:  Not able to sleep

Spanish:  Estar sin blanca

Literal Meaning:  To be without white

Colloquial Meaning:  To not have any money

Spanish:  Dar gato por liebre 

Literal Meaning:  To give cat for rabbit

Colloquial Meaning:  To deceive, cheat

Spanish:  Pagar el Pato  

Literal Meaning:  To pay the duck

Colloquial Meaning:  Suffer the consequences

Spanish:  Estar como un cabra   

Literal Meaning:  To be like a goat

Colloquial Meaning:  To be crazy

Spanish:  Hincar los codos   

Literal Meaning:  To stick the elbows

Colloquial Meaning:  To study a lot

Spanish:  Tener mala pata  

Literal Meaning:  To have a bad leg

Colloquial Meaning:  To have bad luck

Spanish:  Estar patas arriba   

Literal Meaning:  To be legs up

Colloquial Meaning:  To turn things upside down

Spanish:  Tener entre ceja y ceja  

Literal Meaning:  To have between eyebrow and eyebrow

Colloquial Meaning:  To not be able to stand someone/something

Spanish:  Tener la mosca detrás de la oreja   

Literal Meaning:  To have the fly behind the ear

Colloquial Meaning:  To suspect something

Hope you are laughing along with me as I try to memorize these.  Can't wait to teach the spaniards some of the crazy English colloquialisms too!

Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore

Sometimes life is so comfortable that I forget I am the "extranjero," the foreigner.  Sometimes I am sailing through life without many bumps and then all of a sudden something happens and I am reminded this isn't Kansas, or North Carolina, or even the USA for that matter.

As I type I am sitting in Burger King while Alex goes to youth.  It is too far to go home in between so I usually spend 3 hours, twice a month, at Burger King.  It is close to the church and has free wi-fi and free refills.  What else could I want?


This is the sign I see sitting in my booth.  Yeah, it is even in English.  Ahh, a nice touch of familiarity.  But wait, what about the rest of the experience.

For example, I had a salad as my side.  Normal enough, but they never asked me what kind of dressing I wanted because there are no choices - olive oil and dressing.  And when I opened my salad, no cucumbers or carrots or croutons, but yes - topped with whole kernel corn.

And when I ordered, the cashier asked whether I wanted refresco (soft drink), cerveza (beer), or agua (water).  You can even get a cerveza in the drive through because no one drinks in their car, not even the diet coke.  They even put your cups in a bag, no drink holders.

At church this morning we were hit with one of those "this ain't Kansas" feelings too.  The worship service began with forty minutes of announcements and no one was bothered.  Why not?  Because as the one who was officiating the service said, "this many announcements means we are an alive church."  And no one (not even me - boy is God stretching me) was bothered that the service went 30 minutes later than normal.  But no one would say it went late, just longer.  And when the pastor was using Superman as an illustration and mispronounced Lois Lane's name, it was normal for the congregation to ask him who he was referring to and then correct him.  Yep, in the middle of the sermon.

Before coming to Burger King I went to Carrefour - the closest thing we have to Super Wal-Mart.  This store always reminds me I am in Spain.  Other than having to repeatedly think to myself "If I were a Spaniard I would put ____ with ____," I always have to take a deep breath when I walk in.  Imagine walking into Wal-mart where the line of cash registers are.  You can't walk straight in to the aisles and you definitely can't walk between cash registers.  Instead, you must walk all the way down to the farthest end of the registers where there is the single entrance into the aisles.  Inevitably, what I need is near the first cash register so I cover that distance twice.  Not a big deal, but makes me shake my head every time!

And of course there is driving.  I am getting used to the ways of the road, but not sure the American in me will ever get used to the layout of the roads.  You might see the mall from the interstate but you can't get to the mall from the interstate.  It is not unusual to have to drive 5 to 10 minutes around several round abouts and service roads to get to the main shopping areas.  Every time I am navigating these roads I think "if this was the US these stores would die."  Spaniards aren't bothered by this, so I am learning to not be either.

And of course I return to Burger King.  Why only Burger King each week?  Well, because on Sundays (except for the first Sunday of the month) most stores are closed.  Only the big centro commercials (malls) are open.  In the states I would cram as many errands as possible into these three hours, but here I am learning to cherish the time to blog, study, read, and remind myself that "we aren't in Kansas anymore."

Church

Life is crazy and language is all consuming and although blog posts run through my head all the time, they rarely make it to my fingers and the computer.  Don't take silence for lack of activity.  I'd love to tell you a story everyday, cause there are some really good ones, but reality is that I'd have to give up sleep or showers for that to happen - and you can remember all too recently the reality of no showers and just ask my family, no sleep does not make for a happy mama.

I contemplated trying to catch up on missed things I really wanted to tell you, but decided to forgo that and just go with the present.  Maybe one day I'll do a "reminiscing" kind of post.

We moved to Spain to help begin a new church in an area of Spain that has little to no evangelical presence.  We landed in Illescas in July and have been making friends, studying Spanish, talking about the future work, praying, planning, and anxiously waiting for God to give the go ahead for the next step.

In January we (my husband and our co-worker team) decided it was time to declare the new Illescas church "open."  We still don't have a name for the new congregation, but we held our second worship service today.

For now we are meeting once a month and alternate homes for meeting.  As the congregation grows and as word of mouth is spread and as people become interested in learning a little more we will increase the frequency of our gatherings.

It's a real service, regardless of the size. Time of worship, prayer, offering, sermon, and even communion.  These will be some special memories.

And today - only our 2nd gathering - we had a visitor!  She has lived in the area for about a month. About the time she moved here our co-workers were prayer walking and giving out tracts in the the area she lives.  On the back was our co-workers name and phone number.  A couple weeks ago she called and asked if he could recommend a church in the area and he invited her to church today.  And she came!

This afternoon I had to say God stepped on my toes when he asked me "so, why are you so excited about THIS visitor and yet when you were in the states you didn't rejoice in the same way each time I sent new people to your congregation."  OUCH!  Don't blame me after you read this if He asks you the same thing!

Life is good.  We are finding our roots.  We are studying Spanish like mad.  We are making friends (Maria came for dinner this week and it was so much fun to have our OWN friend over).  We have fabulous neighbors.  Alex is finding his way in the public schools.  We are seeing God open doors and move mountains.  We are praying, planning and dreaming of future ministries.  We can't wait to see what is in store next!

(Sometimes it Stinks) And Sometimes it Smells Like Very Expensive Perfume

A couple weeks ago I wrote of how stinky the life of a missionary could be at times, but last night, as I was walking in the door I realized how at other times life can smell like an extremely expensive bottle of perfume.

As I looked out my kitchen window yesterday our neighbor was passing by and waved.  A simple wave led to a walk together to the trash dumpster, followed by a cup of coffee, a two hour visit, and a chance to sit with their 8 year old daughter and practice my Spanish while helping her do her nightly Bible devotions.  Ahh, such a sweet smell.

Today we went to Toledo for Scott and I to pick up our residency cards.  We were in and out of the government office in 15 minutes.  I was definitely smelling some roses as we sat down to have coffee and a croissant without having to pay more for parking.

After the government office we stopped at a book store and I bought a financial ledger for METAS (I am the treasurer) and when I got home I recorded our first two donations - one from the team who was here in October and another from a family who has already committed to supporting the new church here while they are in Costa Rica raising support to return to Spain as full time missionaries.

And on Sunday, I think I'll find myself in the "perfume factory" as we sit down in our living and experience the first worship service of the new Illescas Church.  Success is really hard to measure when serving in ministry, but for church planters (such as us) the first worship service definitely marks a huge step in the right direction.  God is definitely up to bigger things than we imagined.

So, yeah, sometimes it stinks.  Sometimes it smells so bad nobody wants to be around you, but then there are other times.  There are times when you find yourself wanting to stop in that spot, inhale some really big breaths, and pray that as you walk around you are carrying that smell with you.

Some ask why survive the stinky days?  Because there is a perfume that is able to cover up all that stink!

Long Time No See

Life is crazy!  I have thought about blogging everyday for the past two weeks, but it just hasn't risen to the top of the list.  Language classes have resumed, winter laundry takes forever to accomplish, ministry tasks are increasing, winter weather makes you want to stay bundled up under the blanket on the couch,  .... and on goes the list.

We are in the middle of our first winter in Illescas.  Oh my!  I didn't realize how much the tall buildings in Alcala (our first city here) helped protect us from the wind.  Now we live in the middle of nowhere.  All around us are open fields - no tall buildings, no mountains, no protection.  The wind blows and you feel it to the bones.  The biggest problem with winter is laundry.  On average it takes 3 days for the laundry to dry.  The air is wet and the temperatures are lower.  The 3 days is not the problem, but instead my motivation.  The day I wash the laundry I have great motivation, however, 3 days later I have lost interest.  What I think I need is someone to come behind me and fold and put away the laundry.  :)

We are 4 months from our language exam.  I am tired of verb conjugations and prepositions.  I am still praying that one day I am just going to wake up and speak fluent Spanish.  But until that day, its homework and study!

We have our first official worship service of the new church plant here in Illescas this Sunday.  It is exciting to be taking this first step.  We have begun to explore the possibility of renting a store front for METAS and the church.  We are dreaming big dreams of what this will look like.

Keep coming back.  Hope to be a little more consistent in those coming days!

Sometimes It Stinks

You are going to be saying that about me soon if we don't get some "real" hot water soon, but that wasn't really what I was referring to.  (Side note - we have luke warm hot water and have had this for about a week.  Supposedly the repairman is coming today, but since it is almost 6:00, I am having my doubts.  And then since this weekend is the final fiesta of Christmas in Spain and the biggest day of celebration - King's Day - I am figuring if we don't see him today we won't seen him until at least Monday or Tuesday.)

But back to what really stinks....

Sometimes it stinks to be where you know God has called you.  Sometimes it comes with yucky parts.  Sometimes it comes with lots of tears.  One of those "sometimes" was today.

Hannah returned to the states today for her second semester of college.  She is thriving and happy and I am truly blessed by how well she is doing, but it still stinks.  The house feels a little more empty and the tears seem a little closer to the eye lids.  The motivation to put away the laundry or do my Spanish homework seems waning.  Cooking for three seems a little less exciting.

Siesta seems a little more inviting.  A cup of hot tea and a lot of chocolate is yelling my name.  An aspirin or two and a blanket is very appealing.

Yet, throughout all of this, I know I am where I am supposed to be.

I have been reading Ecclesiastes and today I can relate a little to the writer.  He says at times it feels like although he is being faithful to God there is no difference in his life and others.  The hurts and disappointments keep coming.  He goes as far to say it feels as if life is all in "vain."

I get it.  A life with God doesn't guarantee the lack of tears or hurts or disappointments.  It doesn't even guarantee we'll always have hot water (writing just got interrupted by the repairman - yeah! - but not so fast, nothing is wrong with our hot water heater, other than it is too small for our house and the water outside is too cold to be heated completely and thus until spring or summer we will only have luke warm water).

But yet in the end, I'll still praise God.  And although I have the same hurts and disappointments as those without God, I have the comforter above all comforters.  Today, and maybe tomorrow, I'll curl up in my little ball and have a good cry - but yet, through it all - He will be faithful to bring a peace that passes all understanding and a comfort that is only from Him.

Yep, some days it stinks (and with only luke warm water there are going to be days that I stink) - but everyday HE gives meaning to all of it.

12 Grapes

Again I am writing about food.  I think I need to find a new line of topics, soon!

In Spain we eat 12 grapes at midnight to usher in the new year.  For those of you wondering, here is the story as to why.

Eating 12 Grapes on New Year's Eve in Spain
 

The Twelve Grapes to the chimes of the clock at midnight on New Years Eve has been a Spanish tradition since 1909. In December that year, some  vine growers from the Alicante area came up with "The 12 Grapes" as an idea to sell huge amounts of grapes from an excellent harvest.
 

Since that time Spanish people have kept up the tradition as a way to celebrate New Year's Eve. On the last day of the year, the 31st of December, they wait until twelve p.m. Everybody has to have twelve grapes ready to eat when the clock starts to chime. It is traditional to listen to the clock from Puerta del Sol in Madrid and in other town squares around the country.


When it is midnight in Spain on New Years Eve, each time the clock chimes, all the people put a grape in their mouth. By the time the clock has finished chiming, everybody has to have finished their grapes and the New Year starts, but nobody finishes eating the grapes on time.

Eating the grapes is very funny because everybody starts the New Year with a full mouthful of grapes. It's almost impossible to finish eating the grapes by the time the clock finishes chiming. Normally people still have all the grapes in their mouths, and they start looking at each other and have to laugh.
If you manage to eat the 12 grapes then you will have 12 months good luck.

Borrowed from:  http://www.entertainmentinspain.com/12%20Twelve%20Grapes%20New%20Years%20Eve%20Tradition,%20Spain.htm

Food That Looks At You

Call me crazy, but I much prefer my food to not "look" at me. Apparently, the people of Spain think different during the holiday season. As I walk through markets and grocery stores I am beginning to become paranoid, cause the food is looking at me all the time.

A bird and some rabbits - yep, these not only are
"looking" at you, they are still dressed.

Look Closely, the chicken on the top
right still has his head.

Sheep Heads (and some other

internal organ)

 

Yep - These chickens have their heads

(look up against the metal grate)

AND their feet.

I think this is a sheep (or maybe a goat)-
 no head, just neck.

It is custom to hang the meat in the front of the store to
allow customs to see what is available, and
to highlight the freshness.

Can you tell shrimp is a traditional food for Christmas?

 And yes, even the fish still look at you.

Roasted Baby Pig is traditional
for this holiday season

 

You can buy it frozen (like previous picture)

or buy a part of a cooked one.

 

 

When I imagined all the cultural adaptations I would have to make, this wasn't one of them.  Oh, how life is never boring!

Christmas Eve and Some Finger Foods

Hannah is home, Christmas is here, relationships are budding and blogging has fallen aside.  But by no means has that mean I haven't continued to reflect on God's promises.  In fact, it is only through those promises that I am able to enjoy this holiday season.  No one told me the second Christmas in Spain would be as hard as the first one.  I thought we had "survived" the new and were treading into traveled waters, but no - this holiday season is just as hard as the first one.  We have been incredibly blessed with time with our teammates, Spanish friends, and having Hannah home - yet, traditions take years to establish, and I guess, years to stop "missing," if ever.

Before moving to Spain I worked on staff of a church that celebrated Christmas Eve with two services. One for children and another more traditional service.  Being the children's minister meant this was a day of "work."  Christmas Eve morning was filled with last minute tasks at home, cooking all kinds of finger foods, making a bed for my parents (who would join us at church), and of course, trying to be sure I remembered to buy everything on my list and where I had put it.

Christmas Eve afternoon was last minute preparations for the service and the laying out of costumes.  Every year was different - one year was even a Birthday Party for Jesus (complete with noise makers).  Then the noise began.  The church first began to be filled with the families of the children in the program.  For you see, each year we chose children to play the parts of the true Christmas story.  Every year we tried to choose children who had not been chosen for other parts that required singing or speaking.  One of my favorite years was when one of our shepherds was a young man who struggles with a form of autism.  He radiated from ear to ear.  I sat back and imagined he was truly representing what the shepherds experienced.  Awe and excitement to be at the foot of the manger.

My parents always came to town for this service.  The service ended with the lighting of candles and the singing of "One Little Light in the Darkness."  Never did I imagine I would one day be living in a country filled with so much spiritual darkness.  After the service my parents would help clean up from the manager and then head to our house (and sometimes take a child with them - even one year taking a bird with them which was a gift for Zachary) to finish up dinner.

After the rest of us stayed for the second service, we went home for a very unbalanced meal of finger foods - chicken wings, ham rolls, cheese dip, meatballs, texas sheet cake, ... - now I am hungry.  When we arrived home, we ate until we would pop and then gathered around the tree for the opening of ONE very important present.

Although we all acted surprised, no one was surprised with what that package held.  It always held PAJAMAS.  Why pajamas?  I don't know why my parents started the tradition, but I always got pajamas on Christmas Eve.  So, my kids always get the same.  But I decided this tradition meant the picures on Christmas morning had the kids looking somewhat "decent."

This of course was followed by lots of laughter, shaking of presents that were off limits, and finally a long discussion of what time everyone was allowed to get up the next morning.

The interesting thing is that gifts were saved for Christmas morning, and thus in the world's standards, the more important day of the process.  But it was Christmas Eve we looked forward to and the day we miss the most.

This year we are blessed that Hannah is here.  I can't imagine Christmas Eve without her.  But Zach and my parents are not.  Definitely a hole.

We'll celebrate tonight with friends by staying up way past midnight, eating lots of our traditional foods as well as theirs, and having our own Christmas Eve service.  We'll laugh and enjoy the moment, and yet yearn for years past.

But all this reminds me of one of my favorite (and most comprehensive promises) of all...

Isaiah 9:6
"And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Without this promise there would be even more tears and sadness, yet I can truly say HE has been all that HE has promised, even in the midst of missing the traditions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some of my favorite finger foods....

Ham Rolls

• 2 pans Pull apart rolls (you know, those rolls that come in a metal pan, pre-cooked, and little rectangles)
• Lunch meat ham
• Provolone cheese
• 1 stick butter
• 1 Tbsp dried mustard
• 1 Tbsp poppy seeds
• 2 Tbsp dried onion flakes
• Splash of Worcestershire sauce

1. Slit open the rolls and return the bottom half to the pans.
2. Lay ham and cheese over bread to cover them entirely.
3. Return top half of bread.
4. Pre-slice into servings (I usually consider two rolls a serving)
5. Melt butter
6. Add mustard, poppy seeds, onions, and worcestershire sauce.
7. Pour the butter mixture evenly over the two pans.
8. Cover with foil and refrigerate anywhere from 1 hour to a whole day.
9. Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes, or until warm.

Cheese Dip

(so simple, yet everytime I take to an event people ask for the recipe)

• 1 pound ground sausage
• 1 pound velveeta
• 1 can rotel

1. Brown sausage and put in crock pot.
2. Add velveeta and rotel
3. Occassionaly stir
4. Cook on low until melted and hot all the way through.
5. Serve with tortilla chips.

Meat Balls

I don't use a recipe for these, so no idea how much of each ingredients....

• Ground beef (depends on how many meatballs you want)
• Finely chopped onion - for one pound meat I use about 1/2 onion
• Bread crumbs - enough to make texture for molding balls
• Egg - I use one egg per pound and a half (or so)
• Spaghetti Sauce - my secret ingredient - add a splash to the meat - gives all the flavoring you need and a great texture

1. Mix well - saving bread crumbs to be last ingredient added.
2. Put on 9 x 13 pan 
3. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes (no need to worry if they are totally cooked)
4. Place in crock pot (if you don't have a spare one, you can use a sauce pan) 
5. Cover with spaghetti sauce (I always used jarred for this recipe)
6. Simmer for an hour or so.
7. Christmas Eve we eat just as meatballs and later in the week as meatball subs.

#21 Forever and Criss Cross Apple Crowns

It's Friday evening in Spain.  Two of my children are sitting here on the couch eating a grocery store bought pizza.  We are getting ready to watch a Christmas movie online.  This morning we had chocolate and churros with our Sara (our tutor) and Santi.  I got a two hour nap (will regret that later tonight since I slept from 4 - 6 PM).  Our home is warm (although quite expensive to keep really warm so we are all under a blanket).  

We have new friends and we are beginning many new relationships.  Our Spanish improves a little every day (or at least we are praying that it is).  

Scott got his driver's license yesterday.  I have prayed since October that he would get it before Christmas, although everyone told us it was highly unlikely.  

Although we are feeling the results of the financial crisis, both in Spain and America, today we are cared for.  We have had some financial partners have to stop giving, but so far, we are holding on.

One of our children is in the United States and not with us for Christmas.  Our parents are far away and family and friends are definitely missed at this time of the year.  Traditions are just not the same in Spain and our hearts feel that twinge of missing the familiar.

Yet, we can count on the promise of God that "His love endures forever." 

Psalm 136

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.

to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.

He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Criss Cross Apple Crowns

A favorite recipe from my Pampered Chef days

(first in English - makes 12, then in Spanish - makes 6)

In English

• 4 small Granny Smith apples 
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 3 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon, divided
• 3/4 c sugar, divided
• 12 grand-size flaky or buttermilk biscuits (will have to buy 2 packages)
• 1 tbsp butter, melted
• Optional - ice cream, cool whip, caramel ice cream topping

1. Peel, core, and slice apples.
2. Combine apples, walnuts, raisins, flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl.  Mix well.
3. Microwave on high 3 minutes, or until hot.
4. Roll each biscuit into a 5" disk.
5. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon.
6. Using 1/4 cup of the cinnamon and sugar mixture, sprinkle over biscuits.
7. Divide apple mixture into the center of each biscuit.
8. Gather up edges over filling, pinching to seal.
9. Holding each biscuit at sealed end, dip into butter then cinnamon-sugar mixture.
10. Place biscuits, seam side down, into a muffin pan.  Do not press down.
11. Using a serrated bread knife, cut an "x" into the top of each biscuit.
12. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or until gold brown.
13. Dump from pan while hot.
14. If desired, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with caramel sauce.

In Spanish

• 2 manzanas pequeña
• 35 g pasas
• 14 g harina
• 85 g azúcar
• 15 ml canela
• 15 g mantequilla
• ½ coja Masa de Hojaldre

1.     Precalentar el horno a 175⁰ C

2.     Pelar las mazanas y corta en pedazos pequenos.

3.     Mezclar las manazanas, pasas, harina, 30 g del azúcar, y 5 ml de la canela en un recipiente apto para microondas.

4.     Calentar en micro por 3 minutos o hasta caliente.

5.     Extender la masa y cortar  en 6 piezas.

6.     Mezclar el resto (55 g) del azúcar y el resto (10 ml) de la canela en cuenco pequeño.

7.     Derretir la mantequilla en cuenco pequeño.

8.     Pon una cucharilla de azácar y canela en el centro de una pieza de masa.

9.     Pon una cucharada de la mezcla de manzana en el centro de una pieza de masa.

10.  Reunir borde de la masa y pellizcar para cerrar.

11.  Mantener la masa ocupada por los bordes y mojar en mantequilla y mezcla de azúcar y canela.

12.  Colocar la masa en un molde para hornear.

13.  Hornear por 25 minutos.