We moved to Spain to share Christ with the people here. This forced a change in perspective for us - we were here to be with people. I know that sounds like a "duh" moment, but for Americans (or at least a lot of them) this is a big shift in mentality. Us Americans tend to focus on the task and work and fill in the gaps with relationships. By no means are Spaniards lazy - the majority of them work really hard - but they have their priorities/value system in a different order than ours. They focus on relationships - a top priority for them is family and friends - and they fill in the gaps with work. I have loved seeing this change occur in me as well and as a result I have met some incredible people over the past 3+ years. I am so very blessed!
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| Sara Davila - my language tutor and friend |
#10 - My Teachers
Yep, almost 50 (oh my!) and I am still learning. Over the past three years I have had a variety of teachers - ones that taught me Spanish, some that taught me Spanish culture, some that taught me the church culture, and others that have taught me how this new profession looks. Those are my "formal" teachers, but along the way I have also met a variety of "teachers" who have taught me through emails, facebook chats, or just time spent over a cup of coffee. I feel sorry for the people who arrive at a certain age and believe they have learned all there is to learn. They are missing out on a lot of blessings.
#11 - My Family on this side of the Ocean
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| Armando and Noemi - our pastor & his wife |
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| Martha - dear friend and confidant |
I am a relationship type person. I am an extrovert. I love people, I find my energy being around people, and I always believe there is room for one more at the table, in the car, or in my life. But one day, very soon after we arrived in Spain, I realized I didn't really have any of that any more. I struggled. I cried. I pitched quite a few temper tantrums with God. The phone never rang (unless it was a telemarketer in Spanish and I had no idea what he was saying). The doorbell never rang (unless it was the mailman wanting in the building to deliver mail). My table always had the same 4 (don't get me wrong - I love sharing a meal with my family, but I love the variety of life that comes with new people around the table). I stayed connected with those on the other side of the ocean, but on this side - well, it was plain lonely! Yet, as time passed new family grew. Teammates, teachers Alex's school, Spanish friends, neighbors, and the church became my family on this side of the ocean. Tough times came and passed and without these people I would have packed up and gone home. When "issues" have arisen on either side they have been here to support and encourage. This fall, when we went through a breast cancer scare I realized that I do now have family on this side of the ocean. WhatsApp messages arrived before, during and after every appointment. Offers to go with me to appointments and meals during the biopsy recover time. Prayers abundantly filled the gap and let me know that I wasn't walking through this alone. The coffee invitations are more frequent, the walks with a friend more common, the "I'm praying for you" comments come regularly, and the revolving door of friends and family has returned to the front of our house. At our table you often find new faces. The sound of messages can be heard throughout the day. Laughter in the streets is no longer a spectator sport. God has definitely blessed with me with a surrogate family here in Spain - and I am blessed beyond measure.
#12 - My Family on the other side of the Ocean
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| US team in 2012 |
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| Send off party |
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| Robin and a few days of girl fun |
September 30, 2011 will always be burned into my memory. Standing in the airport with family and friends and saying goodbye. As we walked down the hall to our plane, leaving behind all that felt "comfortable," I felt alone. I felt like I was letting go of every relationship I had ever experienced and was fearful that the goodbye we had just said was permanent. I shed quite a few tears over the next 15 hours as we waved goodbye in Greensboro and hello in Madrid. Yet, my family and friends have been faithful over the 3+ years. I have said that an ocean is a great proving ground for relationships and I am so thankful for those that have stood the test of time and distance. My family has been incredibly supportive. I know it was not hard for my parents to let us go - to say goodbye to
their grandkids (and daughter). My sister knew with this move that if my parents needed help it
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| John & Jacqui from SC - visiting in Spain with our Spanish pastor & family |
would all fall on her, and yet she let us go. Our oldest son knew he was being left behind, shed a few tears, and let us go. For the first year, one friend sent me a facebook message everyday! Another friend, for the entire 3+ years we have been here has responded to every email newsletter with words of encouragement. Other friends pop up with short (and sometimes long) emails just sharing how life is going and asking about mine. Facebook chats, gmail chats, imessages, skype calls, magic jack calls (even from 3 couples who called in the middle of the night because they were all together and thinking of us - and unfortunately not thinking about the time difference), emails, care packages, snail mail, .... have all been cherished. Friends and family have stood in the gap for us as parents as well - helping Hannah have a place to live, a job, move in to college, find a car, treat her to a family dinner and games, take her tailgating, sending her care packages. I daily thank God for these people in my life and I pray that they too know how thankful I am for them.
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