Extranjeros (Foreigners)

I flew into Terminal 4 when I arrived in Madrid Sunday morning, and the missionary who picked me up parked in the rebuilt parking garage that ETA bombed in 2006, killing two Peruvians sleeping in their car. The Spaniards rebuilt and moved on -- a common philosophy, I've found.

This morning (Monday) I started Spanish classes at the Escuela Internacional (International School) in Acala de Henares, a medium-sized town on the outskirts of Madrid. Already I'm learning a lot. I'm in a class with four Irish women, a woman from France and one from Korea, in addition to my fellow short-termer, Kendra. A Grove City College student, Kendra is a junior in elementary education and has a very enthusiastic and kind spirit.
Living in Spain is a little different than the United States. Most people live close together in apartment buildings called pisos, and much of the culture hinges on being close. There are no personal space bubbles when talking to someone, even though people do not touch often -- except when greeting one another.

I took the picture above from the small balcony of the Nordgrens' (Craig is SEND's Spain area director) piso. In the center of the building is a plaza, I believe.

We are in what some call a "closed" mission field -- the work is slow, people are slow to make relationships and the people are highly intellectual and adept at debating Christianity. In fact, according to SEND, Spaniards think of evangelical Christianity as a cult. Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses have made inroads in Spain, so being thought of with the same stigma hurts a bit.

Last night the team had dinner with a national Christian couple, Isabel and Luis. Isabel is German-born, but also speaks Spanish and English. Her husband, Luis, is a Spaniard. They are expecting their first child in December. I've been really blessed in the short time I've been here by kind people on both sides of the Atlantic. Thanks for all your support, whether you've given financially or through prayer. And please continue to pray.