New Friends, Castles, and Big Paintings

(post written by Charlie)

Realizing that I have not written an update in some time, and considering the breadth of topics I wish to share with those who call our blog, "friend", I have decided to write two entries, relatively back to back so that I might break up both your reading and my writing, with the hope that both will become more enjoyable.  Today, I will discuss some of the exciting experiences we've had in the past few weeks, and later in the week I will describe some of the work Becky and I do in further detail, and provide a glimpse into our fun and often crazy schedule.  I have also been asked to spend more time discussing the food we eat, and feel as though this topic is important enough to span all territories of discussion, and I will not be limited to speaking about our diet in this, nor any other specific entry, but will endeavour to make it a common bond between everything update that I write.

Pastoral Care Retreat:

A few weeks ago, our Alliance team in Spain gathered together for a Pastoral Care Retreat in Becky's and my hometown of Tres Cantos, Madrid.  This is the fifth year that former pastors Bob and Joan Galasso from Florida have made the trip out of their own pocket to visit Spain and encourage the workers here.  While the month long visit is incredibly important, Bob and Joan are equally vital to praying for and encouraging us through out the year, through regular responses to updates or remembering to send a birthday card to each of us.  A highlight for us was being given the opportunity to meet the rest of the Alliance workers in Spain and spend the weekend with them.  For us, this was especially encouraging as we were asked to host Craig and Katie Lewis, a young couple in the their first year of overseas ministry working in Granada. One of the struggles we've had in Spain has been not having peers—our ministries are either with seniors (65+) or with kids (13-). Very few people our age live in Tres Cantos. To be able to simply be with people at a similar stage of life as us, experiencing the same new things, and who speak English as a first language, was a much larger blessing than we could have anticipated! We showed off Madrid, we chatted until all hours of the night, and we teased each other mercilessly (this is perhaps something I have missed most of all about being in a second language situation).

The theme of the weekend was Servant Leadership, and while I felt like the speakers had some good things to say, the most poignant expression of this was found in the person of my wife, Becky. Just before the weekend began, Becky was told that she would be looking after one of the couple's 1 year-old daughter, Emily. At first, this was quite the blow to her. She was really excited about the retreat. Very quickly, however, Becky saw how great of a need she could fill, and how desperately important it would be to Emily's mother Joanna, to be ministered to, instead of Becky. The picture painted by Becky's willingness to show up early and make coffee, set up snacks, miss all of the sessions to care for Emily, pick up kids from school at lunch, take them back and remain not only positive, but a beacon of life and joy to those of us experiencing the "retreat" was remarkable. I was truly touched to here truth, and then to see it acted out by Becky.

Manzanares el Real:

Another highlight of our Pastoral Care Retreat, was the fun day we spent together on the Saturday. We drove about 25 minutes north of where we live to a beautiful little town named Manzanares el Real, or Royal Apple Orchards in English. The main attraction is a restored 12th century castle that was rebuilt in the 16th century. For Becky, it was her first visit to a medieval castle, and for me, it was my first in Spain. Unlike many tourist attractions in Madrid, cameras are definitely allowed, and I was able to take some great shots of the castle and town, but also provide a glimpse of our team here in Spain, and some of the people who we spend the most time with. Although the workers in Spain have diasporated* back to their original homes, we have made lasting friends and are already excited to visit many of them throughout Spain, and get to know them even better.

El Museo del Prado:

Although Becky and I have been relatively busy for the past few weeks, from time to time we steal away from our little home and spend an afternoon exploring Madrid. Last Wednesday, we spent 3 hours at Spain's most famous museum, the Prado. Very quickly, I began to understand why this museum, more than any others is referred to as the "Painter's Museum".  To say the three hours spent inside were blissful is an epic understatement. I was very literally ecstatic. The magnitude of many of the individual works and also the breadth of collections represented is at the very least, unbelievable. At least 10 times, after turning a corner, I would lean over to Becky and whisper the words, "I can't believe that painting is here!" Fra Angelico's "Annunciation" is there. Raphael's "Cardinal" is there. Rubens' "Three Graces" is there. El Greco's "Adoration of the Shepherds", "Baptism of Christ", "The Crucifixion", "The Resurrection", and "Pentecost" are all there! And while these are all spectacular even in photo form (and I encourage you to google them), to see them in person was quite overwhelming. Unfortunately, the Prado does have a no photography policy, and so to help myself not be removed, I did not even bring it. Although, the next time we visit, I will make sure to bring my camera if only to capture the beautiful grounds and streets surrounding the museum itself.

Speaking of the streets surrounding the museum, after nearly wearing ourselves out with art overload, Becky and I took to the streets and wandered up side ally to find a little café where we shared some very typical tostadas: crusty spanish bread flame toasted and then topped with various toppings. The first, a closed sandwich with seared beef and black pepper was excellent, but the coup de grace was the second sandwish—an open-faced tostada smothered in a rich garlic sauce and then topped with prawns, pan-fried in butter, olive oil, garlic and brandy. Amazingly, the meal cost us only 12€!!  I love España!

*Some of you may be thinking that "to diasporate" is not a verb, and according to some dictionaries, you are correct. It is, however, currently being considered by the Oxford Dictionary, and this is good enough for me.