I have been in Madrid for just about three weeks now.
How has it been? (you may ask)
In fact, you wouldn't be the only one to ask me that.
Various people I have met here have asked, "Y cómo te ha ido? Qué piensas de Madrid? How has it been? What do you think of Madrid?"
I fumble around for a "Muy bien!" or a "Me gusta," while puzzling over why it's such an awkward question to answer.
Not until now did I understand why. Remember why I came to Madrid?
(Oh, this is a good segue into posting a link to all my previous posts on the matter! See below:
July: The Comeback
August: While I'm Waiting
October: An Exercise in Trust
November: Spain-bound!)
I came not for the city, or even for the country, but to serve God and serve people.
So, ask me how I like the city? Yeah, I like it! There are some cool things about it. But I'm not here for the sights.
Ask me how I like what God is doing? I'm very, very pleased!
Allow me to take a few moments of your time to share a hodgepodge of notable things about my stay so far. This is going to be a long one, so feel free to skip to the heading that draws your attention the most!
1. So what have I been doing?
My schedule is still taking shape, but my duties are primarily split between two masters: Jaz & Arnold. |
Arnold is the children's pastor. I'm gearing up to start assisting with the pre-teen Sunday School come January, and to help create a digital training course for children's ministry volunteers. Currently, Arnold has assigned me the task of organizing the children's ministry supply closet :)
Maritza, as my landlady and roommate, also has dibs on me. She's taught me a bit of the basics of video editing, so I can help out with publishing sermons to Youtube each week. Plus, she (along with Arnold and several others from Amistad and surrounding churches) is involved with a street-preaching ministry called ontheredbox (also in Spanish), which is primarily a school of evangelism. She's taken me with her to ontheredbox twice now, and I'm considering taking their evangelism course. (Check her out here - she's awesome!)
I've been so thankful to be wanted and - dare I say? - needed, right from the start.
2. The biggest differences between Spain & USA:
Toilets. Schedule. People touching my face (with their face)!!! 👀
Okay, the toilets aren't really THAT different. It did take a few minutes, though, for me to realize that the button on top of the toilet in my apartment needs to be pulled (not pushed!) Add to that the confusion I experienced when I pulled the button on the church toilet...only to have it pop off. Ahh..this is a push one. *Facepalm*
The schedule I had been warned about. Everything starts later and ends later. For example, a typical work day may begin at 9 or 10 AM. There is a lunch break usually from 2-4ish (many small businesses close at this time, as well. And dinner is at 9 PM. Then, bedtime is around midnight. (Also, they use 24-hour time here. Thankfully, it seems that, colloquially, people still say things like "at 2 in the afternoon.")
And probably the biggest culture shock is the kissing. My understanding is that, in some parts of Mexico, they greet with a kiss, but I have never been to an area that does that. With my Mexican family, we greet with a handshake or a hug. For first-time greetings between strangers, always a handshake. With my American family, it's similar. Here, it's 2 kisses. Right cheek first, then left. Thankfully, they aren't real kisses. It's just cheek-to-cheek business, but, for some strange reason, you're supposed to make the kissing sound anyway. Let's just say I'm still getting used to this one. 😘
3. The biggest challenge:
Social situations. Here's an excerpt from my journal:
You know how, when you're at a social gathering where you know few people, you just smile and try to be friendly to everyone, knowing that some of these strangers might one day be friends, but you're also not very witty or skilled in making conversation, and, on top of that, they all speak words and accents that sometimes you don't fully understand, and you're expected to respond in a language you often can't openly and freely communicate in?
I don't particularly like classifying people by personality types, because I think we can all grow and change in any area. But, go ahead - call me an introvert! Social gatherings do make me a bit anxious or uncomfortable, especially when I don't have a friend in the group. Now, don't feel sorry for me! #1, I chose this, and #2, I am making friends. But I do have to pray a lot before social gatherings so I am in a giving mode, not a getting mode, and so I am confident in my identity. When it's over, I just breathe and thank the Lord for kind people.
4. The greatest pleasure:
The people. Jaz has taken me under her wing since before she had even met me. Maritza makes me feel at home, and it's around her especially that I feel free to be myself. Arnold and his wife Nidia have already had me over to their home twice, along with Rebecca, the pastor. And my roommate Kate, who is also from another country, made sure to explain the essentials of Spanish life to me on my very first night here (among other things, she's the one who taught me the kiss-greeting custom! Life-saver!)
It's only been three weeks, but already I am forming some strong attachments to these lovely people.
5. What God is speaking to me:
I feel a pull to evangelism. I recently heard someone say or quote something to the effect of: "Without evangelism, we will always feel like there is something missing in our lives." And I'm feeling that "something missing." I've been feeling it for years now. What good is Good News when it's kept to yourself? And it's not that I haven't wanted to tell others about Jesus; it's just that I've let concerns like "the right timing" or the fear of man keep me from doing so. During my time here, I want to become more confident talking about God with others.
6. Final thoughts:
You know those moments when time seems to stand still, and you see yourself as through a window, and you get nostalgic just thinking about how, in the future, you'll feel nostalgic remembering this very moment?I've had a few of those moments here:
- sitting on a bench with Jaz, under the chilly night sky, watching through a fence a group of guys playing soccer
- sharing a blanket on the couch with Maritza and Kate, laughing almost to tears over a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie
- Dimmed lights in Galileo Galilei, the camera to my right, Luisa and Luz to my left, arms raised high as we join with a hundred others in song, singing up, up, to the God who, I imagine, is smiling down at the sound
I am so grateful for the opportunity to have this slowed-down time, when I am not so rushed or tired that I miss these treasured moments!
Thanks for reading, and, as always, feel free to ask any lingering questions below!👇
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