Doors and Desperation

Since I have arrived in Spain, I have a newfound love for doors. Though construction methods may differ here, I can truly say that they sure know how to make beautiful doors and as we have travelled I have begun taking pictures of many that stick out to me. I look at these doors and am amazed at the beauty of them, their uniqueness, their elegance and the attention to detail on every one.

Palace in Comillas                       Cathedral in Comillas

As I was looking at this door I was struck again by how spiritually closed this country is and how many times all I can focus on is the impossibility of the work ahead and my utter uselessness here. I have moved because of the hope that I have within me, the hope of new life and yet all I feel I do is hit a brick wall. Some make this life our to be an adventure, full of exciting things, mysteries and conquest, but they can sometimes fail to mention the other side of that adventure; the side of loneliness, defeat, suffering and loss. We have felt all of these things keenly in the last months and in many ways we have barely started the work. I don't think I have ever come to the end of myself so many times in such a short period of time.

As I seek God in these times, I am reminded how fast I forget Him. That I am not here for me, that I am not here even for the people of Spain, but I am here for God. I am here for Him, because He has called me here for His sake not mine and He loves these people a whole lot more then I ever could, and He will be the one to change their hearts, not me. I am a selfish person, my marriage has begun to show me just how much, and if this was only about me and I was being honest, I would be out of here. But God is teaching me not only that these people need Him, but more importantly how much I need Him.

The Doors of Spain are closed to me. I see that more every day I am here but they are wide open to Christ. It his His blood on the Cross that has broken down all walls and opened all doors. But it is up to me to come to Him daily, to love as He does, so I can walk through what He is opening and be a part of seeing His light welcomed into this land.

Spiritual Refreshment

 I never knew how being away from our church and Christian friends back home would affect me here. We had teachings and instruction all about this before we left but you just never know how it effects you untill you leave. And even though we have a church here and other missionaries in our area the body of Christ is so much smaller here and the language just limits much of the fellowship.

By the time we got to Christmas we were more spiritually dry then we even knew. But The Lord knows as always what we need when we need it. Ang's sister and husband came and visited for almost 2 weeks during Christmas time. We were un-expectantly  blessed with a breath of spiritual refreshment as they visited with us, sharing their lives with us and pouring love into our lives. Besides from having a blast with them we came out of that two weeks refreshed with the desire to seek God more this next year and push hard back into learning the language and reaching out to Spaniards. 

I just want to thank God for all the supporters back in Canada and the US who are praying for us, who send us letters and emails and I want to say that each of you have played a part in helping us see God in the hard times here, keep seeking him reminding us of the great family of God we are a part of.

Ang's sister (Jennifer) and husband (Jesse) as they visited and blessed us at Christmas time!

-Adam

Doesn't she look great!

This is my part of the blog so I am aloud to put up pictures of Ang even if she doesn't like them as much as I do! I think she looks great here with her new hair cut at time!

This is in Cuenca, where I took Ang for her birthday!

This is how they deal with the heat!

So I just had to put this on because I thought it was hilarious and smart. Most of Spain gets blazing hot during the summer, and you just never seem to be able to get enough to drink. Well that was true until I saw some guys in a crowd with 2 litre bottles with the tops cut off. That sure makes a big cup!

I have to do this some time!

Cathedrals in Spain

Some people find that once you have seen a few cathedrals, you have seen them all. I thought that may happen to me as well but as we visit different cathedrals, I always find something incredible unique and breathtaking in each one. Sometimes its when I learn the history and sometimes its just when you search every nook and cranny of the cathedral and find a small room tucked in the back with a geometric roof (that this photo does no justice to!) that is just incredible.

small room in the very back of the cathedral in Cuenca

     

Biking in the cerros

The cerros de Alcala are a beautiful stretch of small mountains running just south of where we live, they have proven to be a place of exercise, escape and relaxing after my language classes. Today me and a missionary friend started out late around 8:30 due to some some quality Spanish traffic jam. We didn't have much time before the sun set but figured we could just push hard and make it to a very old church atop one of those small mountains ( or big hills! I never know what to call them, it's easier to say the cerros!) in a small pueblo called Los Santos. After a gruelling 15 klm bike ride mostly up we arrived at the church to see a breath taking view of the sun setting behind the mounts just north of Madrid! 

The pictures do zero justice to the view of the valley the church and the sun! But for me they more represent the fact that I actually biked all the way there in less then an hour! Then we got the treat of a a downhill ride almost all the way home. Besides the bugs that hit my like just like they cover a car shooting down the highway it was amazing, well worth it and I am excited to explore more of God's beautiful creation around me.

Ps- we made in home just before it was too dark to see the ruts in the path!

-Adam 

And it just gets better!

So I never mentioned but Kyle and Francis also got me a gift! We have an on going joke about stretchy pants because in Spain people tend to have an outfit for every activity and occasion. Biking outfits usually include stretchy tight spandex time pant that everyone wears regardless of age and fitness levels! Needless to say it can really shock you when you are taking a walk or driving by and BOOM, it kinda smacks you in the face. Anyways so I have been wanting to buy a mountain bike because there are cerros (bigger then a hill but not quite a mountain) that I love biking on. So... Kyle and Francis thought it would be great to prepare me for when I got my bike by getting me bright red stretchy bike shorts! It was pretty hilarious!