Trip to Spain

The past couple of weeks have been blessed with good friends from Charlotte.  After Angela came, we got to share a fun and encouraging evening with our friend Tom Ellis.  He was in London with work and came up to Cambridge to join us for dinner.  Jessica headed to South Africa to visit another friend from Charlotte, Jeremiah.  Here is John's depiction of her trip after hearing her stories(she really did kayak with hippos and alligators!):
     

Mike stayed in Cambridge with Kate and John.  My depiction of what that looked like:
     

Actually, that is much more likely to (and did) happen on my watch.

While Mike stayed in Cambridge and JD was in South Africa, Emma and I boarded a plane to visit my good friend Susan Foster in Spain.  Susan, her husband JJ, and son Jack are missionaries there, helping to plant a church.

      

They also help to give aid to people in need.  The economic situation in Spain is truly difficult for many living there. Some people they encounter have been out of work for over a year and have multiple children.  Their church partners with an EU food distribution and helps to give food to these families in need.  On our second day there, Emma and I got to help their team.  I think for both of us, it was our favorite activity.  Emma was such a worker - she unpacked boxes of cheese and milk and always had a smile on her face.  She also got to chat with a lovely missionary on their team who spent such sweet time listening to Emma's excitement and desire to be a missionary herself one day.  I think it was one of those moments that Emma will never forget.

Just outside this garage (of the house owned by their team leader) was a huge line of people waiting to get food.
    

Food was stacked all around their basement.  Our day was their last day to distribute and eventually they ran out of the EU food.  However, their church went out with their own funds and bought more food to give to many of the families later that evening.  It was such a blessing to see how they are working to meet people's physical needs, as well as their even greater spiritual needs.
    

On our first day there, Susan took Emma and me to visit the Alhambra.  After seeing multiple castles and cathedrals in GB, the Alhambra was a welcome change.  It was built by Muslims who lived in Spain until Ferdinand and Isabella (of Christopher Columbus fame) drove them out, so the architecture was completely different from anything in Europe. 

Here it is in the background:

        

Inside, entire walls were covered with carvings.  The windows below allowed women to observe the courtyard, yet kept them from being seen.
     
 

   
    

     
  

Susan also took me for some great dining experiences.  We tried Moroccan food (it was great), Spanish food and enjoyed a tapas meal that I loved.  Emma tried everything and enjoyed it all.

   

Smoking is still most certainly allowed in Spanish restaurants:
   

The Pomegranate is the symbol of Granada.  We found a tree with some growing as we were walking through town:
      
   
   
   

After three days, many sights, shopping, great food, late-night conversations and much fun, Emma and I headed back to Cambridge.  We had a great time seeing and experiencing their life. I also learned that my Spanish needs some serious work - Muchas Gracias Susan, JJ & Jack!

 

Kate loved her "pinkalicious" Moroccan outfit and shoes.