Semana Santa (Holy Week)

This week in Spain is Semana Santa, or holy week. When I lived in Sevilla, the whole town changed overnight into one full of processions, penitents, hooded men, women dressed in black, incense, the procession music, torrijas (kind of like french toast soaked in honey & wine),...

In Madrid there are processions, but most people leave town to get some sun or at least get out of the city for a few days.

I can't say that I'm a huge fan of Semana Santa. I appreciate the focus on Jesus' death on the cross and did stumbled upon a pretty amazing mass last year in front of the royal palace. But overall i dislike Semana Santa. Or at least the fact that it ends on Saturday and that the resurrection really isn't that important (or even really a part of much of what goes on).

Yes, they would say they believe Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday, but, for the most part, the resurrection and the freedom, life, and joy that come from Jesus triumphing over death and paying our debt are definitely NOT a part of the processions or Semana Santa festivities. Instead it is a time to focus on how much Jesus (and Mary) suffered. And to possibly even suffer on their behalf or to earn favor before them as a penitant.


That means they at least walking for miles probably with a large cone-shaped hood (looks like the kkk outfits, although it is just a coincidence as far as i know), possibly barefoot and likely with a float (either one of the stations of the cross or a regal statue of mary surrounded by millions of candles) the weight and size of a large car on your and 30 others' backs for miles. (If you carry the floats, you wear a different hood, or no hood at all.) While this all goes on there is incense and a very somber band that plays and walks too. It goes on the entire holy week. Maudy Thursday it goes all night (which is when in sevilla the Macarena (one of the statues of the Virgin Mary) makes her rounds), literally all day and all night and through the next day. Then Saturday it ends, for the most part. A couple years ago in some towns (including Sevilla) they added a float on Sunday for the resurrection (which is a good move), but hardly anyone goes. As i said, Semana Santa ends Saturday and the resurrection really isn't the focus.



Here are a few pictures...



(1) several of the Virgin Mary floats




(2) nazerenos





(3) some of the Jesus floats







So, why I'm not a big fan... my main issues with Semana Santa, are:
... the lack of focus on the resurrection
... the fact that Mary is portrayed as a queen in royal garb (in all the scenes she appears and when she is alone), a crown, millions of candles, and people yelling out to her "beautiful."
... the fact that there is Mary is definitely part of the main focus, she has a float in every procession
... Jesus is always portrayed as dead, dying, half-dead, weak in Mary's arms, not triumphant
... there is so much focus on the pageantry of it all
... i don't like all the images nor that at times it seems like Jesus is bowing to Mary. i don't like the way Jesus is portrayed.



While I say all of this, I want to find something I can find that is good in the midst of it all. While it's hard, there are a few things that I can see:
... people, or some people, are forced to think about Jesus and what it meant that he died on the cross
... the death of Christ was horrible and bloody and not all happy and triumphant. Yes, in the end, he conquered death, but in the meantime it didn't look good.
... while hardly anyone goes, Semana Santa now does in fact go through Sunday and there are floats (while I'm still not a big fan of how Jesus is portrayed) on Resurrection Sunday
... it does make for a great time of the year to bring up Jesus and is fully normal

There are some more processions and you can see some of the pictures at: http://www.pasionensevilla.tv/index.php?option=com_news_portal&Itemid=411&id=9&lang=es&task=section
http://madridcofrade.blogspot.com/2006/08/cristos-de-la-semana-santa-de-madrid.html

milk?

milk. i am one of the many people who is lactose intolerant. meaning my body and milk don't agree.

and, unfortunately, i am hypersensitive to lactose, aka the protein in milk. it doesn't as much matter the quantity. if it's there, my body will let me know. butter, cheese, ice cream, cream, dry milk, whey, you name it, if it contains milk, or whey, or lactose, it is no good.

there are some combinations that are a little less painful, like cheese and wine. somehow the wine helps the digestion of the cheese. and sometimes, from time to time, sometimes with reason and some not, i decide that the joys of a tasty dessert, not inconveniencing my dinner hosts, or some tasty spanish cheese outweigh the affects and repercussions my indulgence will have on my little stomach.

as i said, sometimes i have sound reasoning and sometimes i am a bit diluted. every once and awhile i just decide to pretend that milk doesn't in fact bother me, somehow in my deranged logic thinking that mind over matter will help out.

so, take for instance this past sunday. my kind roommate anna made chocolate chip cookies, really good chocolate chip cookies. but chocolate chip cookies choked full of butter and milk chocolate. not really a good mix.

i woke up and my stomach still hurt a bit from something i ate the night before, which must have had some milk somewhere in it, so i thought, "oh, who cares." i never eat anna's cookies and for what ever reason this day they sounded INCREDIBLE! so i grabbed two and as another roommate adeline looked at me oddly i said, "oh well, my stomach already hurts. this might make it worse, but it already is upset."

they were yummy. and before i left for some planning meetings i grabbed two more. yum!

i then was at basically two days of planning meetings setting the direction for ágape madrid and (again, since my stomach was already upset and i didn't want to offend my host and i was hungry) ate some of the cheese and crackers they had out. and again it was good. somehow, it bothered me but i had a mild reaction.

and the saga continued for a few days. my stomach was already upset and i was tired of denying myself the pleasures of milk (mainly just cheese and chocolate chip cookies) so i didn't. it wasn't non-stop gluttony, just a piece of cheese here and there.

it is now thursday and while it hasn't been continual, the last cookie i had last night is still causing havoc on my body and is not just a milk reaction, it is full out war. so, i think it's over. yes, as always, i come back to the fact that it really does make the whole world a much better place if i don't have milk, at least for awhile. sad, sad, sad.

cafe con soja

okay, while i am blogging away about random and not so randomness... and while i am up entirely too late... i might as well blog about coffee and crazy randomness. i just came across this picture and love it. it makes me think of espresso, which i also love.

this is also on my mind because i met up with some students for lunch and then coffee today. ironically we went to foster's hollywood (an american restaurant) and then starbucks. they weren't my picks, but just a bit ironic and fun. first of all at lunch, miriam started to pick off the oats from the bread of her sandwich and said, "Alba (me in spanish), this looks like something you would like. It just looks so, um..." "healthy? (i said)" "yeah (her)"

then a bit later, as we sat drinking our coffees in the middle of this mall, one of the girls, irene, looked over at me and said, "Isn't Alba just so... um... sana (healthy) or um... natural. Yeah, you're just so natural. And you like everything healthy."

so, now that i'm writing about randomness and coffee, this whole conversation is coming back to mind... by the way, here is a little picture of miriam, yoana, irene, and ana. marta, natán, and i were there, but somehow they must have left before we started taking pictures and i am taking the picture.




it is kind of funny and a little out of the ordinary. i grew up in a very granola, health food family.

my mom made everything from scratch. we bought a lot of our food from a health food coop. we had a decent size garden most summers along with fruit trees. we lived in the suburbs, but had a compost pile and such before it was cool.

i didn't have refined sugar until i was three (only fruit juice & honey). i didn't have soda until i was in fifth grade and then thought it was gross. i remember in third grade designing the "ideal" cereal and was sure that mine would win. the big thing to catch people's attention was "NO SUGAR ADDED," "NO ARTIFICIAL COLORS OR FLAVORS," "ALL NATURAL." i had no clue why i didn't win, no clue. obviously mine was by far the best. what else, whenever the neighborhood kids would go to 7-11 to buy candy the once or twice i bought a chocolate bar (the only candy i actually like, strange, i know) i felt so guilty (thinking i had done something wrong) that i threw it away. truth be told, my mom wouldn't have cared, but in my mind junk food was bad, morally bad.

through high school and college i worked at health food stores, was planning to get an m.d. and some sort of natural healing degree to balance things out, and helped start "vegitarian action" at mizzou. truth be told, coming to spain, i was a bit overboard in terms of healthy eating. i still love healthy food, but don't think (or feel) it's morally wrong to add sugar to my coffee, to for that matter drink coffee, or to eat things that aren't necessarily good for you (within balance). i know this is odd, but it is in fact my life.

so, anyway, i came to spain wanting to serve others and willing to eat whatever was given to me (and assuming that probably meant eating meat). pretty quickly i figured out that there was virtually no vegitarian food in sevilla, at least not easily found at a café. everything labeled "vegetarian" came with tuna and a fried egg on top. so, i began to eat the way i normally would at home, but to eat fish, seafood, jamon serrano (spanish ham, like prosciutto), chorizo,... when i was out or at a friend's house. now truth be told i have begun to think about becoming a vegitarian again, not because i dislike meat (that actually never was the case), but that is another post for another time. as far as spain goes and as far as animal rights here, i really need to look into things more. it seems that animals are much more likely to actually run around and live a normal life. so, i feel better about eating meat here than i do in the US. but, as i said, i should probably look more into this.

also, in moving to sevilla, as i got used to the late nights, the sleepiness that comes after a big 2-course lunch, and the many appointments over coffee, i began to drink café sólo (or espresso). the most common thing would have been café con leche, but since i am lactose intolerant, i opted for pure espresso. and i must say it is awfully good. it didn't take long to enjoy it. and i haven't been the same since.

i mean i still love just about anything healthy, but also love a good soy cappichino.

and while i'm not much of a fan of american watered down coffee (i learned to drink espresso coffee in spain and that is what i like), i love the smell of an open bag of coffee (which by the way, if it's spanish, smells like chocolate - really - and just fyi, the best kind in my opinion is saimaza natural). and i love my regular café con soja.

the mornings i make coffee, i brew my delicious coffee in a nice cafetera on the stove. i put a bit of soymilk in an italian frother (which unlike the fully silver one to the right has a cool green handle and plunger). i have to say that it is one of the best cappichino con soja i've had. i don't have it every morning, but recently it's been more often than not. and then i generally have a café sólo (espresso) after lunch to help me wake up from the food induced sleep of lunch.

so, all that to say, i like coffee, particularly espresso or a good soy cappichino.

las fallas

so, one of my roommates, anna, just went to valencia (eastern coast of spain). it is a gorgeous town and once a year (which happened to coincide with semana santa - holy week this year, which, by the way, is not normal).

she just got back and was showing me her pictures (some of which are here) and it made me think back to eight years ago, scary i know, when michael, jonathan and i took a little road trip from sevilla to valencia to meet up with jonanthan's brother to see the fallas.


we left on a friday night, and drove all night (lucky for me the guys wanted to drive, so i got to sleep the whole time, or as well as you sleep in a moving car curled up in a ball in the backseat). we arrived in valencia by about 10 am or so, ate breakfast (churros, of course), crashed on the grass in a park, met up with nate (j's brother), and ate lunch (paella, which is best known from valencia). we then walked around to see the huge, ornate, political satyric floats which spend tons of money constructing and spend basically all year making. then the night came. after some yummy sorbet and another little nap, we headed out to stake our place close to one of the top prize winning floats/statues.

now picture the scene. there is this huge satyric statue the size of a building wedged in a little plaza between 4 or so apartment buildings. there is a fire truck or two close by with firemen and fire hoses. the streets are packed. yes, there is a little barricade on all sides a little back from the firemen, hoses and statue/float, but we're pretty close.

so, the fireworks start to go off around this whole scene. and then fireworks start to shoot out of the statue/float. some shoot out and some are just sparks within. basically there is a huge building-size fire going on, controlled by the fire hose, but wedged between buildings that are really not that far away. they are closer than i am and my skin feels like it is being singed. crazy and amazingly cool. massive amounts of fire, smoke, heat, flames, and madness.

so, that's the fallas. definitely a sight to see and definitely worth the drive.

michael, jonathan, and i then took off after the night was over (i'm guessing based on spain, around 4 or 5am) and headed back to sevilla. i again got to sleep and they got to drive. fun times. and one of the many fun road trips the three of us took in '00-'01.

i love pretty things, particularly things in nature. i love art and music and adventure. i love being in God's creation and being in awe of the power of crashing waves, a river's current, the power behind an amazingly huge waterfall or a huge crevice in the earth (like the grand canyon), things that seem to whisper of something supernatural, something far more greater than us. a star filled night, a brilliantly blue or green pool of water (that's fully natural), there really are a million things like this.

well, one of the websites i drop by from time to time (sometimes to just look at pictures, often to grab a picture off the "picture of the day" page for my desktop picture or for a blog post, or just to have) is http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif. right now they have a crazy cool set of patterns in nature and, as always, a million other great pictures.

contentment & singleness

I just got off the phone with one of my best friends, someone who I am SO grateful God put in my life and whom it seems (while we are continents away from each other) are going through some very similar things right now (at leas internally).

one of those things is thinking about guys and our singleness. it is interesting because neither one of us feels incomplete being single, nor wants to get married just for the sake of getting married and not being "alone." in fact i met this friend when i lived in kansas and i remember us somewhat ranting about the way it seemed like some thought that we were incomplete without a husband. that somehow we didn't quite fit into the structure we were supposed to fit into when it came to church - we weren't in college, we weren't married, we weren't moms, and we weren't doing everything in our power to make these things happen. that's why we helped to start the 20s30s group at church which we were very clear was NOT a single's group to search for your future spouse. yes, great if that happened, but we just wanted some fun people to hang out with.

neither one of us now lives in kansas and over the past year or so, while we love our lives as they are, guys have pursued us (or half pursued us) making it a bit hard to just be content with the present status quo. some of them we've liked and some of we haven't but nothing has ever really come of them. and the past two weeks, as we've both had guys we're not interested in but who are friends pursue us for us to then have to eventually tell them we're not interested, we have been a bit frustrated both with God's timing and the fact that it seems like we either find guys we like but whom are passive and don't pursue us or guys we don't like for whatever reason who do pursue us.

we both have questioned if there is something wrong with us, some fatal flaw... if the right guy ever will come along... what is God thinking in the midst of all of this...

so tonight as we talked, it was obviously great to have someone else at the same place to relate with and to process life with. at one point she said, "you know i probably should just ask God to show me what he thinks about all this." so i asked God exactly that, "what do you think about all this?" and what i heard inside was, "dawn, just wait. i have good things for you. just trust me." i told her all of this and laughed as i said, "but that's what he always tells me." ironic, no.

i also was reminded that often when i've actually prayed and talked about this to the Lord that i have been brought back to the passage in matthew 7:7-11, "ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be open to you... which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? if you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

all that to say, God DOES know the desires of my heart, he is the giver of good gifts, and he is not withholding something from me just for the heck of it, just to torture me. he must have some plan that i cannot see.

and, so while i am presently wrestling a bit with contentment, i choose to ask God to enter into this all and at least give me eyes to see him, that he is big enough to hold me, and that he is as he says he is. (and fortunately, based on experience, i know that there are times of discontentedness and times of contentment. this too shall pass.

and, as my friend said, reality is, i do love my life as it is. i wouldn't change anything. i have no idea what the future hopes, but each day has enough trouble of it's own to try to worry too much about what may or may not come.

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

i just dropped by a friend's blog and he has some notes from a sermon posted about "where to live." it is in the context of south africa, but is really good stuff whether you live in spain, south africa, the US, ethiopia, etc., it's good stuff to think about, so check it out.

here's a quote by john piper included in his post:

"...and then, as many of you know, Ruby Eliason and Laura Edwards died this week in Cameroon in a car accident - Ruby in her eighties and Laura in her seventies. Ruby gave all her life in medical missions among the poor. Laura, a doctor who practiced in India for many years and then here in the Cities, was giving her retirement for the bodies and the souls of the poor in Cameroon. Both died suddenly when their car went over a cliff.

Was that a tragedy? Well, in one sense all death is tragic.

[But] I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader’s Digest: A couple ‘took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells...’ Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: ‘Look, Lord. See my shells.’ That is a tragedy."

Sex. God.

So, as tends to be the case when I get excited about a book, I am only on page 20, but so far Rob Bell's book Sex. God. is really refreshing and good. I'll try to write more when I am actually fully into the book or have actually finished it.

So, here is a little excerpts to grab your attention or pick at your interest (spanglish):

(p.19) "The writer of Genesis makes it clear that in all of creation there is something different about humans. They aren't God, and they aren't going to become GOd, but in some distinct, intentional way, something of God has been placed in them. We reflect what God is like and who God is. A divine spark resides in every single human being.

Everybody, everywhere. Bearers of the diving image."

One more thing... so far, these 22 pages i have thus far read now, i want to quote virtually the entire book, so thus to say I'm enjoying it and think Rob Bell has some good, insightful things to say. So, pick it up when you have time. I'm sure I'll write more as I get further along.

some quotes

"while all other living things being bent over look earthward, man has been given a face uplifted, bidden to gaze heavenward and to raise his countenance to the stars" Cicero, Nature of the Gods

"And when Paul discusses the restoration of the image, it is clear that we should infer from his words that man is made to conform to God... by the grace and power of the Spirit. For he says that by 'beholding Christ's glory, we are being transformed into his very image... as through the Spirit of the Lord'(2 Cor 3:18), who surely works in us..." John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-30

wonderwoman

so, awhile back i mentioned that i was going to a superhero costume party. somehow it made sense at the time to make my own costume. so with the help of my roommate anna, in about an hour and a half i made my wonderwoman (mujer de maravillas) costume.

i have to say that i did feel pretty "superhero-esk" walking to the metro in my red boots and tights. while i looked fully normal with my coat covering the costume, underneath my superhero costume was ready to jump into action whenever the moment was necessary. honestly i think walking to the metro was the best part.

"Love is like that. It is always giving itself away. When it is self - contained, it is not love. In that sense, Jesus brought clearly into focus before his followers just what was meant by "God so loved the world." It meant that God gave all he had to those he loved, even his "only begotten Son." And for the Son, in incarnating that love, it meant renouncing his own right of living and giving his life for the world. ONly in this light - when the Son is put in place of the world - can one even begin to understand the cross." - Robert Coleman in The Master Plan of Evangelism

unrelented love

So, what is the deal? Why in the heck does it seem much more often than not that the girl a guy likes or the guy a girl likes doesn't feel the same way? They may be great friends or they may be mere acquaintances. But too often than not it seems that the road goes one way. And, thus, someone feels bad for not having the same feelings (and being the bearer of bad news) and someone else gets their heart broken. (At least that is if they do in fact ever get everything out in the open, which in my opinion is always the better way to do things. At least it's all out there.) Sad.

I mean, there are obvious exceptions to this. I mean look at all the people who are married. But as you look at all the times it doesn't work out it seems like those exceptions are purely miraculous. All this is on my mind because I just talked to a friend and wish I could change the situation for him. But alas I can't.


I pray that even in the midst of all this craziness that God's grace and the fact that He is a strong and steady place to run provides some comfort. I mean he actually IS in control. He IS the giver of good gifts, He DOES know the desires of our heart, and He understands what it means to long for something we don't have. Those things at least give me comfort when I seem to think that I want control of all this. In reality it's much better that I'm not in control, not really. And as torturous as it may be, I am thankful that at least the Lord uses this messy, emotion-filled area of life to teach me to walk by faith, not by sight, and to trust HIM.

Note: picture kindly taken from my friend's blog (which is cited below, in the next post, although if i remember correctly the picture isn't really his either).

christian

okay, so i just read a friend's post at metafilter (in response to a list of posts) on what it means and doesn't mean to be a christian and it's really good. and just to give him props, you might check out his blog too at: http://www.allkindsoftime.blogspot.com/

paranoia

so, i recently got the following forwarded e-mail with a note attached by one of the previous forwardees saying, "good site to check out":

"www.FamilyWatchDog.us - Pass this on!!

When you visit the above site you can enter your address and a map will pop up with your house as a small icon of a house. There will be red, blue and green dots surrounding your entire neighborhood. When you click on these dots a picture of a criminal will appear with his or her home address and the description of the crime he or she has committed.

The best thing is that you can show your children these pictures and see how close these people live to your home or school.

This site was developed by John Walsh from Americas Most Wanted. This is another tool we can use to help us keep our kids safe.

Please pass this on to everyone!!!"

I think my two main issues with this e-mail are (1) the suggestion to show your children the pictures and see how close these people live to your home or school, and (2) the complete violation of privacy and incriminating people for life.

With the second point, isn't that the reason we have jails and criminal justice systems, to keep dangerous people off the streets and to give them a fair and just trial. Yes there are problems in this system which should be addressed and changed. But also, if someone pays their time, shouldn't we give them the opportunity of redemption. Maybe I am too trusting, but I think I would prefer that to the alternative.

With the first point, I'm not sure that instilling even more fear that what the news and other media already create is good or healthy. I mean, yes, we should be honest with our kids and talk about real life, but in most neighborhoods in the US (again maybe I am just naive) I don't know that there is a hard criminal lurking on each corner that we should be on the watch for. And what if these "criminals" have families or kids of their own. What if it was a small, petty crime? Should we ostracize them too? Or paint a scarlet letter on their door?

No, I am not saying there are no problems in the US or in the world. And, no, I am not saying we should be fully oblivious and not talk to our kids about not taking candy from strangers (+ etc.,), but I'm not sure this would actually be helpful. I think it would be more hurtful.

el cuidado de Dios (God's care)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:6-8

("No os aflijáis por nada, sino presentadlo todo a Dios en oración. Pedidle, y también dadle gracias. Así Dios os dará su paz, que es más grande que todo cuanto el hombre puede combreder; y esa paz guardará vuestro corazón y vuestros pensamientos, porque estáis unidos a Cristo Jesús. Por último, hermanos, pensad en todo lo verdadero, en todo lo que es digno de respeto, en todo lo recto, en todo lo puro, en todo lo agradable, en todo lo que tiene buena fama. Pensad en todo lo que es bueno y merece alabanza." Filipenses 4:6-8)

"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry." Psalm 34:15

("Los ojos de Jehová están sobre los justos, y atentos sus oídos al clamor de ellos." Salmo 34:15)

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22

("Echa sobre Jehová tu carga, y él te sustentará; no dejará para siempre caído al justo." Salmo 55:22)

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7

("Humillaos, pues, bajo la poderosa mano de Dios, para que él os enaltezca a su debido tiempo. Dejad todas vuestras preocupaciones a Dios, porque él se preocupa de vostros." 1 Pedro 5:6,7)

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

("Venid a mí todos los que estáis cansados y agobiados, y yo os haré descansar. Aceptad el yugo que os impongo, y aprended de mí, que soy paciente y de corazón humilde; así encontraréis descanso." Mateo 11:28-30)

"For me to LIVE is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

("Porque para mí la vida es Cristo, y la muerte, ganancia." Filipenses 1:21)

"Come, everyone thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price... Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love..." Isaiah 55:1-3

("Todos los que tenéis sed, venid a beber agua; los que no tenéis dinero, venid, y de balde adquirid trigo, y comed; sin pagar nada, adquirid vino y leche... Oídme bien y comeréis buenos alimentos, comeréis cosas deliciosas. Venid a mí y prestad atención, escuchadme y viviréis. Yo haré con vosotros un pacto eterno, cumpliendo así las promesas que por amor hice..." Isaías 55:1-3)

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life,m what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matt 6:25-34

("Por tanto, os digo: No estéis preocupados por lo que habéis de comer o beber para vivir, ni por la ropa con que habéis de cubrir vuestro cuerpo. ¿No vale la vida más que la comida y el cuerpo más que la ropa? Mirad las aves que vuelan por el cielo: ni siembran ni siegan ni almacenan en graneros la cosecha; sin embargo, vuestro Padre que está en el cielo les da de comer. Pues bien, ¿acaso no valéis vosotros más que las aves? Y de todos modos, por mucho que uno se preocupe, ¿cómo podrá prolongar su vida ni siquiera una hora? ¿Y por qué estar preocupados por la ropa? Mirad cómo crecen los lirios del campo: no trabajan ni hilan. Sin embargo, os digo que ni aun el rey Salomón, con todo su lujo, se vestía como uno de ellos. Pues si Dios viste así a la hierba, que hoy está en el campo y mañana se quema en el horno, ¿no os vestirá con mayor razón a vosotros, gente falta de fe? No estáis, pues, preocupados y preguntándoos: '¿Qué vamos a comer?' o '¿Qué vamos a beber?' o '¿Con que´nos vamos a vestir?' Los que no conocen a Dios se preocupan por todas esas cosas, pero vostros tenéis un Padre celestial que ya sabe que las necesitáis. Por lo tanto, buscad primeramente el reino de los cielos y el hacer lo que es justo delante de Dios, y todas esas cosas se os darán por añadidura. No estéis, pues, preocupados por el día de mañana, porque mañana ya habrá tiempo de preocuparse. A cada día le basta con sus propios problemas." Mateo 6:25-34)

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:7-11

("Pedid y Dios os dará, buscad y encontraréis, llamad a la puerta y se os abrirá. Porque el que pide recibe, el que busca encuentra y al que llama se le abre. ¿Acaso alguno de vosotros sería capaz de darle a su hijo una piedra cuando le pide pan? ¿O de darle una culebra cuando le pide un pescado? Pues si vosotros, que sois malos, sabéis dar cosas buenas a vuestros hijos, ¡cuánto más vuestro Padre que está en el cielo las dará a quienes se las pidan!" Mateo 7:7-11)

8 hour lines, locura, entretenido

Somehow as americans we have no idea what a real line is. I mean yes you might CHOOSE to wait in a long line for concert tickets or an amusement park ride and yes, now and then, there is an annoying line of 30 minutes or even an hour.

Spain on the other hand knows what a real line is. I mean the first time I applied for my residence card I think I waited on five different occasions (in five different locations) in lines of two to four hours, but a minimum of two. On a regular basis at the grocery store I wait for a half an hour (in the fast line, mind you, to just grab a couple things) and I remember spending the entire day at the hospital in sevilla, not because i was deathly ill, but because i needed both to have xrays and blood drawn and of course see the doctor on the front and back end.

today i think trumped all the lines i have been in. i needed to go get fingerprints for my residence card (my new one). remembering last year i thought, "ok they open at 9am, i should probably get there a bit early (like at 8am), but 6am (when i got there last time) just seemed a bit overkill. i mean i had a good four hours i could wait if necessary.

so i got there at a reasonable time, with a book and music in hand. i figured out which of the three lines i needed to be in (and of course it was the longest), but no worries i had time and was a pro at this. so the time passes and i estimate i should be out the door by 11:30-12:00. great!

the line gets closer to the gate to get into the compound and somehow the closer it gets the slower it gets. so instead of moving every 10 minutes we're now moving every 30 minutes. it is now 10:30. then 11:00. okay it is now 12:00 and we have yet to even get in the gate (which i know is at least an hour wait longer). it has now been all of 4 hours. so i call some of the people helping me with the english club at 1pm. God-willing I will still make it, but just in case I let them know what is going on.

so they do finally let us in the gate and it is now 13:00 (1pm). another hour goes by and this is when all heck begins to break loose.

supposedly they close at 2pm for siesta and then reopen at 4pm. they actually do continue to see those inside the gate during this time, but the beasts are getting hungry and tired. i mean, it is lunch time and most of us haven't eaten since 8 or 9am. kids are crying or running around and adults are a bit cranky too.

the first sign of trouble is between two men. one apparently jumped ahead in line and so of course insults the one who tells him to go back to his place. there are some words exchanged and fists raised and that is that.

a bit later i have moved up to where these men were and a lady (who i have never seen before) edges up a few people behind me. she begins to go off on how she was behind chinese woman who is now far ahead. at first the lady was up ahead and then she changes the story to the lady being no where in sight to the lady already have taken off. it sounds a bit fishy, but i'm tired and not too concerned about what anyone else is doing or not doing.

it then occurs to me that this lady has brought a band of people with her who i vaguely remember seeing at the very end of this awfully long line. somehow they have now merged 4-7 people behind me and are continuing to rant and rave about this horrible chinese woman (which much emphasis on the fact that she was chinese) who i am beginning to wonder if even exists.

so now my part of the line is infuriated by all these people who have cut in front of us, when in actuality they are the people who are complaining. yes, there are a few people ahead of us who somehow magically appeared in front of us instead of behind, but for the most part it's the line we started in.

so a bit of time passes and then there is a woman who tells us to go past her because she just is sitting down ahead in the line, even though her place is behind. some people tell her to move, one of the guys in front of me starts to accuse him of being racist (it happens that the woman in question is a covered muslim woman and the people asking her to move are south american (although black) and the man defending the woman is also north african and muslim. this is the same man, mind you, who a couple hours earlier was screaming at the man who butt in line ahead of him. again as i said, the kids cry and the adults get into yelling matches.

so we wait a bit longer and there is a irate man at nearly the end of the line inside the compound (we're all in a sort of courtyard, but inside the gate versus outside). he is yelling at one of the women working here about the fact that he has a date to be here so they should attend to him NOW. the fact that he does not realize is that ALL of us have today's date, which is why we've chosen today to wait in line. and while he has only been in line a couple hours now, we have been in line for about double the time. the guards talk to him, he rants and raves a bit more and they give him the option of leaving or getting into line, so of course he chooses the line.

eventually we do make it inside, around 16:00 (4pm), when the gate again opens, and i nearly want to kiss the man who finally sees me. they look at my paperwork, take my fingerprints and john hancock, and give me a paper to come back and pick up my new residence card in 40 days! yippee!!! i felt like i was soaring in the clouds. que alegría!!! i was soooo incredibly happy to be done. really much more overjoyed than is even normal. somehow waiting does increase the joy you experience once it's all over. amazing!

so i finally left at 16:30, grabbed a sandwich to eat on the metro and went on with my day. and i'm now pretty much done for the next 2-3 years, until i have to renew it again.

the irony of this place is incredible. if you look at the picture above, the "compound" is brightly covered in red, yellow, blue, and white. it has triangular tops with flags and looks somewhat like an amusement park from the outside.

yes, you do leaved joyous and happy, but i just seems crazy that this place that causes so much angst is deceptively decorated. and it is a bit crazy how proud i feel
of the fact that i passed this cultural test of waiting. i feel like i have worked hard and EARNED my residence card.

superheroes y superoheroinas

this past saturday i went to a friend's superhero birthday party. i went as wonderwoman and actually think i had just as much fun scrambling to make the costume as i did wearing it. and i just have to say that walking to the metro, with my costume quietly hidden under my coat did make me feel very superhero-esk. :-)

The Lord is our Defender, our Strong Tower, our Refuge

I have been studying Joshua most of this school year with the help of a Precept upon Precepts study guide. It has been really good and refreshing.

Recently a friend, a student here in Madrid, shared about some hard things going on with her and her church where she feels wronged. It is a complicated situation. Anyway, it made me think of some situations I've been in where I desperately want to defend myself, but where it seems like the best thing is allow the Lord to be my defender.

This morning as I spent time with the Lord the passages that I looked up, as cross-references to Joshua 16-17, spoke to this same idea:

"When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. An dwhen you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.'" - Deuteronomy 20:1-4

"Cuando salgas a la guerra contra tus enemigos, si vieres caballos y carros, y un pueblo más grande que tú, no tengas temor de ellos, porque Jehová tu Dios está contigo, el cual te sacó de tierra de Egipto. Y cuando os acerquéis para combatir, se pondrá en pie el sacerdote y hablará al pueblo, y les dirá: Oye, Israel, vosotros os juntáis hoy en batalla contra vuestros enemigos; no desmaye vuestro corazón, no temáis, ni os azoréis, ni tampoco os desalentéis delante de ellos; porque Jehová nuestro Dios va con vosotros, para pelear por vosotros contra vuestros enemigos, para salvaros." - Deuteronomio 20:1-4

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call." - Psalm 20:7-9

"Estos confían en carros, y aquéllos en caballos; mas nosotros del nombre de Jehová nuestro Dios tendremos memoria. Ellos flaquean y caen, mas nosotros nos levantamos, y estamos en pie. Salva, Jehová; que el Rey nos oiga en el día que lo invoquemos." - Salmo 20:7-9

"A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure. A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways. No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord." - Proverbs 21:28-31

"El testigo mentiroso perecerá; mas el hombre que oye, permanecerá en su dicho. El hombre impío endurece su rostro; mas el recto ordena sus caminos. No hay sabiduría ni inteligencia, ni consejo contra Jehová. El caballo se alista para el día de la batalla, mas Jehová es el que da la victoria." - Proverbios 21:28-31

"Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes." - Psalm 60:11-12

"Danos socorro contra el enemigo; porque vana es la ayuda de los hombres. En Dios haremos proezas, y él hollará a nuestros enemigos." - Salmo 60:11-12

"He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God..." - Psalm 78:5-11

"El estableció testimonio en Jacob, y puso ley en Israel, la cual mandó a nuestros padres que la notificasen a sus hijos; para que lo sepa la generación venidera, y los hijos que nacerán; y los que se levantarán lo cuentan a sus hijos, a fin de que pongan en Dios su confianza, y no se olviden de las obras de Dios; que guarden sus mandamientos. Y no sean como sus padres, generación contumaz y rebelde; generación que no dispuso su corazón, ni fue fiel para con Dios su espíritu..." - Salmo 78:5-11

"Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered." - Psalm 105:5

"Acordaos de las maravillas que él ha hecho, de sus prodigios y de los juicios de su boca." - Salmo 105:5

Two disclaimers:

(1) These passages talk an awful lot about battle and war. I am by no means condoning "holy wars." What happens in my heart when I realize that the Lord is my defender and avenger, the one who fights my battle, is that I no longer take that role as my own. I become much more compassionate because the Lord's wrath is much more just and much more intense than my own. Some how I let go instead of trying to go to war. If you read the book I referenced it really puts it all into perspective and actually takes on more the tone of Philippians 2:1-11 (see below).

(2) I also don't mean to say that all the conflict and little "battles" that we have makes it between us and our "enemies." Ephesians 6:10-12 puts this into perspective, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places..."

---

Interesting enough, the reason the study had me look up these passages is that in Joshua 17:14-18, the sons of Joseph see their opposition and are dismayed. The argue with Joshua and tell him that he must give them some other land because the people who have occupied their land are too big and too powerful. After reading the previous chapters of Joshua, there is a huge contrast between these people and Caleb, who by this time is old, but who trusts the Lord to deliver the land to him.

Also, as a side note, a GREAT book that I recommended to her is "The Tale of Three Kings" by Gene Edwards. It talks of David and his relationship with Saul and his son Absalom, and particularly how he trusted in the Lord to fight his battles instead of taking things into his own hands and killing these kings.

One more little note, I put the Spanish above because somehow I like how these verses read better in the Spanish than in the English.

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by being obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:1-11

El Poder de Dios

Here's some thoughts for the day (again thanks to some friendly Ágape e-mails)...

We need God. We need his power. We need Jesus for eternal life. We need the Holy Spirit for our internal (and external) life.

NECESITAMOS EL PODER DE DIOS (Necesitamos a Jesucristo para nuestra vida eterna, y el espíritu Santo de Dios para nuestra vida interna.)

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." - John 14:16,17


"Y yo rogaré al Padre, y os dará otro Consolador, para que esté con vosotros para siempre: el Espíritu de verdad". - Juan 14:16,17

"...but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" - Romans 8:13-14


"Mas si por el Espíritu hacéis morir las obras de la carne, viviréis. Porque todos los que son guiados por el Espíritu de Dios, éstos son hijos de Dios. Pues no habéis recibido el espíritu de esclavitud para estar otra vez en temor, sino que habéis recibido el espíritu de adopción, por el cual clamamos: !!Abba, Padre!" - Romanos 8:13-14

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ, always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." - 2 Corinthians 2:14

"Mas a Dios gracias, el cual nos lleva siempre en triunfo en Cristo Jesús, y por medio de nosotros manifiesta en todo lugar el olor de su conocimiento." - 2ª Corintios 2:14

my list

with the spring always seems to come ganas (desires) to try new things or to actually do some of the things i've been putting off, do more outside stuff, etc., it comes along with the spring cleaning. okay, so here is my present list of things i want to do (but somehow if i actually think about them taking time have no idea where or when to add them to my schedule):

+ running & training for a half-marathon and then a full one (this is in motion, pun really not intended)

+ take rock climbing classes for a month or two to get better (and it doesn't hurt that it would come with free use of their climbing wall and the weight room - this actually has multiple pluses - (1) when i go to the mountains with the university mountain club to climb, i won't take as long getting up the mountain face, (2) i might be more likely to drop by the rock climbing wall in my spare time on campus, (3) it would be totally fun and i actually could get better - versus my present holding pattern)

+ possibly join this choir that some friends sing in (it's been awhile since i've been in a choir, but sounds like a lot of fun)

+ take driving lessons to get my spanish license (this should happen as soon as i get my new residence card in hand - hopefully in the next month) (yes, i do know how to drive and have a US license but it's fully invalid here and not at all useful)

+ guitar lessons (this will have to wait a little while)

+ seminary classes (as soon as the textbooks get here i'm going to take another one and when i finish that another one..., although with this list i think i'm a bit insane)

+ brush up on my ancient greek (i have good intentions, but we'll see. it might have to wait until i have a bit more time)

+ take another french class or really take some time to practice and learn it (again, i think this is going to have to wait a bit)

fun spanish bands

recently i've gotten to know several spanish bands, mainly by way of knowing people in the bands, but also by checking out "friends" of the band. here are a few that i particularly like. you can find their website via the "music i've been listening to recently" tab.

in no particular order...first is "my dear flotsam" of which my friend iñaki plays the drums. they are indie music similar to death cab for cutie.


second is "ni uno bueno" of which i now know most of the band. the people i know best are jomi, the bass player, dani, the trumpeter, and juan marcos, the saxophonist. their music is full of energy and is a mix of salsa, ska, and rock, with a bit of tango in one song and some spanish touches. they just came out with a new cd, which will be released shortly.


and last but not least, "this grace," who presently are residing mainly in london. i don't really know much about them, but i like what i've heard online. they are apparently are friends with "my dear flotsam."

Some good quotes

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-Nelson Mandela


"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway."

-Mother Teresa

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

-St. Francis of Assisi

"Perhaps the best mirror is a person or culture entirely other than your own...it is unlearning yourself that teaches you who you really are."

-Anonymous

agua que da vida

Life-giving Water - EL AGUA QUE DA VIDA

"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." - John 4:14

("Mas el que bebiere del agua que yo le daré, no tendrá sed jamás; sino que el agua que yo le daré será en él una fuente de agua que salte para vida eterna." - Juan 4:14)

"And he said, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment." - Revelation 21:6

("Y me dijo: Hecho está. Yo soy el Alfa y la Omega, el principio y el fin. Al que tuviere sed, yo le daré gratuitamente de la fuente del agua de la vida." - Apocalipsis 21:6)

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water... Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you." - Psalm 63:1,3

("Dios, Dios mío eres tú; de madrugada te buscaré; mi alma tiene sed de ti, mi carne te anhela, en tierra seca y árida donde no hay aguas." - Salmo 63:1)

pure exhaustion

It's funny because it just occurred to me that I started another post about a week ago entitled "sleep, or lack thereof" and never got around to finishing it.

I must say that this has been quite a week. It's been a great week, and while I am exhausted, it seems like that is just part of my life.

note: photo taken from http://www.bunrab.com/photohutch/ichioka_photos/ichioka_phgal.html from a set of photos on sleep

Recently there have been various places I have been reminded of the importance and power in being thankful and expressing gratitude to God in whatever situation we may find ourselves. That, in fact, this gratitude ends up turning into joy and is one of the ways God blesses us and gives us the grace we need.

I've been thinking about that and trying to be more conscious of doing so. And the little e-mail I got today from the national office was about: "Gratitude to God." obviously timely. And it is interesting the verses they picked on this. So, here it is:

Gratitude to God - AGRADANDO A DIOS

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." - John 15:11

"Estas cosas os he hablado, para que mi gozo esté en vosotros, y vuestro gozo sea cumplido." - Juan 15:11

"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 15:5,6

"Pero el Dios de la paciencia y de la consolación os dé entre vosotros un mismo sentir según Cristo Jesús, para que unánimes, a una voz, glorifiquéis al Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo." - Romanos 15:5,6

"You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:20

"Porque habéis sido comprados por precio; glorificad, pues, a Dios en vuestro cuerpo y en vuestro espíritu, los cuales son de Dios." - 1ª Corintios 6:20

the night

last night i was walking home. it wasn't super late, just about 11pm. i guess, in part because it was monday night, it felt more like 1 or 2 in the morning. there was hardly anyone out.

as i walked home, which was just about a 10 minute hike from the metro, i thought "i love walking home late a night." granted, it helps because i think i live in the prettiest part of madrid (which is part of why i chose this part of town). there are these amazing old buildings with beautiful architecture that is only highlighted by the lights (many of them have lights on the buildings, for aesthetics not functionality). it also feels fully safe, as it's a well traveled area. even if "no one" is out, there are still people.

so, what do i love about nights in madrid in the chamberi neighborhood? i love the architecture. i love the quietness of the night, the city seems to be asleep. i love that they clean the streets every night (and that magically they seem to keep from getting you wet if you happen to be out, even though they use these firefighter sized hoses). i love just having the city seemingly to myself. ah, madrid.

(for those of you who might ask what i was doing out at 11pm on a monday night, (a) it's really not that odd, in fact, 11pm would not be too late to call most people at home at night (since we eat dinner at 9 or 10pm), and (b) i had a meeting for a retreat this weekend.)

amazing!

So, it is clear that God hears our prayers, that he knows the desires of our hearts, and in a way I very much do not understand that prayer changes things. Tonight (actually I think it was sunday night, 24 feb, when i started this post) as I planned my week and made some phone calls it occurred to me that the Lord is answering one of my prayers (and I'm sure that of many others for me). (Honestly, there have been many times (this year in particular, but also throughout my time in Spain - particularly in hard times) that I've had a sense that people are praying for me, that God has a hedge of protection around me, that I am not alone in the spiritual battle.)

Specifically it looks like people helping out on campus is actually going to happen this semester! Pablín, a spanish guy from my church who did stuff with ágape (ccc) as a student, said that he can help me at least a couple days a week. And he knows a ton of university students both from the youth group at church (youth includes high school up to about mid-twenties or thirties) and from just being a spanish guy. Along with Pablín, there are two mid-twenties couples who recently arrived from the states with another missions organization (mtw) who are almost fully at my disposal (minus their time in language classes). amazing!

today the two couples and i went on campus. after we talked a bit and prayed we went to do surveys and i was definitely a bit giddy and overjoyed. overnight i went from being one to being six people. it was so nice to just have company. (i'm by no means saying this year has been all bad, because it has actually been a great year, but i do miss going with others and knowing that there are others there doing the same thing i am. that's all i'm saying.)

so, thanks for the prayers and keep it up! my hope it that very soon there would be a full-time staff team of pablíns and pablinas (spaniards) working with me on the various madrid campuses.

smog, pollution, and running

so, i used to love to go for a run from my apartment to the large park in the middle of the city (retiro), run around it a bit and then back. it's an hour+ run, which is great. plus i pass through some of the major sites of madrid (which is great fun).

but recently, i've begun to discover an unfortunate pattern (which began sometime last year and has repeated itself this year). often when i go running (at least in the winter months) in the morning - early morning to just normal morning (both of which are during rush hour), i get home, feel great, plan to do it everyday and then inevitable with in a day or two start to have flu-like symptoms.

it doesn't happen when i go at a different time of day, or on the weekend. it doesn't happen in the summer. nor does it happen when i go up to a park closer to my house and run around the almost mile long circuit. it seemed inexplainable and that surely it was all in my head. last year it meant i'd run for a week and then be sick and then repeat the cycle several times. this year, i've begun just to go to this track/park (which is really pretty, with a driving range in the middle, a 9-hole golf course, soccer fields, fountains,..., so i don't actually feel like i'm running in circles, which i kind of abhor). i go with my ipod & nike distance measurer and run for as long as i want. the added bonus is there are drinking fountains, i can go anytime of day and feel safe, and it's easy. the disadvantage is it's the same route everyday and, even if it doesn't seem like it, i am running in circles.

so, last week i decided to head to retiro yet again with one of my roommates. it felt great. as we were running i told her about a few years ago when i was in santiago, chile, for the summer. jason and i went running fairly regularly. i had run a marathon a couple months before and he just liked to run far distances, so it was great. in santiago there are a million dogs that chase you or guard you (from the other dogs, from the taxis, from other pedestrians,...)

this was also the summer that we ran through tear gas. only after we had run fully through it and realizing that both of our eyes, nose, and lungs were burning did we, after consider running across 7 lanes of traffic, turn right back around and run back through it. (it just happened that we were right by the university that protested class costs all summer, along with protests, riots, and much tear gas).

so, i was telling anna about this summer and mentioned how bad the pollution was - so much so that we rarely could see the mountains (which were just outside the city), there was a ton of visible smog, the entire summer when i blew my nose it was fully black (really), and that for the first two weeks i felt like i had a bad cold, with some flu-like symptoms.

it was only after i got back (and later started to feel a bit sick) that i began to think that maybe it isn't the best thing for my health to run in rush hour traffic, breathing in all the car exhaust and also the smoke from the majority of pedestrians i pass (which are quite numerous). looking some stuff up online, i have since found that madrid (which not obviously very polluted) apparently has exceeded maximum air pollution limits for the past eight years. and, it is due to the excessive traffic of cars (and my running path goes along one of the busiest streets for car traffic in madrid).

Additionally, it said that:

According to a European Commission’s recent study, air pollution causes in Europe 350,000 premature deaths per year, of which 16,000 correspond to Spain. In this country, due to air pollution, die more than 3 times more persons than in traffic accidents and almost 11 times more than in industrial accident.

The main air pollutant agent in Madrid is the vehicle, due to its structure of city of services and its little industry. The most problematic contaminants in the capital are carbon dioxide, NO2, and the suspended particles, PM10 (which were nearly 3x the max).

Ecologists In Action actually have filed a lawsuit against the city.


bad news - i don't think i'm going to continue running this route, at least not during morning rush hour - i think even if and when i get a car, i need to make an effort to not add too much to the pollution problem - and i guess it looks like the local park/ driving range/ track will continue to be my running buddy.

good news - i may have figured out what is going on and how to run but not make myself sick. in the meantime, i need to go visit my local health food store lady tomorrow for some stuff to boost my immune system and get me feeling better, i need to look into (sad) working out a bit more inside (at least part of the week), and it gives me a good incentive to be a bit more proactive in taking vitamins and such that will counteract some of the pollution's effects, as well as, work on building up my lungs so they can endure the pollution (if that's even possible).

all this said, i still have a theory (i seem to have many unproven theories). my theory is that while, yes, running in rush hour traffic is probably not the best, that if i build up my lung capacity and immune system that it won't bother me quite as much. (although even as i write this, i am not sure that it makes too much sense to try out this theory. although i still want to. i want to train on the mile long track for awhile, building up my mileage (eventually to run a marathon) and, while it not being the majority of my runs, on the long ones (and maybe another one here and there) return to the streets, or go searching for a less polluted trail. maybe i can find a way to run to casa del campo, which is probably about a thirty minute run just to get there. hmm... i'll let you know how it goes.

Once

So, I have to say that both the movie "Once" and it's soundtrack are incredible. Granted if you don't like one you probably wouldn't like the other. (The movie has more music than words.) I've been listening to it while doing other stuff and just have to say it's amazing!