Hola de Espana!

I arrived in Spain on Thursday afternoon- just in time for a siesta :-)
Every day from 2-5 the Spaniards go home for lunch and a nap. I found out that most of the businesses do not reopen after siesta so there is only a short window for making purchases. Friday was a very busy day. Anita and I went to the city to get various items that I will need while I am here. Lots of walking...I'm still not over the jet-lag. Life here is similar and yet very different. The streets are littered with trash at the end of the day and every morning machines are used to sweep and clean them. Apparently, there are no laws against littering here. The city was very intriguing but it was a little much to take into my sleepy brain.
       The Lord has shown much favor to me on my journey. On my flight to Madrid, I was fortunate to find myself sitting next to a very jovial Frenchman. I know what you're thinking...I didn't know such things existed either. He was very kind. I learned that he loved the US and was returning home from a vacation in- get this- Oklahoma City and Kansas.... Not exactly my idea of a vacation but oh well. He spoke well but there were many words that we needed a translating tool in order to understand each other. He said that he loved Country Westerns and Country music. He also informed me that he was the president of a country dance club in his local village in France. Needless to say, he was an anomaly. He completely shattered every preconceived idea that I have every had about the French. I was delighted to talk with him. He shared that Europe was a dark place and that his country frowned upon patriotism. I was heart-broken when he said he longed to live in the US to one day openly practice patriotism. He also surprised me by saying that the primary religion in France is Christianity. He said that he followed Jesus but I knew from his words that he did not have a relationship with him. He said that it was the religion of his parents and that he did not believe that Jesus was the only way to God. Sadly, he believes that respecting others and doing good things will "hopefully" grant his safe passage to heaven. I told him the story of Creation and with the help of an electronic translator, I believe he understood. I tried to explain that even though sin entered the world, God made a plan to save all men from an eternal death. I also explained God's holiness and that even our best could never measure up. This is the part where I knew I was losing him. These were English words that he had not heard before. Please pray that the seed that I planted will be watered by other believers. He gave me his card and invited me to visit he and his wife in France anytime. He is a retired baker of 21 years...I wish he could taste the bread of life.
        My flight to Valencia was only 45 minutes and ironically, I sat by a Pakistani American. He was returning home from NY. He moved to Valencia recently with his wife (a native Valencian) and was very kind to help me with information about the city. Finally, I arrived and met with Chris and Anita. They took me to Lydia's and we had lunch. By this time I was really feeling the time change (2pm Valencia time=7am Central time) so I took a shower and hit the rack.

          Thank you all for praying while I traveled. I asked the Lord- as I always do when traveling- to lift up the plane and put it down where it needed to be. He answered me :-) Pray for revival in Valencia. As I traveled around the city yesterday I was awakened to the hopelessness and desperation these people are experiencing. They wear many masks of happiness but they have no real joy. Many faces are somber in the streets. Remember the hope that you have and treasure it. There is no life without hope. There is much noise here and very few places to find quietness and rest. Amidst the noise the people of Valencia need to be still and know that he is God. Below is photo of the flower stands in the plaza- they are beautiful, no?