The Week After

Our apologies for not putting more on the blog. Since last I wrote, we spent some much needed time recovering as well as preparing. We moved into the second half of the camp and said goodbye to about ten students who were going to go on vacation with their families. We also did a lot of laundry as well as cleaning of our room. We essentially have a room with wall-to-wall bedding. Since we mostly use the room for sleeping and storing our clothes, it suits us just fine.

On the 15^th we had a talent show at the camp. It was the final day for a number of the students and the talent show has become a tradition. The kids love it and they especially loved Naphtali’s dance solo. They even chanted “Tilly! Tilly! Tilly!” as she grinned, twirled and waved her arms to one of the songs they had all performed to during the show.

That's right. She danced to the whole song.

The evening of the 16^th, Melinda and I got to go on a date. The girls who are also staying with Hector and Lilly, Aimee and Torrie, agreed to sit with the girls while we went to dinner. We went and watched the sun set from the Egyptian temple from Debod and then went to dinner at a pizzeria just off the Plaza de Espana. The nicest part of it was just being able to spend some time together.

After church on the 17^th, we visited the Retiro, a large park and cultural center that used to be a royal garden. There are two museum buildings that house special exhibits, as well as an artificial lake complete with rowboats. It was beautiful and impressive.

On the 18^th, it was back to the camp and the campers. I owe thanks to all who were praying for me/us as we continued to struggle in our interaction with the kids. Things kept improving throughout the week and I began to let go of my need to always be in control. The kids seemed more willing to communicate with me even though my vocabulary is not much larger than Naphtali’s at this point. Last Friday was especially memorable. A very difficult six-year-old girl, who is as dramatic as Ainsley and even bossier, has been struggling as her parents are going through a divorce. She acts out a lot and tends to disobey most instructions. On Friday, as she was leaving for a long weekend with her mother, she came back down the hallway to tell me that she would be going to the "playa" for the weekend and would not be back until Tuesday. She then pulled me down for a hug and a smile that would melt anyone’s heart, even a cranky old director.

I love these kids, and I truly hope that they feel Christ’s love during our remaining time together.

Until The Curtain Rises

Chris here. Last night the children performed the short musical that we wrote for the camp. It contained popular music, short scenes about school children and pirates, hand made scenery and original choreography. I learned a lot working on the show, but specifically three things:

1) I am extremely frustrated not being able to communicate.

I have really been struggling with the language barrier. Not being able to converse in certain situations is fine. Waiting for the bus, swimming at the pool or even at the grocery store are all places where I can stumble through my broken phraseology and my conversation partner is usually very forgiving and even somewhat willing to try and speak a little English. For example, the security guard at the piscina was most eager to talk with me about Rock-A-Billy music from the U.S. He even showed me his Stray Cats inspired tattoo on his arm. But when we are at the school, it is exceptionally difficult to not be able to talk to the kids, let alone give them instructions for what they should be doing in the play.

I didn’t think I would struggle so much with not being able to speak Spanish. I knew that I would struggle to communicate, but I didn’t know that it would drain me the way it has. When a little kid comes up to you at the beginning of the morning and grabs your hand and begins to tell you about something fantastic that happened the night before, there is most definitely a spark from the moment that is lost when you have to find somebody to translate for you, only to have that student then light up talking to the person who speaks Spanish while you watch sheepishly from the conversation sideline.

2) I don’t do well without structure.

Those who know me well, know that I like to have things planned out and mapped out. They know that I come from a long line of control freaks and that I don’t do well without structure. I am not opposed to changes in plans. In fact, my wife can become extremely frustrated when I impulsively change our itinerary at the last minute, especially when we just made the itinerary.

Working with a structure in Spain is not common. Changes come at the last minute and often things are literally planned at the last minute. This is hard for me. It is good for me to know this about myself, but when I am trying to adapt to a different culture, it is even more agonizing to change my DNA in order to participate.

3) I am not gifted at directing kids.

I really like playing with kids and I really like teaching kids, but directing kids is an entirely different matter. Part of it has to do with cultural differences. Spain spent decades under the dictatorship of Franco, and its people react to authority and policy in a fairly rebellious manner. Granted, the children at the camp did not experience the atrocities and oppression of the Franco dictatorship, but the generations that did have instilled a certain spirit of opposition that can clearly be seen in Spain’s children. This makes mounting a play rather challenging. No matter how many times I tell somebody to do something, they inevitably do whatever they want and even try to take over direction of the other students themselves.

For those of you who have taught, directed, coached or led in anyway, you know how draining that can be. But, then I knew that I wasn’t good at directing kids before I even came to Spain. Numerous church musicals and pageants have taught me that my temperament as a director is not affirming for any person under the age of 18.

Therefore:

I found myself in charge of mounting a 30 minute play in 1 1/2 weeks with 29 children age 3-12 whose language I don’t speak and whose appreciation for structure is the polar opposite of my own and whose perceptions of a leader is directly related to religious and political dictatorship, even if they are not consciously seeing me dressed in a brown uniform with Spanish military issue gafas del sol.

So...

Please pray for the people of Spain. Please pray for the children. Please pray for the camp and if you think about it, please pray for me and my family. I know God is letting me be stretched and challenged. This is a good thing. I just don’t want to portray my frustration in a manner that is contrary to Christ’s Kingdom. I have been asking for forgiveness a lot.

I am sorry I can't post pictures from the play. Spanish law prohibits us from using pics from the school on any blog other than the school's FB page. We can show you pics when we get home on our computer. I even was able to grab some video footage of the production. Granted, it is mostly of Ainsley.

We are so tourists!!

This past weekend we took time as a family and then as a staff. It was tiring but great! We went on the metro on Saturday to see the architecture in down town Madrid, beautiful plazas, cathedrals, museums, gardens, fountains, and statues.! We toured a cathedral and Ainsley said that was her favorite part of they day. I think her least favorite part of the day was losing the balloon that a lady gave to her. But Tilly gave her many hugs and pats to make it all better. Awe sisters!!

We also had ice cream. We couldn’t rightly enjoy it in the heat. We had to eat it way too fast! We also went to eat at the Museo de Jamon (Translation is Ham Museum)! It was really pretty good. Lilli advised us to get the picnic to go. So we did, and found a park bench in the shade to enjoy it! Chris had Charizo and I had Queso. By the way, Tilly and I have really been enjoying the cheese and seafood here. She loved my calamari sandwich the other day. Ainsley and Chris, on the other hand, have been enjoying the fresh bread (well, really we all have!) It is so great to walk down the street and order fresh bread. Everyday for lunch the staff orders it. We get one loaf right away, and then come back for the others. YUM!!!

We also went to an open-air market on Sunday. It was like a flea market! Ainsley finally got her flamenco dress!! Today, I took a flamenco class with Lilli. It was difficult but fun! I am going to still keep trying! We are looking forward to more adventure to the smaller towns close by.

I missed the fireworks last night. It sure didn’t seem like the 4^th of July other then we had watermelon. Tomorrow is my birthday and I look forward to the memory of my 33^rd in Spain!!

Keep praying for the children to see a difference in our life and for God to open doors to appropriately share our testimonies of the love of Christ. Pray also for Hector, Lilli and Danny, as they are staying here after us, that we will benefit and further their ministry. We do not want to do anything that will damage the witness and relationships they have already formed. There are many children at the camp in need of love and they are all in need of God’s love. There are children struggling through their parents’ divorce, eating disorders, social disorders, abusive families and many other needs that we do not even know about. It is much like America in this way and constant prayer is needed for this little angel

Ninos Hermosos

The camp has been great! There are about 30 children. 12 from ages 4-6, 7 ages 7 and 8, and then 7ish ages 10-13. They all speak mostly Spanish. Some in the older two groups speak English, because they have to learn it in school. They help us and we can ask them how to say things. I can tell they get frustrated with me sometimes but they are patient.

Again, the children love the girls. The middle group of girls love Naphtali. She has made a great friend named Anna (7 years old). Anna stays late and eats lunch with us while she waits for her parents. She helps me feed Tilly. She washes her hand and cleans her face. She also follows her around and holds her hand, helps her walk, and climb up on chairs. It is so cute! Ainsley has claimed three girls in the oldest group as her BFFs. They are Marta, Luna and Marina. They are all 11 and 12 years old. They are patient with her, and since they speak some English they can understand some of what Ainsley is saying.

However, both Ainsley and Naphtali have struggled some. They both get tired, as they are trying to adjust to the schedule. Ainsley had a hard time being in her classes away from Chris and I for the first three days. She is doing better know but she is still one of the youngest in the group, so at times has a hard time paying attention for so long, especially with the language barrier. The teachers do speak English but they are trying to speak Spanish for the other children. Tilly is also fed up sometimes. She is starting to yell at the kids and try to bit them when they won’t stop touching her. They all want to poke her cheeks, hold her hands, and stroke her head. She is great with it most of the time, but when she is tired she lets them know to “no toque!”

Until, today Tilly has really been screaming. She keeps saying Mama constantly, and won’t let me put her down. One night when we were getting ready for bed I needed to put Tilly down so I could get dressed and she screamed and pulled on me the entire time. It was really starting to overwhelm me and make me feel like a horrible mother. I thought what have I done to my child. This is too hard for our family. But today we rounded a corner! She started to sleep better so I think that is the key. At first, Ainsley, Tilly and I were all sleeping in one bed because Tilly would wake up and see me, then the Mama would start again and I would have to bring her into bed with Ainsley and I. But she is sleeping better at night and we have figured out if she takes a short nap on me (in the carrier – thanks Melody!!) in the morning then she takes a longer nap in one of the classrooms after the kids leave and the staff is cleaning up and having lunch. It is working out! Thank you so much for your prayers.

So the camp has certainly had it challenges and I think I started my storming process at the end of last week. I was missing home, not feeling confident in my abilities with the language, teaching, or interacting with the kids. But the weekend was a great time with family and God. We had a wonderful time of worship on Sunday night with the staff and this morning (Monday, July 4) was much better. I attribute it to God but it might also be that the girls slept well last night (However, that is God too)! But I think we are headed into the norming stage. Who knows I will probably go back and forth!! J

If you want to see pictures of the children you will have to go to Aslan Performing Arts Centre's facebook page. They are the only ones allowed to post pictures of the kids. I have a link to their facebook page on my facebook profile. So instead I have posted pictures of the staff and the school getting ready for the camp.

Meeting, Greeting and Exploring

We had about 24 hours to recover as a family before we started meeting our teammates. It was exciting to meet everyone and hear the stories that brought them to Madrid. The team is Renee (who met Hector and Lilli when they were studying in the states in Mississippi),Anna, Tori, Rachel and Julia (all from Sanford University where they are studying music), Anne (a great pianist that worked at the camp last year), Aimee (an actress, dancer, singer who was working at Holy Land the last year or so), and Stella (a professional dancer that just finished a dance missions trip to China before joining our team a few days late). They are all amazing ladies! Chris and I are certainly the elders of the team but we have been completely impressed with the passion, dedication, and talent of these ladies!

Our team had a week together to prepare and get to know one another before the camp started on Monday June 27th. We also did a bit of exploring and enjoying Madrid. We went to the pool, out to eat (Chris tried squid!!!), learned to travel around in the city on bus and metro, and finally went to a children’s production of Aristocats. Aristocats was all in Spanish but Ainsley really enjoyed it. Since she had seen it enough in English she understood the majority of what was going on. At the end of the show the children were standing around in their costumes greeting people and taking pictures. They started to leave before I had a chance to get there attention and Ainsley was so sad. She tried so hard not to cry. Her bottom lip was quivering and everything. Anyway, after hugs and wiping away the tears we went to find the actors. They were very nice and took a picture with her. She told me later that she was trying hard not cry. Poor baby!! Trying to be such a big girl!









Ainsley and Naphtali have been such a blessing to me here in Spain, just as they are in the states. At separate times they both have played with Spanish children which led me to attempt conversations with their parents. Opportunities to practice my Spanish are needed and the people in Spain love to talk. They are friendly and say hello often. The family of Tilly’s friend was very kind and knew some English. She offered for me to speak in English, but I kept trying to talk to her in Spanish and did manage a minimal conversation. Everyone here makes a big deal about the girls because they have fair skin and hair. They call them gupa and mona! It offers many opportunities for conversations.



The bus has been an experience as well. The first day of the camp Chris and I took the bus with the girls. The bus ride should only take 15 to 20 minutes, with one switch. We had no problems our practice round because we were with Lilli. BUT… when we attempted on our own the first time we took the wrong bus right off the bat and circled around Alcorcon (which is their suburb of Madrid). Finally, when we were the last ones on the bus, and the bus driver was scheduled to take his smoke break he came up to us and tried to ask us what we were doing. Of course he did not speak any English, and our Spanish is atrocious. We managed to communicate enough to tell him which stop we wanted. The expression on his face let us know that we were completely in the wrong place. He said he would be back on in 15 minutes and we would just have to wait. Once his break was over he told us when to get off and what number bus to take. Once we got off and on the right bus we were fine. Of course we were really nervous now and asked some people on the bus to make sure of our stop. Everyone was so friendly and helped us. One lady even said she was getting off on the same stop and we should follow her. So an hour and a half later we made it to the school. Luckily, the children were just arriving because the staff gets there earlier then they do. Since then we haven’t gotten lost again. We have still taken a wrong bus or so but only one or two stops wrong (adding only a few minutes extra). Praise God! That was certainly a horrible experience. And for all of you that know Ainsley she was not happy about being lost and let us know about it!

We are certainly grateful to our team!!

Meeting, greeting and exploring

Arriving in Madrid

So the plane ride went surprisingly smooth. The girls did great and we were helped out by the various flight attendants, which was comforting considering we had to bring so much CRAP on the plane. Somebody please explain to me the mathematical formula that dictates each child increasing the luggage exponentially.

When we arrived in Madrid, we had no means to communicate (no cell phones, no internet, no Espanol). Our host, Hector Ramirez got delayed by a traffic accident, which helped us feel right at home like we were back in L.A. We wish we had taken a picture of us fitting in his car. You see, everything in Madrid is much smaller than in America. The cars are all small. The elevators accommodate three people. The grocery stores are like newsstands. The main exception is the size of their public parks, but you get the point. So we managed to fit two large suitcases, two large duffel bags, a jogging stroller, a backpack, large briefcase, Melinda’s large purse, Ainsley’s backpack, a pilot suitcase, two more duffel bags, Tilly’s car seat and ourselves into a Ford Fiesta.

Immediately, when we arrived, we felt welcomed open-armed. This was something we expected, but it was still overwhelming, mostly because Hector and Lilli, his wife, have been under an extreme amount of stress with programming at the Arts School. They were coordinating their final recital for the semester and the theatre would only give them enough tickets to accommodate half of the families. Then they found out that their freezer was no longer keeping things cold. Then Hector got sick and hurt his back. This all happened the day we arrived, and yet they still showed so much concern for us getting settled and being comfortable.

The weather here is unseasonably warm. The day we arrived was the hottest day of the year and a good 10 degrees warmer than usual. Good thing we are from L.A. Praise God we have air conditioning in our bedroom. Granted, it took us two sweaty nights to figure that out. We are sleeping upstairs in a flat that is on the top floor, numero nueve, and has a wonderful terrace that is very relaxing, once the sun goes down.

All of this has continued to remind us that life can be simple. Bigger is not better, more is not meaningful and family is truly what is most important. Please pray for Hector and Lilli so that they are blessed immeasurably for all of their hard work here with the students and their families. It is a truly amazing ministry and one that we will continue to write about.