Changes in the air

Greetings from Mike,

One of the things we have enjoyed immensely here in Portugal is the fantastic view we enjoy from both school and our house. I especially enjoy watching the innumerable planes land and take off below us at Lisbon International Airport. The origins and destinations read like the index of an atlas and stir images of exotic locations and fascinating cultures. What a different week this has been! Very few flights in or out as northern European airspace has been shut down due to the volcano in Iceland. Who would have thought? Actually some of our missionary family here have been hosting people in their homes who are either stuck here or have found their way here to use Lisbon as a way out of Europe. Lisbon has maintained and even added flights to the US to help people get in and out of the EU.

Another change in the air is more personal as we have solidified our exit plans as well. We have considered the possibility of spending another year here but have reached the conclusion that there is not need for our abilities and have been looking for other options and places of ministry. We plan, Lord willing, to leave here May 30 and fly to London (assuming no volcano issues) for a few days before crossing the Channel to spend a week in and around Paris. After a few more days of "touring" we will return to Lisbon on June 15th to pack up and head for the USA on June 17th. All this planning has indeed "turned our hearts toward home". Emotionally we are ready! We both will see an increase in our duties as one of our key colleagues is leaving in early May. Pray for us that we will finish strong in the tasks set before us at GLCA.

Along with this, has come the apparent opportunity for me to rejoin the staff at EIU. I am pleased with this and look forward to the associated challenges.

We had an exciting week highlighted by Kati's hamster having several "blessed" events that was a complete surprise to all of us. Apparently the "hamster-sitter" was not as careful as she needed to be during spring break. Kati had some classic statements like wailing "We never should have let them get married!" (a school event several weeks ago). Needless to say there was a lot of excitment. Unfortunately (sort of) none of the litter has survived the first week.

The Portuguese country side is a spectacular blend of spring greens, olive trees, orange blossom aromas, and wild flowers... We are really enjoying that part of the environment here as well as the fellowship of our extended "family". Only a few more weeks to go...

Mike for all

April 11, 2010

After driving for about 7 hours from Portugal we arrived in Andalusia, Spain to spend a week at the Marriott Resort....the sun was shining and we were ready for a vacation! The resort is very family friendly and quite beautiful. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea on the southeastern coast of Spain. After exploring the grounds, we settled in for a night of rest on soft, overstuffed mattresses in a lovely suite decorated in the Spanish style.

Sunday morning was Easter so we decided to try to find a church...there was nothing except Catholic masses available so we decided to attend an Easter Processional in the nearby small town of Marbella. The processionals are a yearly event. Since we had never attended one, we thought it might be interesting and educational. We couldn't tell much of what was going on but, when we returned to the hotel, Mike looked it up on the Internet and gave us some back ground. It seems the processional is based on the medieval guilds and fraternities...each group wearing its special colors and carrying relics designated to that guild. Somehow it is all tied into the church and Holy Week. They also carried large floats depicting various Passion Week events and people.

We did have a moment of panic when Mike realized he wasn't carrying our camera. He thought he had left it sitting beside the car. As he sprinted back to our parking spot, Nina and I prayed the camera would still be there. Mike returned with a thumbs up...he had locked the camera in the car!

Monday we woke to a gray sky...and this after the weather report had promised sunshine all week. Go figure! We decided it was a good day to just hang out at the resort...the girls played basketball and soccer and ping pong while Mike and I explored the beach...ending up at a little cafe where we drank a coke...from a bottle, no less.

Our plan for Tuesday was to visit the Rock of Gibraltar...which is actually a part of England. Of course, that meant a lunch of fish and chips at Smith's London Style cafe. We rode the cable car to the top of the rock...it is way, way up there...where we could see for miles. To Kati's delight, she got to see the monkeys that inhabit the rock. They are wild but protected animals.

Wednesday brought the sun out in all its' glory. We had breakfast at an outdoor cafe, visited a street fair and then headed back to the resort to take advantage of the sun and surf.

That night we went to dinner at a restaurant that served authentic Spanish food...the girls didn't much like the shrimp with their beady eyes staring at them from their plate of paella. The evening ended with a wonderfully energetic threesome dancing the Flamenco for us.

Thursday brought more sun but some cooler temperatures. We drove the hour and a half to Ronda, the oldest city in Spain and where bull fighting started. The drive took us through the mountains over winding, twisting roads (that is why it takes an hour and a half)...with spectacular views. We took lots of pictures on the way. I was pretty tense because of my fear of heights, but Mike is a great driver and maneuvered the roads like a pro. I can't describe the rugged beauty of this area...you'll have to see the pictures. The city itself is amazing, build on a gigantic chasm that separates the old (pre-1300's) city from the newer (post 1400)...again, the pictures tell the story.

Friday was our last day so we decided to go to lunch and then stick close to the resort enjoying the amenities it has to offer. It turned out that the restaurant recommended to us for lunch was a place out in the hills...no town around...that offered an amazing view, and the best meal we had had all week.

Saturday morning we said goodbye to our soft beds, showers with lots of water pressure, the view from our balcony (in one direction were the mountains and in the other direction the sea) and, of course, the maid who brought in fresh towels and tidied up each day. Yes, we got a bit spoiled!

On the drive back to Portugal, we stopped to look at some Roman ruins in the city of Evora. There is nothing quite like seeing something that was built over two thousand years ago. To imagine that the Roman empire reached so far and wide...that the Romans were in control of the Holy Land during the time that Jesus walked this earth and that their influence reached all across Europe and into Asia...it is mind boggling to me!

Thankfully the Lord granted us safe travel and we are now home...ready to get back to real life here in Portugal. School starts tomorrow.