Greetings from Spain!

Leigh and I (John) are now in Spain! We arrived in Madrid on Saturday and immediately took a bus to Granada in southern Spain. We're staying with a wonderful couple, Pedro and Gaby, and their 1 1/2 year-old daughter Rebeca. Gaby is the sister of our good friend Johannah in Vancouver. Pedro is the pastor of a small mission congregation in Granada called Light of the Nations Church. It is a multicultural church, like Peace, with people from 14 different countries. Worship is in Spanish, of course. Our first experience with the family outside their home was Sunday breakfast at a bar - a Spanish traditional breakfast of cafe con leche (coffee with milk) and toasted baguette with shredded tomato and olive oil. Yummy! Worship was from 11:30 to 1:30pm, a celebration of their connection in mission with indigenous Quichuan churches in Ecuador - pretty cool because there are many Quichuan people from Ecuador in the congregation in Granada. It has been fun to talk with Pedro and Gaby about their ministry in Spain and to find commonalities with our ministry in Tacoma. Pedro and Gaby have been amazing hosts, taking us places and sharing meals with us. We've explored the amazing Alhambra in Granada, the fortress/palace/city/gardens of sultans and kings and queens, an eclectic mix of architecture on a hilltop overlooking Granada (a little different than our Hilltop in Tacoma!). We went to the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains - a huge skiing site - and have taken some great walks around the city and eaten good food. Food highlights (gotta share those): hot chocolate and churros, beer and tapas, fried local seafood, tea in a Moroccan-style tea house. Here are some pictures.

Pastor Pedro after worship at the church in Granada

Pastor Pedro, Gaby, and daughter Rebeca - our hosts in Granada

A narrow street in Granada

The famous Alhambra in Granada

Churros and hot chocolate

Local seafood feast

Tomorrow we're heading south... We decided to check out Fez, Morocco for a few days. After that, it's time to head north to start the Camino in northern Spain. Thanks for your prayers. We're remembering our family, friends, the Peace congregation, and the Hilltop in our prayers as we near the holiest week of the year with Palm Sunday coming up.