Friday, January 16, 2009

Updated map




Here is the actual route of our travels; it differed a little from our planned route by going further south into Morocco and to a few other places in Spain on the way back to Madrid.

Again, thanks to my techno-savvy brother.

Click here for larger, interactive map.

The 225 word summary

My goal was 200 words, but this is pretty close.

Our trip was more like living overseas for 3 1/2 months (107 days). We were able to experience cultures and languages much more deeply because of the length of time and being in people' s homes. We started to forget English!

Often we were hungry, tired, lost, lonely, in need of money or couldn't speak the language(s), but God provided over and and over and over. At home we wouldn't have had nearly as many difficulties, but we wouldn't have seen God's creative ways of meeting our needs.

So often we were strangers, and the smallest kindness or help from someone would mean so much. I thank God for the kindness we received.

We discovered that we could live in another culture, even if it was very different than ours. Some myths were dispelled too. Are all Moroccans fundamentalists? Are all Spaniards stubborn regionalists? Are all French intellectual cynics? No, certainly not, for we have met people who are exceptions to all these stereotypes.

These were eye-opening experiences, and I am so grateful to have them, to remember them. I'd encourage you to go as well, maybe not to Europe and North Africa specifically, but somewhere a little uncomfortable and different where God can show you great things.