Domingo

What do you do on a Sunday when you are just learning the local language, only know 0.5 people in your neighborhood, remain jet lagged from a trans-Atlantic flight, and yet desire to find a faith community?

Google baby!

Admittedly, I am the shy one in these situations, and my husband, Alex, an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, shines. So I oblige him, because he obliges me in almost every other area of life. Alex found a local Iglesia del Nazareno in Madrid via Google and Facebook. Don’t you love social media?

Luckily, churches in Madrid start late, which fits our current sleeping schedule. So, at about 11 am on Sunday, we hopped on the Metro and headed south for the 12 pm service.

We were greeted at the door by Mercy, the pastor’s wife. She was so warm and friendly, speaking a mixture of Spanish and English as she hugged us and introduced us to other churchgoers. We were welcomed this way by nearly everyone in the small church.

While we did not understand most of the sermon, we were definitely ushered into God’s presence through the Spanish language liturgy. There is something heavenly about voices of different tongues singing in unision. As a child, I remember participating in English and Spanish services at our family’s church. The service is not perfect, people say odd things and translations go awry, and, happily, it is less of a show. But it is real and it is beautiful.

After the service, we were invited to Sunday comer and siesta with Mercy and her husband, Pastor Efrain, their kids, and four other churchgoers. Here again, Alex shines! And has a healthy appetite. So we marched down the block and settled into a flat where we dined. The food was similar to Central America and North America, but relatively bland. My friends at WIC should be proud of their tolerance for comida picante! Apparently, Spanish individuals prefer less spice.

Which leads me to a tangent… I think maybe I will change careers, or refocus careers, and become a food anthropologist? Food is so interesting!

Anyway, lunch was fabulous and long and filled with great (if only semi-understood) conversation. Soul food. We are so grateful for our new friends! Pastor Efrain even drove us home! We hope to meet with them again, although we may be traveling for the next several weekends.

Tomorrow begins our Spanish class intensive. Buenas suertes!