Summer is finally ebbing away from the hot desert of Southern Spain. Don't get me wrong, its still around 90 or so degrees here in the middle of the day, but I woke up this morning to see that it was about 15 degrees cooler outside than inside, so I gleefully stopped the air conditioner, and opened all the doors and windows. I'm wearing long pants and a hoodie because it just feels marvelous after 2 months of intense heat.

This blog hasn't always been an every day or an every week thing, but that's how life happens. An interesting thing happened this month with it, so this is what I'm talking about today.

Apparently a young Indian medical student was feeling very lonely in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. He was on his way to Spain to study Spanish, and feeling very disconnected from his world. Being a Christian, he was encouraged by his church back in India to Google Granada, and Evangelical Church.

My blog came up in the few pages that Google could find. He left me a message on this blog, and then we proceded to write a couple of short emails. Last Sunday, he walked into our church, all because of my little blog about Granada. Andrew and I had lunch with Jon and he told us his story.

Jesus says we are to be salt and light....in a world of computers, internet, etc, etc, what does this really mean? I'm a practical person, I want to see my faith worked out, rather than just discussed. It tickles me to think that maybe even blogging about my faith in action might help.

Although, I've read a lot of blogs, especially those done by Christians, and they feel the need to "spirtualize" and expound on everything...and I've tried to avoid this. I don't wanna write cliche stuff about how God loves you and wants you have to have a happy life.

My beliefs aren't simple when it comes to that. Pain is good, it causes you to grow, and I've believed for a long time that violence in our lives can bring us grace more than we understand and realize.

I have a friend in Haiti right now, he and his wife and kids are trying to be light in a dark place. The more I read his blog, the darker the place looks. Over the last month we've had to some brief conversations about what it means to live in another country, for the purpose of bringing light.

Sadly enough, many of the people that are going to Bible school, being trained for ministry, are wandering back to familar places, ones that have a lot of light. Its scary to live in the dark. I hated the dark as a kid, and I still can't sleep in a pitch black room. I understand why people return to the light.

This is a rambling blog today, and my main goal is this: are we light to a dark world, or do we cluster in lighter places and compare our lights to others?

Comments

Anonymous said…
Yo, girl! I found you through Sharla's website. Had to say HI!
Thanks Girl. Hope you enjoy the Blog.
Liz said…
Hey Jamie! I'm planning to study Spanish in Granada this summer and stumbled across your blog... any tips for finding a church there?
Yah, the one I talk about on this blog! on facebook make me your friend and we'll talk.
jl8402 said…
I will be in Granada this summer. Know of any good evangelical churches? Please email me at jus8402@yahoo.com :-)
Bridget said…
HI Jamie,
I to just googled évangelical church granada'and you're blog was the first to appear on google.

I have just arrived in Granada to study Spanish for 2 months and am hoping to find a church here. What is the name of the church and where and when do they meet? My email address in on my blog if that's easier.

Many thanks,
Bridget
Bridget said…
Hi Jamie,

I too just googled évangelical church Granada'and your blog was the first to appear on Google.

I have just moved to Granada for 2 months to learn Spanish and I am looking for a church. What is the church that you attend? and where and what time do they meet? (my email can be found on my blog if that's easier)

Many thanks!

Bridget
Anonymous said…
This is my first visit here, but I will be back soon, because I really like the way you are writing, it is so simple and honest
To anon:
Thanks. Please let me know how you found me and who are you.

Blessings.
Anonymous said…
last few days our class held a similar discussion about this subject and you point out something we have not covered yet, appreciate that.

- Laura
To my latest comment...Laura, what kind of class are you attending? What do you think is lacking from the class?
Meredith Frey said…
Jamie-- I am actually just planning on going on vacation to Spain this summer, and will be in Granada on a Sunday. It looks like from this post that you know the Church in Granada pretty well. Could you help connect me? Thanks!
Meredith, Yes, You can find info about the church on a recent blog.http://jamieswanderings.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html

Hope this helps....:)

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