A Quiet Sunday in Spain

The children were very reluctant to go to church.  As we have talked about going over the past couple of days, they have pretty much said, "We're not going."  Then we learned that there is an English branch near Benalmadena, in Fuengirola, and they only meet for two and a half hours.  Score!  We told the children they needn't worry, that everything would be in English, and that I would go to Primary with them.  We emailed the bishop a few days ago for directions to the church, and having collected Andree, we set off.

Church began at 10:00 and we left in what we thought was plenty of time, directions in hand.  Turns out, in spite of the directions, the church was really hard to find.  There were few road signs, we went around and around (literally, as we passed through many roundabouts), and even stopping to ask directions wasn't super helpful because no one had any idea where the Mormon church was.  When we were finally sort of close (we thought), we found a man who did know what and where the building was, and we made it, only a few minutes late.

The English branch is very small, maybe 25-ish regular members, and that included five missionaries (one couple).  There were almost as many visitors as regular attenders.  Not quite, but close.  We hadn't been there but a moment, when I looked around and made an interesting discovery.  The primary in the branch today was very small.  In fact, we took a picture of everyone attending Primary.

That's right.  There is no Primary in the English branch because no one has young children.  All the children's fears were unnecessary, and we did a very funny little Primary thing with the help of Elder Castillo, an older missionary (the husband in the couple).  Brother Castillo was super good with the kids.  He spent his career in education, and he really had it all figured out.  We began by reading scriptures, and he told Blythe she was going to be "and."  Every time we came to "and" in our reading, he would point at her and she could say it.  Naturally, Blythe was no inclined to be cooperative, and wouldn't do it.  He tried and tried to get her to participate, but she sat stony faced and wouldn't.  So rather than get discouraged, he pointed at me, then at Brandt, then me, then him, then Brandt, then me, then Blythe who didn't say "and" but smiled at how silly he was being, then at me, then him, then him, then him, then Blythe who finally said "and."  We read several verses, Brandt reading, then me, then Brother Castillo, with Blythe and-ing when appropriate, and all was well.

Next we each colored a picture of something we were grateful for.  Blythe drew our family (she always draws our family, and they are always wonderful!), Brandt drew nature, and I drew the beach.  Blythe sort of gave running commentary to Brother Castillo about her drawing and our family, having warmed right up to Brother Castillo's goofiness.

We adjourned to the outside area surrounding the chapel next.  Brother Castillo led the children through a whole series of physical activities, running around palm trees, jumping, balancing on walls.  He put them through their paces.  They followed him and all his directions--even Blythe!--and then, after fifteen or so minutes, we went back inside.

We continued our "lesson" about things that we were grateful for by sharing our pictures with each other and singing a song that went along with what we had drawn.  For my beach picture, we sang a modified version of "I looked out the window and what did I see?"  We included palm trees, sandy beaches, and rolling waves.  For Brandt's picture of nature, we sang "Life is O'erflowing With Beautiful Things," and for Blythe's family we sang "I Love Mother" and "Families are Forever" and "I Love to See the Temple."  Though few in number, we sang well.  I then led our little group in several other songs.  We sang "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" in both English and Spanish, and "Sing, Sing, Sing" with clapping and jumping actions.  Joseph, a small boy from the Spanish ward, heard our singing and joined us.  

The chapel. 

This is actually the back side, near the parking lot.

Kent, Sister Castillo, Andree, and me, waiting for Brother Castillo at the end of our meetings.

Today was the last Sunday of the month, and every fourth Sunday, the branch meets at the Castillo's apartment for a pot luck munch and mingle.  They made the announcement at the beginning of sacrament meeting and invited all to attend.  Andree must have missed it (the meeting was in English, after all), because at the end of Relief Society, she came to me and said, excitedly, "We've been invited to some sort of party!  Shall we go?"  I chuckled and said yes, we should absolutely go.  And we did.  We spent some time visiting with the members and other visitors, we had a lovely lunch, and we got to be with our fellow saints on a somewhat rainy Sunday afternoon.  There were also two French speaking members, so Andree was extremely happy visiting with them.  Our Spanish church experience was fantastic all the way around.

I have wanted some pictures of the resort where we are staying, and because no one was out because of the rain, I was able to get shots of a largely person free complex.

Our patio and the pool in the middle of the apartments. 

Normally, on a sunny day, people are lounging on all the chairs.

Few people swim because the water is about the same temperature as the ocean.

It is so cold, the couple times I have swam the water has taken my breath away and my body has never acclimated to the temperature. 

Here are Brandt, Blythe, and Kent

lounging in the living room with dining table.

There is a large TV with lots of channels in lots of languages.

The children have watched silly cartoons in Spanish several times already.

The kitchen.

There is a dishwasher and a washing machine.

We've had to dry our clothes on a rack on the patio.

The bedrooms

The bathroom

Blythe had been far too interested in the bidet.

There is also only half a shower door, so every time we shower, we get water all over the floor.

This rainy afternoon, we read, we watched, and we walked to Paloma Park just up the street from the resort.  It is a large park with a basin, animals, beautiful and interesting trees, a cactus garden, and a wonderful play area.  We were all very content to be outside and the park was nearly empty because of the weather.  When we got back, I made a delicious dinner of roast chicken and potatoes, asparagus, salad, and fresh oranges.  We had stories and went to bed, slightly earlier than last night.  We are still working through the jet lag a bit.  We have had a wonderful sabbath day.

A feral cat stalking the birds.

These chickens were hanging around with these ducks.

These are the birds the cat was trying to catch.

Brandt and Blythe anxiously watching the drama of the cat and the birds playing out before their eyes.

Brandt wanted the cat to get a bird, but Blythe didn't.

I love this interesting tree!

I love the kids in the interesting tree too!

Bunnies hopped around all over, and because there were so few people about,

we were able to get quite close to them.

There is also a fenced enclosure with mountain-like goats.

There are babies!

 

These are two separate peacocks.

And another! 

In the cactus garden.

This head is a bronze sculpture in the park.

When I walked past it, I heard voices coming from it, and wondered if there was a recording inside,

some modern art thing.

Turned out it was these five young men who were all inside talking.

The head is big!

Brandt wanted to bring this large palm frond back to the apartment.

Instead, I took a picture and we left the frond.

This sign made me laugh.

There is a designated area in the park where dogs are to do their business.