Traveling with Ray Owens

This morning, we set out for the now familiar walk of about 25 minutes from our hotel to Matt and Michelle’s apartment.   It very much feels like home now.   We had a nice discussion about culture.  My main take away (I do not claim it was the takeaway we were supposed to takeaway) was that culture is not only what you see in other places you visit. Culture is what makes our own hometown feel comfortable and familiar.  

For example, in Catalon culture, if you pass a friend in the street and they say hello and you respond with a return hello it means you have time to stop and chat and you are likely to be there for a half hour or more.  But if you are on the way to go potty or pick up the kids from skill you would respond to a hello with a pleasant adios (goodbye).  Everyone understands and no one is offended.

In our home in Cactus, Texas when I was a kid, if my mother called “Peggy, come here” she could safely finish what she was doing in her room.   But if she called “Peggy Jean Owens, get in here” she knew she had better drop everything and run to mother.  This was part of the Owens culture.

This is a little taste of what culture is made of. 

We were then joined by Martin (Mar Teen) who told us his life story and work in ministry.  As a young man he worked for a realty company.  One day the boss told Martin that the company was going to lease one of the expensive apartments to a company as a location for them to produce adult films (pornography).   God had been reminding Martin about what a problem pornography was for the youth and families of his community and nation.   He confronted his boss with this conundrum.  His boss did not change the company policy and Martin felt he had to quit his job and did so.

Martin had a family with kids and needed to work.   The next day the pastor of the church, where Martin had been worshipping and volunteering in a service ministry for the unhoused people of the community, called and said he want to talk to him about taking on the full-time job of director of the ministry.   For many years he has been serving the poor and troubled of this area of Spain.  It was a delightful time hearing his story.

Michelle and Matt prepared a wonderful lunch for us.  Matt grilled sausages and we had baked potatoes, cheeses, and were taught how to make the tomato toast that we have had everywhere we ate.  It was both delicious and delightful.

After lunch we were given the time to rest in our hotel and to be ready to go to the soccer game that they have recently started with a large group of Mali immigrants.   They play at a city owned soccer and basketball court.   The ministry from the church works with the city on several projects and the city lets them book and use the court for free.   There were 18 or so young men who came out to play.   They do not speak English and they are just learning to speak Spanish.   But all spoke the language of soccer/football.  

They are all Muslim men and it is now Ramadan (Feb 18 to March 19).  So, they fast from sunup to sunset every day.  Clivi the pastor and wife and Matt and Michell bring lots of snacks (chips, fruit, bread sticks) and water for them to partake of.  They started at 6:00 and played soccer until 7:00.   The sunset at 6:40 and they were ready to eat.  

The smiles on their faces were amazing as our gang of 8 and others applauded and gave high fives to them as they walked by towards the food when they came off the field.  It was a very good evening.

It was a great day