This has been a marvelous day!
I finally got to go to the church for which I've been searching: la Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada.
I arrived corriendo en bicicleta for a 45 minute journey, including a bit of walking, for the 11 o'clock service and met all sorts of wonderful people that know my friend Ryan, who lived in Sevilla and attended this church for a few years a while back. They were quick to welcome me back for next week's service and the lunch to follow, which means hours of fun conversation and heaps of delicious Spanish food prepared with love by very experienced hands. I do hope to go, although I have to somehow work out the timing with attending my usual church, Betania (Bethany) here in Triana.
So, after the service presbiteriana was over, I chatted with one of Ryan's friends, and may go to la Feria this week with him and some of the members of that church.
From there, I leapt on my bike and headed back to Triana, hoping to make it in time to sneak into Betania to snag my Bible, which I had forgotten there last week. (I accidentally took a hymnal of theirs in place of it--boy, I ought to return that soon.) [Side note: I commiserate with those who dislike English spelling. For several weeks, I too have been having issues. I remain convinced--until spell check tells me otherwise--that accidentally ought to be 'accidentily.' To the average English-speaker's eye, I'm sure that looks ugly, but not to me, anymore. I'm used to logically phonetic spelling and pronunciation these days.]
I got to church at the perfect time: they had just gotten done with the service and, as usual, were scattered about the church and street, chatting away in the early afternoon sun. I was talking to another friend--someone from Grand Rapids, MI! What a small world--when a dear, older lady who had taught me some songs greeted me. We chatted a bit, she asked me if I had plans for the day (I had told Leo earlier that I wouldn't be coming home for lunch, not knowing whether or not someone would invite me, but just hoping) and upon hearing my answer, invited me over: I accepted immediately (never mind the 10-15 minute presentation, 8-10 page paper and final exam I have to prepare for Wednesday).
I went to her house by car with a couple from church, and we chatted and ate delicious chicken, rice and pisto for a pleasant couple of hours. We finished off with a cappuccino and off I went again, on my bike in some drizzling rain, to Triana. I logged a couple of hours on my bike that day, I believe. She is such a sweet woman and even showed me her guest bedroom and told me it was mine whenever I came back to Sevilla and she wouldn't hear of me paying even one céntimo.
If this day could even get better, it did: I had a productive hour at home, chatted with Leo, had some tea, then headed to Starbucks to meet Marina and Caitlyn. One hilarious conversation and a white mocha later, I was back on my bike headed home yet again. I ran into someone I know, for whom I was going to house/dog-sit this summer but I'm no longer needed, which frees up more time for travel! She had invited me over for a pancake breakfast tomorrow--a real breakfast!! Unbelievable. I haven't had anything more than 6 cracker/wafer things in the morning for about three months. I said hello, confirmed my appearance the next day at 10:00, and was merrily on my way.
In the midst of a light dinner, to Leo's chagrin I had asked for yogurt with which I ate my granola that's left over from Portugal, I chatted with my dad who is thinking of coming to Europe again, and we shall hunt down some relatives in Norway together! Then, wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles, I got to see five beautiful woman I love in one Skype conversation. Though I've been called a Luddite, I do have my share of good experiences with technology and so therefore will not ditch it all completely...though I may not necessarily mind being surrounded by less switches, cords, buttons and lights when I'm living in the jungles of Africa...or wherever I end up.
Notes to self:
Use fewer parantheses (maybe that means my brain just always thinks in paranthetical thoughts, and I do think I think this way, I mean, clearly I do, but maybe I could take time to think about my blog post before typing it--but I was too excited, this had to be right here, right now: instant gratification)
Always be welcoming.
Always invite people over for lunch after church, especially new faces.
Always rejoice!
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