So one night a few weeks ago my spanish friends invited me over to show them how to make chocolate chip cookies. They don’t have those here (actually Spaniards aren’t too big on sweets like us… they just really like ham and olive oil… like with everything) But I had made them a while ago and brought them some. When I got there I sat down and hung out for a while, then Maria del Mar said, “Molly, come with me to get some drinks.” When we got back, I walked in and it was a surprise party for my birthday! We had gone out on the actual day, but then they planned all this. The place was decorated with ballons and signs. They made all these really spanish dishes, each one with a different type of ham… They really pulled it off, because I was not expecting that at all. We all ate the dinner, then they came out with a cake that was practically on fire from the 24 candles. After all that, then they brought out presents. I just felt sooo undeserving and loved that night. They were so excited to do it too, they were like dancing and saying, “You like this? You like this? You were so surprised” I could tell they had so much joy in doing it.
I kept saying “aww guys! aww this is so sweet, I cant believe this, ect.” They were like Molly, say it in Spanish, and I said “I can’t help it, my emotion is coming out in English” Plus “aww guys” doesn’t really translate how I’d like.
Later we played a board game called “Party”(pronounced: par – tee) As I was leaving I was telling them how special and loved they had made me feel. Then, for the first time I told people I loved them in Spanish. It was such a sweet night and more than anything I felt like God just took a group of people and poured out his love to me through them. It was my favorite night in Spain.
Another night, after watching “What About Bob?” with one of my muslim friends from class, I was walking her home and she said, “so did you know anyone who died in the twin towers on 9/11?” I told her I didn’t but I knew people that did. That opened up a 2 hour long conversation about Arabs, Americans, the war, Islam, Christianity, perceptions and stereotypes. As we were walking together I felt the weight of her culture on her and the weight of mine on me. They are practically opposite worlds yet God has woven a part of them together through our friendship. IT was cool and I feel more and more like God is expanding me, stretching me and growing me through my friends from around the world.
