Love and Dreads

I took advantage of the Spanish siesta yesterday so when bed time came sleep was the last thing on my mind. Sarah Hope on the other hand passed out. Though in the long run I only got six hours of sleep it was totally worth it….

I got to listen in on some Italians learn how to pick up girls in Spanish, that was a good laugh. But much better than that I got to have a conversation with a Muslim young man from Wisconsin about Islam and his faith and my faith. Through out the conversation the themes that he kept coming back to were that people were inherently good, that he was good (especially compared to other Muslims though he drinks), and the importance in his life for becoming as worldly as possible. Going through my head was “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so you may know how to answer everyone.” It was the first time that I have ever talked to someone of another faith about why Christianity is the “right religion.” Looking back there are so many “better” things I could have said, but my love for him was not my own. I know that it is not my words that can convince someone that Christ is God and Savior, but only the love of God and the work of the Spirit. Whether the results of the conversation were only educational or if they were more, it was encouraging to me to share about why I am so passionately in love with Christ.

The next morning, I got to know so Christians who work with Agape (the international version of Campus Crusade for Christ). Part of their team and on guys family were taking their vacation at the hostel. Having fellowship with my brothers was unbelievable!! One of the guys I was talking to played guitar so that night we had a Thursday night worship (yay Megan Albert!). It was their group, Sarah and I, a girl we met from Boston (Hana) and a different Muslim. It was the best thing in the world. Megan knows that I don’t go anywhere without that camp song book and so we jammed to those songs and some others. After, the Bostonian commented that she wished she had a copy of the songs so she could learn them and read more. I am extra glad I brought the song book with me so that I could give it away J

Thinking I would catch up on the sleep I missed last night I went to say goodnight to everyone in the lobby and ended up in another conversation with a Muslim that lasted into the wee hours of the night. I mostly listened though because the guitar player jumped in a knew a lot more than I did. He had the opportunity to present the gospel to this Muslim and his sister.

I really am trying to make this short, but there is so much good stuff to say. Sarah requested that I use a comment for today as the title, so since it is my title I better explain some. They say that Paris is the city of love, but I think that Barcelona might have them beat. I have seen more couples making out in the city than at a high school dance. An elderly man blew me a kiss (not that I minded though because I love all old people so much) and just walking down the street we have heard a significant number of whistles and today even a clicking of the tongue. I wonder if it’s the blonde hair. Speaking of…the hair do’s here are more creative than the 80’s. We thought about having a whole section in Bowie Art’s center of European mullets but we aren’t that quick with the cameras. About one out of ever ten people has dreads. A favorite was on the train a dyed red 4’ circle in the middle of the back of its head. “Hot like a toaster” slipped out of my mouth when I first saw it and Sarah won’t let me live it down.

Hasta Luego
sarah miller