Matt
P.S I never found my q-tips....
Monday, March 31, 2008
Squeeky wheels and Grocery shopping
Ok, so here's a little funny story, and a tad bit of advice for all you first time shoppers. As I am learning to shop for groceries on my own, I have run into a few funny circumstances that were in the category of being really quite annoying at the time, but good for a story later on. Anyway, today I returned to my beloved grocery provider. Only to find that the one cart I decided to take for a spin that day, seemed to sound as if they put a dying cat in 3 out of the four wheels... So as I paraded my 3 dying cats and one wheeled shopping cart, the young Canadian boy was the head turner of the grocery store...Which just happened to be a tad bit busier than usual on this beloved day. For those of you who have ever grown up with a rusty car, noisy, old vehicle, will understand definately how I felt. (which I also can understand, when my family used to own this old dodge car that I felt embarassed to get picked up in...nothing against your purchase Dad, but that old brown car with the rust above the wheelwells just wasn't the most crowd appealing car...) But ya, it was junky cart... That's for sure... So ya, I headed aisle to aisle, with my family dying cats hiding in my cart, I figured today was as good of a day as any to look for q-tips..... Bad Idea.... Q-tips, just like Oatmeal is very hard to find in this particular grocery store... And as I searched high and low for them... I realized that I had no idea as to contents of the products conveniently stacked around me... Who knew that the womens hygeine product aisle was the one I would find myself searching for q-tips in that day.... And we also all must remember my cart selection that day didn't make for my to easily escape this particular aisle unnoticed whatsoever... So there I was Mr. Squeeky cart, and my family of injured cats, or birds or some rediculous animal, trying to escape the aisle that I no man is ever supposed to have to go down... So if anyone says God doesn't have a sense of humour, I must contest. Anyway, those are my few helpful hints for all you greenhorn shoppers. Happy Shopping...
An Ironic Week...
Well, its been another week and a bit in the land of Spain, and it's been full of crazy business. I apologize that i haven't been able to write up on here this past week, things like I said have just been a little crazy as I settle in, but I plan on writing once a week from now on.( so that's the plan... but in that event that some funny business upends that plan, I will write you ASAP...following that funny business.) Anyway, since we I last wrote much has happened. I am learning to adapt to life here in Spain, which is much different from that of North America. The myth about everything in the city shutting down between 2-5 for a nap is true. And life is a lot more laid back, and slow paced. Trying to get things done takes much patience, but it's great for character building. So if you're looking to do some of that, this is your country.
During my first week here, I arrived during Semana Santa (or Holy Week). It was incredibly busy, but very eye opening. Catholocism in Spain is very heavy throughout the culture and historically it's very widespread throughout the Spanish people. The lives of the people are very fixated around this holiday, as the Catholic church's are heavily visited, and the streets of filled with masses of people attending processionals. (Which is a special sort of parade made up of marching musicians, and at the climax, giant monuments carried on the backs of young men for miles each night throughout the streets.) The music goes long into the nights, and people flock to catch a glimpse of these monuments as they pass through the various streets. For me, as I watched this, it was very eye opening, but also very sad, as the hearts of these people weighed so heavily on these statues. And although it is tradition, and the various monuments are incredibly contructed, at the heart of it all its sad that so much of the hope of these people rests on these statues. People were crying in the streets, as men wearing pointe hats, with a very similar resemblense to members of the Klue Klux Klan led the parades. ( I am not quite sure the history behind that...but anyway) And Ironcially during this week, although it's supposed to be about repentance, and forgiveness, it's filled with much partying, alcohol and the very things that many seek repentance for. For many, I am sure their hearts are in the right place, but for so many more, it was so sad to see the lack of hope that they had during this week that was supposed to be all about hope..hope in our risen King. So many of these people live with the understanding of what took place so many years ago on Calvary, but so many miss out on that truly personal relationship with Jesus. Something I am hoping God uses me to share over these next years. While work here in Spain can be slow, and relationship building takes time, God has been really teaching me about the importance of serving in the small. From opportunities to build relationships with the fruit stand man on the corner of my street, to a couple of young Jehovah Witness socccer playing boys who came to my door for a short 45 minute chat, moments to create relationships are slowly appearing. There is so much hope that I wish to share with the people of Spain, and if soccer gives me an edge in doing that I am going to take full advantage of that. My heart is to bring that hope of Jesus to the many here, who know all about Jesus, but are missing out on the opportunity to know Him personally. Thanks so much for all your support and prayers.
Love you all
Matt
During my first week here, I arrived during Semana Santa (or Holy Week). It was incredibly busy, but very eye opening. Catholocism in Spain is very heavy throughout the culture and historically it's very widespread throughout the Spanish people. The lives of the people are very fixated around this holiday, as the Catholic church's are heavily visited, and the streets of filled with masses of people attending processionals. (Which is a special sort of parade made up of marching musicians, and at the climax, giant monuments carried on the backs of young men for miles each night throughout the streets.) The music goes long into the nights, and people flock to catch a glimpse of these monuments as they pass through the various streets. For me, as I watched this, it was very eye opening, but also very sad, as the hearts of these people weighed so heavily on these statues. And although it is tradition, and the various monuments are incredibly contructed, at the heart of it all its sad that so much of the hope of these people rests on these statues. People were crying in the streets, as men wearing pointe hats, with a very similar resemblense to members of the Klue Klux Klan led the parades. ( I am not quite sure the history behind that...but anyway) And Ironcially during this week, although it's supposed to be about repentance, and forgiveness, it's filled with much partying, alcohol and the very things that many seek repentance for. For many, I am sure their hearts are in the right place, but for so many more, it was so sad to see the lack of hope that they had during this week that was supposed to be all about hope..hope in our risen King. So many of these people live with the understanding of what took place so many years ago on Calvary, but so many miss out on that truly personal relationship with Jesus. Something I am hoping God uses me to share over these next years. While work here in Spain can be slow, and relationship building takes time, God has been really teaching me about the importance of serving in the small. From opportunities to build relationships with the fruit stand man on the corner of my street, to a couple of young Jehovah Witness socccer playing boys who came to my door for a short 45 minute chat, moments to create relationships are slowly appearing. There is so much hope that I wish to share with the people of Spain, and if soccer gives me an edge in doing that I am going to take full advantage of that. My heart is to bring that hope of Jesus to the many here, who know all about Jesus, but are missing out on the opportunity to know Him personally. Thanks so much for all your support and prayers.
Love you all
Matt
Monday, March 17, 2008
The Land of the Spanish....folks
Well, after an insanely long trip of crazy sorts, almost missing one flight, I am here in the land of the Spanish....folks!
What an long trip! haha, things are good though. After departing from Cleveland, I arrived in New York. My plane in New York, ended up being delayed on the airstrip.... For most cases this wouldn't be anything to fuss over, however in my particular case......I only had a 1 hour and 10 minute layover in Dublin before my flight (this is to go through customs and security and all....which in an hour and 10 minutes isnt a problem..) However we ended up being delayed for about 45 minutes in New York...Meaning it was time to see how fast Matt Hama could dash (...i say "dash", just because this is a case which called for something other than running.... dashing requires much more agility you see..) through the Dublin Airport. So after slipping around and stumbling here and there and getting laughed at by the odd Irish family, I made it to my next flight. And then into Madrid. From Madrid I had to hop a train, and pull out some Spanish dialect and then take a 6 hour bus to Granada. To make a long story short, I made it here and God placed some sweet Christian people along the way to direct me and lead me safely with all my luggage at my destination. (I even had an elderly Irish man give me a candy on the way, (which i didn't eat mom, its ok I still remember that rule;), but it was great nonetheless).
Anyway, arriving in Granada, I was a tad uncertain as to how my living accomodations would look. And as you all know, with my need for funnyness in life, I was a tad worried as to the personnas of my roommates and there interests. (pretty much whether or not we could joke together..) You see God is so good. First off, I have two roomates, one the same age as me, and the other is 25. And we have already shared many laughs in the few hours that we hae had together. One is an incredible musician, which is right up my alley, and the other one plays guitar as well...(so many a evening jam sessions will be on the horizon.). One is a soccer player, and they both speak English and Spanish. They are both goof balls and they are so hospitable. I feel at home already. And on top of it all, God even has one of these guys share the same favourite musician artist as me. Its incredible. God is faithful.
I want to encourage you all in this, that although God takes care of the basic things, I don't beleive He is a God who tells us to take what we can get and cut our losses. He cares about the little things too, and He is faithful in both big and little.
God's faithful
Love ya all, I'd love to hear from you
Matt
What an long trip! haha, things are good though. After departing from Cleveland, I arrived in New York. My plane in New York, ended up being delayed on the airstrip.... For most cases this wouldn't be anything to fuss over, however in my particular case......I only had a 1 hour and 10 minute layover in Dublin before my flight (this is to go through customs and security and all....which in an hour and 10 minutes isnt a problem..) However we ended up being delayed for about 45 minutes in New York...Meaning it was time to see how fast Matt Hama could dash (...i say "dash", just because this is a case which called for something other than running.... dashing requires much more agility you see..) through the Dublin Airport. So after slipping around and stumbling here and there and getting laughed at by the odd Irish family, I made it to my next flight. And then into Madrid. From Madrid I had to hop a train, and pull out some Spanish dialect and then take a 6 hour bus to Granada. To make a long story short, I made it here and God placed some sweet Christian people along the way to direct me and lead me safely with all my luggage at my destination. (I even had an elderly Irish man give me a candy on the way, (which i didn't eat mom, its ok I still remember that rule;), but it was great nonetheless).
Anyway, arriving in Granada, I was a tad uncertain as to how my living accomodations would look. And as you all know, with my need for funnyness in life, I was a tad worried as to the personnas of my roommates and there interests. (pretty much whether or not we could joke together..) You see God is so good. First off, I have two roomates, one the same age as me, and the other is 25. And we have already shared many laughs in the few hours that we hae had together. One is an incredible musician, which is right up my alley, and the other one plays guitar as well...(so many a evening jam sessions will be on the horizon.). One is a soccer player, and they both speak English and Spanish. They are both goof balls and they are so hospitable. I feel at home already. And on top of it all, God even has one of these guys share the same favourite musician artist as me. Its incredible. God is faithful.
I want to encourage you all in this, that although God takes care of the basic things, I don't beleive He is a God who tells us to take what we can get and cut our losses. He cares about the little things too, and He is faithful in both big and little.
God's faithful
Love ya all, I'd love to hear from you
Matt
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Here and Gone
Hi Everyone, First off I want to just make it clear, despite the title of this blog, no bulls have been hurt during my travels...not yet anyway..jk...maybe..haha....Anyway, I have just finished my week in Cleveland, Ohio. We spent much of the days going over the details of life in the missions organization (Ambassadors in Sport...AIS), and just how life works. We spent one of the afternoons going down to the inner city in Cleveland and working at a place called the "City- Mission", that reaches kids in difficult circumstances. We were able to play soccer and games with the kids, but more importantly share Jesus. It was great. Also, we had an opportunity to have a kick around (a fun game of soccer..football) with all the guys in AIS during one of the afternoons. It went really well and was incredible how they bring God into soccer. We had prayer time to start, and prayer time to end. Very COOL!! So with that week in the books, tomorrow at 1:45 EST I am off to Spain...well with a few stops in between... But I am off nonetheless. I miss you all, and trust that things are rockin back home..or wherever this letter....blog....finds you.
Love ya all,
Matt Hama
Love ya all,
Matt Hama
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