You
know the expression, “You won’t miss it ‘til it’s gone”? Gran Canaria is one of
those places that I already miss and I haven’t even left yet! I’ve been away
from my country, my home, my friends and family, for months at a time in the
past and awaited the day of my return with great anticipation. Now, however, I
find myself clinging to each day that I have here. Yes, there are brief moments
when I miss my family and friends, but I’ve never felt so content with each
passing day. The feeling of being exactly where you’re meant to be is unlike
any other. I love letting God live through me! Some days are harder than others
and I need to constantly remind myself to hand the wheel over to Him, but man,
how much smoother life is in His hands!
When
asked what my favorite part about Gran Canaria is, I never hesitate to respond,
“La gente” (the people). I thought people in Texas were friendly! This place is
overrun by happy people. I don’t know if it’s the amazing weather or something
in the paella, but I’ve never met so many loving people in one place. Even the
residents from Polvorin, who have so little, are always smiling and ecstatic to
say hello. Heck, even the dogs are happier. They play with rocks! No joke!
Meanwhile, back in the US, how many toys do our dogs have? It’s funny because
the Spanish have a reputation for being passionate and this is still the case
here, yet you’ll witness a woman screaming her head off at her son and then
turn around and make a joke, seeming completely peaceful. Unlike other places
I’ve visited, the happiness here is not an act. The Canarians are truly joyful people.
Another
characteristic that I love about Canarians is their openness about everything.
The first couple of weeks I was here, I was a little shocked by some of the
things people would say to each other. For example: “You’ve gotten fatter”, or one
blatantly confessing their love for a certain someone else. More surprise
followed upon seeing the calm reaction of the recipient, which told me that
this type of banter is completely normal and accepted here. Everyone is so real
and open about their feelings. I love it!
Now
that I’ve rambled on about my love for Gran Canaria, I’ll give a recap about
what’s been going on here. I have another camp beginning Monday and this time
we actually get to sleep outside! There will be about 90 kids and 15 monitors.
I’m so excited! This time the kids will range from 11-16 years of age, so I’m
sure it’ll be a completely different experience than the previous camp. They’ll
be visiting from different islands as well. Speaking of which, I was invited to
visit two other islands during my stay here! Next weekend I’ll be in Tenerife
for a friend’s graduation and then Fuerteventura the following weekend for a
surprise goodbye gift for one of the sisters. Who would’ve thought I’d get the
chance to visit other islands during my time here?! I still feel like I’m
living in a dream. I can’t even begin to count my blessings. God’s love will
never cease to amaze me!
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