The Mayer Family

OK…so Wendy’s been after me for a while to do a blog, which I’ve successfully declined for quite a while now. But today, I couldn’t get away with it anymore. I was able to take the entire morning off for a “silent retreat” time—a time to get away from all the hustle and bustle of everything and focus completely on spending time with Jesus. I find that spending time in nature is a great way for me to worship Jesus and focus my thoughts on Him. So I decided to do some hiking on a hill that overlooks Granada which I’ve been wanting to conquer ever since we’ve arrived here. I was able to drag myself out of bed this morning while it was still dark so I could enjoy the early morning sunrise from up top. The views were incredible! I was struck though, as the sun was peeking over the horizon and spreading light over the city, how Granada desperately needs the light of Jesus to do the same. We have been made aware of the spiritual darkness here in ways that we have never noticed and/or experienced before. As I was enjoying the sunrise an old Silverwind song was playing in my mind. (OK, most of you aren’t even old enough to remember this group.) The part that kept going over and over in my mind was:
I know that we can make it by His Spirit…and by the power of His mighty hand…He said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you, I am always by your side.
I am so glad we have the King of kings fighting by our side!

Looking over our neighborhood early this morning

Looking down on the Alhambra, which just missed being named one of the 7 wonders of the world. Just to the left of it is the main Cathedral of Granada

This is the "perch" that both Wendy (see yesterday's blog) and I enjoyed as we spent time alone with God

It was really refreshing to hear only the sounds of birds, bugs, and the occasional rooster crowing and dog barking. After living in a city that never seems to sleep, the silence was deafening…and beautiful.

Ouch!

All in all, thanks to google earth, I was able to figure out that I hiked around 8 miles this morning and climbed up over 1100 feet over the city of Granada.
-Kevin