The Mayer Family

On Sunday afternoon we enjoyed a picnic in a town just outside of Granada with a group of friends that we’ve mainly met at the playground on different occasions since we’ve lived here. While everyone lives here in Granada now, our friends came from lots of countries including: Spain, France, Mexico, USA, England and Ireland.

Ellie enjoyed the flowers and bugs. The group included lots of little girls around the potty-training age, and therefore often seen was several adults helping the little girls go potty in the “designated” spot in the grass. (No picture included…ha ha)

Evan with his friend Tonia

Emma, Fiona & Ellie

We ended the day with some kids in a blanket. Check it out…

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It was a special privilege to introduce Pablo & Judi to our dear friend Jose. They had a nice time getting to know each other. Kevin has especially enjoyed getting together with Jose usually once a week to chat.

Jose, Pablo & Judi

Jose & Kevin

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On Sunday, we went with Wendy’s friends Marjorie and Alejandra (and families) outside of the city for a change. It was great to enjoy the countryside and the kids loved running free and enjoyed playing kid-style baseball. Ellie was our wanderer and liked to try to disappear into the trees to explore what new bugs she could find or dirt she could play in. Although we saw people in the park cooking Paella (a Spanish rice dish) over an open fire, we went a little less complicated route and had things prepared ahead of time like Spanish tortilla (made of eggs and potatoes etc) with a Mexican flair made by Alejandra from Mexico, French-style quiche and biscotti (Marjorie is from France), and American-style potato salad and tapioca salad made by guess who? The husbands enjoyed getting to know each other, since it’s usually the ladies who get together the most.

The group

The food

The wanderer

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Evan has been doing very well in school. He usually looks forward to his day, is making lots of friends, and is learning Spanish very quickly. A few weeks ago he had to memorize a poem for his homework, and here he is practicing it:

For the non-Spanish speakers- the translation (more or less)
I'm so happy
Spring has arrived
with it's poppys (the flower)
with it's thousand rains
everything is radiant
everything shines
and I just want to sing

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Another fiesta happened on Saturday…Day of the Cross. Approximately 45 crosses made of flowers were set up for display across the city, and everyone went out to see them, a lot of women and little girls displaying their fancy flamenco dresses. The day is more a competition of who has the best decorated cross display than anything religious.

One of the displays we saw...

We made our way through the “cross crowds” to Abuelas (Miguel’s Grandma’s) where Evan was playing with his friend. Here is Abuela with Elisa and Ellie.

The girls on the playground…

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Mark & Charlene Troyer stopped by to visit for a few days after their Prayer walk in Albania. It was great having them here, and we were encouraged by our time together. On their first day here, we all had the privilege of helping Pablo & Judi move into their new apartment!

Here’s Ellie, hanging onto Pablo’s hand as usual

P&J in their new apartment

The ladies (and Evan) in Judi’s new kitchen

The gang, except Evan, who was in school

Kevin took Mark, Charlene, Judi & Pablo on a hike overlooking Granada where they prayed for the city

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It’s so great to finally have a team! Pablo & Judi arrived on April 3rd. Check out their blog to see what they’ve been up to. Ellie has especially taken to Pablo and loves sitting on his lap and hanging out with him.

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