Five Months October 15th, 2007
Leave the comforts of home to end up in…Spain? This missionary family may have found just a little more than they were expecting.
Five months ago, our family said goodbye to our old life in suburban America and stepped off the plane in Málaga, Spain. What an amazing time it has been as we have watched God work out all the details and seen His faithfulness and mercy day after day as He has helped us adjust to what is “normal.”
It now seems normal to see small cars and motorcycles use sidewalks as short-cuts. It seems normal to go to the grocery store full of salty hams hanging by their hooves, sausages swagged from the ceiling, octopus everywhere, and giant fish heads displaying their sharp teeth. Gold sneakers for men and women. Unpredictable drivers at high speeds. 
Boisterous outdoor markets. Bargaining in Spanish. Guarding against pickpockets. Making friends. Eating figs, almonds and pomegranates off the trees. How to turn left? Simple, just turn right, then right again, go around the loop, turn right again, and now you’re going “left!”
Are we used to it? Yup. Is it fun? Most days. Does it wear us out? Sometimes. Is it worth it? Absolutely! Seeing God’s hand in the work at the Málaga Media Center every day is so amazing. Our staff continually experiences delays, interruptions, and obstacles to overcome. We are constantly attacked by sickness, fatigue, and unexplainable equipment failures. But this small team plows on, working together to bring the gospel to North Africa.
Written by Ellen, whose family has spent the last five months in Málaga, Spain, working with MMC. She and her husband Rik help in accounting and I.T., respectively.