Catching up
April to July – how many months is that since the last blog entry, four? Uh-oh! Well, here are some highlights.
1
English students: Marta (7 yrs. old) is the daughter of Olga, who we met within the first two weeks of our time here.
2
My classes wound up in early June.
3
María and Sandra, an interesting pair!
4 
We also teach English to Kelin and Eva, He’s from Venezuela, she’s from Granada.
5
The annual Corpus Christi procession. These “giants” depict the re-conquest of Granada by the Catholic monarchs, followed (behind, of course) by the defeated Muslim monarchs.
6
These big-headed guys are leftovers from the childrens-oriented parade the day before, where they bop onlookers on the head with these balloon-like things.
7
The procession gets more serious with the appearance of ‘penitents’ and these white-robed priests.
8
Finally, the “host,” by Catholic definition the literal body of Christ, comes inside a special ornate monstrance (the receptacle holding the host), given to the city of Granada by Queen Isabel herself, mounted up high on a float which is carried by men marching in step underneath it, led by incense-bearers, as is done during Holy Week. I think I read somewhere that this practice became more common in Spain during the Protestant Reformation when the Church, in addition to the Inquisition, tried to combat the ‘infidels’ influence by parading the “body of Christ” out on the streets for everyone to see – and venerate.
9
This olive tree with little trees growing out around it, seen on a recent hike, brings out a visual image for the verse in Ps. 128:3 – “Your children will be like vigorous olive trees as they sit around your table.” It gives a better understanding of what the writer meant. I like the mingling of the old and new growth.
9a
Judi and I have three “trees;” now Kenton and Karissa have three of their own.
9b
Their latest, Nevaye Hadasseh, was born June 7.
10
Another hike yielded this photo of a wild passion fruit flower. It’s known in Spain as the “espina de Cristo"
(thorn of Christ). According to Wikipedia, the symbolism given by Catholic missionaries is the following:
-The pointed tips of the leaves were taken to represent the Holy Lance.
-The tendrils represent the whips used in the Flagellation of Christ.
-The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles (less St. Peter the denier and -Judas Iscariot the betrayer).
-The flower's radial filaments, which can number more than a hundred and vary from flower to flower, represent the Crown of Thorns.
-The chalice-shaped ovary with its receptacle represents a hammer or the Holy Grail
-The 3 stigmata represent the 3 nails and the 5 anthers below them the 5 wounds (four by the nails and one by the lance).
-The blue and white colors of many species' flowers represent Heaven and Purity.
11
A visual from yet another hike: “My sheep know my voice and they follow me.”
12
Some visitors stopped by in early summer: 3 young ladies from DE to see Kevin & Wendy, and the “world rovers,” chums from RBC days.
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The “rovers” are traveling in this relic pictured behind them. You can read more of their adventures at www.rovingtheworld.com
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K & W invited us all over for yummies, including these shish-kebobs.
15
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven (at least) sticks – who do they belong to?
16
You guessed it – David Miller!
17
Somewhere in the last 4 months we had a Greek-Italian-American evening. Unfortunately, all the Italians have moved away. Nancy, our good friend from TEFL training (in front with frizzy hair) has taken a job in Seville, and her brother Luciano, next to her, and Iliena (between Judi and Wendy) have moved to Valencia.
18
Before leaving for China we had Evan & Ellie for a sleepover. We did this before we slept! In the next edition we’ll do a little report on our visit to China.