After a over 15 hours of traveling I finally got back to roquetas at 5 am this morning from the canary islands to 15 people. There is a church mission team visiting staying with us, which I am very excited about but I haven’t gotten to meet them yet due to my arrival at 5 in the morning. They left this morning to due some work in Lorca where the earthquake hit last year and I’ll meet up with them tomorrow.
I believe it is safe to say that my trip to the canary islands was more than a success. I had such an amazing time. The kids were so great and really seemed to love Janessa and I. When we had to leave yesterday to catch our flight, they wouldn’t let go of us and tried t prevent us from leaving. It was adorable.
Tuesday night we say the most gorgeous sun setting over the beautiful rocky cliff coast of fuerteventura. It was just breathe taking and so surreal. This may sound silly but it was so humbling yet intimidating to be in the presence of such beauty. I also learned that the canaries are also major wine grape growers and will actually grow the grapes in large cratered holes left from the volcanoes hundreds of years ago. Something about the soil down there apparently adds a very sophisticated taste to the grapes. We didn’t go to see them but on my next visit to this incredible place I will most definitely be partaking in their infamous wine tours from vineyard hole to vineyard hole.
Wednesday we went to the most beautiful and isolated beach I have ever seen. It took 30 minutes of traveling on roads that hung on the sides of mountains and cliffs that lacked guardrails, and though the ride was a little intimidating it as so worth it. To see this beautiful beach that human hands had barely disturbed was such an experience.
Another really unique thing about is all the wildlife that just roams the island freely. While I was running Friday morning on a running path along the beach and a the tourist traps of stores and restaurants I ran into 4 wild donkeys. This was quite an experience because here I am in a very industrialized area of the island and here are 4 donkeys just lounging around on the running path. At first I didn't know what to do because I didn't know if these were vicious wild donkeys (if such exist) or nice peaceful ones. Forgive me but I haven't ever really given much thought to the behavior of donkeys before this encounter. But I put on my big girl pants and ran around them and they hardly paid me any attention, I guess they are the nice peaceful type. Not a very exciting story but I felt obligated to share such an experience.
I had such an amazing time and was so blessed to have had this opportunity and for it to go so well. The camp went so great and I finally felt like I was able to really connect with what I was doing, to really feel like I was a part of it. The couple I stayed with were more than welcoming and are already encouraging Janessa and I to return next summer and work with them for a month (& they want friends to come with us!). What ever Gods plan for me may be, this beautiful and unique volcanic island is definitely going down in the books as a place that I will most definitely return to.
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