Fellowship in London
Because of Holy Week here in Spain, Alaina and I had about ten days to travel to Europe during the break. During that time, we visited Paris, Amsterdam, London, and Edinburgh. It was a lot to fit into that short period of time, but I thoroughly enjoyed every city and country we went to. I could go on and on about the experiences we had, but with this blog, I would really like to focus on the church service I went to in London and just how much I appreciated being able to worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
I won’t lie; it has been a challenge for me to go so long without attending church. Yes, I watch some live-streamed services, and doing daily devotions has helped me develop good habits, but I miss fellowship and communion and all of the amazing things that worshiping at church offers.
Amidst planning for spring break and deciding which places we should visit, London was not originally very high on my list. I had heard great things about it, but I felt no sense of urgency or strong desire to go there. Alison Foxen, an MLC student currently studying there, mentioned that the mission church located in London was having an Easter service to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. It didn’t take long for our “study abroad squad” to decide that we all wanted to meet up in London for spring break to celebrate Easter Sunday together.
It was truly a blessing that all of us studying abroad were able to make it for Easter Sunday. We came from all over Europe to worship together. I loved catching up with everyone and hearing about their experiences. We toured London together and enjoyed each other’s company after not seeing one another for such a long time. This experience has really brought us closer together.
Before church, we all got breakfast together at a quaint cafe, then headed to the church where the WELS mission was holding the service. It was an old German church in London with a great location. There were so many people there! I had not expected so many people to be there since it is a fairly new mission, but the church felt full 🙂 I met new people as I had some refreshments before the service started. It was so refreshing to talk to people about Jesus who shared the same Easter excitement as I did.
As for the service itself, I was overwhelmed with joy at hearing the gospel message while being surrounded by fellow believers. The Pastor preached a wonderful sermon, and the Easter hymns we sang brought me to tears. I missed this. There was even a trumpet! We took communion as well, which was so nice since it had been so long since I had been blessed to do that. I cherished every part of the service and was thankful that I was able to go. Even after the service, we stayed around before our train left to talk to the members there.
I worried before leaving for Spain how it would affect my faith life. I knew that church was such a strong way to strengthen my faith, so what would happen after months of not attending? Being here has made me much more intentional about seeking out God’s Word in my free time, such as doing daily devotions. At MLC, I attended chapel, went to church, and heard about God’s promises in my classes. It was structured for me, so I did not feel the strong need to do my own devotions or go out of my way intentionally to study God’s Word. That was an immature way of thinking, as I have now learned the importance and richness of a personal devotional life. I would not say that I took church or being surrounded by fellow believers for granted before arriving in Spain, but I do think that I have a greater appreciation and love for them now. I can not wait to go to church when I get home 🙂
Despite the challenges that being away from MLC and my home congregation has brought me, I thank God that he used this experience to strengthen my faith. He blessed me with resources that I have at my fingertips to dive into God’s Word and study it. He blessed me with the opportunity to worship in His house on Easter Sunday, even though I was thousands of miles away from my home church. God has blessed me abundantly!
Bridging Two Cultures
Living in Spain has taught me many things about Spanish culture, but also about my own and how it may appear to people of other cultures. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview one of my Spanish professors, Ana, who has several years of experience with both the American and Spanish cultures. It was very eye-opening to see my own culture through her eyes and learn more about hers.
Some questions I asked her were about the roles of men and women, her religion, her views on her American students, stereotypes, and much more. Here are a few things I found especially interesting.
Religion: I was curious about her religion since I had previously been told that Spain is primarily Catholic. She mentioned that she has never been baptized or gone to church in her entire life. She commented that this is unusual for Spaniards because most begin their lives in a Catholic church but eventually leave. I was sad that she was not familiar with Jesus’ love for her and had never experienced or heard of the good news of the Gospel, but she was so respectful of all religions and beliefs. This also gave me the brief opportunity to share what my faith was all about. Though brief, I was thankful for the opportunity to tell her about Jesus before moving on to the next topic.
Spanish Stereotypes: One of the first questions I asked Ana was, “What are some stereotypes that you think people have about the Spanish culture?” Her immediate response focused on the Siesta Hora. “Some people think we as a culture are lazy because we build naps into our schedule, but I think it encourages us to be even more productive. Everyone thinks that we are last-minute people, never planning ahead or anything. And while that may be true for some, I love planning ahead and being prepared. Also, being able to work well under pressure and on-the-go is a good trait to have. I see it as a skill.” This is a rough translation since we were speaking in Spanish, but I loved her take on it. I could clearly see that it frustrated her to be grouped into one perspective that believes they all are lazy and never plan. She said she identifies with none of those things. While it is true for some (in any culture), it is not true for everyone. After living in Spain for a couple of months now, I have learned to love the siesta hora. It has also challenged me to be more flexible and “go-with-the-flow.” I don’t have to plan everything out weeks in advance to be organized. I have grown a lot in the sense that I am learning to be okay with last-minute changes and spontaneous plans. I really do appreciate that about the Spanish culture.
American Stereotypes: When I asked what she thought about American culture and some stereotypes that come along with it, I prepared myself for answers such as “They are loud, disrespectful, and have no culture.” However, I was very surprised at her response. Yes, she did compare us to Barbie dolls living in our dream world full of opportunities, but she had so many kind and admirable qualities that she mentioned. For example, she loved that we are so “practical” and focused on the future. She often gets frustrated with European culture, which is so focused on tradition and the past, in her words. Ana had the opportunity to live in the United States and learn English, so she came to have an appreciation for the way America operates. Now that she is living in Spain again, she misses certain aspects of American culture, such as the efficiency and practicality of our way of life. She loves the warm and welcoming personalities of Americans (in general) because it reminds her of her own Spanish culture. She has been teaching international students for many years now, so I asked her about the differences in culture within the classroom. Ana told me about Spanish classroom etiquette, where the teacher speaks and the students listen. The teacher is respected and viewed as above the students. She has noticed that American students like to challenge the teacher and discuss material, something that Ana really appreciates and enjoys. However, American students yawn, eat, stretch, and drink during lectures – all things considered rude in Spain. Overall, Ana’s view of America was overwhelmingly positive, much to my surprise. I loved hearing her perspective and kind words that seemed to bridge our two cultures, showing me that we really are not that different from one another.
One comment that Ana made about Spanish culture is, “We are a country of extremes. You are either with me or against me.” In one sense, it reminded me of the politics in the United States. Everyone seems to be against each other and is very opinionated. In a different sense, the people in Spain are a little more respectful when sharing their opinions on politics, according to Ana. Politics are not often discussed with people who you don’t know very well.
Finally, from one teacher to another (future) teacher, I asked her if she had any advice. Personally, I have been struggling with the idea that maybe I am not meant to be a teacher. I have an interest in so many things that it is hard for me to see myself only being a teacher. Ana gave me great advice. There is a phrase in Spanish, “Las personas son el fin, no el medio.” This was saying that people are the goal, not just the means used to get something that we desire. People are the best possible outcome, not to be used to our advantage. This is why she is a teacher now. She loves creating relationships with students and learning from them. Creating connections with them is why she wants to continue being a teacher. She told me that everyone is different and everyone has something unique to add to their lives. I loved her perspective on this. Ana told me that even though I am unsure of what my future career will be, always to keep learning. Learn from being a teacher, learn from students, learn from any and every experience that I have. As a literature teacher, she also told me to keep reading 🙂
Interviewing Ana was definitely the most beneficial learning experience I have had since arriving in Madrid. I learned things that can’t simply be taught in books and classes but can only be learned from talking to people of different backgrounds and cultures. Not only did I learn so much about my own culture and the Spanish culture, but I was able to make a lasting connection with my professor, Ana.
Fearful, Faithful, Forgiven
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
This bible passage gives us comfort in our lives. This world is full of sin, evil, and despair. Every single one of us goes through our own hardships and trials in life. However, peace can be found despite all the chaos in this world. Jesus is that peace. Only through Him can we find comfort in our lives. Jesus carried the weight of the world so we didn’t have to. What an immense blessing and relief in our lives!
My day-to-day faith life has taken a different shape than it did back in the States. While at MLC, I am blessed to have the opportunity to worship in Chapel twice a day. I am constantly surrounded by other like-minded Christians who are all preparing for the public ministry with me. Religion classes, bible studies, and Sunday worship are all other parts of my life at MLC that I used to participate in on a weekly basis. Having that aspect of my life disappear while I am abroad has been an adjustment.
I used to take the blessings of attending Chapel, bible studies on campus, and being surrounded by like-minded Christians for granted daily. It was something that I had been used to and exposed to my whole life; I didn’t know anything else. I appreciate the blessings of fellowship and group worship now more than ever.
While abroad, I have continued to grow in my faith. I strive to do my personal devotions every morning when I can. Once in a while, I stream church or chapel services online. I am also blessed with the opportunity to worship at the WELS mission church, Holy Word, while here in London. Worshiping with Holy Word has given me a different perspective of ministry actively at work. During my time here, I have watched part of the behind-the-scenes work Holy Word has accomplished and continues to plan out. Rev. Dr. Michael Hartman and Rev. Conifer Berg continue to work daily to help this mission grow. I love seeing that every person in the congregation works together to develop plans and supports one another through this process.
In London, I have been exposed to many evangelism opportunities. Most of the friends I have made during my time here are not Christians and do not take part in any religious practices. I have shared my faith with them and explained my religious beliefs. I have also noted the differences between MLC and all the public Universities they attend back home. They are always fascinated by hearing how the WELS call system works. Though none of them have expressed a huge interest in Christianity, they all respect my beliefs and continue to let me talk about it. They also take note of differences in the way I live my life as a Christian, such as my views on swearing, drugs, and dating. I am glad to see how my Christian light is being noticed. The most I can do is share my faith and the gospel with them; the rest is up to the Holy Spirit.
It is also fascinating to see the religious practices here with the Londoners. In general, religion is lost in many people here. Most people don’t know who Jesus is and have little background knowledge on what the Bible teaches. People focus their time and energy on their personal lives and jobs instead. The people that do attend church mainly attend the Anglican church. Two of my British flatmates attend this type of church. The Church of England focuses mainly on the joyful feeling people receive while being Christian over the accurate biblical truths in Scripture. The Bible is completely lost in most services. Many Brits even believe that parts of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games reflect biblical truths from the Bible. I am aware more than ever of how lost people truly are. Jesus is the only path that leads to true peace and hope.
Prayer is an excellent tool I use daily. God hears and answers our prayers. We have to trust Him and His will. Everything will work out according to His timeline and plan. I continue to pray for strength while I am here, and that God will work His way into the hearts of those who are lost. This study abroad experience has prepared me more for ministry and sharing the gospel. At MLC, we talk a lot about what to do in evangelism and mission situations; however, nothing can prepare you for how to share the Bible in real-world situations until you actually experience it. Experiences teach us our strengths and weaknesses, and help us reflect on what we learned. I am thankful for the past few months here, and I pray that the rest of my time in London goes smoothly.
Easter Sunday at Holy Word
Holy Word is using this location in Central London for worship
Till we meet again,
Alison Foxen
Connections Around the World
Hola!!
For our blogs this week, we had the unique opportunity to get to have a conversation with someone from another culture. Honestly, I was a bit nervous at first but I knew it would push me outside my comfort zone AND be a worthwhile experience getting to know someone new. This is a bit of a longer blog because I did not want to leave anything out, so thank you for the time you spend reading this! 🙂
There is a girl who is in two of my four classes, whom I’ve made small talk with but haven’t put in the effort to get to know. Her name is Hatsune and she is from Japan! What a sweet and kind girl! I am so thankful I got to know Hatsune better AND got to learn more about her culture.
Hatsune and I met up at a coffee shop and talked for an hour and a half, both about the questions I had wanted to ask her about Japan and getting to know one another better. Something really cool about the conversation we had was that we did it all in Spanish! Her first language is Japanese, and mine is English, but we were able to meet in the middle, and we communicated best in Spanish.
I came prepared with some questions to ask her, some that I came up with on my own and some from a good friend who is studying in Ireland. 🙂
Hatsune Arima is 21 years old, born in 2002 in Tanegashima, Japan. She lived in her home city, Tanegashima, for 18 years of her life but when she attends her home university, she lives in Osaka. Hatsune attends a school in Osaka that has a specific focus on cultures and languages. She is spending a year in Madrid to continue her studies in Spanish. I am always curious to know why people choose to study what they do, so I asked her why she chose Spanish. She told me that when she was younger, in primary and secondary school, it was mandatory to learn English, “la primera lengua del mundo.” (The first language of the world) She spent lots of years learning English so when she began her studies at her university, she had a choice of what language she could learn. Hatsune found so much interest in the history, language, stories, and culture of Spanish-speaking countries. She stated, “Me interesa mucho el español.” It is very evident to me that she loves the culture and the language because of her abilities to speak Spanish as a third language, her interest in cultural activities, and her dedication to stay in Madrid for a whole year!
I was curious to know a bit more about what makes Hatsune, Hatsune! 🙂 In order to do so, I asked questions about her family, her childhood, her interests, and her values!
Hatsune described that she has one sister, Hibiki, who is just about a year younger than her (20 years old). Her parents live in a different city now called Kagoshima, which she visits on occasion. Her parents both are 41 years old and “muy amable.”(Very kind)
When I inquired about the values her family holds, she described how they frequently engage in various activities together, which reflects a common cultural practice in Japan. For example, she said that when it came time for meals her family would eat together, including her grandparents. She also said that when it came time for “excursions” outside of the house, they would always go together, whether this meant a walk in a park, eating in a restaurant, shopping, and more. It is so special when certain cultures value family time to this extent because they can be such influential and important relationships in a person’s life. Hatsune also talked about respect. Respect is a significant value she holds, for her family, others, and especially elders. One important memory that she talked about from her childhood was spending time in her favorite place with her family. She described it as this, “Era una pequeña isla, lejos del centro de Japón con mucha naturaleza, tanto bosques como playas. Nos encantó llevar a nuestros perros a pasear por la playa juntos.” (It was a small island, far from the center of Japan with lots of nature, both forests and beaches. We loved taking our dogs for walks on the beach together.) I could see how meaningful these memories were to her because of how she spoke with such a loving and reminiscent tone.
Some of Hatsune’s interests include: watching videos/shows on Youtube and Netflix, going to cafes to sip on a coffee, reading, and going to museums to look at paintings. She also described how she loves spending time with her friends and making new ones. She loves the Japanese music artist, Shimizu Shota, and loves the song sung by him called, “My Love.”
To my understanding, she does not work during the school year but described how she sometimes works with her Mom at a supermarket when she returns home during university breaks. I asked her about what her dream job would be and she responded, “El trabajo de mis sueños sería trabajar para un agente de viajes y planificar viajes o trabajar en un café con mis mejores amigos.” (My dream job would be to either work for a travel agent and plan trips or work in a cafe with my best friends.) It was so sweet to hear how much her friends mean to her as well as how much she adores traveling and learning about the world. I relate 100%!
When I asked her a bit more about her education experience growing up, she said she does love her academics currently because it is so focused on learning the Spanish language and more about the culture, which includes meeting lots of new people. I asked her, “¿Cuál fue tu año favorito de la escuela y qué lo hizo tan especial?” (What was your favorite year of school and what made it so special?)
Hatsune responded by saying, “Mi año favorito de la escuela fue el segundo año de la escuela secundaria. Yo era miembro del equipo de béisbol. Mi papel era apoyar a los jugadores y ayudarlos en lo que necesitaran. Tenía que ir todos los días para estar con este equipo y fue muy duro, pero muy divertido. Este mismo año, también fui a Singapur por 2 semanas y era la primera vez que era extranjera. En cada “zona” de Japón, eligen a la gente para ir y a mí me eligieron. También tuve el papel de ser el presidente estudiantil de mi escuela. Aprendí mucho y estuve muy ocupado.”
Translation: (My favorite year of school was the second year of high school. I was a member of the baseball team. My role was to support the players and assist them whatever they needed. I had to go every day to be with this team and it was very hard, but very fun. This same year, I also went to Singapore for 2 weeks and it was my first time being a foreigner. In each “zone” of Japan, they pick people to go and I was chosen. I also had the role of being the student president at my school. I learned a lot and was very busy!)
I asked Hatsune if she had a religion or what her religion was. I wanted to ask this question, but in the most respectful way possible, so I told her that if she did not want to talk about it, we did not have to! She explained that she currently does not practice any religion, but her family follows Buddhism, which they also adhered to during her upbringing. I pray that as Hatsune and I spend more time together, I can share Jesus with her.
MORE SPECIFIC TO CULTURE:
Many of my questions were focused on getting to know Hatsune, which certainly plays a part in the meaning of her culture. I did ask some more questions specific to her culture to which she happily responded. 🙂
Here are some of the questions we talked about and her responses:
(I will translate for those who do not speak Spanish) 🙂
What is considered the most respectful and disrespectful in your society?
“It is disrespectful to talk to elders in a way that is rude and well, disrespectful. Here, there are different ways to talk to those who are older than you. In general, Japanese are very respectful to those who are older than them, but the elderly have the utmost respect.”
“It is also very disrespectful to be loud on public transportation. It is usually silent. If anyone every visits, they should have their sound off and do not make calls. It is to respect those around us.”
After our meeting, I looked up a bit more about this and I read that when speaking to an elderly person they add an extra element of respect by adding their “san” (similar to Mr. or Mrs.) after their name. They also use a certain way of communicating politely called “keigo”. I believe “keigo” is what Hatsune was describing in Spanish.
What is your favorite food from your culture? Snack? Drink?
“My favorite food is sushi, but sushi normal. It is more common in Japan. There are various types of fish with rice. I understand that it is different from what “sushi” in America looks like. My favorite snacks are sweets, especially chocolate cookies or cheesecakes. My favorite drink is matcha. When I was growing up, my family would always have another kind of tea called, “Oolong tea” so I would drink that often as well.”
Hatsune showed me a picture of the kind of sushi she loves and I took a picture so I insert it into my blog!
What is your opinion of the United States? Are there stereotypes that you believe to be true?
“The United States is a very big country and is a very free country, with lots of freedoms. There is a variety of people there of different nationalities and is more generous than other countries. In the minds of some older people from Japan, I think the United States does not have a good impression because of our history. The younger generation has a better impression.”
“The stereotypes that Japan has about America are, Americans love to talk and are very fun, but are a bit loud at times. It really depends on the person you talk to.”
“I think that our stereotypes include being very quiet, we do not talk a lot nor express our emotions well, and we have high respect for elders.”
What is the role of women in your society?
“Women do work more than they did in the past but there is still a bit of inequality between men and women. Many women are at home to take care of the children and the home but it is better than before.”
What is a celebration very important in your culture? Can you describe it to me?
“Japanese New Year! Many people will go to a temple or shrine every year on the first day of the January. People whose religion is Buddism go to a temple but people who have the Shinto religion go to a shrine. There, they pray for and wish for good luck for the year they are entering. We also go to the cemetery to begin the New Year with our ancestors. Another celebration that is connected with the New Year takes place on August 13th through 15th. This celebration commemorates and remembers deceased ancestors. It is believed that their spirits return at this time to visit relatives. People take the candles or lanterns to the graves of their families and bring them back to their home to call their ancestors home.”
The final question I asked Hatsune was this:
¿Cómo está estudiando en Madrid dando forma a tu visión del mundo?
(How is studying in Madrid shaping your view of the world?)
She responded, “Mi visión del mundo se ha abierto mucho desde que llegué a España. Me interesan más las culturas de los extranjeros y también las relaciones internacionales. Vivo con una chica española y otra americana, así que ha sido una buena experiencia aprender sobre las diferencias entre las tres culturas.”
(My vision of the world has opened up greatly since I arrived in Spain. I am more interested in the cultures of foreigners and also international relations. I live with a Spanish girl as well as an American girl, so it has been a good experience learning about the differences between all three cultures.)
Hatsune graciously agreed to meet with me and tackle questions that prompted deeper reflection than she initially anticipated. Several moments during our conversation left me pleasantly surprised, exclaiming, “Wow, that’s fascinating!” or “I had no idea”. This experience highlighted the potential for personal growth through expanding my understanding of the world and different cultures, demonstrating how informal discussions can foster significant development. What a testament to the incredible diversity and beauty of the world and those in it, created by our Savior.
“Best Culture” – Conversation and Connections
The task of this blog entry is different from the previous ones. Instead of talking about my cultural experience, the main point of this assignment is to dive deeper into another culture. (And yes, the title is a direct quote from this interview.) I chose my friend Kamil, who lives in Madrid. He was born in Maryland and lived in the US for a few years while he was young and then again for high school. He also lived in Morocco for a time. Because of his experience with many cultures, I asked him to be my interviewee for this cultural conversation.
Family and education: Kamil’s parents are doctors, and he’s following suit by attending medical school here in Madrid. He reflected that his family passed down several values to him as he grew up. The first is working hard. Those who sit back and relax, waiting for good things to come to them, will scarcely get far in life. They taught him to have self-worth and dignity. Concerning others, he was taught to be empathetic and to do good to those around him. Overall, these are common and positive values for children of all cultures. Education-wise, he was able to attend private schools, even in international settings. He then did some Spanish schooling to get his baccalaureate, allowing Spanish students to attend university. Overall, he considered his experience good, as it provided him with opportunities to explore things and learn new languages. It also allowed him to focus on the solid areas and improve on the weak ones. He selected schools that help to create a work setting that is appropriate for each person. But like his parents taught him, he still has to work to succeed. There are a few logistical differences between schooling in Spain and America, but I think that overall, the goal is for schools to provide options for students to select courses that will allow them to learn about the topics that interest them and will benefit them in their futures.
Religion and gender roles: Statistically, the majority of Spain is Catholic, but the percentage of those who practice the religion (going to mass, etc.) is much lower. Kamil was primarily raised in Christianity, as that is his mom’s religion, but he also had some Jewish influence from his dad. Religion isn’t a massive aspect of people’s lives in Spain, which I think is similar to most of those in America. Gender roles also aren’t a huge deal, as they’re pretty equal. Just looking at their government, as Kamil pointed out, many high positions are filled by women. In his university, the majority of medical students are female. American culture is getting to the point of having gender equality, but the media shows that we still have a little way to go.
Stereotypes: This was one of my favorite sections to interview Kamil about, but he said it’s up to me to decide whether or not they’re true. He says that people think that the Spanish “are loud, lazy, like to party, short, Royalists, love futbol, and dress well.” And honestly, I agree with many of these. They’re pretty loud when they’re comfortable and are willing to voice their opinions, but there are many Americans who are the same (think of Karens). The laziness stereotype comes from their siesta (nap) culture, but I think that’s just to get them through their late nights, as they tend to be party people. This is mainly for the younger generation, those in their late teens, 20s, and 30s, but I think many people in this age range tend to go out at night. Americans do this, too, but (legally) it starts at an older age and typically ends earlier in the night, in my opinion. As I’ve mentioned, the Spanish dress well, especially in comparison to Americans. They do love their futbol (soccer) teams, kind of like Americans have their specific football or baseball team they support. Generally, Spaniards are shorter, but it’s hard to compare them to Americans because of the diversity of nationalities. I also asked Kamil about stereotypes that Spaniards have about Americans. Immediately he said that we don’t know geography or the metric system. Unfortunately, I couldn’t argue with either of these. Overall, we are very content with knowing the geography of the United States (only) and the imperial system.
Food and holidays: Spain has several typical cultural foods. The ones Kamil names are “paella, bacaloa (cod fish), patatas bravas (potatos with spicy sauce), jamon serano (ham cooked a certain way), tortilla de patata (potato cake dish), pan con tomate (bread with tomato), mejillones (mussels), and vino rojo (red wine), especially in sangria and tinto de verano.” Food especially plays a significant role in holiday celebrations. The two most important holidays are Christmas (along with the 3 reyes/kings) and the Semana Santa (Holy Week and Easter), the same in the US. At Christmastime, Spaniards typically have family time, go to church, share food, and do charitable work, similar to Americans. Easter is celebrated similarly, but many large processions and parades can be a learning experience for those who observe them during the week. These processions are like nothing I’ve seen in the States, but they may be on more minor scales.
The final question I asked was this: “What is the most important thing I should know about your culture?” Kamil’s response is what the title of this post is: “best culture.” And after living in it for these past two months, I can attest that it really is an amazing culture to be a part of.
Link to a video of me flipping a tortilla de patatas
Making paella
A glass of sangria with lunch
Religious paintings
The interviewee Kamil