We Love Our Church

Matt and I have the blessing of attending a Christian church in Vigo that is warm, friendly, and biblical. I think it’s quite similar to the church I grew up attending and it’s also comparable to Grace Baptist in Vermillion… I mean to say, it’s probably most like a Baptist church. The main service begins at 7 pm Sunday evenings; we usually leave our apartment around 6:45 and arrive at the church about five after, which is just perfect because nothing begins on time in Spain and we are still early until a quarter after! As we walk in, we kiss hello and ask Que tal? (To mean, hey! How are you doing?). Then we smile when we can’t hear because of the conversation noise mixed in with music or can’t think of the Spanish words quick enough. Thankfully, everyone understands our difficulties and we feel warmly welcomed before sitting in our pew three rows from the back. The first hour of the service is for singing. The music is beautiful and is accompanied by piano, trap set, violins, guitars, and African drum. We are able to sing along with most of the music because the words are projected on a large screen and are accompanied by pretty PowerPoint designs. The first songs are vibrant and fast and sometimes we can’t follow word for word because the sounds and stresses seem to trip over each other and we can’t make our tongues follow so quickly! Then the melodic worship singing begins and usually after every song someone from the congregation or one of the singers up front prays. After an hour or so has passed, we are invited to sit and a man prays before passing around the offering plate. Then the pastor begins his sermon by naming the lesson’s passage and inviting us to stand while he reads it out loud. Matt and I use English Bibles and sometimes must think hard to match the name of the books from Spanish to English (San Marco is Mark, for example) but we enjoy reading in English while hearing the Spanish. Sometimes the pastor, Juan Marco, uses a PowerPoint presentation, which helps us tremendously because then we can both hear and see the words. He preaches for almost an hour while the children have their own class in a room off to the back (we can always hear their little voices and classroom noise). At the end, he prays and announcements are given before the closing song. At this point, the conversation is just beginning, and we are a little nervous. Little groups form and Matt and I are finally comfortable enough to join in on the kisses and chatter. Soon snacks are served and we have the choice of purchasing pop and finger food to raise money for the church in Ourense. I just love the friendliness; Matt talks with the men while I chat with the women about their families and school. Just last Sunday I was at church by myself because Matt was at home with a bad cold. I was talking with a man who asked where Matt was and I was describing Matt’s symptoms to him. Within a minute, Fernando pulled out a doctor’s prescription pad and wrote out a note for Matt. I didn’t even know he is a doctor! Then my friend Puri walked with me to the late-night pharmacy (only a few are open on Sundays) and helped me talk with the man behind the counter. Thanks to their kindhearted help, Matt enjoyed a speedy recovery! I had another happy moment on Sunday when a lady didn’t believe I am American and asked Juan Jose if it’s true, to which he replied, Si! Ella es Americana propia! Meaning, Yes, she’s American born. The thing is, I was wearing leggings and a Spanish style dress and ballerina flats, just like the Spanish girls do, and I hadn’t spoken much Spanish to the woman. I was so pleased! I look so American and have never been mistaken for una Española until then! Anyways, the church is so wonderful because of the people and the steady biblical teaching and we are so blessed through it. Perhaps we’ll take some photos or video…talk to Matt about that!