SPAIN: Welcome to Africa

Sara's parents arrived in Spain last Sunday! It was so great to see them!! They were invited over to our host family's home for dinner. I am so glad they could finally meet the people that we are with daily. Turn's out Pilar understands a little bit of English after all. I guess that doesn't matter to me because we aren't allowed to speak English around her.

On Wednesday the four of us flew to Marrakesh, Morocco. Unforgettable trip to say the least! Wednesday night we may have gotten sucked into a tourist trap restaurant but I loved it. In the restaurant there were belly dancers, Moroccan musicians, and all sorts of craziness. Tagine is a common dish in North Africa and is what I ate a few times while there. Thursday we went into the heart of Marrakesh to explore the markets called the "souks." The markets are so insane. Everyone wants you to buy whatever they are selling and will be really annoying about it. They would ask "Are you English?" One of my favorite quotes was "I give you a very democratic price." Thanks, but no thanks. I ended up buying a painting of a camel, some jewelry, some Moroccan oil and scarves. It was fun haggling for the stuff I bought!

The Weir's know missionaries that live in Morocco so we were actually able to go to their house on Thursday. The indigenous people of Morocco are called Berbers. The missionaries live an hour outside of the city with these Berber people. We actually went to a Berber's home (I won't say house). Although I don't speak their language they were so kind and hospitable. The women were invited in the kitchen which had a hole in the roof for light. They made us bread in their stove. So delicious. Have I mentioned yet the tea in Morocco- they brew green tea, add a ton of mint and sugar. The missionaries are friends with a Moroccan that converted to Christianity. We were able to hear his testimony and how he has been persecuted. It was so amazing to hear of this former Muslim seeing the grace of Jesus although most everyone around him considered him crazy. What an inspiration.

Saturday we met up with Amy and Kristina and took a van to a beach town called Essaouira. We went to the markets there and I haggled a ton! One man dressed me up with a turban and outfit like a Moroccan. If only my eyes weren't blue I'd have people fooled.

Lastly, we rode camels on the beach! Sara and I rode one named Jimmy. Our camel trek guide could barely speak English but was hysterical. We taught him "Sweet Home Alabama," sounds pretty interesting with an Arabic twist.