Handmade by Betty Leach and Jennifer Lynn Easton Joy
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The Spain Glory Ring
by Rick Donoho, May 2003
Hello, Jennifer.
I am Rick, Susan's husband. In February I made another trip to Barcelona. I actually stay on the outskirts of town and then visit a factory about 50 miles away. My visits are always rather whirlwind: arrive, go to the hotel, go to dinner, go back to the hotel, get up the next morning, check-out, visit the factory and return to the airport. So there isn't much time for actually exploring the city.
On this visit I arrived on a Sunday and went to a central square of the city known as Ramblas. It is the area where street entertainers perform and there are many outdoor cafes. Once the previous year during a similar visit I had seen a group of Christians on the square singing worship songs. Unlike most of Europe, you don't find too many people on the street who speak English, although all of the restaurant and hotel employees do. So there wasn't too much communication with these folks.
At any rate, it seemed as good a possibility for finding someone to give it to as any. I went walking along a long avenue that makes up Ramblas and was finding no apparent candidates. If you walk far enough you eventually come to the Mediterranean Sea, as Barcelona is a port city. I continued on toward the sea. At the end on the long avenue there was a rather beautiful park. I heard the sound of worship music and people singing (in Spanish but still unmistakable as worship). It was a boombox! Gathered round were a group of people holding Bibles and talking to various onlookers. This seemed the right possibility.
I approached and asked if anyone spoke English. (That much Spanish I knew.) At first they could find nobody who did. I struggled and failed to make myself understood. Eventually they found one of their group, a young man, who's English was much better than my Spanish. I was carrying the gold iridescent bag in which Sue had packaged the Glory Ring. She had wrapped it in a white, sheer, worship scarf. I unwrapped it and asked the young man if he understood what this was for. He took it and waved it saying "Worship". I explained that a woman from America had made this for Spain. He smiled and explained to the others. They smiled appreciatively. At the same time, a lady came up admiring the worship cloth saying, "Bonita". ( We all know at least that much Spanish, right?) Several of the group then took the Glory Ring and discussed it with big smiles and took turns waving it.
They explained with the help of a tract that they were affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church. I was able to make him understand that our oldest son currently attends a Christian school that is administered by a nearby UPC church. Much more communication beyond that was very difficult so they expressed gratitude to the lady in America who had sent the gift and we parted.