Setting the Compass
The Madrid Strawberry Bear - Puerto del Sol, Madrid
March 2015
I took one step outside of the airport to see the endless landscape of Spain being drenched in an endless downpour. Sleepy-eyed, my team and I searched for Jacob Bock, who was waiting for us near a bus port. “Welcome to Spain!” he exclaimed. We boarded the bus. As we passed through Madrid, taking in every new thing in our surroundings, we listened to Jacob tell us all about the country and people.
Once we reached our stop, I fumbled my suitcases off of the bus and stepped into the little river running down the street. While I had been to Canada many times before, this was my first time in a completely foreign country. People passed by speaking Spanish. Cars honked and Vespas maneuvered through traffic. A lady with a clear umbrella locked eyes with me as she strolled by. With each step into my new environment, I hugged my backpack tighter. Once we reached our hostel in the Puerta del Sol - the city center - we dropped our bags in our rooms then made our way back into the street.
As my roommate and I waited for the guys to make their way downstairs, we took in the sites of new-to-us architecture. We watched people continue to splash by us as we stood at the corner of the Apple store. We talked about what we were most excited about. I admitted to her that I only came on the trip because Nathan (my boyfriend at the time) had invited me on this “vacation.” I was more excited to see Toledo than to stand on a red box and shout at people about Jesus. After 15 minutes of waiting, we were starting to wonder where Nathan and Kyle were.
Nathan came out of the hostel with a grim look. He pulled me aside to tell me that my friend Cameron had died in a car accident while we were in the air.
Stunned. “The other two in the car are in serious condition.”
Shocked. “They were hit by a semi.”
Grieved. “I am sorry for your loss, Ivy.”
I took the words in, my eyes avoiding Nathan. I looked around the plaza, watching people pass by. Even though I felt grieved, I knew how much Cameron loved Jesus. I had paz - peace - that Cameron was with Jesus.
But these people walking through Puerta del Sol don’t know Me. They are going to die. Someone needs to tell them about Me.
In an instant, my attitude towards this trip changed. No longer was I on vacation. I was on a new path that would forever alter the direction of my life.
