The Joy of Giving

I´m writing this whilst in sunny Gijón, northern Spain. Matt and I are staying with our good friends Joseph and Dani Contreras and their 3 boys, Isaiah, Andrew and Michael. They are American transplants and their work here is 3 part based through their association BeStrong, and they work to better the health of the community physically, educationally and spiritually.

Joseph is the strength trainer and honourary Pastor to the local American Football team – The Mariners, and “head honcho” in the bible teaching and main Pastoral aspect of the job. Dani schools her boys, teaches English as a foreign language from 5yrs through to adult. Runs ladies health and fitness courses both at the centre and one online plus leading a ladies Bible study. Their current building is quite new, they’ve only been there 1 year and are still working on renovating. That’s quite a novel concept to my British mind (plus 10 years of German influence) where a business wouldn’t open their doors to customers until the premises were finished, but here in Spain, life is a little more laid back and customers are quite happy to weight train in a room with un-painted plaster board walls and showers with no doors! (The doors are ordered but delivery will arrive………well, when it arrives)

This is now our 4^th visit, last time we arrived just as they got the keys and so got stuck in with scrubbing and cleaning and painting. This time it’s no different, after 2 days of hard work the main multi-function room is now freshly painted and looking good :o)

Since becoming ex-pats we’ve got to know people all over the world and, like with Joseph and Dani, the actual physical time we get to spend together is limited but our friendship is deep, so we feel almost like family. Therefore, spending some of our holiday working is not only fun but being side by side with close friends it’s so fulfilling too! Plus the locals we met last time greet us with big smiles and loving kisses.

So, in trying to be a positive difference we in turn have receive (and I don’t mean the cough and cold we’ve picked up). A deepening of friendships plus new friends and making memories.

So that´s what is meant when it is said, there is more joy in giving than receiving.