iHoly Toledo!

First of all...

too much cuteness in one crawling package

This is happening. She's about to be everywhere...Its not like Im worried or anything, I mean Ive been through this twice already...oh wait, I know exactly what this is like and I am freaking out!! 

Remaining calm and Americanizing everything in this apartment as I type...

Ok, on to the important stuff.

So saturdays here are very much our teams day off and this past weekend we took the opportunity to head to Toledo (Spain's former capital, about 50km southwest of Madrid)

We all caught the morning train to Toledo and spent the day in the spiritual mecca of Spain.

what used to be the bridge you took to get into toledo (new bridge is in the background)

old bridge and remnant of roman aqueduct

Toledo has been Roman, Visigoth, Moorish, and 'Christian'...with a rich Jewish history, this place is packed full of theologies:) However, minus a few takeovers and reconquerings everybody managed to live pretty well together, which for my 21st century American mind is kinda hard to believe...but if Ive learned one thing while here, its that if Rick Steves says it...then its true.

the cute team in front of the Catedral de Toledo

The Cathedral in Toledo is one of the most impressive I've personally seen. Dedicated to the Holy Mary (that's Jesus' mom, for all the protestants out there) the place is jam packed with beauty!

oh wait...that's just MY BEAUTIFUL family in FRONT of the catedral...my mistake:)

              (PS.I would not be surprised if this is the only decent family photo we get this whole trip)

here ya go.

they just don't make em like this anymore

they needed more light:)

Ryan and I thought briefly about renewing our vows or perhaps going ahead and getting a couple of team members hitched right there...i mean were here, its not going to get any better than this in the states...am i right?

seriously we could have spent a more than a few hours touring this place, there are very few words to describe its beauty.

these guys were there...just lookin expensive.

From the Cathedral we enjoyed a great lunch and then continued to explore Toledo.

there are no downhills in Toledo...just FYI

classic

Cathedral de San Reyes...Ferdinand and Isabella were SUPPOSED to be buried here...Thanks Granada for ruining my trip to Toledo.

old old old old fresco

added by the sculptor, this was supposed to be some big insult to the French...so if I ever send you a monkey on a chamberpot reading upside down, DONT take it as a compliment.

Jewish synagogue later used as a church, when Isabella and Ferdinand demanded conversion or expulsion (real nice I and F)

built entirely by Moorish hands...

It was just a lovely day in an all uphill town in 95 degree heat...

could not have made it without the help...

some of us got to ride everywhere...which helped our mood:)

necessity is the mother of invention

Seriously though, it was a great day spent with the team. We are continuing to see the fruit of their labors and the effort to see and start to understand the lengthy history of this land will only add to the effectiveness of their work here. Espana's heritage cannot be overlooked by anyone seeking to expand God's kingdom here, its such a privilege to see it first hand....and it has helped me see the importance of knowing and understanding my own context and history of where we minister the gospel at home.