Sometimes you just can’t sum a trip up into photos or any succinct words. This is one of those times.

When I think back on my ten days in Denia this summer I’ll think of young Spanish boys drawing Zacchaeus and laughing their 8-year-old heads off at giving him an eye-patch, I’ll remember trying way too hard all week long to get a tiny Russian girl to like me and then (TO.MY.DISMAY.) accidentally calling her by the wrong name on the last day of the camp (let’s just say the look she gave me when she corrected me was not a forgiving one, haha), and of sweet Pepe stopping his soccer game to write out a sweet chalk drawing message to me next to the court. I’ll remember climbing Montgo and how I totally should have left my backpack in the room instead of carrying it up that mountain, how cute it was for my dad to be so excited about the spring water in the caves at the top, how proud I am to have him for a dad. I’ll think of the crazy fireworks parade we were accidentally a part of, and specifically the old Spanish man in the hat dancing happily into the sparks while everyone else scampered away, picking their feet up and down as quickly as possible to keep from getting singed. I’ll think of my love for our friends there, how thankful I am to call them brothers and sisters, how encouraged I am by the light they are from their corner of Spain. I’ll think of a Sunday afternoon by myself in a hammock swaying in the shadow of Montgo, of the best conversations I’ve had with my little brother Jacob in years.  I’ll remember deciding definitively that Pastor Jorge gives the best hugs of anyone I know.

Jacob had been living in Denia for a month by the time we visited, and always carried around his notebook to jot down new Spanish words and phrases the moment he learned them.

I’m not actually allowed to post photos of the campers faces for obvious privacy reasons, so a few of my favorites with faces obscured will have to suffice to represent the 100+ kids we played/crafted/danced with throughout the week at the camp. It’s always such an honor and privilege to join in with the work our friends at Alfa y Omega do to love the kids of that area and share Jesus with them.

(I do have to brag on my little 14-year-old brother Jayce for taking the photo above — I just really love the energy in it)

Don’t worry guys, it’s not a bull fight. The goal is to try and get the bull to chase you into the ocean and we saw more jump in this time than in any of the previous three years. So, ya know, good job to those Spaniards crazy enough to get in the ring for my entertainment. This cautious American thanks you for your service.

It started with a casual walk into town for a cafe con leche one evening and turned into the craziest parade I have ever witnessed in my entire life.

Those sparks are fire. At first I thought, “It’s all for show, they couldn’t actually shoot real sparks into a crowded street.” But no, they can. And they did. And if you did not dance frantically away it would burn you.

YALL IT WAS CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY. And also SO MUCH FUN plus the tiniest bit terrifying ALL AT ONCE. I honestly would not have been able to believe that it happened if I had not lived it.

If I had to sum up into a single photo all the different emotions I felt throughout the course of this parade-of-sparks, this one below of me and Jacob does a pretty good job.

I caught my sweet dad in his “sightseeing pose” on multiple occasions the afternoon we visited Valencia.

Below is my mother — isn’t she the loveliest??

Self-timer for the win.

On our last full day in Denia me, my brother, my dad and dear Tim Williams set out early in the morning to hike up to the caves on Montgo. I had been psyching myself up to make this trek for four years now and I’m so glad to have finally done it!

I’m probably one of the most annoying people to go to beautiful places with because I CANNOT stop marveling. Consider yourself warned.

I passed this at the bottom of the mountain after making it back down. Translation: When someone puts forth effort there is always a payoff.

Sweetest little brothers in all the land right there.

I will now congratulate you for making it to the end of this lengthy post. If you would like to peruse further lengthy posts of Spain, you can view my photos from last year here, and the ones from the year before here.

I love this place.

Happy weekend, all!