Every once in a while, something happens that seems to capture in a moment what you have been working toward for a long time. On January 30, Brian’s cello recital was one such moment.
This last year, Brian has been slowly trying to build roads in the music community in Spain where we are serving as TMS missionaries. Initially, he built connections by joining the local choir. Recently, though, he took things a bit further by performing a cello recital at the local music school where over 100 people came to hear him. It seemed like people came from all over—people from church, from language class, from the choir, and from the wider community. One man said, “You must feel proud to have so many people come to hear you.” Brian said, “Maybe, but I think the word that comes to mind for me is grateful.” It was a night worth remembering to be sure. For us to have such a large community come out to support, and for Brian to be able introduce all of his pieces in Spanish—we could not have done that a year ago! The event really did seem to capture in a moment what we have been working toward for over a year.
We already see how this music event is opening new doors for relationships, as afterward Brian got introduced to a good number of other professional musicians and music lovers. One fellow musician even invited Brian over to his house afterward to show Brian his own musical instrument. Brian was only too happy to accompany him, as often it takes many years to be invited into someone’s home.
In addition to this invitation, Brian was asked to give an interview with a local journalist who asked if he could spotlight Brian for the local magazine. In that interview, Brian was able to share about his love for music, as well as his Christian faith and how his faith relates to his musical passions. Again, Brian walked away from that interview thinking, “Even just one year ago, I could not have done an interview in Spanish. And I don’t think I could have talked about my faith the way I did either.” It was another moment in time that reflects the fruit of much work.
Brian and Elizabeth are friends of Inspire and missionaries serving in Spain.
