For Canary Islands Muslims, Love is Missing Ingredient

By Emilee Brandon

Passersby hardly notice the mosque on this active street corner on Fuerteventura, one of Spain's Canary Islands. No crescent moons, no Arabic writing, no minarets piercing the sky - only dust and exhaust-stained apartments.

But looks can be deceiving. Behind a black metal door, stairs descend to what appears to be an old three-bedroom apartment. At the foot of the stairs stands a floor-to-ceiling shoe shelf. To the left is a trough with two water spigots where followers wash their feet in preparation for Friday prayers.

Arriving worshippers stir a small breeze, wafting the pungent smell of shoes and body odor. No one seems to notice. Barefoot, each man crosses the holy threshold lined with red prayer rugs. “Salaam alaykoom” (peace be with you), each says as he enters. Those already there echo the greeting in return.

This is the first time Southern Baptist missionary Pepe Lopez* has attended a service at this location. Omar, one of Pepe’s Muslim students, invited him. As it turns out, many of the students Pepe teaches Spanish to every week go to the mosque here.