Monday Prayer Night

Tonight Merry and I walked to the house of two of the teachers for prayer. It was actually a pretty brisk walk (It only got up to the high 30s today), but it was good to go. There were 4 single ladies (teachers and a secretary) and two wives of missionaries, and me. I admire these ladies for what they do. Single or married, their lives are not easy, but I was blessed to see how much they love the Lord and want to see people come to know Him. I'm getting sleepy, so that's about all I have for now. Thanks for praying, I need and appreciate it.

Sunday

Today was (well still is) Sunday, and it has been a wonderful day so far. I went to church with Merry, a church that is going through some pretty rough times. The pastor just resigned last month...it's sad, but God is doing a great work their still. They have two services because they have outgrown their building and Sunday school is in between. Merry and I went to the first service (that starts at 10), but I didn't actually go to the service. During the first service, there is a small group of young teens/adults that go to the metro station to hand out tracks while giving out free coffee. Merry decided that it would be a good idea for me to go ( a missionary was speaking, and she knew I had heard missionaries speak before). I was a little scared at first, but I am so glad Merry "suggested" it. I walked with a girl named Priscilla, and she befriended me instantly. She's actually from Brasil, but she's working here and loves it. I also met Amanda who is from Paraguy, and she is studying to be a flight attendent. Josea was also very kind (his wife is a flamingo dancer:), and Dante and Mariam are a couple that are studying at the Bible institute. So I met them today, and probably talked to them more than I tried to evangelize. But I did witness to one guy, he was a German on holiday He knew a little English, so I sort of got to witness to him; I don't know how much he understood. His name is Valentine, so if you think of it, say a prayer for him. I had a great time with this group. And then we went to Sunday school, and I forgot how much concentration it takes to listen in Spanish!!(Especially when the speaker is talking about Romans). I might do something sometime with the girls I met today; I kind of hope I do. But I have to admit it was almost odd for me today to be in a Spanish speaking church and not be in Ecuador. I kept expecting my friends from Cuenca to come out of the next room, but sadly they didn't. It's weird. I am usually in the US and miss Cuenca, or I am in Cuenca and miss the US, but today I miss both. At the same time, I loved being in church. I was thinking about visiting different churches, but now I don't know. It would be good to stay at the same place too, espcially if I can be involved in evangelism.....I guess Ill just pray about it for now. And then Merry took me to a really good chinese resturant (way better than anywhere I've been). The afternoon has been good, and I was able to watch my dad online as he preached!! That was a huge blessing too!!! So that was my Sunday, and I am very thankful for it. I am also thankful for your prayers. Hasta luego....

Downtown Madrid

So today, even though it was rainy and probably in the 40s, I went to downtown Madrid with a few of the other teachers (Stephanie and Ruth). It was a wonderful time. We had to drive about a half an hour and then parked right by an entrance to the Metro (subway). The school I am at use to be right where we parked, but because of size issues the school moved to Camarma. So on the Metro we went. On the way there and back there were musicians that came in and out (technically illegal but they did it anyways). And then we just started walking around. It wasn't the best day for it, but it was still fun to be downtown. We did some shopping, and then we went to this bakery that has been around since the 1800s. I had the best pastry I have ever had in my whole life!!! And I really like Spanish coffee; it's very strong, but it's great. Actually, Starbucks is in Madrid but it hasn't been going so well here. The Spainiards like there coffee. So we just spent the afternoon shopping and walking. It was great to get to know Stephanie and Ruth better and how God has brought them here. Stephanie is a single teacher in the el. ed who is here long term, and Ruth is middle school/ high school and is going back to the states after this year because she was only here for 2 years. I will try to put some pictures on facebook so you can see what it was like. Thanks for your prayers!! I am excited for tomorrow too because I am going to church with Merry; I will probably visit other churches during my time here just to get an idea of what it's like. For now that's all. Thanks again for all your prayers.

Rain in Spain

Ha, ya I know it rhymes. Anyways, today was Friday and another day of observing. I have met most of the teachers by now ( I don't know that I remember all of their names, but Im working on it:). During the staff meeting, I volunteered for an all-nighter to help with for the high school next Friday. I figured it would be a good way to get to know some of the students better (I will just need lots of coffee:) I really like this school and just the way they are set up and run. We had chapel this morning, and one of the father's of the students performed a biblical monologue that was very moving. I continued to observe, and then lunch was provided by the seniors' parents ( a fundraiser that they do for their senior trip). During lunch I sat by one of the science teachers, Mel. He is an elderly man, and he and his wife have been here in Spain for 17 years (they are going home after this year). It was wonderful to hear how God had worked in his life. He and his wife had been interested in missions early on, but there mission board said they needed more experience. So they ended up teaching elsewhere, and then the Lord blessed them with a family and ministry....but later on in life God opened up the door for them to come here. Everyone has a story of how God brought them here; I love that. And then this afternoon I finished my bulletin board! Definitely not perfect, but a work in progress. It was a rainy day, and Merry and I drank some coffee (with milk as the Spaniards do, for as Merry said, when in Spain, do as the Spaniards!) and I think I distracted her too much from her lesson planning, but we had a good talk. Oh, did you know that there is a Cuenca in Spain?!?!? That's where the name originated (Cuenca is the city my family and I lived in in Ecuador). There a different places that Merry wants to take me, but with teaching I am not sure how much sight seeing I will get to do. Actually I have kind of a random prayer request. I will be going to a conference with the teachers in Germany over break, but it doesn't take all of break. I was talking with some of the teachers, and they said I should travel as much as I can. I would love love LOVE to go t London if possible. But I won't go unless I have someone go with me or have a missionary family that could meet me there ( I don't really know of anyone but I might ask some of the teachers at the school). In the scheme of life, it's not that big of a deal because my purpose here is to teach and be in the ministry here. But it would be great if something like that would work out. I will just leave that in God's hands. Merry and I watched a movie tonight, and then she showed me some pictures of the running of the bulls (it was in September, so I missed it!!)

Tomorrow morning I am going downtown to Madrid with a couple of the teachers, but its suppose to be rainy and in the 40's tomorrow, so that could be interesting:) But I am excited to go.

For now, that's all. Thanks for praying

1st Day of School

So today I spent my first full day at ECA (evangelical christian academy). Schedules are a little different here. The first class doesn't start until 9 and class ends at 4. My cooperating teacher is a morning person and is usually out the door by 7:15. I on the other hand was only up for about 15 minutes by that time. But it was nice; I made my coffee and read my Bible, and before I new it it was 8:20!! Merry told me to be there by 8:45, so I rushed to get ready ( I live right around the corner from the school). The class periods are 50 minutes, and they don't break for lunch till bout 1:40 (that's a very Spaniard way, they eat later than we do). So I observed Merry's 12th grade class, and then the 10th grade class (which I will be teaching as well but it's with another teacher. And then I observed 6th grade math, a class of 7 6th grade boys (and one of them has a Bristish accent, I love the diversity of the school!) And then I went to Merry's 9th grade class and finished by observing 6th grade ancient history. I ate lunch with the teachers; everyone has such different backgrounds. The piano teacher is from Korea, the other teachers have been MK's all over...it's amazing to see how God has brought all of these teachers here. And the rest of the afternoon I started working on a bulliten board for Merry...and it's not done yet (bulliten boards are not exactly my forte but Im working on it!). I will only be teaching English, so that's a blessing. Every Monday and Friday we have a staff meeting before school, so tomorrow's my first meeting. And then on Saturday I think I am going to be able to go into the city of Madrid with a couple of the other teachers, so Im excited for that!And tonight Merr and I walked around Camarma some and got some really good break for supper and watched a Murder She Wrote (an old mystery show I use to watch growing up). And now I have a few things to finish up before I go to bed, but thanks so much for praying. I am just starting to get to know people, so you can definitely pray for relationships. I'll be in touch soon. Hasta Luego.

Exploring

Today was my day to adjust so it wasn't too busy or anything. I slept until about 10 and did some things on the computer, and then I went on a walk around town. I live in a city called Camarma, and it's not a huge town, but from what Merry tells me (the lady I am living with), it has grown almost double in size lately. I live probably a 20-30 min from the city of Madrid. It was fun to be able to walk around and see everything. The church has a stork nest on top of it's steeple, and I found a red brick path that I might like to do some walking on (or just thinking since it's full of benches). After that I went to the school to see if I could be any help. I ended up mounting some pictures on the wall and helped Merry with a couple things. Then we came home and made supper and watched a movie (Merry said she needed a break:). So that's been my day today, nothing too eventful. Tomorow I am doing my first day of observing; I would definitely appreciate your prayers as I start to meet the students and the teachers. I want to be involved with the people during the time I am here, so I am excited and a little nervous for tomorrow. But that's all for today. Thanks for praying.

Arrival

At the moment it is 5:18 in the afternoon but my body thinks it is 10:18 at night.... so I am a little tired to say the least (so if something doesn't make sense, sorry!!).
This was the first time I traveled by myself, and it wasn't too bad. On my first flight I was able to talk with this elderly man for the whole time (45 min.). He is a farmer, and we talked about many things, and I was able to share the Gospel with him and give him a track! Praise the Lord. And then on my left from MN to NY I sat by this man who use to be an opera singer in NY...he has traveled a lot so we had some good conversations as well. I didn't get to share the Gospel with him, but I did give him a tract that he might read...I pray he did. He was a great blessing as I had to hurry to my next flight because he asked everyone to please move aside because I needed to get through ( I didn't want to be rude but God put someone in my life to help me:)
But then the craziness set in. We were late getting in, and then I had to go and get my boarding pass from the desk and then wait for the shuttle...once in the shuttle we jerked to a halt in the middle of the trip. All of us on the shuttle weer a bit confused, and then 10 seconds later a plane went right by us....ha we were then all very thankful for this sudden stop. Then I ran to my gate ( I felt like the family on Home Alone) and the lady at the gate asked "Are you Hannah?" I said yes and got on the plane (I heard the lady say "ok you're last passenger is here now"). God was good and held the plane. And I had prayed for maybe a window sit by myself since this was an overnight flight, and guess what? God answered that prayer too.
I was picked up at the airport by a couple who works at the school. They took me to a city outside of Madrid called Camrama (or something like that). Once I arrived the headmaster of the school showed me around the school and gave me a tour. The lady I am staying with lives right around the corner from the school, so once her classes were done, she brought me to her appartment so I could get settled. And then I went with her to do some grocery shopping (which kind of reminds me of shopping in Ecuador). Now I am just trying to stay awake because I am really tired, but I know that it is better if I wait till a little later to sleep.
I am excited, although very tired and a little overwhelmed, but God made it clear He wants me here! So I will keep you up too date with what He's doing. Thanks for praying.