Another Sunday

Today Merry and I were running a little late to church....not abnormal for the culture but for Merry, it is. And it was a little rainy outside and still recovering from the all-nighter, I figured this would be a good day to be in the church service (look mom, I am taking care of myself!!:) . Many things were said that I didn't catch-it's so easy to let my mind wander when its all in Spanish- but my respect for this church grew. The man who spoke addressed how as a church they have been through a lot, but how through the Lord they have prevailed. They don't have a pastor, and a while back things got complicated with their lawyer for their building and the church had to pay for their building twice!! But God has been good and the people have been faithful to God and their church body. I was encouraged by them today.

Prayer request for this week: The Volkers (missionaries in Portugal) are coming this week. Mr. Volker is observing me teach Wednesday and Thursday, so would definitely appreciate your prayers. I talk fast when I get nervous......

And we only have school till Thursday and then Spring Break!!!! WHOHU!! :) Im not excited at all ;) Saturday I leave for Germany for a teacher conference and get back Wednesday, and then Thursday April 1st guess where I get to go? LONDON!!! God was so good and worked it out. I my not be able to see lots and lots of things because well..ha Im not made of money :) But I am going with one of the teachers, and we have two full days to spend in the city of London, and pictures are free!!! Im so excited!!:) Thanks so much for your prayers.

All-Nighter

So yesterday after school, I helped with the Lock-In the student council put on for the high school. About 30 students came, and it was a great time. One of the first things that we did was a staff and student council hunt. We who were in disguise dress-up in some pretty funny outfits. Merry had me wear a blond wig...ha I looked ridiculous, but it was pretty funny. I walked around the mall for an hour and was found by all the groups, but we all had a good time sharing our stories eating supper together (and I got some Starbucks on the way out because I figured I had a good excuse; I might like Starbucks better here:) We played some games at the school and watched the movies the students had made for a contest. And while the students played some more games, I helped a couple of the mom's make homemade pizza because of course we needed more food :) After eating LOTS of pizza, we watched a movie, and then split up to "get some sleep." Marie (the French teacher here, she's single and in her late 20s) and I actually had a really good time talking while we monitored everything; I thank God for her encouragement. And about 3 hours later ,a couple of the other parents came and made us some amazing pancakes, again which we all ate lots of! And then everyone went their ways.... I have yet to crash, but I have a feeling I will need a nap this afternoon! Thanks for your prayers. Tonight some of the lady teachers are getting together for pizza and a movie i think....and then off to church tomorrow. Please pray for the group of us that go out Sunday morning to witness to people at the Metro station. Thanks again, your prayers are much needed and appreciated.

Content

I am about to head of to school, but I just wanted to share with you what God's been doing. I am truly content being here in Spain. It's not that I don't miss home anymore, I still look forward to seeing everyone when I come home, but I know this is where God wants me right now, and there is such peace and joy in following my Father. At the same time, I do have a prayer request for you. I have a friend from church (Priscilla) and last night I found out she just lost her job. She has been such an encouragement to me when I have gone to church; she befriend me instantly, so if you could pray for her, that God would be her encouragement and that He would send her a new job soon, that would be great. Thanks so much for all your prayers; I know that they have made a difference. I am truly amazed by God's grace in my life.

Random Facts

Ok so I thought some of you might like to know some of the random things that are different from home...so here goes:)

~ Toilets very from house to house. Mine has a knob on top that you pull up ( I couldn't figure it out at first, so it's the first question I asked Merry! Ya, great first question)

~Bathroom lights are usually on the outside of the door

~ You kiss people on both sides of the cheek ( I was only use to one in Ecuador)

~ The town of Camarma (about 5,000) has no gas station, but yet I saw a mechanic shop when I walked around today.

~ When you get gas (in a town 10 min. from us), you pump it yourself but then have to go pay in person. And its not like the gas stations where there's lots of food inside, it's just somewhere where a worker sits so that you can pay to get your gas.

~ Merry's microwave is older, so it's got a dial. The problem is most of the time the dial goes the opposite way it should, adding more time instead of less. So I have to watch it so I don't make things explode!

~ Lunch break is not until about 1:45

~ American coffee truly is weak!

~ Father's Day is March 19th

~When you have communion at church, you actually break a small load of bread and pass that around.

~ Stores close around 2 and don't open again until sometime after 5

Ok that's about all for now, I'll let you know if I pick up any other random facts:) Thanks for praying.

Domingo

It's Spanish for Sunday, but I put that there for another reason. This morning I went out to do street evangelism like last Sunday, and God opened the door for me to talk to this elderly man named Domingo. He is from Argentina but was visiting family. I asked him if he thought he was going to heaven, but he told me that he was much to big of a sinner. I tried to explain to him that we are all sinners...but I don't think he believed me. But he did promise to read the tract I gave him, and that had Romans3:23 in it. We made small talk, and he was very kind and very South American. He told me twice that I HAD TO TELL my future husband that he Domingo said that he is very blessed to have me as a companion to walk through life with... he is definitely from South America (they tend to say things like that). It made me laugh, but please pray for Domingo; it was heart breaking to hear him say he's too much of a sinner. I was also able to talk to high school girl for a while, which was a blessing. I can never say quite what I want to in Spanish when I am witnessing, but thankfully I'm not the one who has to save people.

And then for lunch Merry and I went to a missionary couple's house (where I made a piece of enchilada go flying of my plate!!). It was nice to meet another family, and then later in the afternoon I went on a walk in Camarma with the other student teacher here. I love walking here.

Tomorrow is my first day of teaching, so I would really appreciate your prayers. I am so thankful for all of you who have been praying.

Toledo

Toledo is the old capital of Spain (Madrid became the capital in the 16th or 17th century), and today Merry gave us a little tour of the town. It's about an hour from the school. The way there was a bit longer because of traffic. They were doing construction on the railing, changing the railing to a type that wouldn't cause moder-cycle drivers' arms and legs to get cut off in an accident. Interesting fact for you:) After we got there, we (me, Merry, and two other girls from the school) walked around and went into this massive church. Everything was so detailed and ornate, like the choir loft. The chairs were carved out of wood, and each one was different. And then we just continued to walk and take pictures. The town had cobble-stone roads and very small alley ways. It was beautiful (I put some pictures on facebook if you want to see!) We stopped at the Cafe of the Nuns (because the Nuns are the ones who make everything). It was delicious! I really liked that bakery. We ended up eating at McDonald's for lunch... :( It was cheaper and faster, and actually they use fresh ingredients so it was better than the US. And then we fell asleep on the way home. A pretty good Saturday if you ask me :) Thanks for praying, and if you could, please pray or me and a small group of people as we go and try to share the gospel with people at the metro station ( I did this last Sunday too).Thanks!!

What God's Teaching me

I've been good about telling you all the experiences God has been so good to give me, but I guess I haven't given much detail to what God has been teaching me. So here goes (I'll try not to be too wordy:) I am so thankful to be here in Spain, truly, but it has not been without challenges. I've only been here for a week, but it seems like longer because essentially I am in a completely different world. I'm not teaching yet (that starts Monday),so I have been observing. I've never minded that, but it's different this time. I observe classes, so I don't know the students that well. But it's not like I can just go home to my family or hang out with my friends, I have to start anew there too. Now I have moved plenty of times, but never by myself (yes I know this is only temporary, I think, but it's like a move at the moment). And Merry has been a huge blessing to me (the lady I am living with), but I've definitely had moments where I miss everyone (usually at night). Even today, instead of going for a walk after school, I came home to just spend time in prayer and in God's word because I know I needed it. And I read through the book of Ruth, my Dad's favorite and my middle name. I love that book, God has already used it a lot in my life, and He brought it to mind to read again today. I did and was just encouraged with seeing the sovereignty of God (oh and also something that I have been struggling with is the future because I don't know what God wants me to do, and that's been on my mind a lot too). Ruth clung to what God wanted her to do, and God continued to direct her as she did. She left her home permanently, and probably thought her future would simply entail being Naomi's companion, but God in His goodness had a different plan. (If you don't know the story of Ruth, you should definitely read it! Its only 4 chapters anyway). At the end, when Ruth and Boaz were married and had a son, the people's response was "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may His name be renowned in Israel!" The people saw that the blessings Ruth and Boaz had were most definitely from God. That's the kind of life I want to lead, that people can clearl see the work of God, that all the praise really does go to Him. And guess what? I am a child of God just like Ruth was, so I can trust He will lead me. Now at the moment, I don't know what that is, and it does scare me at times, but if I keep the truths of God in my heart and mind, it's not scary I just have to remember who my Father is, and one day at a time, He's helping me lean more on and in Him.