Spanish on my mind

Hey ya'll! So as I spend more time here, I fall more in love with this culture, this language, these people, this short journey in my life, where I live "across the pond" as my dear friend has called my current location. This phrase draws me closer to all of you and reminds me of how much I love each of you and am so fourtunate to have you in my life. I am reminded each day of the "army praying for me" back home in the states thanks to K ;-)

Last week I ventured with T to the evangelical church that is only about 10 minutes from my piso/apartment. I'm realizing more and more that Spanish phrases are like the British vocabulary. Spaniards are to Brits as South Americans are to Americans as far as accents and vocabulary. Okay so we get to church, and as I'm listening to the sermon, I shed some tears. Now mind you I'm hearing this all in Spanish and God is moving me through another language. You know when you're listening to a really moving message and just feel the Holy Spirit's presence, okay now imagine that in another language. This is one of the most exilirating feelings I have ever experienced thanks to God's grace.

T and I were greeted by Seraphine who is the youth pastor who speaks English very well. However, he is being kind and will speak only in Spanish with us apart from occasion misunderstanding/mistranslations/having a deer in headlights look ;-) We also met Sally from England, Shirley from Venezuela, Luis ( the pastor), Maria del Mar (Maria of the Sea) the pastor's wife, Vicky from Ecuador, Abel from the Dominican Republic, Junior from Brazil, Niami from Oviedo, and Lydia (the pastor's daughter), along with many many more. I hope I got their countries right, but I love having some South American spanish because it is a bit more clear for me. Wednesday T and I went to Bible study which started at 830 and went til 930 but we were visiting afterwards till almost 11pm= super late dinners for us.

This weekend I knew I would be on my own for church since T and several other UNI students went to Granada. So yesterday I was busy all day with P making plans and booking flights and buses for traveling over our spring break/ semana santa which is from April 2-April 13. We will be going to London and Dublin!!!! I'll get to see where my ancestors ventured from! There is a slight chance of visiting Scotland as well, but everything is booked now. Oh yeah Platform 9 & 3/4 here we come for you Harry Potter fans.

As P and I were walking to the mall, we ran into my friend Shirley which was so cool/que guay. I forgot that we have a social night on Saturdays for chruch. I was able to hear a really moving message last night about discerning what God is speaking to me right now and was posed with the question, "What are you doing with God's direction?" Once again I was challenged and so moved to tears by the Holy Spirit. I went and took a step of faith with God holding my hand. I owe my evening to God and His provision. I had a blast and was able to communicate well with my new friends and made even more new friends last night! Iris, and George, Tony, Tisa, Seraphine's wife, etc. So we had food, fun, and watched a movie called Oh, Jeruselam, that was of course in Spanish. I'm finding that watching lots of movies in Spanish is really helping me out a lot. So apart from asking Sally, Seraphine, and his wife some questions in English, all my conversations were in Spanish!

I can't believe how God is providing for me like He provided the miracle of feeding the five thousand (Luke 10: 10-17)
17They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

I had so much fun last night and enjoyed speaking in Spanish and was encouraged by the kindness that was extended to me all evening. I enjoyed laughing and understanding more and more as I listened to different conversations. Thanks to a dear family, I learned the art of listening to multiple people talking at the same time. Now I'm learning to use this same skill but in Spanish. It is challenging for sure, and interupting is the way to talk so thanks to my upbringing (I won't say which side) I can get back into this habit. I apologize right now if I interupt you in conversation upon my return to the States. I was fortunate to have a more heartfelt conversation with Shirley last night who asked me if P is a Christian. I'm not sure if P is a Christian but know she grew up in chruch and told Shirley I want to invite P to church.

I was given a ride home with Niomi and George. I was able to converse with George once after a minor malfunction when he first spoke to me after the movie at 2:15a.m.! I was thinking,"Come on brain turn back on to Spanish!" God wanted me to understand more and converse in Spanish for a few more minutes so He allowed me the ability to talk in Spanish even at this crazy hour. He can do anything!

Jeremiah 32:17,26 (read it all!) 17"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." 26Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah 27 "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"

These are verses I am praying over this week: Psalm 119:33-37
33Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.
34Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
35Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
36Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
37Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

This morning when I finally went to bed my brain was working in Spanish and wouldn't turn off. This could have been due the fact I was listening to my Spanish radio on my phone. I like this perk for paying a little more for my phone. I'm actually listening to a Spanish Christian radio station right now ;-) I was really close to having a dream in Spanish last night. I think it's coming soon. Please pray about this with me. Love ya'll!

Mola mucho-sweet [for a little vocab lesson]
Oh it's getting hard to not write more of this in Spanish which a great sign.

Hasta Luego!