Shifting

I leave for Colombia in less than a week. I don't feel completely ready, but I'm praying that the Lord's grace will be sufficient. That verse in 2 Corinthians has given me a lot of peace in the last few weeks.
I've been in my job nearly two months. Because of the commute, I had to buy a car - my first car. I bought a stick shift because I wanted to master it in anticipation of driving in Spain, and I kept the verse right in front of the shifter to remind me during those first, faltering weeks. Praise God for his mercy. His grace is sufficient.
Please pray as our Tenth team as we leave Thursday. I'm assigned to a medical team conducting a cardiology clinic. Please pray that we would work well and the love of Christ would show through our work. Please pray for fluency (I'm feeling a bit rusty) and understanding. Finally, pray for the two sister churches down there. Pray that we would be an encouragement to them.
And please pray for Spain. The Lord continually reminds me of the work and friends there.

Three Years Out

Cliff-diving in the Pyrenees. I was terrified.

Three years ago today, I landed at Barajas Airport for the first time. I didn't know that arriving in Spain would change my life's calling, but it did. Three years later, I'm still feeling the effects. I never thought I would end up working in Russia or Colombia, let alone moving back to Philadelphia. I feel the Lord gently guiding me where He wants me to go. And I can't get Spain off my mind - or my heart.
Tonight, as I sat deciphering Spanish soccer league schedules (only slightly more confusing than the Madrid Metro schedule!), I thought back to 2008. Youth groups. The beginnings of a church. Kids clubs with Bible lessons. And best of all, sweet brothers and sisters in Christ. Many have become dear friends. I'm so blessed.
And lots changed here in Philly in only three days. On Monday I was offered a job doing public relations and marketing for a manufacturing startup. The logistics have been a little crazy, and I'm sad to leave my job at Tenth, but I have peace about it. It's one more step in my path back to Spain. I can't wait for that day when I land at Barajas Airport again.
As always, please pray for Spain.

Training

It's been a busy week on the Spanish-speaking front. On Monday I helped some friends prepare their new house for their move next week. The house is in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, and I got to speak with some of their Mexican neighbors. God's giving me plenty of opportunities to spot errors and polish my Spanish. Praise the Lord!
The job search has picked up, lately, too. Please pray that I would have wisdom as I discern God's will in terms of full-time versus part-time employment. I'd like to stay at Tenth on Fridays, if possible.
I'm getting more and more excited for Colombia. If you'd like, my support letter is available for your perusal here. 
And don't forget to keep praying for Spain. The earthquakes in southern Spain destroyed a new evangelical church, so you can be in prayer for the parishioners. (Note: article is in Spanish, so English-speakers can view it via Google Translate.) Pray for them as they minister to others affected by the disaster. God is sovereign.

Plans

I'm a planner. When I resolve to do something, it's pretty much set in stone - at least in my mind. So when the outreach director at my church, Bruce, asked me if I'd come to Colombia as a translator for a medical team, I planned to say no.  I've had a self-imposed policy of no overseas trips until I return to Spain full-time. And I was sticking to my guns. 
But Bruce (and some other friends) persisted. Quietly but firmly, he stood in front of my desk on Fridays and insisted that I could do it. When I whined that my Spanish wasn't good enough, he smiled and said he'd pray.
My friend Kelsey, another SEND short-term alum, calmly listened to my excuses, then prayed until I was sufficiently prodded by the Holy Spirit. Praise the Lord that I have such godly (and patient!) friends.
So I'll be translating for a nurse practitioner and a pharmacist for a clinic in Colombia from August 4-15. I'm excited to get to speak lots of Spanish for God's glory. I may also get to help the youth group prepare Vacation Bible School programs for children in the orphanage Hogar La Providencia. I'm in the midst of the usual preparations: training, reviewing Spanish medical terminology, assembling prayer partners and praying for financial support. If you feel led to partner with me in this way, you can visit Tenth's Giving page and follow the instructions. 
Please pray for me as I prepare, and for my team. Prayer is the fuel that will allow us to be successful in this venture.
This is not something I would've planned for, but it seems to be God's plan for me.

It's Pray Time

In two weeks, I'm celebrating one year since I moved to Philly and started fresh in (somewhat) familiar territory. A lot's changed in a year. I've changed jobs, made some new friends and reconnected with others, thought about Spain constantly, my father died, got over my fear of talking on the phone, shot my first photography shoot, turned 25 (gulp) and read through most of the Old Testament. (I'm slow. Isaiah tripped me up.) 

But as the Lord continues to cram into my heart -- it's not about what I've done, or where my perfectionist mind pontificates I should be. It's about God being glorified through my life. And the Lord will guide me in His plan, which is so much better than I can ever hope to dream. So my job is to listen. Worship. Enjoy and seek to become more like Christ. How wonderful He is! 

Sometimes I grasp the truth of the previous paragraph and see it so clearly. A lot of times I get discouraged by all the junk.  I see the world in a macro lens, but God's changing my perspective to add a wide angle lens.

In less than a week, I'm finishing the internship with public relations firm. It's a good stopping point. I'll be job-hunting/freelancing again and looking at some opportunities to use Spanish in ministry. As I texted to some friends this afternoon, it's pray time.

And it's pray time for Spain too. Whether it's for those affected in a country with a staggering unemployment rate, a sluggish economy, the ongoing spiritual deficit or the needs of new workers. Just pray.

Speed Bump

I wouldn't be honest if I didn't admit that it's been a hard week. I've been challenged in a few sectors and convicted in others. As I posted on Facebook a few days ago, "All I need is Jesus. And copious cups of coffee." The presence of caffeine doesn't downplay the need for the former. The last few mornings I've awoken and thought about how scary my life would be if I didn't have the Lord.

And the Lord has been very gracious to me this week. In the midst of perceived difficulty, I've been ministered to by my brothers and sisters in Christ and reminded of truth. I am so blessed to have such godly people in my life.
I say perceived difficulty because I see the images from Japan and realize that my fleeting anxieties are not as grave as losing my home, family, or fear of the specter of radiation poisoning. But just as Christ has been gracious to me, I pray for grace for the Japanese. The devastation and the horror is great, but God is greater still.

The picture on this post is graffiti from South Street in Philadelphia. I was praying while wandering around South Philly, and looked up at just the right moment. Spain was written three separate times in a line, but I could only get the last two in the frame, and I took it on a low-quality camera-phone. Seeing just the words sprayed on the top of a building was enough to tug at my heart. I miss it so much, and I just want to return to work there. In God's timing...

God's Sunshine

 

If you're on the East Coast like me, you may be enjoying warmer weather and longer, sunnier days. I love how God's given us a taste of spring and a promise of new life. How great is our Savior! I know that here in Philadelphia it's supposed to be a little colder this week, but it's so good to see the sun.
Over in the land of the sun, there's exciting work in progress. From English tutoring in Guadalajara to youth meetings, the Lord is moving. One neat work is my friend Eva's radio shows. She's hosted "Hogar Dulce Hogar" (Home Sweet Home), "Destellos del Gospel" (Gospel Glimmers) and currently hosts "A Ritmo de Gospel" (To the Rhythm of Gospel). She also has a blog here (en español). For non-Spanish speakers wanting to read it, Google Translator works great. Her posts encourage me a lot and offer a unique perspective about evangelism in Spain.
In terms of prayer, I praise God for my internship. It's been really good so far, and I'm learning a lot. Pray I would be a good witness and a diligent worker there. Please pray as I try to find secondary employment so I can continue the internship with minimal negative financial impact. As always, pray for the work in Spain. Pray for Eva as she ministers via radio and blog, and for her listeners/readers.

Small update

I received a call from the public relations firm today, and I'm officially an intern! I'm so grateful for such a quick answer to prayer, and trusting the Lord for whatever's next.
All for Him!

Parkour

I can sympathize with the Apostle Paul when he writes in his epistles about running the race of faith. For me, sometimes it seems more like parkour, or to stay in the race analogy, a triathlon. But what are we supposed to do? Press on!
In the short term, I have some exciting options. I'm beginning work with dear friends on a writing project for a web encyclopedia (no, not that one -- this one) and continuing to seek out freelancing opportunities. I interviewed for a public relations internship on Tuesday, with the hope that working for a firm would beef up my skills. If the latter works out, I may be scouting out a part-time gig, too. Once again it seems that God is reshaping my über planner personality. My mother recently reminded me to "enjoy the process." And for now I'm content to let the proverbial pieces fall into place.
Please pray for these opportunities as they fit into the larger goal of returning to Spain, and that I would use my time in Philadelphia wisely. I'm really missing friends and people I worked with in Spain, and sometimes the thought of returning as a full-time worker seems so far away.
But for those across the ocean, please pray for the individual congregations in Guadalajara, Azuqueca and Alcalá de Henares. To get current information and prayer opportunities, go here, here or here.