Papercutting for God

One of the more amusing parts of my job is the little side-tasks that spring up throughout the week. This week we needed to send 38 copies of a theology book to elders and deacons in Colombia. But since they were to be transported in a suitcase, the books needed to quickly lose weight. Thank goodness for our industrial-grade paper cutter! By slicing off the wide margins, the books were slim enough to travel.
One thing the Lord keeps teaching me is how little moments and interactions might not seem significant, but they can have a big impact.
So in this small moment, pray for Spain. :-)

Boomerang Back

I love booking flights. Because it's a part of my job at Tenth, I get to hunt down the best itineraries for short-term and career partners, pastors and other global outreach friends. Managing schedules, pricing and connections is a great puzzle challenge for me.
I booked my September tickets for Spain a few days ago and I'm extremely thankful because I managed to get them (with a little finagling) for less than half of the average price. My total trip cost will be less than $850. Between selling a few things on Ebay (prom dresses, anyone?), cutting my coffee spending and raising a little, I'm trusting God to provide for this venture.
So what will I be doing in September? Besides visiting Miss Rosario in Barcelona, I'm praying that God will give me a better sense of where he would place me in Spain. I also hope to visit the church in Águilas and catch up on the work there. If I have the opportunity to help with a conversational English group or something similar, I'll be happy to help with that, too.
Pray for me to move forward in wisdom and faith, fixing my eyes on Jesus. 

Holding Pattern

I recently moved to Fishtown, a section of Philadelphia. I like the quirks of the neighborhood and city life. Every day I can hear Spanish, Albanian and Mandarin during my commute on the El.
I'm returning, God willing, to Spain in September for about two weeks. I'll be visiting one of Tenth's retired global partners in Barcelona. It's going to be great to see Miss Rosario since we've written back and forth the last few months.
Otherwise, life continues in Philadelphia. I'm still intent on returning to Spain in a more permanent capacity, but in the Lord's timing. I can't believe that in June it will be five years ago that God started working in my heart when I arrived there for the first time. God is good.

Wanted

In Spanish you don't commonly say "I love you." Instead, it's literally translated "I want you." Part of being loved is knowing you belong and you're wanted.
I'm currently in a job where I feel wanted and loved, and I love and want this job. I'm working as the Global Outreach Assistant for Tenth. I get to be the liaison between the congregation and the workers. I get to talk about global outreach all the time. I get to work with people I respect and admire for their faith and work.
Of course, I'm ever the instigator because I'm always trying for a bigger emphasis on Spain and the Hispanic world. One of my coworkers joked that I should fly my three-foot Spain flag out my office window during GO Conference (our biggest annual Global Outreach event). I entertained the thought longer than I should've, but managed to sneak a Spain flag into a table arrangement at the dinner that served to cap the conference.
I recently found that we have a retired worker up near Barcelona, so I'm going to try to visit her when I get across the pond next.
Please continue to pray for Spain. ¡España, te quiero!

Reminders

I need reminders constantly about what Christ did for me. I tend to get too bogged down in circumstances, cynical about humanity, and lost in my own selfishness.

One of the blogs that helps to snap me out of it is Nada's blog. She's a dear sister at my church, and you can read about her here. Her simple worship in spirit and in truth encourages me to work harder for the Kingdom.

Becoming Spanish

While I was in Spain, my friends Ken and Alison gave me a lovely book by the Condesa de Quintanilla, "The Story of Pascualete." The Condesa (countess) is an American who was recruited by the OSS (and a bit later, the CIA) and assigned to Spain during the Second World War. There she met her husband, a count. A quick browse around the Internet shows that she's been quite the socialite for more than fifty years.
Though probably not a believer, Lady Aline demonstrates such a pure love and fascination with Spanish culture in her book. The way she describes all the characters who live and work around and in her manor house, Pascualete, in southern Spain shows a deep affection for her adopted country. In this, I hope to follow her example.
In the last few weeks I've been trying to continue my Spanish education. God has been wonderful in providing me opportunities to read and speak. Pray that I would be diligent in everything He's provided.

New normal

I made it safely back to Philadelphia on Monday night. I've been really blessed this week to ease back into normal life here. Back to trains and projects (and friends!) and life in my church.
It's impossible not to feel pangs of "Spain-sickness" (as opposed to homesickness). The trip clarified some refocusing I must do in my own life as I prepare for service there in the next few years. Please pray as I take next steps here in the United States.
You can also be praying for the Schlegel family as they seek to get back to Spain, too. Read more about them and their work here.