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.

Onward

My contract with the clinical research organization wasn't renewed, so my job ended December 30. This was a bit of a surprise, since both the client and my company were expecting to renew the contract until June. But as one friend texted me the other day, God must have something better in mind for me. I admit that I'll miss a well-paying job complete with my own cubicle, but the two-hour commute each way starting to wear on me. I'm thankful for time to rest and seek God's will. I've applied for a few things and am exploring my options in Philadelphia. I'm also grateful for a good church and great small group on Wednesday nights. I'm in a Bible study with other folks in similar life situations. But I like being in the Tenth congregation and feeling like I'm a part of something more.
Please pray for me as I job hunt, keeping in mind my long-term goal to return to Spain. Pray that I wouldn't be distracted from that goal; that I would seek the best thing instead of just good things. And finally, pray for Spain and the work going on there. If you don't get the SEND Spain newsletter, sign up for it. You'll be blessed by the encouraging news.

Transition

I've been on radio silence (or blog silence) for a while due to some slight detours in my trek. About a month and a half ago I got the news that my father died. I hadn't spoken with him in two years for various reasons, and his death wasn't a total shock, but it wasn't expected at the time either. I'm in the midst of sorting through his affairs.


One positive thing Dad instilled in me was an interest in global missions. When I was young, he'd often read books about evangelism and the persecuted church on Sunday afternoons.
Dad and I never talked about Spain or the other projects I worked on. But I can appreciate that at this moment he is whole, free and has comprehension of that and so much more.


I'm still working steadily toward getting back to Spain. I have a gigantic Spanish flag tacked to my cubicle, along with World Cup newspaper clippings from El Hispano. Every day is a day closer.

What do you want to do?

"Well, what do you want to do?" The blond atheist's eyes dared me to waver. It was miserably hot on the train platform, and the massive afternoon storm had uprooted trees, played cat's cradle with power lines, and rendered SEPTA's regional rail system useless. I was tired, cranky about train cancellations and hungry. But something told me to talk to the wannabe singer/IT consultant, who was also waiting for the long-delayed train. So I answered that although I was working for a clinical research company now, I wanted to go back to Spain to work for a church. "The Church or a church?" he replied. I explained about wanting to work with the evangelistas in Spain, and an inexplicable smile coursed across his face. "A lot of my friends - most are atheists too - would laugh at you," he said, "But I was raised strict Catholic, so I can respect your work." We talked about God for a while, then his train came and he shook my hand and melted into the crowd. "Thanks for talking with me," he said. In that instant, I knew why God put me on that platform two and a half hours later than normal. I could ignore my croaking stomach for a minute and thank Him for the opportunity to chat with this man about God.

The last month in Philadelphia has taught me a lot about the difference between my and God's priorities. I like my life on a schedule, but the Lord often diverts me from the linear. When I first started working at my new job, I was a bit frustrated that I didn't absorb information as quickly as I wanted. (That's the perfectionist side coming out.) But I was reminded - sometimes through co-workers - that I wasn't expected to know everything, and that was okay. My boss even told me it would take about three months for me to get fully settled in the job! Letting go of one more facet of perfectionism is translating to my spiritual life recently, as well. I'm not supposed to have every twist figured out beforehand. God's in the driver's seat, and I'm supposed to follow His lead in obedience and with a peaceful spirit.

The exciting part is that God has shown His faithfulness, and I'm one more step toward Spain. In completing a month at the new job, I've learned a lot. My aim is to keep my eye on the prize, as my spiritual mentors keep telling me, and keep seeking the Lord's direction in paying off my student loans and seeking to serve in Spain. Please continue to pray for the ministries in Spain, the workers there, and for me as I keep inching toward the goal of getting back there. It's for His glory alone.

Waiting For What's Best

Waiting for my plane from Madrid to Philadelphia, July 26, 2009.

My friend, Erin, and I were praying briefly this morning and her words resonated with me, "God, we know that when we wait for You, we wait for what's best for us."
Yesterday I received a call from a company in the Philadelphia area offering me a job, and today I got the letter in the mail. I start in two weeks.
This comes shortly before I hit the six month mark of unemployment, and exactly at the right time. I'll be working as a document management assistant, which means I get to scan, file and organize to my heart's content. It's a great job in a great place, and I'd love to talk more about it off the interwebs.
I'm also incredibly blessed because I already have a place to live (with family friends) and a church; a place where my spiritual foundation was built.
This is the next step in my path back to Spain. It's bittersweet, since I'll be leaving a lot of dear friends in western Pennsylvania who have become family, but I'm excited for this new phase.
Please pray for me as I make a lot of decisions in the next two weeks, move across the state and say goodbye to some of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray that I serve the Lord well in this new job and mission post.

Russia and Rushing

As promised, some more pictures from the Russia experience.
From the top: some team members practice for the English Camp skits.
Kasha, a traditional porridge, greeted us every morning at the camp. Its taste is somewhere between cream of wheat and oatmeal.
For the talent show, my students decided to sing the Beatles' hit, "Yesterday," as a group.
One of my students, Saymon, added levity to the class. My translator, Anya, and I became friends during the week.
And last but not least, this sign flashed up on the screen in a dark subway in Frankfurt, Germany.

God is gracious!

The rushing part of this post is the fact that while I was in Philadelphia, I was called in for two interviews. Today when I returned to Indiana, I got a letter in the mail requesting I interview in Philadelphia for yet another position. Pray for wisdom and peace as I navigate this time, and as I prepare for the road ahead in getting back to Spain.