That´s what I get for praying for boldness...

Flying over Madrid as the plane was getting ready to land I was so amazed at how much the landscape looked like the American Southwest. Landing wasn´t a problem. Finding my luggage wasn´t a problem. The problem came when I couldn´t find the people there to pick me up.

I didn´t know who was coming or what they looked like. The people in Spain aren´t the most friendly and helpful, so I stood by the exit for about an hour just hoping to catch eyes with someone that was also looking for me! Pretty soon I figured I needed to do something about this mess. I remembered I had the cell phone number of the person I was supposed to meet. I asked a helpful lady where I could find a payphone (telefono?). She gave me directions in Español and I totally understood her!! I went passed the cafeteria to the left and found them.

I stared down the telephone for a while and decided I needed euro coins to use it. I had a few dollars in my pocket so I went on search for someplace to change my money. Had to ask another lady. I asked en Español so she figured I knew enough. She started speaking all the instructions really fast in español so I quickly had to tell her "En ingles...". I followed her instructions but all I really understood was to go to the second floor. Elevator. Now realize this whole time I´m carrying around my two large suitcases on one of those little dolly things. I went upstairs and didn´t see any place to change money. Had to ask someone else. This lady also gave me directions in spanish that I totally understood!! Went to the American Express counter, changed my $24 into 16euros and I felt stupid asking the guy if the amount of cents he gave me was going to be enough for a payphone. I held out my little poor hand with the few coins in it.

Back downstairs to the payphone. Fumbled around a bit and made the call. When Steve actually answered the phone and I was speaking to someone I knew, I was sooo relieved. We talked about where we were and I went back to where I had been waiting. I felt like crying! (I told myself I was NOT going to cry in the Madrid airport!!!) I was going to be found!! About two seconds later he walked right up to me!

THIS ENTIRE TIME THEY HAD BEEN TWENTY FEET AWAY!!! I even saw them...I just didn´t know that was who I was looking for.

Bottom line: when you pray for boldness, God gives you situations where you have to be bold. Ask the hard questions. Make yourself vulnerable and step out there to accomplish what you need done.

First impression of Madrid: it´s beautiful. It looks just like any large American city. It even looks alot like home. Lots of graffiti. And thousands of years old buildings (I guess that´s not like America). The jetlag is killing me. It´s 1am and I´m not tired at all (it´s 5pm in Albuquerque).

Hope you enjoyed my story. Tomorrow I am going to go to the house I´ll be living at while I´m here and meet the people I get to live with!!

WEC Headquarters and Orientation Pictures

Prayer walking down the streets of Philly.

Rocky statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The Trekkers and Staffers (Left to Right: Lisa, Laura (staff, she set up my trip), Holly (staff), Joelle (fellow trekker), Tonda (staff), Ron (staff), David(fellow trekker))

The Castle (I stayed on the third floor...)


This was a great week. At the beginning of the week they asked for a word to describe how I was feeling and I think I said nervous. Tonight they asked for a word to describe how we felt now and I said I was ready. I'm ready. I leave tomorrow on a plane to Heathrow and then a connecting flight onto Madrid. Pray for safety in my travelling. Lots of safety and good navigational skills and alertness and sleep on the flights. Pray that when I arrive in Madrid that I'm able to find those there to pick me up.

See you on the flip side. (That's for you Lou)

More Philly

I promise photos once I am able to get my laptop running and my photos downloaded...but I wanted to send another update even before they are ready.

We've been on information overload this week. I've sat through classes on culture shock, spiritual warfare, logistics of traveling, not creating dependency on the field, how to evaluate your expectations for the trip, and on and on. I've had the chance to hear stories and testimonies from so many WEC missionaries about where they've been and how God called them there. Ladies from Puerto Rico sent to minister in India and couples from South Africa sent to Colombia and other amazing things. We watched videos on the life and work of Steve Saint (I highly recommend learning about his testimony!). I've had to eat meals with my hands, take shoes off to enter rooms, and wear the same outfit for two days in a row all in an effort to expose us to things we may encounter in other cultures. I ate pink mashed potato cupcakes.

Regarding the things I'm learning about Spain...they are a dark people with a dark passed. A people that claim allegiance to the Roman Catholic church but who lead very worldly and materialistic lives. A people who are very closed off to any race, religion, or idea that sets itself up against the purity of their Catholic blood. But they are also terribly loyal and passionate, they know how to welcome people into their homes and lives. I'm going to have to get used to the daily schedule...to work at 7 or 8, the breakfast at 10:30, the break in the afternoon, the large meal around 3pm, then more work and then dinner late into the night around 10pm. When do they sleep?

You can pray for: my parents at home who miss me terribly and my nerves about the traveling. I know that prayers for me are very important, but please also take this opportunity to familiarize yourselves with the needs of Spain and the people there. Start praying that God would lead us to the people who need to hear his gospel and that we would have many opportunities to make a difference in the communities.

Orientation

Hi Everyone. I made it safely to Philadelphia. Only a slight delay out of Houston due to bad weather around Philadelphia. Today was our first full day of orientation. We took a tour around the WEC campus here and sat through a few informational classes. This campus is full of missionaries and staff who are so international and from so many different backgrounds and languages. I love it. I sat around a table today for an afternoon break with people from Venezuela, Korea, Africa, England and we spoke French, English, Spanish and we ate banana bread and drank coffee. I think I'm going to enjoy this very much.

Now that all the busy-ness at home is ended and I'm in a place where I'm immersed in learning and preparing for this trip I am learning a new humble sort of being overwhelmed. There's so many people that have traveled so much and to them it's a normal experience, and it's okay that it's not normal for me. That it can be scary and I'm nervous. I told Laura today that I have been on the verge of tears all day because of the reality that is setting in and she said that was normal. She cried herself to sleep the first couple of nights she was at orientation. That made me feel better.

I've already learned more about Spain than I did the whole time I was researching from home just through talking to people and reading the wealth of information they have here. I'm definitely keeping an attitude of being teachable. It feels good.

I won't have as much time to keep up with correspondence like I had hoped. I will make an effort to update this blog and check emails and such probably once a week.

Talk to you soon!

I have it!

I have my passport. In my possession. In my two little hands.

Plane leaves tomorrow!! See you soon!

Prayers, Por Favor

1. I am still waiting to get my hands on my passport. It's in the mail system somewhere.
1.5. Pray I can accurately pack my suitcase to not exceed the 44 lb weight limit. My first attempt yesterday was a few pounds over.
2. Pray my flight through Houston on Tuesday doesn't get interrupted by any hurricanes coming through the area.
3. Pray I can navigate through the Philadelphia train system to get to WEC headquarters once my plane arrives. This will be my first opportunity to need to get somewhere in a strange city.
4. Thank God for the fact I'm moving out of the "I'm terrified" stage and into the "I've got the joy" stage.
5. Thank you for being interested in my packing and navigating.
6. I'm grateful for those of you reading this. And those who aren't. And those who are praying.

Passport!

My passport is on its way!! Should be here early next week.

I'm almost done packing and the big moving day is tomorrow.

Things are coming together...=)

Getting ready

Hi everyone. I am down to the last couple weeks before I fly out. Yesterday was my last day at work. It's a hard thing being happy and sad at the same time!

The next two weeks are going to be filled with shopping and reading and packing and many many phone calls. I have no doubts that it will all get done and I'll hop on a plane on Tuesday morning the 21st and not look back.

In the meantime you can be praying for a couple of things: I haven't gotten my passport yet. It's been 14 weeks and still nothing. I kind of need that before I can go. Also, I'm still fund raising and haven't recieved all I need (That's not a plug to send me money, just pray that God would provide it however he sees fit).

More later...