In the countryside

Today the church that the missionaries are apart of held their sunday service in the mountains. It was a special service because there were baptisms. I was so amazed at the hidden beauty that Spain had high up in the mountains. We drove for an hour and a half to get to the top, the drive alone was breath taking. Now you know being from the Northwest I should be used to the magnificent mountains that surround home but Spain had this different beauty. It was just amazing to see God's creation. Walking around the river was just a reminder that God is so beautiful and that he is so good.

Though it was a cold day in Spain, it was still beautiful to see these baptisms being done in nature.

Walking Madrid

Whats nice about this program I'm here for (Global Ventures) is that they have had interns in Spain before so they have our whole trip set up for us. They have set up Language events where our spanish tutor takes us around Spain and shows us the sights while also teaching us spanish. Our first Language event we walked around Madrid and we saw the sights of the big city. It was so beautiful with all its rich history of churches and kings and old buildings with stories of the past. I didnt quite remember what all the buildings were because we were walking around and didnt really stop, only for brief moments in the churches and cathedrals. My favorite part about Madrid was all the stories of the kings and what Madrid was like under each rule. History is just so fascinating and intriguing and ive always had an interest in in.

Futbol and Chinos

So yesterday I spent the day mostly getting oriented w/ what to expect and what is expected of me. Jared and I spent some time w/ the other missionary named Timothy Westergren (i think thats how you spell it) We talked alot about what is on our minds that may distract us from fully being present. It was great to share w/ Jared and Tim and have them carry some of the burden. It reminds me that I should do that with my friends and family, we should be able to share each others burdens and care for each other in that way.
we then went to lunch at Timothy Wendels with him and his family. His wife is very welcoming and after we ate lunch we went out to a bar to watch the Spain vs Switzerland game. what a sad sad game Spain played so well but just couldnt get the ball in the goal. It was kinda cool to say you watched the Spain game in Spain at a bar. Its funny to say at a bar b/c in the States going to the bar usually refers to getting drunk and wasted but in Spain going to a bar is not a big deal. You can even get coffee at the bars here. So here is a picture of us sitting outside the bar watching the game :D those are Timothy (wendels) kids.
So last night, i had a rough time sleeping. Actually its been difficult w/ the time difference and adjusting to the schedule. Not only the sleeping schedule but also eating schedule. They eat really late here. Lunch is at 3pm and for dinner the earliest would be 9pm. Last night i woke up at 3 in the morning and couldnt go back to sleep till 6 and then i had to wake up at 7:30. Man i was so tired. So once the morning started we headed to Timothy's daughters elementary school. We went into her class and we taught them some english. THe kids were so cute, we played games asking them questions in english and seeing if they could respond. One of the questions was what nationality did they think Jared and I were. Of course they all said Chinese. Apparently here there are lot of chinese people and any other asians they would assume you were chinese. It was alot of fun to be in an elementary school and interacting w/ kids. That experience just gave me a taste of what our english camp is going to be like.

After spending some time at the elementary we went over and spent some time with TIm's family (westergren). Their daughters took us around Tres Cantos. It was really interesting to hear about the life of a missionary kid and just what it was like for them. Their views were benefical to hear because the only perspectives I've heard were from the missionaries and of course they would just share the great things of spain.It was alot of fun hangin out w/ them and just hearing their stories. Missionaries seem to have their own world where their kids know all the other missionary kids and being a missionary or missionary kid they consider other missionary families their own families.

But yeah, the last couple of days has been busy but not busy at the same time. There is so much more I would want to say but for one, im kinda lazy and a bit tired. However, tomorrow I will be spending the day walking Madrid w/ my spanish tutor and Jared and hopefully I will have more pictures to post until then...

Spain Day 1

Hello from Spain. It still hasnt quite sunk in that I am actually here. But I am kinda homesick already. I think it would have been a lot easier if I were traveling with people I knew but its a totally different place with new faces and its kinda scary but at the same time I feel kinda comfortable here. Tim Wendel the missionary that I will be working with here has made this alot easier for me. He's very welcoming and open and he's family is just as welcoming. Jared, the other student who is here is pretty nice. Kinda quiet but REALLY tall.

haha here is my first picture in Spain. Sadly this is my only picture because we havent really gone anywhere but to our host families houses.

So the flight from Seattle to DC wasnt too bad. I sat next to this really nice guy from Redmond who was going to DC for business. The flight is always better when you can talk to someone. He was telling me all the traveling he did when he was younger. So it was a nice flight. However my next connection from DC to Madrid was 6 hours and oh man, it felt like the longest flight I've ever been on. I think i may have taken one too many Dramamine pills so i kept knocking out. and then once I got to Madrid, it took forever for my bags to come. They came eventually and I met up with Tim and Jared.

First we went to grab a bit to eat, then Tim took us to the Global Ventures Office where we will be spending alot of our time there working with the English Camp. I am really excited for the next couple of weeks where God will just be working in this program and just really guiding me and challenging me. but for now, I just wanted to let everyone back home know that I am safely here.

By this time next week...

Oh man, its really amazing how time flies. I cant believe that time is winding down so quickly. Before you know it I will be on a plane to Spain and be a UWB alumni. That is just absolutely crazy. I am getting nervous though. I dont quite have everything together for Spain but i know that somehow things will fall together. On the same note, raising support has been the hardest part about this opportunity in Spain. I know that this trip is in God's plan and that with all of God's plans, he provides. So in one moment I have complete trust that God will provide the funds that I need to go but at the same time I have the feeling in the back of my mind, the feeling of worry and stress. I feel stressed that I wont be able to come up with the funds. But in the end, i know that I just need to trust in God. Its funny how this thought pops up because in the last month at Blue Sky (the church i attend) we have talked about in our small groups about trusting God. and often during the discussion I found myself having a desire to want to trust him more but so often I am reminded that we are human. We have a hard time trusting him, and its hard to trust him because sometimes he doesnt work in the way we want him to.

This trip for sure was a trip that God has meant for me to go. It all came together so fast and so quickly that i am sure God had a hand in pulling it together for me. I should probably explain how i came about this opportunity. Well, I went down this last February to a youth conference my sister Lisa runs. I have helped out a few times at the youth conference and every time I go i come back not only exhausted but excited for God and what he has working in the youth. This last time I was introduced by my sister to a missionary who had told me about short term mission trips and from there, it was a whirl wind. I was contacted by Becky Gorton and I just started to fill out paper work and Bam! I'm going to Spain. its crazy, it still hasn't hit me.

This whole process has been a learning experience and definitely made me alot more humble. I am so thankful for all who has supported me financially and through prayer. I am so blessed with so many generous people who surround me. It blows my mind how much people have given me for this trip. I still am shocked. My mom reminds me all the time that there are people around you who care about you and who love you. I forget this often but with this opportunity I am reminded.

Well it just goes to show you, you never really realize the support and generosity that surrounds you until God gently reminds you. I guess from here on out it will be a week of preparing for the trip then a weekend of sharing w/ my close friends and family how awesome God has for being there for me through out my 4 years at UWB.

Sunday = Graduation

Monday = SPAIN.

oh how i will miss my friends and family. Its hard to think about being alone in a foreign country by yourself for a month and a half but I have faith that God will carry me through it. I may shed a few tears but this will be the experience of a lifetime.

Assignments Left till Graduation :D

Due June 1st:

Dream Project: Final Essay

Dream Project: Laptop checkout card.

Due June 2nd:

Developmental Psyche: Blackboard Post

Education and the American Dream: Blackboard Post

Education and the American Dream: Final Reflective Essay

Personality: Essay # 2 (Extended Due June 4th)

Due June 3rd:

Dream Project: Event Lead Description

Due June 8th:

Education and the American Dream: Service Learning Reflective Essay

Due June 9th:

Personality: Final Exam

21 Days till Spain

Ahh this is so crazy. Time has gone by way to fast and i cant believe its almost the end of my time at UWB. I would just like to say that I have loved every minute at UWB. I think I've learned so much more at UWB then I would have if I were at any other school. The small class size and the small campus was what made the difference and I have gotten to know so many people with such great stories. I am almost glad I wasn't accepted to UW Seattle Campus. But anywho I will miss UWB greatly and miss the people whom I've gotten to know in the past 4 years. I probably wouldnt have gotten to know them if we were at any other school but UWB.

As my college path ends (for now) a new path begins. As most of you know, I have been given the opportunity to spend the summer in Spain. I will be gone for a month and a half on a short term missions trip with the Christian Missionary and Alliance in their program Global Ventures (GV for short). I am so excited as the trip gets closer. and its just crazy how the timing is. The day after I graduate and walk to get my diploma I leave for Spain. There seems to be no time really to relax before I leave. So these next couple of weeks will be crazy, with finishing up with getting my BA in Psychology and preparing for Spain. It really hasnt fully hit me that I will be finishing school and that I will be spending a month and a half in Spain but today I got a little dose of what is expected when I get to Spain. The missionary that I will be working with in Spain is Timothy Wendel and he sent me an email this morning with a calendar of what I will be doing and omgoodness its packed full.

Here it is...

oh man this calendar just made it all that more real. I cant believe its coming up so soon.

Well also it looks like I have a list of things that I'll need. Gotta get this stuff together.

Until then I hope that you will continue to pray for this trip and that God may be the center of it and that I may be used as a tool for God.