Toledo, Royal Palace and El Prado

This past week has flown by so fast that I havent really had time to blog about it. On Wednesday I got a chance to go to Toledo. Toledo is known as one of the oldest towns in Spain. It was once a fortress that many had tried to attack. When we went there we saw many of the oldest buildings and cathedrals. The main cathedral was this huge building where inside were many tombs of old nobles and cardinals. The ceilings were so beautiful and colorful, that when I first walked in it was like I was sent back in time. Toledo also had beautiful and magnificent walls that surrounded it. These walls have been there since the 8th century i believe. I am not sure. They were really old and reminded me of Lord of the Rings castle walls. Being able to visit places like Toledo, it was just jaw dropping and amazing to be able to see history.

Then this last Friday I got a chance to visit the Royal Palace in Madrid and El Prado. The Royal Palace was what you would expect when you think of Buckingham Palace in England. The rooms were lined with gold and had wallpaper that was so extravagant. It was really cool. My favorite part was the Armory where they kept all the knights armor and weapons. Sadly the Royal Palace and the Cathedral we werent allowed to take pictures of. But the outside will give you a little idea of what the inside was like.

El Prado, the classical art museum was pretty awesome too. We spent hours looking at all the artwork from Goya to Raphael and other classical painters. I felt so cultured hehe.

Serving Cross-Cultural

During my stay here in Spain not only will I be learning about the history of Spain but the main idea for Jared and I, being apart of Global Ventures, is that we are to learn and experience what cross-cultural servanthood is. Timothy Wendel and Timothy Westergren our two missionaries that we are working with have told us that are our role is very important. Jared and I get an opportunity to live with families in Spain where a the missionaries are not able to. Through living in the households we get a chance to live in a way that Jesus would have. These families that we stay with are non-believers but very kind and generous families. There are many challenges with living in these families, many cultural differences but for me going through the book Cross-cultural Servanthood with Jared and Tim Westergren has been really helpful in understanding how to serve others. It has also given light to my own views of Cross-cultural churches.

With that said, I have learned alot even in the week and half I have been here. I am just so excited to see what the next 4 1/2 weeks will hold, especially with the English Camp that the Global Ventures holds and with visiting the different churches within Spain. Its gonna be a busy 4 1/2 weeks so I apologize if I dont update as much.

oh Picasso...

Today I spent the day in Madrid's museums. We were trying to go to the big classical artwork one called the El Prado but it was closed. It was kinda sad.. but we ended up going to the Reina Sophia which holds some of Picasso's famous works. I dont think that art ever sounded so interesting as it did today. Its alot different when you are actually in a museum looking at art rather than in a classroom setting learning about it. The trip was definitely a huge learning experience and I think through this trip I have this new understanding of art, especially Picasso. Picasso was such a strange and somewhat disturbing person but the way that Inigo (my spanish tutor) had explained the Guernica and the message it portrayed the more I was interested in Picasso or at least his works of art.

However, I have found that I kind of dislike modern art. Ask me and ill explain why. LOL Here are some pictures of me and my companions messing around in the museum. :D

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.