Today, we are thankful

Today, Jeremy and I had a new Thanksgiving experience. We were not with our biological families, instead we are 4,000 miles away in Spain. Instead of everyone around us celebrating a holiday, today was just a normal day for the Spaniards we met on the street. People were at work, going to the store and school. It was a little sad, but it was another reminder of all we are thankful for, today and everyday. 

Today we are thankful for the past week. We arrived safely in Spain last Wednesday. We have somewhat adjusted to the time change, even a new eating schedule- I am not AS starving by our 2pm lunch. A couple of days we have felt absolutely exhausted. Not just by the time change but also by the new sights, sounds and smells all around us. It is hard to slow down and not try to take it all in at once. But, we have found an apartment to rent! We have successfully taken the train into Madrid with the help of team-member Colleen and purchased a monthly bus pass. We are enrolled in language school to start on Monday. A packed week!

Today we are thankful for God's calling. This move to Spain is fulfillment of a promise given to me 6 years ago. As overwhelming as it all is, I am thankful for His provision that has brought us to Spain. From almost anywhere in the town you can see snow covered mountain tops a reminder of my favorite scripture- "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:11

Today we are thankful for the Sierra Oeste Team. These are the people who first prayed for our calling to Spain. They have been faithful to the Lord and begun an incredible work in this area. We are blessed to be working alongside them. They have been incredibly accommodating and welcoming to us as we get adjusted and begin language school. We are excited to begin working more with this wonderful team in the coming months.

Today, I am thankful for my husband. Not only does he love me when I am not so nice, but he answered God's call on his life to this new journey. He answered without hesitation and has been an encouragement to me all along the way. Every step, sacrifice and leap of faith, he has been a solid rock and picture of Jesus' love. He is my forever friend.

Lastly, today I am thankful for YOU. I am thankful that you have taken a moment to read this (long and mushy-gushy post) simply because you care. I am thankful for you who have prayed for us. I am thankful for you who have invested your wisdom into our lives. I am thankful for you who have invested financially into the Kingdom of God by supporting us. We could not be here without you. Thank you, thank you for loving us and loving our Savior. 

Greetings from Spain!

After over a year of preparation, we have arrived in the country of Spain. Thank you so much for the role you played in helping us get here and the role you continue to play in partnering with us in ministering to the people of Spain. Please check out our November newsletter for our most recent update.

Instead, here we are.

Tomorrow should have marked our first week in Spain.

I have wanted to write about the past few weeks for well, the past few weeks. It started with wanting to share about our last few days here, with family and friends. I wanted to talk about our commissioning service. I wanted to talk about being a little nervous but mostly excited for this big move.

But instead, here we are- at home- in North Carolina.

The truth is, I knew for weeks that we were not leaving on November 5^th. It never seemed real because we didn’t have our VISAs. I knew without them, we couldn’t leave. So, driving to D.C. Monday morning, I wasn’t worried about getting home to get packed or saying final goodbyes. I knew that we were not leaving the next day. Still, when the man at the desk said that our VISAs had not yet been approved, my heart dropped. I cried all the way to the post office several blocks away. We turned over our passports and an overnight shipping envelope and headed out of D.C. almost as quickly as we arrived.

As frustrating as the situation is, it isn’t the situation that has me most upset. What is most frustrating is that I don’t really want to talk about it. I don’t mean to be rude, I promise, but it IS frustrating. Even though I had that gut feeling, I was still day dreaming about seeing Spain again, but this time as our new home. But, now we are waiting in anticipation for an email to appear in our inboxes one morning with the much desired news. And really, the anticipation kills me sometimes.

But then there are times when I hear the most simple and encouraging words. The seventh grader who says he is praying for us. The friend who says that while she is praying for the process, she is glad that we will be around for a few more weeks. Or the one who says nothing but just hugs the life out of me.

In the grand scheme of things, this isn’t a huge deal. We don’t have a pressing deadline to be in Spain. We have somewhere to stay and money in our accounts. It isn’t as if our applications have been denied- they just haven’t been reached yet. We are still in the one to three month time frame so I’m really not too anxious.

I want to be in Spain. I want to meet the rest of our team. I want to find our place in the team. I want to be in language school so we can communicate with the people around us. I want to be where the Lord has led us.

But, here we are. Still waiting and all is well. The Lord is still good. He is still faithful. He still hears our prayers and knows our hearts. We know His timing is just right. We know His intentions for us are good. We know He has spoken to our hearts and His word will not return void.

We know these things and in faith we are living in His truth. He has led us this far and He will not leave us. Right now, I believe, wholeheartedly, that He is growing our patience. This inconvenience is minor in comparison to the suffering in places around the world. But, it breaks my heart to not be in Spain.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:4

I know that as I wait at the feet of our Father, the Holy Spirit will give a new confidence in in this time.