My Spanish Friend

I don't make friends easily. I have a lot of friends, so to some of you that may sound really strange. But it takes me a long time to really trust people and open up my true self to them. It has a lot to do with my past, which I won't go into here. (Many of you have heard my story and can probably figure out what I'm talking about. For those of you have no clue, ask me when I'm in the States and I'll try to explain it to you.)

Anyway, I have one Spanish friend. I have several acquaintances at church and they are all very kind and have helped me move and are helping me learn the language and are concerned about how I'm doing, but I only have one friend that I really talk to (as much as I can with the language barrier) about more than just the weather and things like that. Even then I don't go very deep because I can't with the language barrier. But she makes me happy when I'm with her and I know she truly cares about me.

I was with her this morning. We try to walk together at least once a week, sometimes twice, and she helps me with Spanish. This morning we walked 7 KM (a little over 4 miles). We were really tired when we finished but it was a great time and we went early enough that we avoided most of the heat. We shared a little breakfast and prayed together.

As you can tell by the photo (that's her daughter with her), she's a little crazy. I guess that's one of things that I like about her. She feels free to express her feelings and her faith in unconventional ways. Her doctrine may not always be completely sound, but she loves Jesus and wants to share that love with everyone else. And she shares it with me. For that I am very grateful!

August Update

Numerous Ways to Stay in Touch

WorldVenture has recently increased the features on our personal ministry pages on its website. There is now a blog, photo albums and a calendar feature that you can view. To reach my personal pages, go here and you will find links to the other features. The calendar is mostly to let you know where I’ll be when I’m on home assignment (which I will be talking a little more about next month).

For free long-distance calling through the internet, go to www.skype.com and download their free program. My Skype name: proseman

July was Hard!

A lot factors combined to make me wish I could get on the plane and come home last month, but in the midst of a very difficult time, God brought encouragement through many of you and a few fun days with Spanish friends and missionary colleagues. It also helps to know that my plane reservations are made and in two months, I will be on my way back to the States for a brief visit. I am really looking forward to catching up with many of you and sharing together what God has done in each of our lives.

This month’s quote:

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.”

--Thomas Merton in Reaching for the Invisible God

Praises:

1. I have made some plane reservations for visits I want to make while I’m in the States. Next month I hope to give you an itinerary.
2. We finished moving things from my old apartment. It’s good to have that done. Several of the men from church helped on different occasions and everything went well.
3. I am enjoying language school. I have private classes right now and the review has been good.

Prayer Requests:

1. I still have heard nothing regarding my residence card and I need to have this completed before I leave for the States.
2. Continue to pray that all the details will come together for the traveling I need to do while I’m in the States. I’m looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
3. I have two requests regarding finances. My monthly support has decreased by $150 and I still need several thousand dollars to pay off the loan on my car. Pray that God will provide what is needed. If you are interested in helping with either of these needs, please let me know and I’ll give you the necessary information.

A Visit to La Granja

Last week on Wednesday, my friend Maria José and her sister-in-law, Mari Mar, and I went to visit a friend (Maria Jesus) in San Ildelfonso.












We visited the old Real Fábrica de Cristales (glass factory) which provided most of the glass pieces for the royal palaces.






After lunch we went up to La Granja to see the Royal Palace and walked through the grounds. What a beautiful oasis. Before the construction of the palace, it was the traditional hunting ground for the kings of Castile. The palace was built in the 18th century for Philip V and the gardens were modelled in the style of Versailles.




There are dozens of fountains, which unfortunately were not operating the day we were there. I would love to go back and see them in action.

Teaching the Young How to Fly

It's the time of year when the storks are teaching their young how to fly. And when I saw how many young they have and how big they get, I understood why their nests are so large (several hundred pounds). I took this picture as we were wandering around Alcalá on the 4th. We weren't sure if this was a parent giving lessons or one of their young trying his wings.

I wonder if we know how to teach our children to fly. I'm not much of a risk taker (I can just hear some of you saying, "Then what are you doing in Spain?"). My husband was even less likely to take risks. But if we're honest, we'll admit that life is one big risk. There are no guarantees and as my children often heard me say, "Life isn't fair."

The Christian life is not really very different, but we do have the security of knowing that our roots run deep in the Father's love and He'll always be there to help us pick up the pieces and move on as He encourages us to take yet one more risk. I hope I gave my children roots and wings.

July Update

4th of July in Alcalá

I spent the day with American friends doing some sightseeing and taking photos in a beautiful little town near Madrid, the birthplace of Miguel Cervantes, author of Don Quixote.

Here I am with Don Quixote and his faithful pal, Sancho.

New Email Address

We have made the decision to discontinue our worldventurespain.org website. WorldVenture will soon be offering several options on their site to post photos, blogs, calendars, etc. This means that my proseman@worldventurespain.org email address will be gone as well. I’m not sure how soon Jon plans to “pull the plug” but it will probably be within the next month.

This month’s quote:

“Todas las naciones que hiciste vendrán y adorarán delante de ti, Señor, y glorificarán tu nombre, porque tú eres grande y hacedor de maravillas; ¡solo tú eres Dios!”

“All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.”

--Psalm 86:9-10

Praises:

1. English tutoring is going well. Continue to pray that this will be something God uses to bring this family to Himself.
2. Maria José and I meet once a week to practice my Spanish. We take a long walk early in the morning before it gets too hot. It’s a great time of language learning and becoming better friends.
3. We are making good progress on our printed course for EET. We are hoping to send it to the printer by the end of the month.

Prayer Requests:

1. I need to make plane reservations soon for my time in the States this fall. Pray that all the details will come together.
2. I should be finished packing in the next week. Pray that there will be enough people to help with the move so it will not be a burden to anyone.
3. I return to language school on Fridays beginning this week. Pray for a good time of learning and for opportunities to share God’s love.
4. I have heard nothing regarding my residence card. Pray that there are no complications and I receive word soon.