Too long...

SO so so sorry it's been so long since my last update... I’ve really been trying to get settled into Salamanca. Madrid was fun, but a little crowded for me. Yet, it was so nice to stay with Anna for as long as I did. It was fun to be in another city with someone I know so well and can connect with. But since I was in Madrid, Anna's brother Will got into a car accident. He’s in stable condition but he's under a lot of medication so he won't get agitated. So I would ask that you all pray for this young man.... I believe he's a senior at Roswell High and his name is Will.

My room:

Now, I'm in Salamanca, and although I'm settled in now, I don't really feel at home. I'm not "home sick" by the definition I've understood, but I miss home a lot. So, I guess homesick is the best word for it. I'm fine though. I'm not depressed or anything. I'm not sitting at home doing nothing (not all the time anyway). I'm just wishing I was home "de vez en cuando." That's what you say when want to say, "never" or "all the time" without actually saying it. Which is about what I feel. I don't really think about being home that much, yet deep down inside I know I yearn for it. It's soooo weird though, b/c I’ve always pictured myself in another country among people of another culture, and now that I’m here and am in it, I don't like it as much as I thought I would. Again, don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying it. It's fun, different, and an awesome experience.... but maybe it's not what God has in store for me for the future. Just a thought.

Anyway, FUNNY STORY, I'll try and make it short and... well I don't know how sweet: One day last week I was having it kind of bad but then it got better. I began walking home from class listening to Caedmon's call's "Expectations Master"... GrEAT SONG. Anywho, I was feeling the Spirit and just loving life. I had been praying for some kind of church or something that I could get involved with. All of a sudden this lady hands me this little tract type item, and all I read is "biblia" which means bible. So I take out my headphones and say, "dime, dime" which means, "tell me, tell me." And so we started talking, me being really excited and just wanting to know what church she goes to and she being super sweet and telling me... all in Spanish of course. well, Sunday comes around, I'm really excited I go to church... it seems so great (even though I understand close to nothing, except that they have the same bible I do). Later I meet with the nicest lady from Barbados who speaks English and we decide to get together on that Tuesday (two days ago). Well, I meet up with her (and a gentleman, not her husband, was with her). Well, after asking me a few questions and finding out where I was at spiritually, she asks me, "so have you ever spoken to a Jehovah Witness Before?" And all of a sudden I stopped, "sort of, is that what you are?" And as she smiled and nodded everything about me changed. The rest of the conversation was polite and finished, but how silly had I been.... All of this occurred with not any alone time with our Father. I had not prayed about the little tract, the church, the meeting with the lady.... anything. And look where it had gotten me. I struggled through a heck of a lot after that. Not sure why I believed what I believed and thinking maybe there is some truth to this Jehovah Witness stuff. But, I’m still studying and reading a lot on it, but the LORD JESUS has calmed my heart. Anyway, not too short or sweet, but it is a little funny...

Maybe that's why I miss home so much. I mean, I know people are praying for me. My mom called me this morning about 6:30 AM her time, and left me a message saying she was thinking about me and praying for me. She said she was praying that I would find buddies to worship and pray with as she has at home. I'm so thankful for that prayer, b/c although I know people care about me here, at this point there's been no fellowship. I take that back, there is this one girl who I have been able to connect with. I think we are going to get together once a week. I hope so anyway.

A church on Campus:


Well, this Sunday I’m going to try another church... PRAY FOR ME!!! I believe it is a Christian church, I have some American friends that are a part of a Spanish ministry that are going there. Anyway.... side notes: class has been pretty slack, anything demanding my time has been scarce. I've been able to read, think, sleep, and eat a good bit. (I actually have been able to get about 8 hours each night, which never happens in Athens... on avg. it's 6!) There's so much random info I want to share now... but this is turning into a book.... so I’ll save it for next time... which will come sooner, I PROMISE!!!XOOXOXOXOXO....

Salvador Dali's "Muchacha frente a la ventana" (1925)...