So the days since I last wrote have been pretty uneventful. Everyone was in a tizzy today at school because today we are exactly one month away from going home. I have to say that I’m anxiously awaiting my return date more than I hoped to, but I’m also trying very hard to remain steadfast and finish out the semester in a way that is enjoyable and honoring to God.
I was able to take both of my tests today without too much stress, and I’m happy to have those and my last presentation for my history class out of the way. The only big academic hurdles that seem to remain are my final exams and projects, including a presentation about my volunteering at Mision Nervana and two 6-8-page papers, one for each of my literature classes. I’ve started to look ahead to those papers a little bit, but I think the majority of that work is going to start this weekend.
Before getting to that, I should do a little re-cap of the week. In my class on Modern Spain this week, we have been talking about the religious climate of Spain. It’s been disheartening to hear about the lack of interest in God here, but it’s interesting to learn about how the country has developed to this point spiritually. Today we were supposed to have some Q&A time with some local friars from the Catholic church, but there was apparently a miscommunication about the appointment and it’s been rescheduled. I was looking forward to hearing what they had to say, and I’m happy we’ll get another chance to talk to them.
Despite that slight disappointment, I was grateful to have the extra time tonight to just get away by myself for a while. I took my Bible and CS Lewis’s Mere Christianity (which I’m absolutely loving) to the park and then to school when it got too cold to be outside and just read and prayed for quite a while. It was refreshing and encouraging to take some time with God and not be distracted by anything else going on here. Tonight was pretty relaxed, and I also had time to read lots of my literature book, which will be helpful for one of those upcoming papers I mentioned.
Last night at Mision Nervana, I was alone with the three middle school ESL students again. Since we’ve been working on learning the parts of the body in English, I brought supplies to make a makeshift Twister board, and we practiced colors and body parts by playing that for quite a while. As a prize, I brought chocolates shaped like the three wise men of the Christmas story. I let them each have one after they used their new vocabulary to point out the arms, legs, etc. on the kings. It was a night of fun activities, and after study time we celebrated one of my students’ 15th birthday with cake, juice and other treats for everyone.
I really enjoyed helping out, and I was relieved to not have too much homework to come home to afterwards. On Wednesday I also had a group presentation in my history class, and it went really well, which was nice. I studied some for the tests I had today, and I happy to find that I’ve really been understanding things in class, so studying wasn’t too big of a chore. A package from my lovely friend Haleigh, who I met in Costa Rica, also arrived on Wednesday. I was so excited to get a package, and it totally lifted my spirits and reminded me of all the great people I have in my life.
This weekend I’m heading to a local Christian camp to help them with some moving they have to do. I’m not exactly sure what this will entail, but I’m going with a group of other students from my program. We’re taking the bus to Sierra Norte, where the camp is tomorrow after school, spending the night there, helping in whatever way they need us to on Saturday, and returning Saturday evening. It should be a good time, and I’m looking forward to getting out of the city for a day or so. I’m also grateful that it’s just a one-night stay so that I can come back for church on Sunday and so that I’ll have time to do some homework before getting back to class on Monday.
It’s been a week of ups and downs, just like any other week, but there’s always comfort in the knowledge of God’s presence, and I’m grateful to know that He will be faithful to the end. I’m looking forward to seeing His plan for the weekend and the rest of the semester unfold and praying that He will continue to guide and teach me each step of the way.
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