Well, I think the most prominent theme that has shined through today would have to be God’s faithfulness. He has blessed me with the beginnings of a sense of reconciliation in regards to the struggles I’ve had with my program here this semester. Contentment is not a good word to describe the feelings I’m beginning to develop towards SIS, but peace and knowledge that God moved mountains in my life through this experience have become much more abundant throughout the course of today. I’m still disappointed by the same flaws I’ve always seen in the program, but God’s plan prevails, and for that I am immensely grateful. Thinking back on some of the lessons He’s taught or is teaching me reminds me that no experience is ever a loss, no matter how many expectations are left unmet.
With that said, today was a pretty intense day. Not only were thoughts about God’s will and seeking His guidance turning in my head all day, there was also a lot going on in daily life. My grammar class today was excellent…I always especially love the classes during which I’m able to ask all the questions I can think of and leave feeling like my grasp on Spanish has truly grown. My Spanish History class has also been supremely interesting as of late. We’re talking about the years of the inquisition in Europe, and learning about this bit of church history has sparked so many thoughts and connections for me. I’m amazed to learn about the persecution that was endured during the inquisition and grateful for the greater understanding of the Catholic Church, which helps me see how it got to the point it is at today. Learning about these topics also helps me understand Spanish culture in general a little bit more.
Right after class I took a Spanish placement test that our school asked us to take in order to see how much we improved in competency over the semester. I love taking tests in Spanish and being able to see how much of it I actually understand, and I’m really excited to get the results back and see the comparison with the beginning of the semester. The test took me a little longer than expected, and after double checking my registration status and finding that everything is officially in proper order in that regard for my return, I met with my prayer group for a little while.
Since there was so much going on after class, I didn’t have time to go home for lunch and instead grabbed lunch at a sandwich shop I’ve also been wanting to try all semester. I took a little while to eat and just unwind a bit before heading over to Mision Urbana for my last night there. Tonight they had a special parent meeting, so we had less time with the kids and just hung out with them instead of working on homework the whole time. It was good to get to focus on having fun with them, and we played a few games before heading to a local park near the airport where we watched a few airplanes land and take off. I loved just hanging out with them and watching the sunset outside of city center.
I needed to get going a little early, so we tried (without success) to hurry the kids back to the center for snacks. We got a good group picture and they all gave me hugs and good wishes before I took off. I was bummed to have to leave in such a rush, but it worked out alright in the end. Because I was leaving in a hurry, I think I forgot my camera there, so I’m hoping to ask Pilar, one of the staff members there, about it tomorrow when I meet with her to practice her English.
The reason I needed to get out of Mision Urbana slightly early is that Corinne shared her beautiful testimony at Encuentro (our school’s Wednesday night church program), and I really wanted to be there to hear it. She is an incredible storyteller, and the story God has given her is a story that truly touched my heart. I’ve gotten to know aspects of it throughout the semester, but to listen to her share her whole journey and how God has worked through it was absolutely incredible. She’s been through a lot, and it was great for me to get to know her better through hearing her share. More than anything, it was amazing for all of us to hear such a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness.
After Encuentro, we hung out for a while talking to everyone there and then stopped at the park to send off a quick email before finally heading home. Rosa bought us a box of assorted Spanish Christmas treats, so we enjoyed sampling a few of them before a wonderful dinner. We went over a few details for our trip to Paris, and then both of us just crashed, exhausted from the day and knowing that another long, busy day is coming at us tomorrow.
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