Prayer

This week at Iglesia Cristiana Arroyo de la Miel, we spent three days in prayer. Church members would sign up for times throughout the three days, day and night, so that there was someone praying in the church at all times. Our theme was “Praying through the Temple.” We chose different items from the Temple each with their own special significance (the Bronze Altar, the Laver, the Menorah, the Table of Showbread, the Altar of Incense, and the Ark of the Covenant). For example, the Bronze Altar was where the blood sacrifices took place and so at this “station” people would pray and thank God for His sacrifice and declare the blood of Jesus over their lives. The Laver was a giant bowl that held water and when the priests went to wash, they would see a reflection of themselves. Here people would pray and examine their hearts, asking God to make them clean and pleasing to Him. It was a powerful time. God is really moving through this church and in these people.

Before our three days of prayer began:

After our three days, with all the prayers and notes of the people and things God spoke to them:

I have six weeks left. Every time I remember that, Hebrews 12:1 comes to mind, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” I feel as if I have paced my running and now it is time to sprint to the finish line. It's so close I can see it, and yet it just may take the most out of me. It's times like these when I am so glad God is my coach in this race and my friends and family are cheering me on all around me. Thank you all!

Prayer request:

• Please pray for Europe in general. A volcano in Iceland is erupting and has sent a giant ash cloud through Europe. Because planes cannot fly through the ash, almost all European airports have closed down. The ash cloud is still growing and it is unknown how long the situation may last. Experts are estimating anywhere from weeks to months. Needless to say, it's chaos.

Dios te bendiga,
Grace

Halfway Point

If I thought my first month went by fast, I am even more shocked at how quickly I have reached my half way point. I feel as if I stepped off the plane, blinked, and reached this point. I am almost afraid to blink again and find myself stepping onto the plane to go home. I have seen so much, done so much, learned so much. Every day there is something new. I am amazed at all that has been accomplished in such a short period.

In my Spanish I have reached the extremely confusing time when half my thoughts are in English and the other half in Spanish. Some words I have a really hard time remembering in English while other words I know I know in Spanish sometimes just are not there. For example, as I am writing this, I am having to translate some of what I want to say from Spanish into English. Yet many times it is not complete sentences in either English or Spanish - everything is completely mixed up. I am told that this means I am learning and really adapting to the language. All I know is that I can no longer speak any language correctly!

Change is a major part of my life. In the short month since I posted my schedule, things have already changed. I now have a new Spanish tutor who I meet with on a regular basis. Some of the Bible studies I am a part of have gotten moved around as well. Here is my new schedule as of this month:

Tuesday: Beth Moore “Breaking Free” Bible study in the morning, administration in the afternoon, worship practice in the evening.
Wednesday: Staff meeting in the morning, administration in the early afternoon, a discipleship class in the late afternoon, a church service in the evening.
Thursday: Discipleship class in the morning, administration in the afternoon, and a "Grupo de Connexión" (Connections small groups that get together in people's homes and learn/discuss a certain topic about the Bible.)
Friday: Lesson with my Spanish tutor and housecleaning in the morning, administration in the afternoon, and another "Grupo de Connexión."
Saturday: Any loose ends to be tied up from the week and any last minute details in order to be ready for the Sunday service, Youth Group in the evening.
Sunday: Church in the morning and afternoon.
Monday: Although this is my day off, I have a lesson with my Spanish tutor in the morning.

Of course, interspersed throughout this schedule are the events that change week to week or even day to day – getting together with friends, practices for special events (I have been a part of a dance here and am also part of a group of musicians working on a special song for this Sunday), and other such irregular events.

As mentioned earlier, I do have a new Spanish tutor. My old one had gotten too busy to help me and so I had been looking for a new one for a couple weeks and just started meeting with this one last week. I think that working with this lady will really help me grow in leaps and bounds in my Spanish capabilities. She is a fantastic teacher and I am looking forward to working with her.

Praise reports:

• I have a wonderful Spanish tutor =)
• Had a wonderful Easter with my new friends and family here

Prayer requests:

• A week or two ago I learned that one of my uncles has cancer again, and this time, it has spread into his lungs. Instead of improving with the treatment he received previously, it appears that the cancer has grown some. Please pray for healing for my uncle and comfort and peace for him and my family.

Thank you all so much for your continued support; it means more to me than words could ever fully express in any language.

Dios te bendiga,
~ Grace