Eternal Joy

I am entering my fourth week here in Spain. That's one month that I've been in a new country. Holy tuna! Didn't I just get here like 2 days ago?
Oh my lanta I love this city, this country, this tiny homey apartment, my mami, my friends, my school, my church, and did I mention this city?

So this week was a little more difficult for me; missing the fam, not being with my bestfriend on her birthday to celebrate (sorry Manders!), not being able to eat a gallon of ice cream after a rough day, my work and all of my people there, my little Hendrik (I miss your face little man!), my weekly trips to Costco for lunch, my cabin, not being able to get hugs from people I love the most. A lot of things and people were especially missed this week,

This past week I had my first test and paper due here in Spain and man was that stressful, but I think it went well. Fingers crossed. I also had some decisions to make about my future (that I'm still working on) and it was rough not being able to sit at home and discuss it with my people. But yet all week my mind kept going back to something my friend told me. She sent me a letter the other week and in it she wrote so many encouraging words and Bible verses.

One of the Bible verses you will find below.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights."

In the letter she proceeded to tell me that her mother wrote next to this verse in her Bible, and I'll paraphrase it, "We need to live in the true joy of God's presence and stay in constant communication with Him. Joy is not dependent on our circumstances and we need to have a thankful attitude."

Joy is not dependent on how our lives our going, or at least it shouldn't be. We should be thankful in all circumstances. I mean look at Job. He had literally nothing, yet his faith stood strong.

I'm in Spain so naturally I should be ecstatic, right? But when I miss my people, it's a bit hard to choose joy. But that's something I think we all need to work on. Eternal joy, in all circumstances.

This week wasn't all bad, so don't think that I'm not enjoying my time here, because I definitely am I never want it to end!

I got to paint fans this week and although my artistic skills are that of a two-year old I had fun. I had my first flamenco dance class. That was fun... and interesting. My forearms have never been so sore. I also went for a run, yeah, big mistake. Probably won't be doing that again any time soon or ever. I also got to Facetime my mommy at work so I could say hi to all my favorite residents. This made my heart so happy I actually cried. I also had the house to myself for a few hours last night, so you know what I did? Blasted some Carrie Underwood, probably broke the neighbors eardrums with my horrible singing, and danced around the house barefoot!

God is a pretty cool dude and I'm so grateful that I get to be here.

P.S. Birthday shoutout to Amanda Joy! I love you so much and I'm so grateful for you! You're so strong, encouraging, funny, and you have a beautiful soul. Shine brightly darling!

Libre Soy--I Am Free

Amigos, I can't believe how quickly my time in Sevilla has already gone by and yet how slowly it has passed. In the past couple weeks I have made some amazing friends that I feel like I've known for a long time. It's so great and I love it. I even traveled with them yesterday and the day before to Córdoba and Malaga, which was so great!

Traveling on my own, without my parents, in another country, with friends. Wow, I'm definitely an adult. That's scary. But also so amazing. I am free.

Today I went to a church with these friends and the message was based on 1 Samuel 3. It was all in Spanish and I believe and hope I understood it all. The pastor preached on the fact that Samuel was a young boy, who heard God, and asked Him to speak to [Samuel] because he was ready to serve. We also sang two songs that consisted of a variation of the phrase, "Libre soy", meaning I am free.

Not only am I free in the sense that I live in another country, but I'm also free from my sins. Friends that's something so amazing that God does for us. He frees us. He saves us. He loves us. Despite of what we do. I am free. Goodness gracious, God is so good, I love it.

So, recap of my week:

Last week Sunday night I had the opportunity to go with my host mom to an assisted living center. We visited with her mother and some of the other ladies there and this was such a precious time for me. Then on Thursday people from my school went to play BINGO at another assisted living center for men. They were all flirts, funny, and very cute. It reminded me of my job back in the states, which I miss so much! I miss the constant love from my people there, the compliments, and the care.

Work fam, I miss all of you a lot! I can't wait to see you guys again!

Also this week, I helped lead the singing in our schools praise night on Wednesday. It was incredible.

Fun fact about me; I love singing, but singing in front of people makes me want to gouge my eyes out! It makes me so nervous! But this week I did it, and not only did I do it, I helped lead it, and not only did I help lead it, but people complimented my singing voice! I can't even tell you how great that made me feel!

And last but not least, the greatest highlight of my week. A lady who works at our school who has daughters who are about 5 and 7 years old and are obsessed with the movie Frozen, asked me and another girl if we would, sometime this semester, dress up as Elsa and Anna and go to their school and perform for their classes. When she asked me this I about cried because I was so happy. I have always wanted to be a Disney Princess, but Disney discriminates against tall people. Guys! I could be a Disney Princess for a day! Get out, shut the front door, and tell me this is a dream! Eek!

And what kind of blogster would I be if I didn't wrap all of this info into one lesson at the end. The most well known song from Frozen is "Let it Go", which coincidentally enough is named in Spanish (the Mexico version though) "Libre Soy", which translates to "I Am Free".

So friends; I am free, you are free, I love Spain, God loves you, classes are great, friends are awesome, I get to be a Disney freakin Princess, and I really miss my family and friends!

You Are A Good Good Father

I've been in Spain for over a week...what??? That can't be true! I feel like I've been here for so long already and yet not long enough! But no worries, I still got just a few more weeks before I come back home. Just a few.

I have loved practically every moment I have been here. And I say 'practically every moment' because there have been times when I wish I wasn't in a country that only speaks Spanish. Like when I get lost (it's only happened like once. Ok maybe twice.)

The first week of school went really well. Yes, all of my classes are in Spanish. No, I don't understand every word they're saying. But I get the gist of it and I'm learning a lot! However, this whole thinking, speaking, reading, writing, even dreaming in Spanish thing is pretty exhausting. By the end of the school day I have a huge headache; either because my brain has been running on all cylinders for 6+ hours or because it's so hot here my brain is actually expanding. But it is cooling down, so that's a plus! (It's still an average of like 95 degrees.)

My host mom is great! We cry laughing about twice a day; either at something we said horribly wrong in Spanish or her trying to attempt English. It's great and I love her.

This city of Sevilla is incredible! This past week I had the opportunity to go to the top of a very popular, tall, modern art piece called "Las Setas"           (The Mushrooms--pictured here>)
When we got to the top, you could see the entire city and more. It was incredible (more pictures on Facebook.) I didn't realize how big Sevilla was. Before I arrived here I imagined a small city with a bunch of little homes on the outskirts. Not at all what Sevilla is.

Although I am not much of a city girl and would much rather be put out in the woods in the middle of nowhere with nothing but the sound of leaves rustling in the trees and squirrels scampering by, this city has grown on me. Although it is not normal to smile at every one you pass on the street here, the people are kind, friendly, and very helpful to us gringas.

Alright, now I want to tell you all about how awesome God is. Or at least attempt to tell you, because there really aren't even words invented to describe how incredible He is.

If you read my blog a couple weeks ago, right before I left, you'll know that I was boasting about how faithful God has been through the little things in life, like spare change. Well the other day I found my first of many coins here in Spain laying on the ground. It was only .05 euros, but I picked it up anyways, stuck it in my pocket, and thanked God.

How awesome is He?! Even thousands of miles away from my home, God continues to be so faithful! Ahh, it just makes me so excited!

Here I am in another country, with total strangers, a different language, and a completely different culture. Like, we're not even supposed to take our shoes off in the house. But yet God blesses, God knows, and God loves.

The other night I had the opportunity to go to a 3 hour long worship service, but you know what? I'm not even complaining, because it was so badly needed and I loved every moment. Yes, there's a language barrier, the music was in Spanish, songs I didn't know, the little messages were in Spanish and I probably understood about .02% of what was said. But during the middle of singing a song I stopped and realized that in two different languages, with people from at least two different countries thousands of miles apart, with many different aged people, we were all praising the same God.

WOW!
                                                                           
That's all my mind can come up with. WOW. To be able to experience God in different parts of the world, in so many different ways, let me tell you, it's incredible. In the midst of all the chaos in the world and in our lives, moving across the world, studying a completely different language, being without my family and friends, God remains the same, steady, and constant. He does not change. He does not move. He does not abandon us. He loves. He is faithful.

You are a good good father, it's who you are. And WE are loved by you.
Check out this song. It's good :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqybaIesbuA

Estoy en España!

Hola amigos!

I made it to Spain safe and sound as you may have seen/heard via social media. The internet really is a great thing some times.

My days here have been so few but they've already been so awesome! For example, right now I'm sitting out on our balcony writing this sitting across from a beautiful church. I love my life!

I won't give you a boring play by play about each of my days here but I can tell you they've been nothing but great!
Typical day so far:
7:30-Wake up and get ready
8:00-Breakfast! Usually consists of pan tostado (toast) and some fruit and coffee (which I don't drink)
8:30-Leave for school. Although classes don't start until tomorrow we've had a few days of orientations and registrations. I live about 20 minutes away from school so by time I get there I'm already covered in sweat. Because it's approximately 80-90 degrees in the morning.
9:000-2:00-School. Our school is pretty neat! We have a roof (obviously) but on top of the roof there's a little terrace that we can chill out on and look over the city. Only one rule: we can't jump off it. Shocker!
2:30-3:00-Lunch time! Lunch here is eaten way later then in America but it's ok because my mami feeds us well and it's the biggest meal of the day. Also, my mami is a reflexologist so she works until about 4 which is very unusual (I'll explain later) So my roomie, Rachel and I eat when we get home around 2:30
2:00-5:00-Siesta time! No Spaniards don't take a 3 hour nap every day. This is a time in the day when it is literally too hot to do anything outside, so mostly every store closes and people go home for work, relax in their homes, which really aren't that much cooler than outside, and sometimes they sleep for an hour max.
5:00-9:00-Hangout at home, go out with friends, whatever
9:30-10:30ish-Super time! Yes, they eat supper this late. Why? I don't know. Actually it's because it's too hot to eat any earlier and we'd all die of heat exhaustion.
10:30-1:30-Party time! No I don't actually go out and party all the time, but this is a very popular time for people to be out and about drinking, at the club, eating tapas, or helado, and it's great! Although the whole staying up late thing doesn't suite me well, but I'm working on it.

So if you're still reading my very exciting blog, God bless you.

My mami/señora/Maria is absolutely great! She was a little hard to understand at first, but it's getting better! I love her so much already! She's very kind, funny, young at heart, and flexible, and she treats us like queens. She is a single mom of two and her kids are grown and out of the house, she's a reflexologist as I mentioned, she's probably in her mid-50's and she great and I love her. We call her mami. She's adorable :)

I have already learned so much here; slang frases, new words, old words, how the city and it's people work, and it is such an interesting and lovable place. 

God is so good and so faithful.

I'll try to blog every week, but no promises. Just know that even if I don't talk/text/facetime/skype/blog a lot, i'm never not thinking about all of you and I love you and miss you all! Thank you for your continued encouragement and prayers, I feel them all the way over here!

I am so blessed and so grateful and will never lose the light of hope because it shines so brightly.

Hasta luego! Besitos a todos :)

Any questions? Ask me via facebook messenger!
Wanna come visit or wanna send mail and have me love you forever?
Address is......

Michaela Van Koevering
TCCSevilla
Calle Lagar, 6
41004 Sevilla
SPAIN