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Thursday, June 10, 2010

Internship

Leaving Sevilla was difficult and I really didn’t like saying goodbye to Concha and Nacho, but I am thankful for the incredible experience that I had there and the blessings that God gave me. It was a blessing to have my grandparents and Carrie visiting me during that time. It was great to see them and really helped me transition. I had a great time with them and enjoyed the last of Sevilla, exploring Barcelona, and seeing Madrid again. It was hard to say goodbye to Cole in Sevilla, Carrie in Barcelona, and to my grandparents in Madrid, but there was no time for sadness as the next adventure awaited me.

When I left my grandparents to meet the other interns at the Madrid airport, I didn’t know where I would be staying that night, what I would be doing that week, who I would be meeting, what time the interns flight came in to the airport, when the next time I would be moving locations would be, when I would have internet again, what I would be eating or how I would get it, basically I didn’t know anything. All I knew was that God had given me an opportunity to serve Him in Spain, and I was thankful for it and looking forward to seeing what He had in store.

I met Jacob Ginter at the airport and waited for the other interns to come in. 8 other interns flew in from Philadelphia and were quite exhausted from the flight. 5 of the interns were staying in Spain and 3 of them were here for a week of training. The 5 Spain interns include: Cyndi and Audra from Iowa State, Ashley from Northwestern, and Ryan and Lea from Cal Baptist; they all finished their junior year of college. Susan also finished her junior year of college and goes to school in North Carolina and Erin and Ryan, who are in their 3rd year of marriage are originally from Ohio, and make up the France intern team. After getting some drinks from the airport, Tim Tjernagel and Jacob drive us to the World Team chalet in Las Colinas, a pueblo outside of Madrid.

We all spent the week at the chalet with World Team staff looking at the gospel in new ways using Sonship material. We spent time in sessions, in worship, in prayer, in small groups, and in mentor time. We also had teams that shared duties for lunch and dinner set up and clean up and bathroom cleaning. We spent an afternoon in Madrid and nights playing Bananagrams, talking, or watching a movie. I got matched up with Paula Tjernagel for my mentor and really enjoyed this aspect of the week. We keep up with our mentors with phone calls once a week. Along with the full time WT (World Team) staff, Kami, an apprentice with World Team, joined us for the week as well. On Friday, the French interns took off and the Spain interns split up for a night.
I spent the night in Bejar where all the interns and Kami and some staff were coming on Saturday. Bejar was the first location for the Prayer Conference in Spain. Craig Cook, WT staff, hosted us in Bejar. We spent Saturday until Wednesday morning in Bejar. We went to church and different pueblos near Bejar and learned about the people, the needs in their area, and how to pray for them. There was a family of believers in a town of 7,000 that really left an impression on my mind that I can’t really explain. It was a mom and dad and their 3 boys. They hosted us for a time of worship and a lesson, and then they served us all dinner. They were so hospitable and joyful. The boys were the only believers in their group of friends, and their mom was so excited and hopeful about sharing the gospel in their town. Please pray for this family that the Lord will protect them and provide them with fellowship.

On Wednesday morning, we took off for Madrid. We stopped on the side of a mountain that overlooked Escorial, the town where Jacob is serving, and prayed for the town and Jacob and his family. We got lunch in Madrid and had a little free time. I went shopping with Cindy and Kami : ) From Madrid, we went to Mejorada del Campo and visited Jorge and Elizabeth, WT staff from Germany, and their church. We stayed in Mejorada from Wednesday night until Saturday morning. In this time, we learned about Students for Christ, Young Life, and another ministry in Spain and also prayed for them. We spent time with the church’s youth group and also time alone in prayer. One night, we went to Madrid and participated in kilometro cero, an organization that shares the gospel in the busiest plaza in Madrid. They have volunteers get up on a red box and share their testimony while others hand out postcards or the gospel of John and ask people about what they heard. It was an interesting experience to see how many people stopped and listened. I had a conversation with a Muslim man that turned into him telling me how his faith was the right and Jacob telling him we just had to go. I enjoyed learning about the youth ministries in Spain and also running in the mornings with Kami.
On Saturday morning, Cyndi, Ryan, and I took the train to Calatayud. We joined Jorge here and went to the church that Juan Carlos pastors. There was a festival in Calatayud from the medieval times where they all dressed up so we went around the village and saw a parade and their markets. We went to church on Sunday morning, and then after lunch Jorge drove us to Madrid to catch a bus.

Where I’m staying now, we’re with Oscar and Maria. They have a ministry working with immigrants. Their association is open from 11-2 and then from 5-8. We teach English in the morning and talk with the people who come to the association. In the afternoon, the children come to the association and we play cards or board games and just talk. Thanks Matt and Krystal DeBruine for the cards from your wedding! I’ve now used them to teach kids in Sevilla and now kids here: ) Thursday, today, is the last day the association is open so we’re having a fiesta this afternoon. Cyndi and I made dirt cups! Friday is the last day of their Bible study so we’re having a fiesta then too. Saturday we head to the North of Spain to work at a house along the Camino de Santiago for a week. Please pray for Oscar as he’ll begin treatment for Hepatitis C the following Sunday. Pray for their ministry that God protects them and continues to strengthen them.

I’m sorry for not being able to respond to emails. I don’t have internet access very often. I do appreciate them and hearing updates from home. It means a lot to me! I promise to respond when I get the time. Thank you for all of your continued support and prayers. I am constantly reminded how blessed I am to have such loving family and friends back home. You’re in my prayers and thoughts. Mucho amor!