No hay nadie como Tú

Felice Año!!

Wow, wow, wow. I apologize for the lack of blogging. Let's see if I can fill in some gaps...

So in November I was approved to stay for another semester- until June. I was very excited about that. But some changes had to happen, also. So I moved out of the residencia and into a chalet with four Spanish girls! This was truly an answer to prayer, because I was having trouble finding options... and then, of course, as soon as I prayed about it and stopped trying to do it myself, I had like four options! And He really seemed to point me toward this one. And it has been really great. Turns out it was an answer to prayer for my roommate Kristiina, too, because she had been praying for another Christian roommate. All but one of the girls are Christians, so it is wonderful to have that support and friendship when I come home.

David and I have been able to reconnect with Josu and Dani, our friends from the very first, as the semester wound down and now during the break, too, so that is really an answer to prayer! Let's just continue to pray that they will feel comfortable continuing some spiritual conversations that we had.

I had also been praying that I would be able to connect with some of the basketball girls on a much more personal level, and not just be their estadounidense player, but rather a real friend. Soon after, a couple of the girls, Aida and Maria, started inviting me to hang out with them, just the two of them! I was very excited. It's fun to see how the Lord works, because they were two of the girls I would not have thought would be so open.

Also, our friend Rosa has really been coming around and wanting to hang out, practice her English and our Spanish, and we have had some fun conversations, so let's pray that she'll continue to feel comfortable around us, even when her friends won't come along with her.

David tore two or three tendons just a couple nights ago playing basketball, and has a cast and crutches for the next few weeks. PLEASE remember him in your prayers, to give David mental and physical strength, as he has to crutch all over Caceres.

Finally, one big change is about to happen: Chris and Cathie and their family are going to the states for an unknown amount of time for medical reasons. Please keep them in your prayers as Cathie has not been feeling well; also please pray that the doctors would know just what is causing her pain. Also, please pray that Chris would not feel stress or anxiety as the team leader, not being able to be here with the team, and that things would go very smoothly in his absence.

I'll be traveling home this Saturday to see my family for a week for "Christmas," and after I return, things will be in full swing with two new Hands-On students arriving, University students returning to Caceres, and Spanish and English classes starting up again. Prayers for peace of mind, boldness, and focused hearts are much appreciated.

You all are wonderful prayer warriors... I am so blessed. Love you all.

[Even though we know that it's bittersweet... I know it's right]

The Lord has shown me an open door!! I have been approved to stay in Spain for another semester! It's something that has been on my heart for several weeks, and now I know where the Lord is guiding me. I know it's right, because there were, once again, a million things that had to work out. In some ways, this is the easiest decision ever, because I am simply trusting the Lord… in other ways, it’s difficult only because it’s a little bit sad.

But everything that makes it a little bit sad is very selfish,… and if I can plant or water even just ONE seed for the Lord that eventually sprouts and grows, that’s SOOO worth it! I'm just trying my best to follow Him very purposefully. I know His plan is so much better than anything I could ever come up with, and He is ALWAYS unbelievably good. I’m striving to completely trust Him, and He’s continuing to hold me. A good friend recently said to me, “There’s not enough time in this world to be sad for things when you can be glad on the flip side.” I think that pretty much hits it on the head. :)

It's pretty cool, because as soon as I posted the last blog asking for prayers and talked to a few close prayer buddies, and really just petitioned the Lord for an answer, it was no time at all until I had one. :) Thank you all so much for all your prayers, support, and encouragement. God is soooo good. All the time.

Love!
Philippians 4:4-7

Praying for More Patience

Can we just pray that God will open the door and my eyes this week?
That it will become clear what He wants me to do, and that I will not let my emotions carry me?

I want to learn to have joy in Him every day.
Serving isn't about feeling, it's about obedience.
I need to work on this.

Thank you so much. Love you all.

I was talking with a friend yesterday, about how to tell what’s next for your life… how do you know?? If you’re truly following God, He will open and close doors… I’m just always nervous I’m not looking at the right doors. As it is, I feel like being open to doing ANYTHING He tells me to is the key. I want to completely surrender myself to Him. This is so hard, sometimes, when it hurts a little, when it hurts a lot, when it’s scary. But I’m learning that if I’m not in His will… that’s even more scary and hurtful. I would rather be so blessed by chasing Him, running hard for Him.

In the conversation, I told my friend sometimes I don’t really care if I’m at home in the States or not. It doesn’t bother me to be away. I asked if that was normal, and kind of laughed, but what he said really struck me. He basically said that he thought that it IS normal, and that if everybody would really step out of their comfort zones and really go for it in missions for the Lord, that they would realize that they feel “normal,” or rather, “at home,” away from home, doing the Lord’s ministry. The Lord has given me that peace, even when I do feel out of my comfort zone, and that’s one way that I can know I am in His will.

The whole concept is very relieving. I’m an excellent worrier. But I know that the Lord is caring for me always, and within that, I have realized that includes giving me His peace when I am striving first and foremost to let Him shine through me. It goes full circle… and suddenly I have nothing to worry about. Wow. :)

I just have been amazed, and I wanted to share, and to encourage everyone to really seek after the Lord’s will for your life in THIS moment; strive to be content, happy, joyful in Him, and as a result, feel His glorious grace and peace.

"whatever You're doing
inside of me
it feels like chaos
but i believe
You're up to something
bigger than me

... all i can do is surrender."
-Sanctus Real

Prayer Pictures...

basketball team! Antonio and the girls





World Team member Kami and our friend Maria







Luisi and Patricia







David (in the middle) from Trujillo, and his buddies. We play futbol with them.






Journeyman team member: Timon







Hands-On Team Member David, and Fernando







Journeyman team member: Daniel








Journeyman team member: Paul

Tooooooo much to write about, so I’ll hit the highlights: (just click on a pic to see it bigger)

This last weekend we got to have a little break and go to Lisbon to visit some Journeymen friends over there! It was very relaxing and refreshing to be able to be with American friends (Caroline and Craig) and to encourage each other.

Bible study has started, been going for two weeks now! It’s slowly growing, so please pray that our friends (Josu, Dani, Canario, Fernando) will feel comfortable and welcome to come see what it’s all about!!




[the Caceres church plant]

Our English- Spanish conversational lessons are expanding as well. We have met with Rosa and her friends again, and a couple of times with our friend Maria (yea! for girls!) and Paul and I had the chance to substitute for Chris in his English class when he was gone last week. Definitely fun stuff.

[us with Rosa and the girls]



Speaking of girls, thank the Lord for Kami! She is new, straight from Virginia, here with World Team. It’s so great to have her around.




[me and Kami]


And Mom says maybe the Lord meant for me to go on sports missions, because my friend Antonio invited me to play on the basketball team he coaches… turns out, it’s girls (!) my age! We’ve practiced three times already, and it’s absolutely FABULOUS. Praise the Lord for basketball girls (Clara, Ira, Sara, Maria, Jada, Angelica, Maria) in every language. I’m absolutely floating.

Finally, yesterday I received a heavy box in the mail… filled with Kraft macaroni and cheese! I practically danced around all day, thinking about it. Thank you to everybody who contributed to the Mac-n-Cheese-Is-Essential-For-Emily’s-Nutrition Drive. :) Tonight Luisi and I are going to hang out and cook some up at the boys’ flat.




[me and mac :)]


Please continue to pray for all these wonderful young people, that their hearts would be open to hearing His word. Please pray that we will have the (Spanish!) words to tell them why we are here and why He loves them. Finally, please pray for strength of heart and mind, that I would be focused on the here and now and exactly what God’s plan is.

Praise the Lord for this beautiful week!!

the Snowball Effect

No, it's not snowing here in Spain. It's very rare that it would ever. BUT, I can definitely feel a snowball effect as a result of the Lord's wonderful movings (is that a word?) here in Caceres.
Your prayers have definitely been felt! Since my last post (sorry it's been a bit), we have had a couple of really great conversations with Josu and Danny about what we believe and about differences in types of religion and about the Bible. Praise the Lord for Luisi, who was hanging out with us that night and was able to answer most of their questions in Spanish! And praise Him for nudging me to put my Spanish Bible in my purse that night too, because then we were able to see things from both sides of the language barrier! Danny tends to be somewhat of an attacker of issues, while Josu sort of sits back and takes it all in. Please pray that we can tend to both of their needs and meet them where they are at.
Enter snowball effect: they are always inviting us to hang out with their friends, and it seems they know everybody! It's new people every time, and it's great! There are a few regulars, and we have gotten to know Canario better. Canario says he used to go to church when he was younger, but he's not into that now. But he is learning English very rapidly, and is really excited to come to our English club in the next week or two! Please pray for conversations in English club to turn to the Bible and our Lord. Also pray that a connection could be drawn between English club and Bible study that starts this next Monday; I'm hoping they will feel welcome to come to Bible study if they have been hanging out with our friends from English club.
More snowballing: many people here are eager to learn or improve their English, and we have made a number of friends simply as a result of being native English speakers. Praise the Lord! We met with some girls, Rosa and her friends, who accidentally rang the wrong doorbell at Paul, Daniel, and Timon's apartment, and found out there are English speakers living in 2B. We practiced Spanish/English with them last week, and they want to meet again this Friday. Pray for conversation to turn to beliefs there. The Lord shoved me in the direction of a girl, Fanny, in my facultad on campus who offered me her email address so we can practice language sometime! (I've since emailed her with no response, and haven't run into her again; please pray for opportunities!) Finally, a new guy in our residencia, Fernando, was an exchange student in Chicago for a year, and his English is very good- he has opened himself up to me and David as a result. We got to have a cool conversation about books, which turned into religions, which turned into him being very excited about Bible study this next Monday. Please pray for the convictions of his heart.
Finally, I am constantly amazed how the Lord can create a snowball out of nothing. We have been playing basketball usually once a week with a group of guys that Chris usually plays with. Just us being there sparked a conversation for Chris- Paco wanted to know why there were more American friends all of a sudden, and Chris was able to tell him why we're all in Caceres and what we all believe. Pray for Paco's interest to grow and for it to spread throughout Nacho, Luis, and our basketball friends.
Sometimes when the day is uneventful, I feel somewhat useless, so please pray for encouragement and realization that this has nothing to do with me and everything to do with our Lord and Savior. We just have to pray BIG. He can do anything, so let's continue to petition Him for a huge movement! Thank you all so much for all your prayers and encouraging words and notes. I am blessed beyond measure.

Hugs all around!