in the spotlight

IN THE SPOTLIGHT is a new feature i'm adding to my blog.... it will feature a piece of art by me that tells a story or has a story behind it. i hope you look forward to these!

first, i wanted to spotlight the photo at the top of my blog page.

it's only a fraction of one of my favorite photos of all time! it was taken when i studied abroad in granada, spain-- in a plaza (i forget which one right now) that i really loved. it was so lively; live music all the time, tons of florists' shops bordering the square, and people talking and eating outside. a true european experience! i just happened to get a shot of this little child crawling in the sunlight. i couldn't have planned this if i wanted to.

here is the original:

the robot

what i'm into now:



isn't this amazing?!

so, i think i can dance

looking at my previous few posts, i realized that they have been pretty intense. and as we all know, that just isn't my life at all. i have moments of intensity, yes, but i figured that my silly side needs to come out in my blog more.

so, lately, i've been trying to dance better. i'm trying to perfect a few moves at a time. so far, i feel as if my "walk it out" has gotten to a level where i'd do it in public settings. my robot, however, isn't so great, but i still do it because who really does it all that well anyways?! i'm not naturally a great dancer. thankfully, i got the rhythm gene from my mother, so i can stay on beat for the most part. however, i really have to be taught how to dance, how to put moves together, etc. i learned how to "walk it out" via youtube instructions (you can make fun of me) and that proved successful, so that may be my main mode of learning to dance.

this is how i learned:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMHblX16TSA

when i am weak, then i am strong

I just got back tonight from a jam-packed week in Philly. I'm still processing a lot of the info given to me, but I wanted to write a little before I hit the sack.

Being in a "class" or group with some amazing others was definitely a highlight of the week. It was really encouraging being around those with similar career paths. Hearing their life stories and all that God has done for them further convinced me that this is where My Father wants me right now. I felt so loved by the WHM Office/Sending Center the entire week, and I couldn't ask for a more prayerful group of people! From the food to the car rides, foosball games to Betsy's iced caramel lattes, conversations to homemade dinners every night... I cannot describe to you the love and care I feel from the people I spent time with.

I am so moved and thankful for everything. I feel this constant bear hug around me right now.... haha!

And to make things a little more clear, I am now beginning to raise support for my time in Spain. Prayer would be greatly appreciated and needed, because I cannot do any of this on my own, and I am hoping to depart in March (which means not very much time to raise funds!) I am holding strongly to the verse when God speaks to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9).

Then, Paul continues with, "Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

thanks for your prayers and i'll keep you posted along this journey.

getting the ball rolling

This afternoon, I spoke with a missionary couple serving in Granada-- Tom & Jane Wills. I felt like it was a good initial conversation with them. I hope to be having many more. I'm also ready to be over there.

I am nervous about next week when I have Assessment & Orientation Week up in Philadelphia. I had to fill out a few tests, and I will be receiving my results from them, so it should be interesting and informative. Now that I think about it, excitement trumps my anxiety.... I get to meet some new people who will be doing the same thing as me for the next couple years! I hope I am able to really connect with at least one other girl while I am there. Additionally, I will be living with a family for a week, so that will bring new experiences!

More about the convo with Tom & Jane: Like I was already praying, they told me that an ideal scenario would be for me to be in Spain by March. I was thrilled with that news! What's difficult about that, though, is less time being around the family. It's tough to even talk about leaving for Spain, because I know it's difficult for my family. I think it's hard to understand what I'm doing when one hasn't felt a calling like this before. On the other hand, it's hard for me to understand where my parents are coming from because I don't have children. Two years isn't that long, though!! While in Granada, I feel like I'll have my hands in many different things... I like the idea of meeting people, building relationships, sharing the gospel, learning Spanish, living in community, working alongside of a team, planting a church, and meeting any other needs.

I know that support-raising is a faith-building process, but I'm already worried about doing it. It's such a blessing that for the past few summers I haven't had any problem raising funds, and I've had the most amazing support team. However, this time I'm gone for much longer and already feel alone. In the past, several friends and I raised support simultaneously and I was in school around all my friends. This time is just different, and I'm going to start praying for my support tonight. I would really love to be gone by March..... maybe spend another birthday at the beach in Nerja?? :)