I've heard several people say, in a self-assured voice, "NOBODY makes apple pie like my mom." And - let's face it - we smile and nod and ooh and aaah, but on the inside, we're rolling our eyes and thinking, "Excuse me, but you're mistaken. Nobody makes apple pie like MY mom."
Today, I'm here to prove it to you. This oooey, gooey apple filling and flaky butter pie crust combination will leave your taste buds begging for more. And who do we owe our gratitude to? My mom, of course!
"Madrid is a safe city, except for one thing: theft."
"Always keep a hand on your purse, especially when you're on the metro."
"If someone offers to carry your suitcase, always say no. They may be trying to steal it."
"If someone asks you for the time, be wary. They may be trying to get into your purse while you are busy looking at your phone."
I somewhat minded, somewhat ignored all that. 'My purse is always slung securely over my shoulder,' I thought. 'And the pockets are always closed. I'll be fine.'
I didn't consider the fact that some people are experts at theft. I also didn't consider burglary.
Last Monday, my roommate Kate and I left our apartment at around 3:50 PM to buy groceries. We were aware of the time, because Kate had a dentist appointment at 5. After stopping by the bank and the corner "Chino" store for plantains, Kate and I arrived at our favorite grocery store only to find it locked up. "Closed for repairs," the sign read, "until April 5th." We checked the time - 4:15. There wasn't much time left before Kate's appointment. We should just head home and do our shopping later.
About 5 minutes later, we reached our floor and emerged laughing from the elevator, only to see a sight that made us hesitate. Puzzled, I took in the scene in front of me - door ajar, papers strewn on the floor of the apartment. Did we forget to close the door when we left? But, no - that wouldn't explain the papers on the floor. Did the cat go crazy? It wasn't until Kate said what she did that I considered the alternative.
"Someone broke into the apartment," she said, putting a hand on my arm to stop me from going any further.
Then I noticed a few details I had missed earlier - the slivers of wood on the floor at the base of the door, my open makeup pouch on the entry room chair, overturned. Just as I stepped towards the apartment to have a closer look, Kate stepped backward, in the direction of the stairs.
"Pssst!" she whispered at me. "Come here!" motioning for me to follow her down the stairs. I followed her down the stairs, down, down to a door between the first and second floors, to where our doorwoman, Marcia, lives. We didn't have to explain much to Marcia. Slippers on her feet and saw in hand, she followed us up to the apartment, where she agreed with Kate that we shouldn't enter, then down to the bottom floor, where we waited until the police arrived.
The rest of the day was filled with policemen, a criminologist, and lots of phonecalls, as we discovered exactly what had been taken.
Strangely enough, although there are 5 of us, and each of us had a laptop in our rooms, in plain sight, not a single laptop was taken. Phoebe's phone and iPad were still there. Cielo's iPod and Levi's jeans were fine. Maritza's TV was untouched.
"They never take stuff like that," the policemen explained, "because they are too easily tracked. What they look for is cash and jewelry. Things that can't be traced."
Sure enough, my wad of cash from inside my closet was missing - my tithe for the next two months and the money I had set apart to pay for an upcoming church retreat. And then there was my makeup pouch - empty. Well, of course, I had only brand-name items in there. Several days, later, I realized they had also stolen a Nordstrom sweater of mine. Kate was missing some US dollars from a pouch, and Maritza a pair of sunglasses. Other than that, and a general mess in our bedrooms, nothing else seemed off.
The sweater in question
Oh, and those woodchips on the floor? Those were from where the burglars had somehow sliced through the screws that secured the latch to the door frame.
What a feeling of utter vulnerability!
As I walked to a makeup store later that day, I found that something had changed. Where before I would have smiled at the people passing by, now I viewed them suspiciously. Is that one a thief? Or that one? They all look normal, but how am I to know?
I've had a few days to process this, and a few things encourage me:
1. God knew what would happen.
The morning of the burglary, I read Proverbs 28, which says, among other things,
"Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
than a rich man who is crooked in his ways."
Whoever broke into our apartment will have their appointment with God one day, and I will have mine. If I present myself before Him as a poor person, may I at least be an honest poor person!
Also, just the fact that God led me to that scripture that morning makes me smile. He knew what would happen, and He was faithful to prepare my spirit to receive it.
2. Nothing was taken that I can't replace or live without.
In fact, when you get to thinking about what they stole from me, it's not hard to see at least one reason why God permitted it.
I mean, come on -
Money.
Makeup.
Clothing.
Greed (or stinginess) and vanity come to mind? These are both vices I've been convicted of. Keep on cleansing, Lord! (But, please, no more burglaries! 🙏)
3. There are more important things to focus on.
The same day as the burglary, our doorwoman told us she had gone to church on Sunday. Maritza has been inviting her to church for the past four years! We are just so happy that she decided to take that step outside of her comfort zone, to see if God would meet her (and I believe He did).
"Hearing that made the whole burglary business disappear," Maritza said later. And she's so right. Someone else's eternity is way more important than our temporal possessions.
I can just add this to the chronicles of this Spanish adventure!
---------
I've run out of steam for today, but let's do this: If you have a question about my time here, why don't you ask it in the comment section (on Blogger or on Facebook - either is fine)? If there are indeed some questions, I'll address them next week! 😉
To read more from the Spain saga, click on one of the links below: July: The Comeback August: While I'm Waiting October: An Exercise in Trust November: Spain-bound! December: Wanted January: Building an Altar February: The Great Adventure
I am happy to share with you this lovely President's Day! This month's update will take on something of a narrative format, so, when you have the time, I invite you to sit in your coziest chair, with perhaps a cup of tea (my preference) or coffee (seemingly everyone else's), and share some of these recent experiences with me.
For those who have missed previous updates and would like to catch up before reading this one, feel free to browse the other episodes in this Spain saga, ordered from most recent to least:
It was the plane trip that I dreaded the most, and, to be honest, it turned out as I had feared. Not my seat neighbors -- no, no! They were splendid (a couple from Mount Vernon with whom I played a few rounds of Heads Up!) It's just...you know, the not standing for 10 hours part, and the not sleeping for more hours part.
But it wasn't all bad. Aside from the game of heads-up, one cool thing about the flight was that, several times, I had to pull my journal out of my backpack to jot down ideas for my 4th grade classroom, one idea after another, like corn kernels popping.
After a brutal layover in London, a short connecting flight, and an informative ride back to my apartment (Jaz filled me in on all I had missed), I found myself in bed at 3 PM with what would prove to be a severe case of jet-lag and, perhaps consequently, a dismal outlook on the next 6 months.
"Why am I even here?"
Isn't that interesting? It's actually the same feeling I had the first time I landed in Madrid - that brief yet sincere moment of....what, exactly? Doubt? Regret? Foreboding? Let's be honest - it was probably just the jet lag, but - who knows? Maybe my flesh was anticipating what lay ahead and throwing a tantrum.
Chapter 2: Saddle Up Yo' Horses!
Thankfully, that yucky feeling left quickly, as it had the first time. What didn't leave so quickly was the jet lag! For an entire week, I woke at ungodly hours, had my breakfast smoothies well before my roommates were even awake, and was ready to collapse by 3 or 4 in the afternoon.
That first week also happened to be a week of fasting and prayer for Amistad. It was during this week that I realized that the nice, easy month of introductions and feet-wetting was long gone, and that God now had a mission for me.
I arrived on a Saturday and had a few obligation-less days to, essentially, sleep. But then, Maritza invited me to a workshop on Wednesday afternoon at Ontheredbox, to craft my 2-minute testimony, which I could then use to evangelize on the street. I had attended this same workshop during my last stay in Madrid, but I had struggled to identify my testimony. The usual story I'd shared so often lacked a critical component: the moment I was convicted of sin and repented. When WAS I born again, exactly? What sin did I repent of, specifically? This time around, it all came to me, and, in that classroom, for the first time in several years, I publicly shared my testimony. And, for what I believe was the first time ever, I shared it in Spanish. Perhaps it was a small step, but it was a significant one for me.
After the workshop, I was very sleepy, so I was about to sneak away when Maritza saw me.
"Where are you going?" she asked. (I feel like she sees through my soul sometimes!)
"Home. I'm sleepy."
"Home?! You can't go home! You're playing piano in the prayer room!"
And so it was that Dahlia stepped completely out of her comfort zone twice in one day, into a new mission, and simultaneously out of jet lag.
Chapter 3: This is the Great Adventure!
Since that Wednesday, I have sensed God asking me to step out of my comfort zone repeatedly, or, to put it another way, to "mount the horse" and let it take me along this adventure.
Teaching a Sunday School lesson, playing piano for a time of worship, leading a prayer meeting, co-leading a class for adults, standing on top of a box and declaring my testimony on the street, driving in Madrid (😱) -- all of these activities have forced me to confront my insecurities. But this is exactly what I wanted when I came to Madrid.
There's a topic I'd like to bring up, because it's relevant, and it's worth some thought. It's the topic of spiritual gifts. In Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul lists different spiritual gifts, adding that each of us is a member of the body of Christ, and, as such, each of us is important to the functioning of the body, mainly through exercising our unique spiritual gifts.
I could say I have the gift of teaching, which would explain why I am now a teacher. There are tests available online and surely in books that claim to help you identify your unique spiritual gift.
However, if teaching is my gift, then why would God ask me to play the piano? Or, if teaching is my gift, why would God call me to evangelize, or to pray for a sick person, or to organize a closet, or to sweep the floor? Surely, other people in the church have THOSE gifts, so why should I bother with any of those activities? Shouldn't I stick to what I do best?
That is kind of the way I have viewed things. But Maritza and I have been doing a devotional together, and the author of the devotional challenged the idea of only serving in areas that use your identified spiritual gifts. For, didn't God call Moses, a timid man who stuttered, to lead a nation? And didn't God call Gideon, an indecisive coward, to lead an army?
Perhaps, then, God doesn't just give us certain gifts and assign us to the tasks that correspond with those giftings. Perhaps the true gift God gives each of us is His Holy Spirit, who is the essence and the power of God, and who "gifts" us with everything we need to accomplish whatever mission God places before us.
This way of thinking eliminates all reliance on human strengths and pushes us to rely instead on the Holy Spirit.
And THAT is what makes life with Jesus such an adventure! He could call us to do any sort of thing at any moment, and, though we, in ourselves, are timid, stuttering, indecisive, and cowardly, He makes us valiant. He equips us with all the skills we need to complete the mission.
So I am making a conscious effort to no longer excuse my participation because of my inferior piano-playing skills, ineptness at driving in the city, or my inadequate Spanish. And, when someone asks me if I can lead a group, play on a worship team, or drive to Ikea, I am practicing saying, "Yes."
Chapter 4: FAQ's
FAQ 1: How is it? How are you liking it?
I really don't like this question! I never know how to answer it, because it's so general. (How rude would it be if I told people just to read my blog?)
In an effort to answer the question, though, I am all about the people around me. It's not so much about where I am as who I'm with, and I love who I'm with!
We've dubbed our apartment "Maritza's House" (I pushed for a cooler name, like "The Music Box" or "Piso Pestañas," but no one seemed to like my original ideas! 😧), and we've had an inaugural movie night! We also cook together often and, as I mentioned before, we often gather for a morning devotional together. It's a great crew I live with.
Also, that doesn't even count all the other people I am in contact with throughout the day. But - enough. Next question.
FAQ 2: What are you doing now?
I mentioned some things already, but I'll outline it here so it's more clear.
That's the skeleton schedule, but it usually fills up with other fun bits!
FAQ 3: Have you done much traveling?
None, really. But I HAVE been:
1. To Toledo for a women's conference
2. Sledding
3. Ice-skating
And I have a few trips in the works:
1. A soccer game in Barcelona
2. A week-long mission trip to Germany
3. Some sightseeing in England with my brother
FAQ 4: When do you go back home?
I don't have a return flight yet, but I plan to return in July or August.
If you have any questions I haven't answered, feel free to ask below!
And I leave you with a fun fact: There is no "garbage day" here in Madrid. We take out the trash daily, and the garbage guys come along at MIDNIGHT with their trucks to remove it!
Oh, and all of the chapter titles reference this *classic* song from the 90's. Enjoy:
I have been back for nearly a month now - possibly the best month to be in NCW. I mean - come on! Snow, sledding, Christmas, New Year's, not to mention the opportunity to do my way-more-complicated-since-I-rented-out-my-condo income taxes.
Plus, I got a trip to San Francisco out of it (to go to the Spanish consulate - remember?). Granted, I was alone...and super stressed a majority of the time (more complications with the visa)...oh, and slightly fearful for my life, walking through some pretty ghetto parts. As it turns out, being alone and being disappointed are actually really good ways to grow in faith and trust. Go figure!
(You've got to understand - I'm choosing to treat that subject lightly so as not to spend too much time on it. In truth, I was ugly-crying in my San Francisco hotel room, pleading with God for answers as to why nothing seemed to be working out. But I'm telling the truth when I say God did work all this for good.)
To those who have been reading my blog posts these past months, do you sense a theme? Because I sure do. I wouldn't say I ever thought I needed more or bigger faith. It's always been pretty easy for me to see things in black and white. Either it's of God or it isn't. If He says to do it, I will. If not, I won't. If I pray, He'll answer...sometime. I never wasted much time asking God why something happened, or doubting His sovereignty.
But this whole process has opened up weaknesses I didn't know I had. For instance, did I really believe it was God who allowed me to graduate college debt-free? Or did I kind of credit it to my mad money management skills? And did I really think God was the one who gave me a teaching job? Or did I chalk it up somewhat to my endearing qualities and connections in the district?
Oh, I've known the pride in me. I just never saw before how pride affects my faith in God.
For the first time, I know what it is like to do everything right... yet fail. Repeatedly. And it shook my faith a bit. Because, all along, my faith had been partly in God, and partly in myself, my efforts, my merits. When my efforts weren't enough to produce the results I wanted, I could either despair or deepen my faith in the God who is faithful to His promises.
The Biblical Abraham, often referred to today as the Father of Faith, was called by God to "leave [his] country, [his] people, and [his] father's household and go to the land [God] will show [him]." (Genesis 12:1) Abraham left as God had instructed. Later, when God confirmed His promise to Abraham (that his offspring would inherit the land), Abraham praised God and built an altar. This was a practice that all of the patriarchs observed - building an altar, often to commemorate an encounter with God. Sometimes, they even named the altar based on the nature of the divine encounter.
[Fun fact: God used Genesis 12:1 to confirm my Spain trip to me.]
So, this Friday, as I leave my country and go to Madrid for another 6 months, I leave behind a figurative altar that I have named "God is faithful to His promises." And I praise God that He has placed me in disappointing and frustrating situations to help me see His faithfulness.
As always, feel free to ask questions or comment below! And, if time permits, enjoy this song👇
Hasta pasta,
Dahlia
To view previous posts in this series, click on the links below:
I came not for the city, or even for the country, but to serve God and serve people.
So, ask me how I like the city? Yeah, I like it! There are some cool things about it. But I'm not here for the sights.
Ask me how I like what God is doing? I'm very, very pleased!
Allow me to take a few moments of your time to share a hodgepodge of notable things about my stay so far. This is going to be a long one, so feel free to skip to the heading that draws your attention the most!
1. So what have I been doing?
My schedule is still taking shape, but my duties are primarily split between two masters: Jaz & Arnold.
Jaz is a worship leader here at Amistad Cristiana, and she also heads an online discipleship school, Cultura Real, and co-leads the adolescent-aged youth group with her husband. So, I have been active in the youth group activities once a week, tutoring a few Venezuelan refugee youth in English twice a week, and other odds and ends.
Arnold is the children's pastor. I'm gearing up to start assisting with the pre-teen Sunday School come January, and to help create a digital training course for children's ministry volunteers. Currently, Arnold has assigned me the task of organizing the children's ministry supply closet :)
Maritza, as my landlady and roommate, also has dibs on me. She's taught me a bit of the basics of video editing, so I can help out with publishing sermons to Youtube each week. Plus, she (along with Arnold and several others from Amistad and surrounding churches) is involved with a street-preaching ministry called ontheredbox (also in Spanish), which is primarily a school of evangelism. She's taken me with her to ontheredbox twice now, and I'm considering taking their evangelism course. (Check her out here - she's awesome!)
I've been so thankful to be wanted and - dare I say? - needed, right from the start.
2. The biggest differences between Spain & USA:
Toilets. Schedule. People touching my face (with their face)!!! 👀
Okay, the toilets aren't really THAT different. It did take a few minutes, though, for me to realize that the button on top of the toilet in my apartment needs to be pulled (not pushed!) Add to that the confusion I experienced when I pulled the button on the church toilet...only to have it pop off. Ahh..this is a push one. *Facepalm*
The schedule I had been warned about. Everything starts later and ends later. For example, a typical work day may begin at 9 or 10 AM. There is a lunch break usually from 2-4ish (many small businesses close at this time, as well. And dinner is at 9 PM. Then, bedtime is around midnight. (Also, they use 24-hour time here. Thankfully, it seems that, colloquially, people still say things like "at 2 in the afternoon.")
And probably the biggest culture shock is the kissing. My understanding is that, in some parts of Mexico, they greet with a kiss, but I have never been to an area that does that. With my Mexican family, we greet with a handshake or a hug. For first-time greetings between strangers, always a handshake. With my American family, it's similar. Here, it's 2 kisses. Right cheek first, then left. Thankfully, they aren't real kisses. It's just cheek-to-cheek business, but, for some strange reason, you're supposed to make the kissing sound anyway. Let's just say I'm still getting used to this one. 😘
3. The biggest challenge:
Social situations. Here's an excerpt from my journal:
You know how, when you're at a social gathering where you know few people, you just smile and try to be friendly to everyone, knowing that some of these strangers might one day be friends, but you're also not very witty or skilled in making conversation, and, on top of that, they all speak words and accents that sometimes you don't fully understand, and you're expected to respond in a language you often can't openly and freely communicate in?
I don't particularly like classifying people by personality types, because I think we can all grow and change in any area. But, go ahead - call me an introvert! Social gatherings do make me a bit anxious or uncomfortable, especially when I don't have a friend in the group. Now, don't feel sorry for me! #1, I chose this, and #2, I am making friends. But I do have to pray a lot before social gatherings so I am in a giving mode, not a getting mode, and so I am confident in my identity. When it's over, I just breathe and thank the Lord for kind people.
4. The greatest pleasure:
The people. Jaz has taken me under her wing since before she had even met me. Maritza makes me feel at home, and it's around her especially that I feel free to be myself. Arnold and his wife Nidia have already had me over to their home twice, along with Rebecca, the pastor. And my roommate Kate, who is also from another country, made sure to explain the essentials of Spanish life to me on my very first night here (among other things, she's the one who taught me the kiss-greeting custom! Life-saver!)
It's only been three weeks, but already I am forming some strong attachments to these lovely people.
5. What God is speaking to me:
I feel a pull to evangelism. I recently heard someone say or quote something to the effect of: "Without evangelism, we will always feel like there is something missing in our lives." And I'm feeling that "something missing." I've been feeling it for years now. What good is Good News when it's kept to yourself? And it's not that I haven't wanted to tell others about Jesus; it's just that I've let concerns like "the right timing" or the fear of man keep me from doing so. During my time here, I want to become more confident talking about God with others.
6. Final thoughts:
You know those moments when time seems to stand still, and you see yourself as through a window, and you get nostalgic just thinking about how, in the future, you'll feel nostalgic remembering this very moment?
I've had a few of those moments here:
- sitting on a bench with Jaz, under the chilly night sky, watching through a fence a group of guys playing soccer
- sharing a blanket on the couch with Maritza and Kate, laughing almost to tears over a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie
- Dimmed lights in Galileo Galilei, the camera to my right, Luisa and Luz to my left, arms raised high as we join with a hundred others in song, singing up, up, to the God who, I imagine, is smiling down at the sound
I am so grateful for the opportunity to have this slowed-down time, when I am not so rushed or tired that I miss these treasured moments!
Thanks for reading, and, as always, feel free to ask any lingering questions below!👇
About a week ago, I watched the highlights from the MLS western conference semifinals, between Houston and Portland. I already knew the result of the game before I even watched the highlights. I knew that Houston would defy the odds and beat Portland 2-1. What I didn't know until watching the highlights was that Portland scored first. It was interesting to see the Houston goalkeeper's reaction after that first goal.
I said to him (probably out loud - not gonna lie) - "Hey! Stop that! You're not defeated! Don't you know you're going to win this game?" But he didn't know.
Throughout life in general, but, more specifically, during this effort to get my feet in Spain, I can relate to that goalkeeper! (What's his name, anyway? Looking it up...Joe Willis!) I can relate to Joe Willis. I could not understand why three times I had to cancel my visa appointment due to one thing or another. But someone out there (God, obviously) is standing outside of time, seeing me in my moment, but also seeing me in that future moment, probably saying to now-me, "Hey! There's no need to fret! Everything will work out yet!" (Don't ask me why God is speaking to me like Dr. Seuss.)
That soccer highlights video turned out to actually be very encouraging!
(By the way, that was my first time creating a gif 🙌 )
As you may have guessed by the title of this post, I do have some news to share:
Now, it may not be as you think. I don't have a visa yet. I'll be going for just a month. (You can travel as a tourist for up to 90 days). After a month, I will be flying back home for the holidays, and for my *newest* visa appointment. Once I have my visa, I will be returning to Madrid.
This is a short post, because I don't have much else to share right now! I'll be packing this week, and making other necessary arrangements.
Oh, I did want to say one more thing - thank you for your interest, for the occasional texts just to check in, for the coffee dates, phone calls, conversations, and the prayers. I am blessed to have a solid bunch of family and friends who care about my well-being and are interested in what I do. Here's to the continuation of an adventure ✈
"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring."
I read this verse this morning when I visited Bible Gateway for the verse of the day. I almost laughed because, well, it's true, and it's timely. None of us are in charge of our destinies, contrary to what popular culture proclaims. Everything is in God's hands. Current world events can attest to this. Would I prefer it were the other way around? Most definitely not. I will leave the future in God's most capable hands, and not in my clumsy ones.
Gosh, Dahlia, why this talk about trust and the future? It could be because of Las Vegas, Oaxaca, Miami, Texas, Barcelona, etc. If nothing else, these events are certain reminders of the fragility of life.
In a less global and much less tragic way, this whole Spain thing has been, for me, an exercise in trusting God!
First, back in January/February, the idea's inception and the decision to do it -
This was when I took my parents out to breakfast to let them know the decision I had made to go to Spain.
My parents were not 100% on board. I didn't have a plan at all, just a nudge in my spirit. God, are you sure? Yes. (Was that Him? Is that me?) I went ahead and requested (and received) a year-long leave of absence from my job.
Then, in May, the change of direction -
Since January, I had been pursuing the idea of working as a teaching assistant in a Spanish public school, while attending a church in Madrid. That was my plan - work in Madrid, live in Madrid, go to church in Madrid. I applied. I got references. It was taking shape. I was accepted. I was placed...HOURS away from Madrid, about as far away as you can get and still be in the country. What now, God? Which of these was what You had for me - the teaching, or the church? I believed He was pointing to the church. So I declined placement in the teaching program, and again I was left with no plans. Just that nudge in my spirit.
After emailing Jaz at the church, a plan started to take shape again - I would go to Spain on a religious worker's visa, and I would form part of the church's first attempt at an internship program. They were super excited to have me. I was excited to go.
Then came July, and another email from Jaz.
For various reasons, the internship program was a no-go. Did I still want to go? At this point, I knew that I did. There was no hesitation. God had confirmed through scripture that He was sending me to Spain. So this time, I (once again) had no plan, but I began to understand that God had one.
In July, I worked to finalize everything I could - moving out and renting out my condo, sending off a package to the FBI for my background check, scheduling an appointment with the Spanish embassy in San Francisco, lining up a summer job in the orchard.
Then August and September - the waiting game, which I blogged about in my last post. I had an appointment with the Spanish embassy set for October 9th. (Look at the calendar - that's this Monday!) The catch was that, in order for my visa application to be even considered at the embassy, it needs to be complete. I was still missing 3 key documents: 2 from Spain that Jaz was taking care of, and my FBI background check (which, if you will remember, I applied for back in July. It's a 10-12-week waiting period for the results).
The good news: the 2 documents from Spain arrived just yesterday!
The other news:
After a near-crisis this morning as I realized that my background check is NOT going to arrive in time for my appointment, and that the next soonest available appointment was not until December 29th, and for a brief second I saw an opening in October, but then once I cancelled my current appointment, the other October one had vanished, and my mom's voice resounded in my head, "Maybe it's not meant to be, Dahlia," I closed the computer screen and prayed. I sensed that God was reassuring me. Just trust Him.
Then, I opened it again, and refreshed. Many times. Sure enough, another October appointment popped up, and this time, I got it.
When Jesus said to Peter, "Oh, you of little faith," I've heard it said that the word "little" that Jesus used did not mean small in amount, but short in duration. Peter had much faith for the first few steps on the water, but, once he saw the waves around him, his faith failed. He didn't trust long enough.
This morning, God was asking me to trust still. Trust longer. It will all work out according to His plan.
I think that involves learning to be at peace with the unknowns. When many well-intentioned, caring people ask me questions I don't have the answers to, I do grow impatient with myself and with the process. Why DON'T I know the answers to these questions yet? How much longer will this waiting period last?
Trust longer.
Speaking of questions of well-intentioned, caring people, here are the most recent frequently-asked questions that I may or may not have answers for:
FAQ 1: So... any news? Any updates?
Actually, yes!
1. As I mentioned above, I have a new appointment in San Francisco, in exactly 3 weeks.
2. I now have a confirmed place to live! I will be renting a room from a lady who lives just around the corner from the church!
3. My job in the orchard finished yesterday! I actually really enjoyed it, and I was able to save some funds for my upcoming trip.
4. I am now insured in Spain (medically). But not in the US, hehe *nervous laughter*
5. I am officially car-less! My tabs expired at the end of September, and I did not renew. I also cancelled my car insurance. This is for real, people!
FAQ 2: When are you leaving for Spain again?
Well, let's calculate. My visa appointment is 3 weeks from now, and it can take 4-6 weeks for my visa to be ready after the appointment. That puts my departure roughly around the end of November.
FAQ 3: Aaand...what are you going to do there? Teach?
Nope - no teaching per se. The "plan" is currently to serve in various of the church's ministries, including the young adult group and possibly a type of street ministry that they do. Also, I will work 2-3 days per week with Oasis Center, which provides different services for immigrants to Spain.
FAQ 4: But you're going back to teaching when you get back, right?
The current answer is yes. I am planning to return for the 2018-2019 school year. After seeing how easily God can foil my plans, though, I can say nothing for certain. :)
Thanks for your interest in my life and this journey! I'll post another one of these in about a month for your reading pleasure. As always, if you are curious about something I didn't include, feel free to comment below. 👇
This is the August edition of my Spain series. To read the previous update, click on the link below: July update: The Comeback
Last night, I had a hard time falling asleep. I'm sure you know the feeling -- too many thoughts bouncing around in your head. What's interesting is that some of the thoughts keeping me awake were none other than first-day-of-school plans!
I'm sure this doesn't come as a surprise, but, as my coworkers sit through trainings with national brain expert Eric Jensen, host Open Houses with cute glow sticks, and sit around kidney tables with their teammates to collaborate, I feel ... left out!
That's one part of me. The other part -- FREEDOM! -- is very content to sit this one out.
I mean, to all the teachers out there, do you have time to puzzle over a Sudoku for an hour each day? I thought not.
In this month's post, I bring you:
1. Status Check
2. While I'm Waiting
3. Episode 2 of FAQ's
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1. Status Check
I still have an appointment in early October with the Spanish embassy in San Francisco. This appointment is an interview to obtain my Religious Worker's Visa. The main document I need for this appointment is my FBI background check, which I am still waiting for. There are also some documents from Spain that I am waiting on. I am praying that everything arrives in time for my appointment!
2. While I'm Waiting
I'm not just sitting on my buns, waiting for documents to arrive, surfing the web, and munching on potato chips (although these activities do consume more of my time than I care to admit)!
I'm actually keeping pretty busy, and I'm enjoying this short season.
First, you should know that I moved out of my condo almost 4 weeks ago, and I am now living with my parents (and Oliver) again. I've made it my mission during my time here to make a significant dent in the mounds of fruit overflowing from freezer shelves and refrigerator drawers. Can you say - raspberry pie? Blueberry muffins? Nectarine crisp?
I was informed by my property management company that the renters moved into my condo earlier this week. Yay for additional income to cover my mortgage while I am unemployed!
One thing about having more time on my hands is I can give myself fully to projects. Normally, I would have the shadow of schoolwork and classroom prep looming over fun events and often limiting my participation. It's been very freeing to give myself more fully this summer. For example, in July I got to help my church put on its first vacation Bible school! Also this summer, I got to throw a bridal shower for my engaged (now married!) cousin, share some memories with my high school classmates at our 10-year reunion, and participate in another cousin's classroom set-up for her first year teaching! I really like this season of being open and available.
That said, I am picking up a job starting this Friday, working in the orchard under my dad's supervision. I'll be behind the pickers this pear harvest, checking the trees for unpicked fruit. It's a small job that I've done before, and it only last a few weeks, but I'm grateful for it, because every little bit helps!
One last thing: while I'm waiting, I'm praying for Spain, and for the people I will meet there. I've heard it said: "What you pray for, you get a heart for," and, especially after the recent tragedy in Barcelona, I see that God is giving me a heart for Spain.
3. Episode 2 of FAQ's
FAQ: What am I doing with myself now that I'm not getting ready for a new school year?
See #2 above. :)
FAQ: What's it like living with my parents again?
It's like I never left, except in one regard: I feel less entitled now after having had my own home, and more like a guest in their house. I think this is a healthy change!
FAQ: Am I going to come back with a handsome Spaniard on my arm?
I swear, this is the MOST frequently asked question, in all its variations, often not even posed as a question. (It's funny - the non-Mexicans will ask this with an "Oooh-la-la" flair, while my Mexican friends and relatives spit it out with a look of disgust.)
So, people, let's settle this once and for all. Of COURSE I'm not opposed to the idea, but - please! If you know me at all, you know I am not actively looking for a husband (obviously - if I was, I'd have one by now).
And that, ladies and gents, concludes my August update. Please chime in below ↯if you have questions I didn't answer, and tune in next month for more of the same ;)
Yesterday, the Seattle Sounders did something that had not been done in Major League Soccer history; they came back from a 3-goal deficit to win their game against DC United!
It was the ultimate comeback! At least, it was, until this moment, because, ladies and gents, Dahlia is returning to the blogging world! Woohoo!
[But, if you are interested in reading more about the Sounders' comeback win, click here for a link to a Seattle Times article about the event.]
I think you'll find that I've changed a bit since I last blogged in August of 2014.
First, I have developed a love of soccer, namely the Sounders and the US teams, both men and women. Following soccer was a conscious decision I made around the time of my last post, after the 2014 World Cup. Needless to say, I've discovered that there is a whole world of soccer enthusiasts just like me, including several of my students. It's been fun :)
Second, I finally have a purpose for this blog!!! Before, I never knew quite what to write about because: a) nobody read my blog, and b) without an audience, I was at a loss as to what kind of content to provide to...nobody...not to mention, why?
But now, I've practically been begged to blog! The reason? I'm off on an adventure come October (or so) to Spain, for 8 months or so!
I won't promise too many posts for two main reasons:
1. It wouldn't happen.
2. You wouldn't want it.
What I hope to provide is a post a month, beginning now. I'll post a link to each entry on facebook and Instagram (I think - I just started using Instagram, so I'm not sure if that's even possible...is it?), and I will do my best to include lots of photos, because, let's be honest - photos make the reading a LOT easier!
Please let me know in the comments ↴ if there's something I'm not including in these posts that you would like to see.
Now that I have finished this really long intro, I'd like to get to the meat and potatoes of this post:
1. Why Spain?
2. What am I going to do there?
2. Have I bought a plane ticket yet? (and other frequently asked questions)
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Why Spain?
The short answer is: because I believe God put Spain on my heart.
The long answer is: the seed was planted in January, when I was at my friend Bek's birthday party. In a conversation with a mutual friend of ours who was looking into a teaching career abroad, she asked me this question that wouldn't let me sleep that night: "Haven't you ever thought about doing something like that?"
Have I ever thought about teaching abroad? No, not exactly, but...haven't I always had a dream to live in a Spanish-speaking country? Why haven't I ever done that? What's stopping me from exploring that now?
The questions, the possibilities, all kept me restless that night. And as for Spain - well, it was really the only country that came to mind. Don't ask me why I didn't consider Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, or any of the host of Spanish-speaking countries in the world! Spain came and wouldn't leave.
After fasting and praying, talking with my parents and my pastors, meeting with my coworker's daughter who had been a missionary there, emailing Jaz Jacob, and fasting and praying some more, I am convinced that God is sending me to Spain.
What am I going to do there?
Right now, the specifics are still general. That is to say, there are no specifics!
I'll spare you the loooong narrative of how various doors closed and opened so that the path I'm now on is looking MUCH more different than what I first envisioned, and I'll just tell you this:
I am in contact with Jaz at Amistad Cristiana, who is helping me through the process of securing my religious worker's visa. This type of visa forbids any type of work for pay, so all of my work will be as a volunteer, and it will be in service to the church and/or nonprofit organizations that serve the Madrid area, such as Oasis, which helps immigrants integrate into Spanish society (don't mention the irony that I won't be far from fitting that description myself!).
The specifics will come as I have more definite arrival and departure dates, which leads me to...
Have I bought a plane ticket yet? (and other frequently asked questions)
No, I have not bought a plane ticket yet! (Can someone pass this on to my boss, who asks me this every time he sees me?)
As I mentioned before, I am in the process of securing my religious worker's visa. This is a VERY involved process! Only once I have the visa can I purchase a plane ticket. I am expecting to do this around mid-October.
FAQ: Where will I stay?
Jaz has offered to let me stay with her until I can find more permanent housing.
FAQ: Am I planning to do a bunch of traveling while I'm there?
Actually, no. My mission is to serve Madrid, plus I'll be broke [no job - remember?], so I don't anticipate a whole bunch of traveling around. I'm totally okay with that, though. I'll have plenty of time to travel later because - hello! - teacher here! Summers off! And also, I'm sure I'll do some traveling with (hopefully) friends I make there.
FAQ: Am I a Barcelona or Real Madrid fan?
Barcelona all the way! And, will I go to a game? Heck to the YES, if it's at all possible! [Although I hear the games may be hard to get into? Please, God, say it ain't so!]
FAQ: But what about my condo (that I just bought last year)?
I've hired a property management company, who is working as we speak to get a renter into my condo as soon as August 1st. That means I'll be moving back with my parents next weekend, who have graciously accepted me after thinking they were finally rid of me!
Well, folks, that's all I've got for now! Like I mentioned earlier, you can expect one of these per month. I'll shoot for the end of August for the next one :)
I'm going to be off blogger and most other media for an indefinite amount of time.
This is because I am fighting for break-through in some areas of my life.
It's also tied to my new year's resolutions :)
Wishing you successful new year's resolutions,
I've been thinking it's high time for a reflection on my goals for 2014, what with summer drawing to a close and a new school year on the horizon.
To make things just a bit fun, I'll rate myself just like I do on my students' report cards:
1 - not able to do this without help
2 - can do some of it
3 - totally on target!
4 - above and beyond what was expected
And now for my goals:
Faith - (More consistent time with Jesus)
I have been having time with Jesus pretty darn consistently this year, complemented by the devotional Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. What God has been showing me through these times is that I need to stay in touch with Him throughout the day, asking for His advice before making decisions and asking for His strength in the face of temptations.
Rating: 3
Food - (healthier eating)
I've made a permanent change to non-dairy beverages. I'm aware of my gluten intake. Buuuut, I think I can continue to work in my intake of sweet and...darn it...chips.
Rating: 2
Family - (no tube time except with family or friends)
I now watch Emma Approved exclusively with my Mom. I don't watch TV, movies, or YouTube by myself (unless it's a quick clip or Sounders soccer highlights). However, let's be honest -- I have cheated on a few occasions, so for that reason I give myself a ....
Rating: 2.5
Fourth-grade - (1 random act of kindness per day at work)
TOTALLY dropped the ball on this!
Rating: 1
Fun - (trip to Mexico)
Okay, not only did I stinking go to Mexico this summer, but I also went camping twice (soon to be four times), stayed over at my sister's a couple of times, and hosted 1 youth and 2 adult sleepovers at my house this summer, complete with outdoor movies, swimming, and hide and seek in the dark! Have I had fun? Oh, yes!
Rating: 4
So there you have it! I can see that the random act of kindness and healthy eating goals can become more of a focus for me.
Did you set goals for 2014? How are yours coming along?
It's hard to believe the school year ended already! My classroom is bare and empty, and 24 chairs will sit cold until 24 little bottoms warm them again in September.
I've already moved on to next year in my mind - and in my classroom! After a weekend to relax while camping, I was re-energized to get into my classroom this morning. I doled out last year's files to the 5th grade teachers and created new files for my incoming class.
Before I go any further down the road of preparation for next year, though, I'd like to take some time to reflect on the last year - what worked and what didn't.
Here's what worked:
Sock Snowmen
As a culmination to our fraction unit and a salute to the winter, we measured fractional amounts of rice to create these adorable sock snowmen! The kids cradled and loved them, PLUS they went home as decor for the holidays! This was a fun way to put our basic fraction learning to practice. I wrote all about it here. C.I.A.
After reading The Read-Aloud Handbook, I was more convinced than ever of the importance of read-aloud for kids of any age! I was fortunate enough to come across a reading program that uses a shared reading of a novel to teach key CCSS reading AND writing standards! It's called the C.I.A. approach. You can read more about it on the C.I.A. website.
Anyway, I put this to the test and tried my first deep study of a read-aloud/shared read novel. Each kid followed along with a copy of the same book I was reading from. Together, we analyzed the main character's feeling, inferred his motivations, deduced the author's message, and summarized our findings. Complete with sentence stems and turn and talk partners, we were finally able to have intellectual conversations about a novel, and EVERY child had access to a grade-level text!
I am planning on doing two C.I.A. units next year. My Favorite No
My colleague showed me how she did exit tickets. She calls it "My Favorite No." It's a quick way to sort your exit tickets and turn them into a learning opportunity for all. I wrote about it here. What's awesome is the kids were super engaged during this activity! Calendar Math
I used Stephanie's 4th grade calendar math template this year and saw my kids master skills I couldn't have made happen otherwise! Factors, multiples, median, mode - easy peasy for these guys, thanks to Calendar Math! Rolling our Numbers
We followed in the footsteps of Kipp Journey Academy and rolled our numbers routinely to help us memorize the multiples of the numbers 1 through 9. Again, this activity had high engagement, which is half the battle! Also, it was great to see kids reciting the chants as they practiced their multiplication facts.
I felt empowered through these chants to help kids who struggled with basic facts move in the direction of memorizing them. I knew the chants had been successful when one such student declared, "oh, 4's are easy!"
Basic Facts Banana Splits
Speaking of multiplication facts, a huge motivator for my kids to master their facts was our basic facts banana split party!
As we studied each fact, students had the opportunity to test out of that fact. As they did, they earned their way to a banana split.
For their 0's, they earned a place mat. For their 1's they earned a bowl. For their 2's, they earned a banana...and so on until they earned an entire banana split!
This was culminated with an actual banana split party, where each kid got to enjoy what they had earned! This was the most motivating thing I have found for basic facts! Kids were practicing facts at home and requesting to stay in from recess so they could re-take a fact quiz!
Aaand, here's what flopped:
Writing entry task
I began the year with high hopes that my students would become writers! With this vision, I instituted a daily writing entry task! That's a great idea, you think! Yes, it is! So, why did it flop? Well, simply because I did not have enough time to grade and provide feedback on student work often enough to make it worthwhile. It's as simple as that. Communication Journals
This was another step toward my vision of creating a classroom full of writers. Each kid had a journal they would write to me in once a week. And I would write back. Yeah. That's the catch. Once again, I just could not keep up with the pile of journals to respond to. However, I did LOVE interacting one-on-one with my students in this way. Our conversations allowed me to see into their lives in a beautiful way. I'm thinking I'll try this again next year on a more infrequent basis! Team Tasks
As a GLAD-trained teacher, I went all-out and had teams work on open-ended tasks while I worked with a small group of students. The problem: poor quality. I WILL try this again next year, but perhaps with some more guidelines and/or sample products for the kids to follow.
I-Time Independents
Similarly, I needed something for the majority of my class to do while I met with a small reading group every day. So I came up with this GREAT idea - each kid had two weeks to complete 3 projects: a book report, a writing piece, and a poem recitation!
This was actually really fun and (I believe) has great potential. However, like with my other flops, the problem came down to not being able to provide guidance and/or prompt feedback. Imagine grading 3 projects for each of 10 kids in one day! That's insane!
So there you have it - the first-rate successes from the year, and the unfortunate flops.
Reflection is always motivating!
Already the wheels are turning... what will the coming school year hold?
