Wanted: December update

Hello, all!

I have been in Madrid for just about three weeks now.

How has it been? (you may ask)

In fact, you wouldn't be the only one to ask me that.

Various people I have met here have asked, "Y cómo te ha ido? Qué piensas de Madrid? How has it been? What do you think of Madrid?"

I fumble around for a "Muy bien!" or a "Me gusta," while puzzling over why it's such an awkward question to answer.

Not until now did I understand why. Remember why I came to Madrid?

(Oh, this is a good segue into posting a link to all my previous posts on the matter! See below:

July: The Comeback
August: While I'm Waiting
October: An Exercise in Trust
November: Spain-bound!)

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!👇

Hasta pasta, 

Dahlia

Spain-bound! - November update

This is a portion of the chronicles of my year-long adventure. To read previous installments, please click on the links below:

July: The Comeback

August: While I'm Waiting

October: An Exercise in Trust

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 ✈

Hasta pasta, 

Dahlia

An Exercise in Trust: October Update

"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. 👇

To read previous updates, click on the link(s) below:
July update: The Comeback
August update: While I'm Waiting

While I'm Waiting: August Update

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 ;)

Hasta pasta, 

Dahlia

The Comeback

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 :)

Hasta pasta, 

Dahlia