The End of My 23rd Year of Life

I remember when I graduated from High School I received the quintessential gift, Dr. Suess's "Oh the places you will go!" Its so true, especially when God's turning the pages. This was my second birthday celebrated out of the US while serving God. He has taken me places unimaginable and humbling. This year I celebrated with classmates at Wendy's conversing in a new language and my students for the play I am directing threw me a little party before practice with a gluten free cake. Then my english students wanted to learn the Happy Birthday song so they could sing it to me, so I taught them and then they sang it to me. So many little joys that make distance from family and friends bearable. God always gives me what I need to get through what He leads me to. I can't wait to see Oh the places He will take me in this 24th year.

In the midst of it all

Friday was the half way point of my official spanish education. At my school you sit down with each of your teachers and they tell you what you are doing good and what you need to work on. I was a bit concerned about this, because I have been on a plateau of learning recently. However, it ended up being a big encouragement and what I need to start climbing up the mountain of spanish once again. Many people say, "it's not how much you know, but how well you say what you know." It's not worth knowing a lot of spanish words if you pronounce them so bad they can't even understand you, so my goal has always been to speak spanish with out an accent. One of my teachers told me that when I am speaking with words I am really familiar with I speak like a native, the goal my teachers have placed in front of me, is to increase my vocabulary. So here I go, eating words, hoping they will stick in my brain.

Update: I am in the second stage of application with EBM, the mission I hope to go with. Also, starting to look around Paraiso, the town my church is in, for possible places to live. On top of all that, had a great sunday with the guy who is leading the youth group, discussing the philosophy of ministry for the group. Then we had a great turn out for youth group with good interaction from the students. Praise the Lord for small steps of growth.