La Primera Semana de Clases de Inglés! (The First Week of English Classes!)

I am now officially an English teacher! We completed the first week of English classes following the theme of La Vida (life). Using the stories of Adam and Eve, Jesus’ Resurrection, the Feeding of the 5,000, and God’s promise to provide our needs, we learned about body parts, feelings, food, and clothing. The kids seemed to really enjoy the games, activities, and songs I had. I guess when kids get to sing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, make fruit salad, and construct outfits out of toilet paper, it’s always a fun time. By the end of the week, they were able to practice having conversations with each other and I was really proud of how much they remembered!   

The kids have been friendly and fun to work with, but the parents and adults I’ve met have also been great! Many of them ask me why I’m here in Cartagena to teach English for free during my summer vacation. This has given me some great opportunities to talk about my faith and belief in Christ and the Lutheran Church. It’s not always easy to express myself in that way, but I’ve been told that what I say makes sense.  :)  The people seem to be open to the idea too.

One thing I really like about Cartagena is the sense of community among the people. The parents, neighbors, café workers, all seem to know and care about each other. One of the neighbor ladies is named Noemi, who is from Venezuela too. To use a favorite GRE word, she is a loquacious woman who kindly offered to assist me in the English classes. She’s been a valuable resource in the classroom and a very interesting conversation partner outside of the class. Noemi took me to the old part of Cartagena and I was able to see the port, the university, the cathedral, and enjoy a café con leche. Between talking to her and Loisys, I’ve been learning many Venezuelan words. We joked that I’m going to be “venelozana” after these four weeks! Sometimes it seems like each Spanish speaking country has its own vocabulary! Kind of crazy, but it makes sense. Between finding the right word and the right accent, learning Spanish has become even harder…

Yesterday, Loisys and Tony took me to a Protestant Evangelical church. Although it had a big room, speakers, a band, and lots of people, Tony and I decided it was very empty. The sermon focused on James 1:22-23 (it turns out James translates to Santiago…I was so confused!), which talks about not just hearing the word, but actually doing good works and studying the word. During the 40 minutes we sat listening to the sermon (he still wasn’t finished when we left), the pastor didn’t mention Jesus once. It seriously made me so sad. He was throwing all this Law at people about how we need to do good works and always want to study the Bible or we are lying to ourselves. The people had two options: to feel bad about not studying the Bible enough and believe that they need to work harder on their own, or to feel good that they did study the Bible enough and that they were doing well on their own. Both of these thoughts focus on what we do and not on what Christ has done for us on the cross. I recognize it’s crucial to hear the Law, yet I felt bad that these people were being left without the joy and hope of the Gospel.

I don’t deny that doing good things for others and studying the Bible are important, but I believe the desire to do those things comes from the faith that God has given us. And it becomes inevitable! By opening your home to a girl from the United States, directing a children’s choir, volunteering, praying for a friend, traveling to Spain to teach English or whatever, we’re all doing good things. Not because we are good, perfect people on our own, but because of how Christ works through us.    

I pray that He continues to use each and every one of you!

Wish me luck on Week 2: Family and Home!

Cartagena

Hola a todos!

I am now in Cartagena and getting ready to begin English classes on Monday! I’m discovering that this experience in Spain is very different from when I was in Oviedo last year. I have already had to speak so much Spanish! Last night I had a headache, and I’m not sure if it was from travel and lack of sleep, or from having to think and speak in Spanish. It’s getting easier though! And everyone has been very patient and understanding, so I appreciate that a lot. And last night I slept almost 10 hours, so I think I’m back on track now!

The family I’m staying with has been so kind and welcoming! Antonio and Loisys are from Venezuela and they have two adorable children, Thiany and Sebastian. I’ve gotten to play with the kids a little and it’s funny how easy it can be to communicate with children. Kids don’t really ask questions, they just start playing with you. It’s also funny that having dance parties and listening to the Black-Eyed Peas has become an international activity. I’ve always thought music was the universal language…

I’ve been walking to the school with Loisys so we can meet the students and their families and tell them more about the English program that’s going to start on Monday! The people seem friendly and enthusiastic about it. I think it’s going to be a great way to expose people to the Lutheran Church! The lessons I’ve planned all focus on a story from the Bible, so hopefully they’ll learn English and some good stories to remember.

I’ve also learned a prayer! Instead of our “Come Lord Jesus”:

Gracias Señor por estos alimentos,

Bendícenos en el nombre de Jesús.

Amen

I’ll write more once the classes start! Hasta luego!

Un beso grande!

Spain Trip II Eve

Hello everyone!

Tomorrow at 5:00 pm, I will begin my journey to Spain. Last year around this time I was in the same situation, preparing for a long trip, trying to fit as many items into one suitcase without going over 50 lbs., nervous about forgetting something, sad to leave, and filled with excitement about what lay ahead. Then, I was coming home from Spain after spending a semester studying abroad and tomorrow I am returning to this country, but this time in a very different context.

Last year I had the opportunity to improve my Spanish skills, travel around Spain, and interact with native Spanish speakers. It was an amazing experience I will never forget! However, in my talks with my conversation partner, host family, and others during my travels, I realized that although Spain is filled with some of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world and is the destination for thousands of Christian pilgrims, very few of its citizens actually enter a church.

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod World Missions has partnered with the Lutheran Church in Argentina to create The Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Española (The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Spain). They have been working in Spain for over 10 years spreading the Gospel and offering Divine Services. Part of how they interact with the community is through education, and practicing English has become a big part of their outreach. Since I was lucky enough to be born in the United States, watch Sesame Street, and learn English as my first language, I have been blessed with skills that can help further their mission. I will be working in Cartagena and Madrid for 4 weeks each, teaching English to children and practicing speaking English with adults in the community.   

There are about 46 million people living in Spain and 100 of them are confirmed members of the Lutheran Church. By May 18 at 4:30 pm (9:30 am in Iowa), there will be 101. I’m praying that God will use me to create some fun for the kids in Spain, teach them some English, and share the knowledge of the Good News of the love and forgiveness that is ours through Christ.

Please keep me in your prayers as I go! If you are interested in finding out more about this mission, there are two websites that describe a little more:

http://www.wix.com/luteranos/decada (in Spanish, but has lots of pictures!)

http://www.wix.com/luteranos/ieleproject (in English)

Thank you so much to everyone who has already supported me with donations, prayers, and love!