9/19/07:

"God Working Overtime" - by Julie Preisler

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Phillipians 4:13 

This has always been one of my favorite verses but it was put to the test this summer when I studied abroad in Spain.  Could I really live in a foreign country 2 thousand miles away from my family, friends, and everything that was familiar to me?  Could I communicate in a language in which I felt very incompetent?  Could I live with a strange family of whom I knew nothing about except their names and ages?  These are only some of the numerous questions that plagued me as I prepared to leave for Toledo, Spain.  Even though I knew I could do anything with God as my strength I was more than a little scared as I boarded my plane to Madrid that 14th day of June which now seems so long ago.  The first couple days in Spain were really difficult for me.  I hardly knew anybody and I felt frustrated and alone because I couldn’t understand my host family and the other Spaniards I met.  After studying the language for 6 years how could I be having this much difficulty I thought day after day.  And without the community of Old St. Joe’s and the fellowship of my friends to keep me accountable I felt very distant from God.  However, God had never left me, I only had to look a little harder to find him.  Eventually I became accustomed to the Spanish culture and me, a girl who rarely takes naps, learned to fully embrace their daily siesta time.  I also met a friend who lead a weekly bible study at the school I attended in Toledo.  This being an activity I frequent often at St. Norbert I missed it very much and found renewed strength by participating in the group in Spain.  My speaking ability and comprehension slowly improved over time and while I am far from fluent today I have made a lot of progress.  At first I was wondering how I would make it through the summer but by the end I was asking myself where it had gone.  To me studying abroad seemed like an insurmountable goal but by the grace of God I achieved it. 

“Y a todo puedo hacer frente, pues Cristo es quien me sostiene.”  Filipenses 4:13
Gracias por su atencion.