Days 44 & 45.. not quite the end of the Summer! Couple of hours to go! #45daysofsummer

Well I'm not quite finished as there is still one more evening left of the summer! And I've not yet posted about yesterday either! So here goes..
Yesterday will be summed up in more photos than words (but a picture paints a thousand words though, right?!) and today's events as well as an overall (short!) summary of my entire summer follows at the bottom..

Laura gave me a brief but detailed tour of Bilbao in around 2 hours! I decided that if I would live anywhere in Spain (although of course I haven't been to every place in Spain) I would live in Bilbao. I loved it there! The atmosphere, the buildings, the river. Everything. We started our tour at what I think is the Old Square.

And walked round to the New Square (which didn't look that new to be fair, but was wonderful and was lined with cafés and bars and later on there was live music here!)

The library was rather modest and hidden, I felt. But had a grand door that was worth a snap.

A tiny little stage for the City Orchestra.

Live music in the street! This was on one of the main streets in the city, and had lots of shops and gorgeous little pastelerías (cake shops).

We reached the Guggenheim Museum! Selfie necessary.

A giant puppy made from flowers. Why not?

The Spider in the distance... Can you see the bride and groom in the distance having their wedding photos with said spider? Weird.

And the exterior of the museum was enough to look at without having to go in! 

The spider...! Crazy. Weird. Bride and groom finished and moved on to some other unusual spot for the rest of their shoot.

View down the river.

Arty bridge.

We went for a quick bite to eat in a gorgeous little Tapas bar in the New Square.

 

There was sooo much to choose from!

 Really, so much!! But the kind Spanish waiters helped us decide what to have and poured my mosto (grape juice) for me in a wine glass with ice, an orange slice and an olive on a stick. Wonderful.

Basketball World Cup fever - this year it is held in Bilbao!

There were loads of people milling around and taking part in all the activities in the streets.

We got free balloons :) yay!

And then, after a spot of lunch, and really all to quickly, I caught the bus to the airport.. Where my case was 26kg instead of 23kg and I had to get rid of some stuff and move some things around in a fluster as the queue for the Vueling desk was huge and out the door of the airport! After misunderstandings about hand luggage and being sad that my last proper Spanish conversation was a total muddle, all was well in the end and I reminded myself of my competent and lengthy conversation with Juanma the previous day, and my entire time with Laura which was almost totally in Spanish!! I landed back in London last night where mom and dad met me to take me home! Phew! (We did get lost in the countryside looking for a pub to eat dinner in, but alas gave up and ended up having pizza in Oxford services.) Home and bed. Yes.

Today, on my last official day of my Summer, I had a well-needed lie in, before heading to church at Zion. It didn't occur to me at the time, but thinking about it now, it was very nice to be sat in an English service, to be able to understand everything without my brain working on over time to try and translate. And how good to worship, and let God revive and refresh me. And don't get me wrong, I'm still tired and I'll be hitting the ground running as I start back at work tomorrow but I am so excited about what He is doing in my life at the moment and how clearly I can hear Him speaking to me, challenging me, encouraging and inspiring me. I hope and pray that in the busyness of this new season, I will still be able to hear Him and make time do so. 

This afternoon, we celebrated with some close family friends of ours. Two birthdays and three wedding anniversaries in these past couple of weeks! How exciting to be able to celebrate 55, 52 and 25 years of marriage with those couples, in a world when so often marriages have broken down. What a blessing to share with them in their celebrations today :)

And finally tonight, a brief but detailed and very exciting meeting about the future plans at church and about where God is leading us as a community in terms of our building plans!! 

Sadly no time for Grey's Anatomy tonight (soon I hope!) because the last 1.5 hours of this summer, I intend to be sleeping in order to be up for an early start tomorrow!

But what an incredible Summer it has been. Of adventure and challenge. Of learning and growing. Of new places, new people and new opportunities.

And what an incredible God I serve, who takes away, but who also gives in abundance. Who mends and restores what is broken and lost (and is continuing to do so). Who I don't always understand but who I am learning to trust more and more. Who makes my paths straight. Who sings over me and whispers words of love and truth to me at the times when I most need to hear them. Who is faithful to His promises. Who has said 'yes' to much more than He has said 'no'. Who has given me so much more than a great Summer. He has given me hope. He has given me Jesus. He is all I need.

#45daysofsummer #blessed

Now, what's next?!

Day 34 & 35, León Cathdral, Tapas and Romanian history. #45daysofsummer

We went for Tapas last night, because I said that's the one thing I'd like to do while I am here that I haven't managed to do yet! It was quite a different than what I expected. We all scrubbed up (well, the girls at least), and walked in to the city centre where they showed me the cathedral and told me stories about the history of it's construction.

Spectacular building! Shame it was too late to go inside as it was already closed when we're got there. 

Of course - cathedral selfie.

Actually not sure what this was but there were lots of hand prints so we found the one that our hands fit best.

So much detail!

El Topo is a little café / restaurant right outside the cathedral. A Topo is a 'mole' (the animal that lives underground). I think, from the story they told me, the legend is that the guy who build the cathedral found a giant mole that every night ate part of the cathedral or tried to break it down while it was being constructed. And the the skin of the mole is still inside the cathedral to this day? I think they could have been joking with me but that's apparently why that restaurant is there.

We didn't eat here, but not too far from the cathedral, we found 'my' bar haha.

Then, getting impacient with hunger, we began the hunt for a tapas bar. What I didn't realise is that they don't just go to one restaurant and order loads of plates to share.. They move from bar to bar and order drinks, and with the drinks you get a few free plates of tapas or pinchos. We ended up going to 5 different bars (not really like bars in England) and ordering little drinks like grape juice (mosto) and fizzy orange (butano) and getting sharing plates of tapas. Then after 10 minutes or so, moving on to the next place! It was such a good night - walking from place to place, getting to know some of the youth of the church and trying lots of different foods! It all felt so Spanish :) even the part in the final bar we ate in, when the waiter sent a waitress over to our table to ask for my number and I (politely as I could in my broken Spanish) said no and explained that I don't live here in Spain. When a different waiter came over to ask again for him, and to ask where I'm from, Betsy got impatient and firmly explained (slightly shouted? I'm not sure - can never tell whether their louder tone of voice is anger or just emphasis!) that we were really hungry and we would prefer him to stop asking for my number and take our order so we can eat. Haha! All very Spanish....!!!

On our way towards home before the final tapas stop. Another lovely building in León - they are some many beautiful places there. It's such a gorgeous city!

Today, Betsy, Bianca and I went round Adolfo's house for lunch - his mum invited us round to eat with them and with some of their family friends. It was a lovely afternoon and after eating we all sat round the table talking (me, listening mostly..), which is something that I have really enjoyed about the Spanish culture. After eating, they sit and chat for ages at the table and it's so chilled and relaxed - well animated and loud at the same time because that's in their nature, but I just like that!
Afterwards, anyway, we walked the dog and watched a movie (Year One, in Spanish..) before heading over to the church for the weekly prayer meeting. Admittedly, I didn't understand much from the meeting tonight - I think I was too tired. So I just read my bible for a while, and prayed for things I understood and simply gave over to God what I didn't understand. I had some good conversations after the service with people who introduced themselves to me because they didn't recognise me. I felt a lot more confident to speak with them because I'm finding that I am still understanding more and more and getting better at that. Frustratingly, the speaking part is still the most difficult part for me.

Betsy said to me tonight, "the only things we talk about are food and tiredness and whether you're happy!" Which I suppose is partly true (there is a running joke that whenever they ask me whether I am hungry / tired, I always answer 'un poco'!) But actually, it's hard when you spend a lot of time with people and have the same experiences as them throughout the day, to then talk together about those things, especially if you're with a lot of people who are fluent in the language and who talk about things as we go! However, with new people or with Bianca's family who I don't see much during the day, we have more to say to each other about the day, different things that have happened etc. But the other thing is that when there are more than a couple of people, the conversations just go so fast that I can just about keep up with what's being said and follow the conversation, but if I start to think about things to say or formulating speech in my head, I can't do that and keep up with understanding everything! I have realised that I can sit and understand pretty much all of a conversation (obviously, not every conversation - but after catching the context and general jist, I am able to follow pretty much the whole conversation!) but as soon as someone asks me a question, it fires a different part of my brain which then can't cope with listening, understanding, translating, formulating an answer and sending that to my mouth in a reasonable amount of time.. Ahh it's so hard!

But tonight on the way back from church, Mihaela and I had a conversation about our day and when we got home, she showed me a map of Romania that they have mounted on their wall. She is originally from Romania but they have lived here in Sspain for many years! She told me lots about different parts of the country, about her city and her family and friends but also about what it was like growing up as a Christian during the time of Communism there. And I was asking questions and active in the conversation, not simply listening. I found that I was hardly thinking about translating what she way saying, I was simply understanding immediately. So that was encouraging. Ooh I love seeing and feeling progress!

The map of Romania in 1938, that's up in their hall. 

Day 33 - Deciding to make a change. Why not? #45daysofsummer

When I heard last night that we were going to the beach today, I was well excited! When I heard that it was just Mihaela, Bianca, Betsy and me, I was even more excited. Girls day out at the beach?! Wooo!

Then I heard it was a two and a half hour drive away.
Less excited at that point.

However, today has been a truly wonderful day!
Admittedly, I slept a lot of the way for the journey there (hey, what's new?! Everyone knows I sleep in the car all the time! And I did warn them beforehand..) But we stopped on the way there, part way up a mountain, almost 2000m above sea level on the winding roads that took us to Gijón, to marvel at the breathtaking views.

It was freezing. But it was gorgeous.

We continued the journey (I went back to sleep) and before I knew it, we were in Gijón. Ready to party.
Well, we were certainly ready for a day on the beach at least, but the sky was rather cloudy and it looked like a storm was brewing in the distance. We braved it anyway!

Waves!

Waves enough for surfing!

And other people with the same idea as us - who cares about the storm?! We're at the beach!

And something occurred to me today, that I hadn't thought of up until now on my travels. There are some definite challenges about coming to new places on you're own and trying to make friends when you can't fully function in their language.. But there are some really great opportunities too.
I realised today, that even though I have spent almost 10 days with these girls, they still don't know all that much about me (herein lies both the challenge and the opportunity). I wasn't about to spoil the party and tell them how much I liked the look and idea of the beach, but that actually I really don't like sand or sea pretty much at all... So I didn't tell them. And therefore had to pretend at first (or persuade myself) that I did actually like it. They knew no different. And rather than it feeling like lying, it occurred to me that I had a chance here to start something new, to change something, to try something that I had previously not liked, amongst people who were getting to know me and find out for myself that I don't altogether hate it. In fact, I loved it!
We only spent about an hour, maybe a little longer, on the beach. And a lot of that time, Betsy, Bianca and I were in the sea. First paddling, then running into the waves! And the waves were big! Huge, crashing, salt-in-your-mouth-nose-eyes-and-everywhere kind of waves. I tried to keep my hands and face out of the water initially, but it was impossible so I gave up and in that letting go, ended up having so much fun, getting drenched and finding out that I can enjoy something that I have previously dreaded! Such an amazing feeling!

We got dry (freezing whilst doing so!) And went in search of other bonitas vistas (beautiful views)...

Salty hair!

Getting dry before lunch.

Ideal spot for viewing the coast.

 

Selfie necessary.

Another, more smiley selfie, necessary.

Host-mom, Mihaela! She drove us all the way, and around the city, and looked after our stuff while we swam. Superstar. 

Oh and then we got chocolate con churros. Oh yes. 

Something else that's new today. I also decided to be brave try and start speaking my thoughts out loud. As yet, I haven't really been quick enough to translate a passing thought in to Spanish and speak it out loud in time for it to still be relevant so I've just not bothered.. I have managed a couple of witty responses and sarcastic comments, but today tried to forget about making mistakes and put in to words some ideas and thoughts I had at different points in the day - about how funny it is hearing little kids speaking Spanish, asking more about where we are and verbalising geneal observations.. And its amazing how much new conversation and vocabulary it opened up! Today felt a lot richer in so many ways. :)

I only slept for a short amount of time on the journey back. Mostly, I watched out the window as we passed yet more stunning scenery. We drove through various mountainous regions, and I kept thinking of Moses and wondering if these were anything like Mount Sanai.. Probably not, but I liked the thought and felt close to nature and to God! Particularly with all that is in the news if late, I just feel so thankful and so very blessed. Trying not to take these experiences for granted.

Day 32: Nothing is Wasted. #45daysofsummer

Today, a group of young people from the church here in León went for a walk around a local mountain park. It's not fair to say we went on a mountain walk, because although I think the place was called a mountain, it wasn't that mountain-like and the walk to park was longer than the actual walk itself. Anyway, regardless of where exactly we walked, walk we did and it was very (very!) hot today. We stopped a few times. First for a devotional time, which Betsy led and we spent some time praying for some situations that the youth have going on and for situations around the world.

We also stopped for food. And later just to rest in some shade (I napped on a bench. Well needed). And later again, on the way home, to dip our feet in the river. It was so cool and refreshing!

During the summer months, you're not allowed to have BBQs in the parks because they have so little rain here that fires can start and spread really easily. On the way there and back, we passed a field that was a perfect example of this.
It was all charred and burned, remnants of what once filled the field lay scattered around and the faint scent of fire filled the air as we passed.
But in amongst the ashes, new life was growing - plants finding nourishment in harsh conditions. Dry and perhaps weary, but alive and persevering.

I was reminded of a song that I needed to remember again today. It filled my head and the words sank deeply into my heart and reminded me that in the hands of my redeemer, nothing is wasted. 

From the ruins

From the ashes

Beauty will rise

From the wreckage

From the darkness

Glory will shine.

I sure hope so. I'm choosing to trust Him.

Feel like I've hit a bit of a wall the past couple of days, but I think that's only because I had three full on weeks and have finally got some time to slow down (although it's not feeling that slow yet and that also probably has something to do with it!) I am still learning, but people can tell I'm tired and I feel less willing to try and speak unless I really need to! Ah it's such a challenge learning a new language like this. Aboslute kudos to people who have moved to different countries and learnt the language whilst living there / set up their life / made new friends etc.. It ain't easy!

But I am encouraged that Nothing is Wasted. My God is creative, and has a plan. He is using me here and is using this experience to shape me somehow! Like the plants in the field, though I am weary, I'm persevering. 

And I just heard that we're having a girls day out at the beach tomorrow. That's more like it. Vamos a la playa!

Gospel Choir Concert, sábado el 9 de agosto. #45dayofsummer

As I said I would, here are some pictures from the concert that we did last weekend!

I still haven't found a copy of the video but may be able to get a copy of the audio. Either way, if and when I find it, I will post it up here :)

I shared Lluna's book for the week during the practices. These were the songs we did! Recognise any? It was fun to learn some in Castellano, but I'm greatful that many were in English because I would have had a real hard time remembering all the lyrics!

Marta drove us to the castle (it wasn't a palace like I thought, but it was well impressive anyway!). She has a white convertible Audi, we drove with the roof down and arrived in style (with slightly dishevelled hair).

The walk from the car. The castle grew on the horizon as we walked through the busy streets, past fairgrounds and night stalls, cars parked in the middle of the walk way..

This was the set up.

Quick pre-concert selfie infront of the castle. Obligatory. (Nata, Jenny, Eli and me).

Milling around getting ready. Ahh it was so exciting being a part of this!

Esther on the drums. She doesn't smile.

With Betsy. We didn't really know each other here but she helped me remember the melodies (which I forgot frequently at this particular concert because my body was absolutely ready for bed when we started the concert at 11pm, and my brain refused to function fully.) 

Another selfie. We had time. And my nexus. Had to be done. Sunset in the background (atardecer en español)

JP (juan-pablo) was on guitar (incredible guitarist!) and Guille on bass. Guille plays loads of instruments (also saw him playing violin and drums very very well, assuming there are more) - he's one of those people who seems to be good at everything!

Esther across the way. Starting warm up here (calientamiento). As we started singing, the crowds began to grow. Not sure how many were there - my guess is a few hundred. Many seated, many standing, some who came for a while, some who were shouting 'guapo!' (handsome!) at some of our guys who were performing and also some of the group from the camp who weren't part of the performance. Overall, the performance went so well. I had more energy on the previous night, but this was the finale so it felt like it meant more! Whilst there I thought, I need to get involved at a choir at home but I'm not sure I have the time. I'm so glad I can be part of the Earls staff choir at least, so I get to experience a bit of it :) just love to sing! And the challenges of new harmonies, following the music and the director, and remembering the lyrics are really good! 

Post-concert (obviously couldn't take any during it!) But these girls were wonderful and we were all buzzing afterwards! I even look quite brown here stood next to them which is unusual! Must have been the flash of the camera...

Kathlynn, my gorgeous american buddy who is fluent in Spanish and helped me so much during the week. Miss her!

Esther always spoke really fast, and has a really (really!) strong accent so I barely understood anything she ever said to me. But we were still friends and it started with me 'killing' her in the game earlier in the week, only to discover I got the wrong Esther (there were 3). It didn't matter though!

More selfies. Why not?!

Ha.

On the walk back to the car, the castle was all lit up and shadowy. So beautiful. 

So there's a bit of an insight of the evening! This weekend is looking quite different but that's for another post!