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!

Kites

I spent a day at the beach, a few weeks back. My Aunt, Uncle, Mom, Dad. And Me.

The weather was perfect, and we lay on the sand under the British sun, naming as many films beginning with the letter A, B, C, etc..

Dad brought his kite too. Well, if is wasn't for my mom he wouldn't have. She got it out the loft just before we left, in case it was windy enough to fly. I'm glad she thought of it. We had so much fun.

So Dad and I spent about 30 minutes working out how to put it together. The last time it was out of it's case was probably about 12 years ago...

I could tell Dad was excited. He's usually quite solemn, but I could see the anticipation in his eyes and his eagerness to get it up in the air!

I held the Kite as high as I could hold it, Dad gripped the handles, and we walked further apart until the string was taut.

I let go, Dad held on, and up it went.

And after a few minutes getting used to it, Dad gave up to reigns and let me try.

It was the first time I've flown a kite, I think. And it was awesome.

Soaring. Flying. But not quite free.

See the thing about Kites, is unless they are held tightly and the string kept taut, they just fall. They're freedom to fly about meters above the ground and do loop-the-loops and whatever other tricks, is only made possible through being anchored to something on back on ground.

Something unshakeable, that won't fail, fall or let go.

Let go.. and the kite comes crashing down.

Remind you of anything?

Well it sounds like me.

My desire is to be free. To do what I please. To please myself. To look out for number one. To ensure my happiness and success. To soar and fly and show off what I can do!

This is my human nature. Sinful, yes. Selfish, yes.

But I am still created in His image and made for eternity.

And I am being changed in to His likeness, more and more everyday I hope.

The paradox is that I am free, when He has full reign over my life. When He is in control, when He is holding the reigns, when He is guiding my life. When I am held tight in his marvellous, gentle, capable hands, I am free.

I live in the tension that when I die, I live. When I'm weak, I am strong. When I give up, I gain. When I am held, I am free.

The Kingdom of God is not backwards or upside down. But it makes sense.

It seems full of paradoxes. It's not easy to grasp, and especially not easy to live out. But God existed before time. He knows how things work. His ways are not our ways.

In a strict sense, I cannot break the rules. They endure, for they reflect the way things are. I can only break myself against them.

- John Ortberg, When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box