Spain- Who can believe it?

I have arrived in Spain. I continually have to pinch myself to make sure this is all real. I cant believe this is my life. Yesterday I spent part of my day reflecting on just how far Christ has brought me and just how different my life looks. It seems impossible. And in the world it would be. But with Christ all this is possible. He makes the unreachable reachable and the unremarkable something new. He redeems all that is lost if we just ask him. I am left in awe and so very thankful.

I left Virginia on Sunday after running lots of last minute errands. Lori then drove me to North Carolina. It was a difficult goodbye for me as I was leaving my closet friend in a unsure situation. Recent changes in her life made walking out this decision very difficult for me.What I really wanted was to put her and her dog on the plane with me and bring them along. What I had to do however was place her in God's hands. This was so hard for me, and my emotions were a wreck. Lori has been a good friend to me for many years. The enemy whispered to me "How can you leave her in her time of need?" But God....God says He loves her and will never forsake her. That he has a plan for her. So in those promises I must trust. To walk forward and hold a steady course with Gods help.  

I arrived on Tuesday in Gran Canaries, Spain. My travels were quite smooth and I did not have any problems. A few moments of discomfort and self doubt as I arrived at the airport and did not find my ride waiting for me. I began to question  if I flew in to the correct airport. You see the Canary Islands are a chain of islands and I suddenly wondered if I had booked a flight to the wrong one. My phone would not connect to the Internet in the airport and I had no way to call the ship as I turned off my phone service as I left the states. Anxiety began to rise after about  10 minutes- you see it is very unlike Mercy ships to not be there.. I walked outside to look for the very familiar white vehicles and back in again several times. Then I remembered to stop and pray. I decided it would be best to just sit down and wait a few minutes and then if no one came I could ask the police near by for help. It took only a few short minutes for a young women from the ship to walk up and ask if I was Jennifer. Her and several others from the ship had been waiting for me in International arrivals. I however had changed planes in Madrid so I had arrived  in domestic arrivals. So they were there all along and we were just  at opposite ends of the airport. We were soon loaded up and were on our way to the ship with no further problems.

Arriving in Port took only about 30 minutes. As we rounded a corner in the shipyard, the large freshly painted Ship loomed ahead. Ready or not-home sweet home for the foreseeable future. The next few hours consisted of embarking on the ship. Very similar to what happens if you take a cruise, if you have ever done that. I check in, get an ID badge with my picture, and deal with some of the legal paper work that needs to be done. I then get my room assignment and begin to drag my luggage to my room. I am grateful that Sue my new roommate and Hannah a young lady I know from my last visit here helped me to get my bags down 2 flights of stairs to my new room. My room is on the 3rd deck. Just at the water line. It has no windows and 3  compartments with 3 sets of bunk beds. I will eventually be sharing it with 5 other women. But as of this morning there are 3 of us with 1 more expected today. We have 1 bathroom/shower to share, with others available down the hall if needed. Space is limited but sufficient. I am thankful to have a bottom bunk. A small, but important thing I had prayed for.

I spent Wednesday unpacking and attempting to fit all I brought with me in one closet about 12 inches wide from floor to ceiling, two small shelves  and 1/2 of the 8 inches of space under my bed.  A challenge to say the least. I made most things fit and will donate the rest to the boutique on board. It is a small "thrift store" where crew can shop for things they might need for free. It is a good lesson for me to decipher what is really important in my life and "space worthy" and what things I can really live without. I also spent some time making my part of the cabin feel more like home. Hanging pictures and a few items from home that warm my heart or help me keep my focus where it needs to be. This is all done with magnets as you can not go around poking holes in a metal ship with a hammer and nails- bad things happen if you do!

Thursday and Friday were spent working in general supply. It was a work out to say the least. I walked more than double my step goal on both days. Up and down  many flights of stairs. In and out of freezers and refrigerators, weighing large amounts of produce as it arrived on board and moving pallets of freight.The men I worked with were very kind and often tried to stop me from doing the heavy lifting or pulling.  In the evening I was able to go to the local boardwalk with one of my roommates and see a little bit of Spain. It was really lovely. It was the perfect temperature,  in the 80's, with a cool ocean breeze and cool drink in my hand . We sat at a beach side cafe as the sun went down, listening to someone play a saxophone close by and just relaxing. Another pinch me moment for sure.

Yesterday, Saturday was a blessing for sure. My new supervisor Jim, my friends Marina and Kevin and I all went out to see the Island. Jim rented a car and planned out our route. We went from one small Spanish village to another covering a large portion of the island. We were able to see a large Gothic cathedral and sip warm cappuccino spiced with cinnamon while sitting in its shadow.
We saw elaborate mosaics, beautiful fountains and colorful markets. Lunch was delicious fresh fish served sea side in a small village along the way. It was grilled and wonderfully season with olive oil and roasted garlic. I could have lived without it being served with the head attached. Not to mention one of my traveling companions who proceeded to eat the head including the eye. Not the high point of the day for me.

We traveled high into the mountainous region of the island. This island was formed by a volcano and it was plain to see as our travel took us further and further into the remote places. The ragged coastline was breath taking. Large chunks of black volcanic  rock could be seen strewn about and it was very hot and arid as we traveled father from the sea. We ventured near the tallest part of the island and again stopped for coffee in a small sleepy village late in the afternoon. We were welcome into town by a very sweet elder of the village who spoke to us in Spanish and we could not really understand. I was able to discern he was saying we were welcome. The sweet melody of choir could be heard drifting out of the catholic church near by. I found myself drawn to the doorway to listen to the soothing sound. The church was over a hundred years old and I was dwarfed as I stood by the large wooden doors.

We then drove down the mountain through other villages and raced to the sea. the clouds could be seen rolling in from the ocean toward the island and it made for some beautiful scenes. We ended the evening eating pizza and listening to live music in the city park. It was festive and loud and a good end to a lovely day. Spanish women sat at nearby table using beautiful fans to cool themselves and the rose gardens nearby left a soft fragrance in the air.

It was a lovely day. A time of friends bonding and new explorations. I was really blessed by the generosity of my friends as I was allowed to pay for nearly nothing. It amazes me how the Lord continues to pour out blessing upon blessing on me and those around me.Undeserved kindness.  I ended the night lying in my bunk with a truly thankful heart. I am excited to see what this week brings. We will again be here in Spain and are scheduled to leave somewhere near the end of the week. Until then , I will  continue to look for opportunities to serve, pray for those ahead and those behind and hold all of them in my heart.
In His Service,
Jennifer

emotions

It has been a roller coaster of feelings for the last week or so. It began with an emotional high of excitement to be going on vacation with many of the people I love. Only to come crashing down to the bottom as we all fell, one by one like dominoes, to an unseen enemy, a violent and extremely effective intestinal virus. It was fast and furious and without mercy. Every one of the sixteen of us fell into its nasty grip. Each us of for at least 36 hours were incapable of much more than kneeling before the porcelain bowl or lying feebly in our bed. Gratefully we slowly regained our stamina and are once again functioning among the living. It was a stark reminder of just how weak our flesh really is.

Next came my moving sale. I choose to sell most of my earthly possessions as I prepare to leave for full time service with Mercy Ships. Life on the ship requires one to be a minimalist and it did not make sense to pay to store what moth and rust will destroy. I thought I was ready for this. However, you do not know how much you are really attached to the "things I can surrender for the Lord", until you have people riffling though it and trying to tell you that it is not worth what you are asking for it. Or better yet, to not even be interested in your special treasures because to them it is just a bunch of junk. I spent a good part of my day in small and frequent prayers of surrender. Giving back to God what was already his and attempting to remember that it would all burn in the fire someday anyway. At least this way someone would benefit from it. Including me by having some extra finances to live on for a while. At the end of the day I was thankful for the freedom and grateful for the Lord for helping me work through the process.

Next came word from the Ship that a fellow crew member has died unexpectedly. It comes as quite a shock. Again my emotions are up and down. My heart grieves for his wonderful wife and the children I have never met. How their hearts must be hurting.  I rejoice for Him, for I know without a doubt he is in the presence of our King. This man loved, loved, loved the Lord. He and his wife have spent the last three years serving Him on the ships and doing all they could to share the love and light of Jesus with the people of Africa. I know he is in a place where there are no more tears, no more suffering and no more pain. He now knows even as he is fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12. But oh for those left behind. How my heart hurts.

Then today, one of the people I hold most dear in  the world is having a very difficult day. Unexpected change, and having people directly lie to her and about her. Undeserved, hurtful and undefended. My heart aches for her. Here is  someone  who loves the Lord and lives each day in surrender to him. Yet trouble still comes and knocks on her door. It is especially hard for me to deal with as I am scheduled to leave in  just a few hours. Everything in me, in  this moment, wants to stay and defend her, to stand and fight with her and to see what the Lords plan for her is. And yet, my path is  clear. I am to walk forward. It is not my fight. He reminds me that he loves her more than I do. That today was  not a surprise to Him. That he's got  this. And so again I am faced with the choice to surrender, walk forward in obedience or stay and have my own way. Walking with the Lord has taught me that my way is not the best way. It has often been a painful lesson. And although walking forward is challenging and may include some pain, I know it is the only choice for me. His way is always better. I have never regretted choosing to follow.  I don't know exactly what the path ahead holds but I do know it is where I am called. So the rest I lay down. I leave it at the throne. His hands are big enough, His heart is big enough and His grace is sufficient....even for my roller coaster emotions.