Seasons

On Saturday, October 13th, I was practicing with the UCLA Women’s Basketball Team, as I have done since the summer, when I started my Graduate Assistant Manager position with the program. About two hours into practice, I went to make a cut to the basket, like I have thousands and thousands of times over the course of my basketball career, and pop. Ruptured Achilles. I know Kobe Bryant is my favorite player of all time, but I did not think I needed to share the same injury that he had to show my commitment! Although we now share similar scars, I did not get up, make two free throws, and walk off on my own. I, on the other hand, immediately went down and looked behind me to try and figure out who threw a ball at my leg as hard as they could. They say this is a very common thing for someone to think when they rupture their Achilles and I fell right in with that line of thinking. As I laid in pain on the court, I immediately asked the team trainer, “Is there any other injury that this could be outside of an Achilles?” She responded by saying, “Unfortunately, I do not think so.” That diagnosis led to an appointment with the surgeon, which was then followed up by surgery on Thursday, October 18th. Surgery was a success, but I now face a 6-9 month recovery and this injury has already resulted in quite a bit of change.

Change has always been something that has been hard for me, especially early on because although I am learning in a new environment, that new learning can come with quite a bit of discomfort. I finally felt like I was starting to come out of that discomfort as I was beginning to get a grasp on my role with the UCLA Women’s Basketball Team. I was playing with the team almost every day, making errands for people in the office and just being useful in anyway that I possibly could. With one cut to the basket, that was all taken away from me. Now there is still work that I can do with a ruptured Achilles, but my days now look different and I am back to square one with settling into my role and what that will look like.

This has allowed for a very easy opportunity for me to be upset with God for allowing such a thing to happen to me. I mean, “6-9 months God? An ankle sprain could have been just fine!” I laugh as a write this because oftentimes I think I know best. And when I could easily be upset with God, I think God works in seasons of our lives. I want this season to be a season where I have a teachable heart and am a sponge to what He has in store for me. I want this season to be a season where I learn to be okay with change and the discomfort that might come with that. I want this season to be a season where my perspective changes and I begin to see things that I might not have noticed if I had not gotten injured.

And that is my prayer. That in the midst of misunderstanding I have a mentality of “What are you teaching me in this Lord?” That as I crutch around and my pace slows down, I will begin to notice and see things that I would have overlooked. And what is crazy about all of this is God is already moving in my life with the posture that I have taken! Receiving over and over again without being able to give back is something that I have wrestled with since I have gotten injured. In that, I have learned that I have obtained value and security in the actions that I have been able to physically do for others. God has responded to that by telling me, “I love you for who you are, and not for what you do.” Henry Cloud, in his book, How People Grow, states, “Therefore we have to look outside of ourselves to get the things we need. This includes depending on God for everything and depending on others for what we cannot give ourselves” (pg. 48). So, as I depend on other people for help, I am learning that this is a season of receiving. And as hard as that might be for me to not be able to give back, God is already teaching me to find my value in Him, rather than in what I can do for other people.

Life is full of seasons. Some are harder than others. Some seasons are full of giving and others are seasons of receiving. Some provide big steps of growth, while others provide only baby steps. Whether this is a big season of growth or a small one, I open my hands to say align me with what You have in store. Crutch by crutch, I look up and say, “What are you trying to teach me in this season?”

Do You Know Who You Really Are?

Recently I had a conversation with older brother, Chad, and he challenged me with this question; “Who is Bryce?” Now this is not the easiest question to immediately answer, and after he said it I have had a hard time getting that question to escape my mind. This question seems simple, but have you ever asked yourself who you are?

I have been traveling between San Diego and Santa Barbara quite a bit over the past couple of weeks and it has allowed for a lot of “alone time” in the car. Chad’s question continued to surface in my mind; “Who is Bryce?” As I drove the freeways I began to get a much clearer picture of why this question has been hard for me to answer.

Growing up I had always been the “good kid”, the kid that everyone loved—a people pleaser. I worked hard to get along with my friends, my parents, other family friends, and I even had a rare chemistry with kids. As a people pleaser, I realized that I cannot stand when someone is upset and/or irked by me. I never really had many people who I had rubbed the wrong way, but of course there have been a few. When I did happen to displease someone I would do whatever I could to fix the problem. My “go to” solution was simple; I would go to these people and talk with them and get back on good terms so that I no longer felt uneasy.

But I have discovered that living this way has its problems. I have learned that it is very tiring to make sure that you are on good terms with everyone and it is catching up to me. I have realized that regardless of who you are or what you do, you are going to have people that disagree with you and/or the actions that you do. As I have processed the question, “Who is Bryce?” I have learned that I have created an identity in which I value myself for what others think about me.

So, where should I go from here? I am not finished with the question “Who is Bryce?” and I believe the question “What does he value?” deserves attention as well. I will continue seeking answers and I will start by bringing these questions to God. I believe God created each of us to be unique, with different desires and dreams. I think two gifts God has given me are to love other people well and to have a spirit of joy as I help grow God’s kingdom. I love lighting up a room and bringing smiles to people’s faces. I often do this by making a fool of myself with my “spazzy” energy or my ridiculous dance moves. If you know me you also know that I love to dish out the sass :). Although these things can provide a good laugh, I have discovered the best way to light people up is to intentionally listen and ask questions so that others feel heard and understood. It sounds simple, but it can make a lasting impact.

I believe I am entering a season where I will begin to find out more and more about who I am. To take full advantage of this, I must stop allowing the fear of failure to take over and prevent me from discovering more of who I am. I know that the fear of failure makes me shut down and disengage, because I think I am protecting myself. From now on I am going to meet that fear head-on and find out all that God has to teach me.

It has been a humbling last couple of months, but I am learning and I am leaning in to discover even more. In this next season I plan to embrace opportunities in which I might fail or where I might look like an absolute dingus. During this whole process, I will be praying that the Lord continues to refine and show me the path that He has for me. I am excited about this and although the possibility of failure can be intimidating, I look forward to seeing the growth and breakthrough that comes with this new mentality.

I can relate this whole process to baseball in that I might not find out who I am or what I am called to do on the first pitch. I might even strike out a couple of times before getting a hit. But if I don’t have the courage to step into the batters box, then there is absolutely no way I can discover who God wants me to be and how I can get base hits for His glory.

To put it all in a nutshell, I am going to find out more of who I am and not who people want me to be. Bob Goff, in his new book, Everybody Always, says, “When joy is a habit, love is a reflex”. If I can start there, I feel like I will be in pretty good shape.

Baptism - My Faith Journey

Throughout the past year, I have experienced an immense amount of growth in my faith and I have been so blessed with the people and the relationships that have been placed in my life. God has opened up my eyes in new ways this year and has taught me a lot about myself. Given this incredible growth-filled year, on February 18th, 2018 I decided to get baptized! The act of getting baptized has really confirmed the seriousness of my faith. I wanted to publicly declare my faith to my family, friends, and my church community, but I also wanted to have this event be something that could hold me accountable in the life that I live. The life of choosing others over self, love over hate, trust over fear, and a life lived in continual relationship with Jesus. Getting baptized was something that was long overdue and I am so excited that I get to share this with you all. With that being, here is a glimpse of the journey that God has taken me on this past year leading up to me getting baptized.

I have been attending a church called Commonwealth in San Diego, California for the past year and my time there has been incredible. I actually was able to be apart of their launch team and so through many months of leadership training, teachings, and good fellowship, I have built a church community that I have never constructed on my own before. Over the past year, I have learned how to pray for people and for healing, hear God better, and step into what God has planned for me with a trusting and faithful heart.

One of the big areas that I have stepped into in my faith has been the subject of prayer. Every Thursday from 5-7 PM Commonwealth does this thing called HOTS (Healing On The Streets) and they set out chairs in Balboa Park to pray for people and specifically to pray for healing. This has really stretched me in my faith, as I am not used to asking random people if they want prayer. Many people decline or walk past me like they don’t hear me, but some have said yes and I have been able to pray for people and it has been incredible to see how God has healed. One of my favorite prayer memories was when I saw an older man limping with his wife and so I asked him if he wanted prayer. He said that he did want prayer and so he sat down and my pastor, Nick Fox, and I prayed for his knee pain and his pain went from an 8 to a 0 and he walked away without a limp! These are the kind of moments that I cling too because it shows me that I serve a God that is living and real. Even though it might be uncomfortable or awkward to ask people if they want prayer, I have learned that the potential reward of seeing someone healed, leading someone to faith, or learning more and more about Jesus through prayer, far outweighs the “risk” of looking weird to the general public.

Another area where I have grown in my faith has been serving at church. For the past year, I have had the opportunity to serve on the Kids Team at Commonwealth and it is pretty remarkable the ways that Jesus has shaped and molded my heart. One of the biggest lessons I have learned while serving on the Kids Team is the ability to balance fun with intentional conversation. My favorite memories have been the times when I put smiles and laughter on kids’ faces during playtime but then connect on a deeper level with kids in small groups and in times of prayer. The ability to journey alongside these kids has been special and it has given me confidence in that I am someone who can lead and be used to help others in their faith journeys.

Lastly, I have been able to serve at school (PLNU) through Discipleship Ministries. I am involved in something called Alpha, which is a program that has students (called alpha leaders) lead small groups in freshmen dorms every week. I am a family group leader, which means that I lead a group of five alpha group leaders and this has been an incredible ministry opportunity for me. Given that my guys are just a year or two younger than me, it has been awesome to listen and to hear the hearts of these young men. Whether it is meeting guys 1-on-1 for burritos or hosting the group of guys over at my house for a basketball game, I have learned a ton from these young men in ways that have helped me think differently about my faith and how to lead well.

If I am being honest, I always wanted my baptism to be this perfect situation; in this perfect spot, with all of the people I love. That mentality did not carry the right motives as it consisted of immaturity, pride, and selfishness. I was thinking of how good I would look for Jesus and for all my family and friends. So with that being said, I decided to be baptized in a situation that was much more humble. And so I got baptized at my small church (which I love), outside at an elementary school. I was baptized in a kiddy pool…yes, you read that correctly. My 6’2” broad-shouldered self somehow managed to fit. None of my family members could make it because they were on a vacation up north in Bend, Oregon and through these circumstances, I learned that this decision to get baptized was not about the perfect situation or making my parents proud. Getting baptized, whether that be in a kiddy pool or in the Jordan River, was about publicly declaring my faith to my church community and acting in obedience to the Lord.

And now that I have been baptized where do I go from here? As I look forward to graduating in a little over two months, I still do not know what I will do or what path I will follow, but I do know that I want it to be His path. I want to learn more and more about what it means to live a life for Jesus and the love that he wants us to experience on a daily basis. As I have now publicly declared my faith through baptism to my church community and my family and friends, I’m excited to continue to grow deeper in my faith. It has been an exciting year and I cannot wait to see the steps that God leads me in next.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

— Matthew 28:19-20

Have You Ever Hit a Dry Spell?

Have you ever had a period of time where you are clearly not yourself, but you do not know how to get out of that funk? Well, I am sitting right in the middle of that and am feeling a little lost. Over the past four months, I have hit a dry spell, both socially and spiritually. I have experienced a lack of joy that I once had with other people and I have struggled with finding my way back to Jesus.

Earlier this semester, I had to create a mission statement for myself for my Administrative Communication class and I came up with this: My mission is to invest in other people in the way that Jesus did. For me, this looks like forming relationships that consist of unconditional love, constant growth, and unforgettable memories. Unfortunately, this mission has not been possible because I have created roadblocks that have been very difficult for me to get past. Those main roadblocks have been: selfishness, judging others, setting unfair expectations for others, and loving conditionally.

The act of admitting to the world that I have been selfish, especially over the past four months, makes me cringe. The act of being unselfish is one of the biggest characteristic traits that I value in others, yet I have failed miserably at achieving this myself. This selfishness goes hand in hand with my controlling nature. I have noticed that I love to have control over situations, conversations, projects, etc. I find myself always asking, “I want”…fill in the blank. Although I think the intentions behind those “I wants” can sometimes be good, I want to learn how to be more unselfish with my desires. I want to learn how to listen in conversation, instead of always interrupting and asking questions or providing what I think. I don’t want to be possessive over materialistic things, but instead be unselfish with my stuff, my time, and whatever else I have to offer.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

— Philippians 2:3-4

The act of judging others is another concept that I have been battling with. I have learned over the past week that I am so much in my head about what is right vs. what is wrong instead of focusing more on my heart. Focusing more on the love that I can offer others and the joy that I can provide for their lives. Yet instead, I tend to over-analyze every situation, comment, or action and from there I create an opinion on that person. It is so easy for me to pick out what people can work on, instead of what people are good at. I strive for this mentality to be changed and I am learning that it is important to look inward before even approaching the possibility of looking outward. Scripture provides a great reminder of this concept in Matthew.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

— Matthew 7:1-5

Setting certain expectations for yourself, your friends, and the progression of relationships can be a really negative thing, even when the mentality behind those expectations might be good. I struggle a lot with expectations that are involved in the progression of relationships. I am someone that loves to go deeper in conversation, who loves to look for growth in others and in myself, and who loves to encourage others in those moments. Unfortunately, I have not gone about that encouragement in the best way possible. This is where my head over heart concept comes into play, as I tend to explain what is right vs. what is wrong instead of just loving on others for where they are at. I often overlook the struggles that one might be having and drill them by saying, “Do this…do that!” That is not the person that I want to be at all and I am learning that people progress at different times and that it is not always my responsibility to turn the light on for that person. It has been a humbling experience to learn that God is going to call the shots, as I often have tried to fix problems on my own and have not gotten through to those people or have come up short.

I tend to find myself overly invested in other people’s problems. Is that because I care? Absolutely. With that being said, I am learning to pick my battles. I want to be someone that people can feel comfortable coming to with real life problems or who people can come to just to have fun and hang out. I want to offer wisdom to others in ways that I can because I want to serve others, without having expectations of progress. I want to love on others unconditionally, regardless of the changing of certain variables.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

— 1 John 3:16-18

With those certain expectations I have loved conditionally. I have loved others when they have treated me with respect and have loved me back. Have I loved those who have been frustrated with me, who have been angry with me, or who have distanced themselves from me? I have tried, but I have fallen short over and over again. The act of loving unconditionally is a trait that is rare and yet Jesus provided a perfect example of how we can do that.

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

— Luke 6:27-28

What now? I look forward to getting back to who I was before. I am excited about the future and I am ecstatic to get out of this rut that I have found myself in. I truly believe the Holy Spirit is working within me, even if this is a hard point of my life. Even over the past week, I have learned that I need to be more dependent on my relationship with Jesus. I need to talk to Him more, read more of His word, and trust Him more. Trusting Jesus with everything that I have and being vulnerable with that has been hard. Like I said, I like to have control and giving it ALL to Jesus is something that I am unfamiliar with. I look forward to growing in my relationship with Him, which hopefully allows His love to overflow onto me and then towards others.

Family and friends, I hope what I have shared has been an encouragement to all of you, and I hope to hear from you. I am serious about becoming a closer follower of Christ. I am learning that people care, people want to listen, and people love you more than you know. Let me know what you are going through. Give me your wisdom. Laugh with me. Cry with me. Search for the little joys that Jesus places in our lives and journey with me. Perhaps we can work together, always seeking to keep ourselves in line with Jesus and walking closer to Him. He is the answer for all of our struggles, and when we hit dry spells, He provides the spring in our thirst for water.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

— Romans 8:37-39

Carmina’s Cookin’ – “Everything that you do with love will be good”

Before I arrived to Spain, I had to pick my preferences for what I valued the most in a living environment. There were four different choices: Non-Smoking, No Pets, Host Family, and Food/Dietary Restrictions. In order I chose: Host Family, Non-Smoking, Food/Dietary Restrictions, and No Pets. So, going into my time abroad I was expecting to be very flexible with the food that was being offered as I cared more about the unique relationships that could be made within my home, and not having to constantly inhale toxic fumes.

January 21, 2016: The first meal that was served at my new home that I would be staying at for the next four months. Carmina then asked with the limited Spanish that she knew, “Is pasta okay?” Not only did she serve an incredible dish of pasta, but there was also a freshly made side salad to top it off. I thought to myself, “Maybe she is just trying to impress with the first meal. The second meal is going to be the real test”. Well, I found out that I did not even need to get to my second meal in order to find out if Carmina’s cooking was legitimate or not. Later that night Carmina had told me that she spent 10 years teaching her employees how to cook in San Francisco…I was a happy man.

Eating in Spain is quite a bit different than in the States. Breakfast is served around 8 AM and that solely consists of bread and coffee. Every morning. Bread and coffee. Lets just say that I no longer am eating bread in the mornings :). Lunch is served anywhere from 2-2:30 PM and I usually eat with my host parents. Lunch is the supposed to be the biggest meal of the day. Well, that is what they tell me at least, but man I am just as stuffed after lunch than I am at dinner! Dinner is served between 8:30-9:00 PM, which is actually on the earlier side when comparing to the Spanish norms.

I have tried to do a good job of remembering the foods that I have eaten, but to be honest with you that goal stopped becoming a reality right around week 2 due to the variety of meals Carmina has served. Some of the stuff that has been served: different kinds of soups (lentil, potato, meats, etc.), pasta (with meat, carrots, mushrooms, pepper), meat and rice, eggs and french fries, fish, home made pizzas, tortillas, paella, and many other things that I have probably forgotten about. All of these meals are either served with a side soup or a side salad. Most of the time I am too full to eat a side soup and Carmina jokingly gets mad at me. It has even gotten to a point where she says, “no sopa, entonces no postre (dessert) para ti”. I crack up every time because that is totally something that my mom would do. At lunch the dessert encompasses some sort of fruit and after dinner the dessert usually consists of yogurt, flan, or fruit. A couple of examples of fruity desserts have been strawberries with sugar, strawberries with condensed milk, and pears with honey.

Now Carmina is not only an incredible cook to me, but she also does an incredible job for my roommate as well. You are probably wondering why that would be any different. Well, because my roommate is a vegetarian. So every time that she cooks me a meal that includes some type of meat (which is fairly often), she makes my roommate a separate meal to accommodate his eating needs. I have never seen someone love so well through their cooking. This is why it is often scary if you are not a fan of something of Carmina’s cooking because she kind of takes it personally! She is that good! She once told me, “I made this with love. Everything that you do with love will be good”. That quote embraces the woman that she is and I am so thankful for the time that she has put in the kitchen just to make her “hijos” happy.

Do You Ever Think You Think Too Much?

I suppose that sounds like an odd question for a college kid to ask. After all that is what college is for, right? To teach us how to think. Nonetheless, I often wonder and here is why. As many of you may know, I am a total thinker. I think about the past. The present. The future. Sometimes I even ask myself, “Bryce, could it be that you think way too much?”

Of course, in a way I can’t help it. My heavy thinking goes hand in hand with my analytical side as well. At times I am very thankful for my analytical side, as it allows for very good conversation. It allows for conversation to dig deeper than just surface level. It puts forth an avenue of complete honesty where thoughts can be challenged and friendships can grow deeper.

This happens for me with my good friend, Cody Martinez, who has been instrumental in this area of my life. He has shared ideas, pushed me in conversation, pushed me in friendships, and most importantly, he has pushed me in my faith. He has the word “genuine” written all over him and that is something that I value very highly. It’s an effort that goes above and beyond and it’s noticeable. Especially noticeable is that he is a senior who is three years older than I am. He has been around longer, he is more mature than I, and he has a schedule that is overflowing with different activities and events. Why is he investing in my life? That is a question that I ask myself fairly often. Now, I do not say any of this to brag about our friendship, but I say this because Cody is an incredible man that I have been able to learn a lot from. He cares and he has taught me a great deal about what it truly means to be intentional with people. Cody attacks relationships in a very unique way by continually pursuing people, regardless of who they are. (Cody, you have been a huge part of my life and I thank you for sharing your wisdom with me!)

Yes, thinking things through can lead to deeper conversations, especially with friends like Cody, but my analytic side also helps me with my decision-making. As I analyze a choice or a situation I try to predict what is going to happen as a result of my decision. Often this helps me see more clearly what is at stake, providing two pathways that clearly depict right from wrong. This can be as simple as deciding whether or not to be out late when I have something planned early in the morning or as big as deciding who my close friends will be. The latter, as big as a decision as it might be, is guided very simply by this one verse, “Bad company corrupts good morals” – 1 Corinthians 15:33. As I choose my friends I try to share my beliefs and values and learn about theirs. I find it very helpful at times to take a step back and consider: "How much can I impact this person? How much can he or she impact me?" In short, I choose my very close friends very carefully.

Thinking things through can be a strength, but I also can see how I can think too much...over analyze myself, others, or situations and that can cause problems and be stumbling blocks to growth and change. If I am being completely honest with myself, a major motive for my analytical side comes from avoiding uncomfortable scenarios. One of the biggest things that I see myself do is avoid situations that involve activities that I am not good at. Whether that is roller blading, ice-skating, or surfing I immediately throw up a wall. I think of any possible excuse not to do those things because I already know what is going to happen; well at least I think I do.

My mind usually picks one of these three excuses: 1) I worry I am going to look like a fool, 2) When I am with just one person I fear about being a burden, and 3) When I am with several people or in a big group, I am concerned because my lack of knowledge or ability might inconvenience everyone.

I realize that when I when I use any of these excuses I am limiting myself from really fun activities, memories, and opportunity for growth. I am hiding from situations that are uncomfortable and that is something that I have been trying to change. Nevertheless, change is difficult.

For example, attempting to communicate with my limited knowledge of Spanish has been the biggest challenge so far. Conversations get awkward and a majority of the time I do not understand what has been said. Another area where I have been challenged has been my living situation. There were so many unknowns about what was ahead and the questions bounced around in my head: Where would I be living, whom would I be living with, and what would be expected of me?

Slowly I am learning…I have taken small steps of progress towards the language and how to live in Spain. I have a long way to go but I am learning that the best approach is to just take that leap of faith, even if I don’t know what is on the other side. Don’t think too much, don’t overanalyze, and just go for it! 

Slowing Down

Spain is known as the land of the siesta. Not only that, but they also are very casual when it comes to their day-to-day activities. Being 15 minutes late is on time for them. Ironically, even though I have been immersed in this somewhat relaxed culture, I have still felt as if I am constantly on the go, often times missing out on the richness of events, relationships, and learning experiences.

The number of days that I have been abroad is now up to 28! Four weeks in and my time abroad has absolutely flown by. And of course I have to plead guilty to being caught up in my American "in a hurry" mindset that I brought along to Spain. I have booked and overbooked my schedule and I am constantly going from one place to another. At times I feel as if I am just going through the motions. A lack of appreciation sometimes occurs and I do not want that to happen with me.

Over the past four weeks I have done some incredible things! I have visited the cities of: Madrid, Córdoba, Toledo, Málaga, Ronda, Setenil, and Granada. I have moved into another home with host parents that I had never met before. I have gotten myself familiar with a city that I had no knowledge of. I have created and strengthened relationships with people that I had no expectation of meeting. Through all of that I constantly find myself planning the next activity, event, or trip; sometimes not giving myself any time to breathe.

I have learned over the past four weeks that it is very easy to run out of fuel. Mentally, physically, and/or emotionally. Regardless of what it is, it is important for us to find ways to fill the tank back up. For me, it is my relationship with Christ as it allows for purpose in life. It allows for me to get up every morning and see value in this world. It allows me to pursue meaningful activities, conversation, and people. Without being in a place where I can attend church and surround myself with people who encourage me in my faith on a daily basis, like I am used to at Point Loma Nazarene University (the college that I attend), it is crucial that I find other ways to refill that fuel tank.

One thing that I have been doing lately to help with this is listening to worship music on my way to school every day. Getting to school consists of a ten-minute walk to the metro station, a fifteen-minute metro ride, and then a ten-minute walk to my school, Pablo De Olavide. Even though it is a small act, those 35 minutes play a pivotal role in my mornings as I am able to slow my day down for a bit and remind myself of what is important.

We make thousands of choices every day, whether those are big or small, and with those choices come stress and worry. Sarah Young, in her book, Jesus Calling, put it simply by saying, “You will never run out of things to worry about, but you can choose to trust Me no matter what.” That is all we can do and I have been slowly learning this over the past couple of weeks. I can’t do this abroad journey, let alone my life journey, alone.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you”

— Psalm 32:8

Another activity that has helped me with slowing down is journaling. There is something about writing that I absolutely love. You are able to express exactly what you are feeling and no one else has to understand. This outlet of journaling allows for me to gather certain thoughts (that are roaming somewhere up there in that brain of mine) in an effort to get a better grasp of my thought process and how I am truly feeling.

As I have now hit the one-month mark of being in a foreign country I have learned a lot. Some big, some small, but through all of it I am thankful. I am thankful for the opportunity that I get to see a different side of the world and be submerged in a different culture. I have already done a lot of amazing things and have made some incredible memories, but I am constantly reminding myself to slow down and appreciate the situation that I have in front of me. The buildings I see, the people I meet, and the life lessons that I learn are all just a couple (out of the many) of things that I need to take advantage of.

A couple of more things that I have learned during my time overseas:

• Don’t stare at people on the metro...it’s weird. Get in and get out
• Watching the Super Bowl in Spain is a serious commitment (Game ended at 4:30 AM) – Totally worth it
• My host mom is actually hilarious (wish I could understand her more…learning Spanish is a process)
• Siestas are not only a beautiful thing, but they are absolutely necessary for survival
• European clothing is different, but I am embracing it 100% - V-neck t-shirts are thing

Thank you all for reading…if you got this far. My time here has been incredible and I am so excited that I get to share my journey with you all! 

Adiós United States

As I was on the plane, hours away from landing in Madrid, I remember feeling excited, curious, and nervous about the journey that was ahead of me. I barely knew any Spanish and I was on my way to a Spanish speaking country! “I won’t be able to understand people. How will I communicate with my host parents? Where will I be living?” These were all thoughts and questions that were taking over my mind. I was going into a new country, a new culture, and a new living arrangement with host parents that I did not know and a roommate that I had only briefly talked to over Facebook. I had this feeling of being unprepared for what was ahead. In response, the question that continued to come up over the course of the plane ride was, “How can one possible prepare themselves for such a journey?” From then on I began to take on this mindset of growth and opportunity. I started to realize all of the opportunities that I will have to learn and to grow as an individual, even if that came at the cost of uncomfortable situations or failed expectations. So after landing Baker, Will, Annelise, and I (aka the Point Loma crew) were met by two API coordinators (the organization that we were going through) and the journey began! After arriving at our hotel in Madrid we got to explore the city for a little bit. My goodness, Madrid is huge! So many people, so many cars, and so many things to see. After a little bit of exploration we had to head back to the hotel for a meeting that updated us on instructions for the next couple of days. We spent the next five days in the cities of Madrid, Córdoba, and Toledo and all of these cities were beautiful! As great as a time that we were all having, you could sense that people were ready to head to Seville, the city that we would all be in for the next 4 and a ½ months.

As we were on the bus to Seville, Juan Calvo, one of our API coordinators, made the announcement, “We are in Seville! 15 minutes before all of you meet your host families!” The mood throughout the entire bus began to change and everyone was starting to get extremely nervous. All those questions that were caused by uncertainty began to come up again. My roommate, Micah, and I exited the bus and found a lady that was holding a sign that read, “Carmina Garrido”. I met her with two kisses (one on each cheek), and then met my host dad, Manolo, with a firm handshake. I was told that Carmina spoke English, but I did not know how much English she knew. Right then I learned that the language aspect of the trip was going to be a struggle. After a quiet car ride, we arrived at the house and received a tour with basic instructions about the house. After unpacking we were called in for dinner and this was another big moment: the first meal! The food was absolutely incredible and it all made sense after learning that Carmina trained people how to cook for 10 years while she lived in San Francisco, California. I was extremely excited for the semester ahead as I was going to be spoiled by incredible food. The night continued with both Micah and I giving gifts from home to Carmina and Manolo and they absolutely loved them. Even though I did not communicate much with them, it was a great start to a semester that I will remember for the rest of my life!

My host parents: Manolo (64) and Carmina (67)

Now I have been in Seville for exactly one week and I am falling in love with this place. This past week has consisted of exploration (aka getting lost), bike tours, and visits to the Cathedral, the Alcázar, and the Plaza de España. Relationships have been strengthened and more conversation has been taking place between my host parents and I. I think my most common phrase to Carmina is, “Como se dice…en español.” That is how you learn right? This semester I am attending Pablo De Olavide University and orientation was on Tuesday night. After orientation the school put on an event that served free cervezas, tapas, and tinto de veranos! Quite different from student life at Point Loma! Classes started last Wednesday and I am taking: Spanish 101-102, History of Spanish Art, International Business, and International Marketing.

A couple of things that I have learned in this past week:

• Be bold and try stuff – I have been surprised by the results
• If you don’t know what people are saying, responding with “Sí” works most of the time
• Don’t fill the laundry basket with clothes quickly or Carmina might get upset
• Gelato consumption might become a problem – Will keep you updated on that
• Bread is eaten at every meal – This is not me complaining
• If you are skeptical of a certain food, eat bread with it 
• Siestas are a beautiful thing

Thank you all for reading! I have truly been blessed by the situation that I am in and I am going to try to fully take advantage of this opportunity, while updating you along the way! God is so good and He cares so much about his children. I can’t wait to see the ways that He moves within me this semester. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6