Full Throttle

Buenos Días,
Like the title says, my life is pedal to the medal - full throttle!  Classes started about three weeks ago and are now going strong.  I am taking a full load of political science and international studies courses that keep me challenged and busy.  On top of that, I am meeting two to three times a week with different native Spanish speakers in order to keep up with the language!  And most importantly, there is Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ).

I felt a little out of the loop the first week since I was not there the week prior during Welcome Week for planning etc.  (I was spending some much needed time with my family!)  Anyways, now I am in full swing.  I am helping lead a freshman Bible study on Tuesday evenings, which is great!  We have had great turnouts the past two weeks and I am very encouraged by the women I have met.  I am so excited to get to know them and live life with them!  Wednesday evenings before our big group meeting I am in an upperclassman Bible study, which is very beneficial.  It is nice to be able to get together with women that I love and respect and be able to talk about how things are going and get into the Word.  As for our big meetings, what a turnout we have had!!  The first week we had over 70 people come!  Less than two years ago, we barely had 20 people each meeting.  We have almost doubled each year!  Needless to say, there have been and are so many things to praise God about!

On the downside, not everything has been a smooth ride, specifically for me personally.  Since I went (almost) directly from Spain to Ocean City Summer Project, I really didn't have time to process and experience "culture shock."  Thus, I am experiencing it now and double-time - Spain and Summer Project.  It is hard to really articulate what I am feeling but it is like a sense of homelessness.  In Spain, I easily became part of the culture, the life, everything.  It was so natural for me and even my host family commented on my "morphing" ability.  Haha.  The only way to describe it was like falling in love - not only with my host family and other Spaniards, not only with the beauty of the country but with the language, the food, the culture - the life.  Spain and this summer really showed me what happiness is to me.  Happiness is simplicity, to say the least.  It is a small apartment in Alicante, Spain.  It is a life centered around Christ.  It is living with just enough and treasuring the small moments and the people in your life.  For me, it isn't about a big house, a fancy car, a high profile career or even the material things I can buy with all the money I am supposed to be working towards in order to legitimize my life.  With that said, it is difficult to be back in school, competing with my classmates for a job and thus, the lifestyle, that I no longer desire.  

After re-reading that paragraph, I realized how depressing I may sound!  That is not my intentions, but I don't dare delete it because it is what is on my heart and it is important for me to share how much the Lord (and the experiences He has blessed me with) has transformed my life.  And now the Lord is teaching me to have patience and peace with where I am at in life.  I know and trust that this will be an amazing and fruitful semester/year.  

Besos,

Sarah

PS I am hoping that people are still reading my blog... occasionally?  I feel like I am writing to cyber space hoping that someone is reading it!  Haha :)

Time Flies When You're Having Fun... Or Just REALLY Busy!

To all my dedicated blog readers (mainly just Kristin at the bank! haha):
I am sooo sorry for letting you all down over the past two months.  My last post was June 27th and I apologize.  Catching you all up will be a challenge and there is really no good way to go about this than just throwing a bunch of words at you all and hoping something sticks.  So here it goes...
My summer was absolutely amazing - filled with great Christian community, growth in my own faith, sharing Jesus with others (especially the women at my work), and a whole lot more!  Summer project was definitely stretching and taught me many valuable things such as faith is not a feeling and that we must trust in the truths God has provided us with through His Word.  Ocean City also stretched me in sharing my faith and being bold and courageous in doing so - a lesson that I am continually learning as I am back on campus in Chicago.  After staff left halfway through the summer, every student was assigned a "project job".  Mine happened to be planning our second Women's Conference that I co-led with Ryann from California.  It was amazing to be able to plan something specifically for the women, something that would encourage them and touch their hearts.  Our theme centered around "empowerment" and empowering women to go back to their campuses as they left Ocean City and the comforts of Christian community.  Through summer project, I made lifelong friends that I will never forget.  Before I went on summer project, someone told me that the women I meet on project will be the bridesmaids in my wedding (God-willing).  I didn't believe them at first but after being on project that statement isn't too far off.  :)  How beautiful a friendship bonded in the love of Christ.
Currently, I am in my new apartment on campus at Loyola University in Chi-town.  It is good to be back!  My apartment which I am sharing with three new roommates has a lake view (hard life, isn't it?).  The only downside being that we get absolutely NO cell phone coverage, meaning if you try to reach me and it seems as if I am taking forever to respond or it seems as if I am ignoring you, I'm not.  I probably just didn't get it.  Bummer.  Anyways, it is great to catch up with all the people I last saw nine months ago when I left the States for Spain.  I really think this is going to be a great year - in terms of being involved with Cru, classes, friends, and everything in general.  This first week has been crazy and it has taken me a little bit to get back into the swing of classes and having to do actual work.  My classes are engaging and interesting, however, they are also difficult and challenging (which is what I want, of course, to be challenged).  My busy schedule and class load will make it easy to become stressed and get caught up in finding my value in my performance, which makes keeping an eternal perspective even more important.  (Eternal perspective being the perspective of realizing that the things of this world will not satisfy and do not define us but instead we should look to heaven, where our true treasure lies and to Christ, who is the only one who can truly satisfy us.)
Anyways, it is getting late and I need my sleep so I can be fully functioning tomorrow in class. This weekend I am heading up to Minnesota with Jared and Gina where we will meet up with our families to plan for a wedding and have a little Labor Day fun!  :)
Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day!  Hopefully the next time you read a new post from me won't be two months from now!  
Dos besos,
Sarah
PS  As much as I am enjoying being back in Chicago (let alone, the States), I am truly homesick for Spain and miss the country, the culture, the language, and the people every day.  I am continuing to study up on my español and am trying to secure an intercambio or two for this year!  Echo de menos mucho.  ¡Hasta luego!