Lord's Providence

hi folks!

classes have begun and i'm really excited about them. my favorite is probably the culture and civilization class where we discuss and go out and experience the spanish culture... everything from food, family structure, festivals, geography.... can't wait. language classes are challenging, but i'm so glad that i have 2 to push myself.

how most classes work here is to have 2 major tests, attendance, class participation, and a presentation to make up the final grade. class is twice a week for an 1 1/2 hours. fridays off! hope to be able to do some traveling with all that extra time. any takers?

church sunday refreshed my soul. its amazing how corporate worship brings such unity among believers... all over the globe. we were worshipping the same God! and in a language that he also understands! i loved worshipping in a different language. these are my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and i was singing praises in their language.

met a guy who is a missionary of sorts here and he was telling me that every semester they get about 10 -12 students from the university to come to to this church. he said that this was the biggest church in granada, i'd say about 150 maybe, and that there are other smaller churches but only a few. i really felt the Spirit there even though i couldn't understand much of the sermon. between sets of worship and after the sermon, people all over the congregation prayed out loud one at a time. i liked that. then after the service i met some more girls from a different program that we are going to start meeting with for a study of 1 peter. pray that our time bless each other. the hardest thing is wanting to have the same girls to fellowship with, ones that know me, ones that i trust, the ones not here. this is a different group of sisters that the Lord has placed in my life at this moment.

i need patience. pray for that. i want to make good relationships, i want to speak the language, i want to be able to call loved ones whenever i want and be available for others to do the same. all of these can happen its just going to take some time.

finished up the chapter today on the Lord's providence. wrote a lot about it in my journal. i keep learning that my comfort cannot depend on connecting with people here or being in touch with family and friends all the time, or having an internet connection close at hand, its trusting the Lord's providence in my life. he is the one preserving and sustaining, upholding me. and the Lord had purpose for me here. that is why he has guided my steps here; to accomplish his purposes! in knowing that he is sovereign over all i can declare with Paul in rom 8:28, that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose. this while time of molding and breaking, i am still in the Lord's hands... think about the picture of the Potter.... nothing falls outside the bounds of God's wise and loving plans. He is building my trust in all circumstances, gratitude for all his blessings thus far, and yes, patience as i go through this trying time. though hard i am humbled and am in awe of His greatness.