Pealing Skin

          Today I was reminded of Seattle; it rained today. The Seattle kind of rain where it is soft and goes on for a long time. I sat with my good friend Robin, who is now my roommate, in a cafe to study. Besides the rain though, everything else was different. I drank my coffee plain, without any extra flavors, extra hot, upside down, non-fat, or any other individual changes. I got starred at a lot while walking in the streets, the only one without an umbrella and the only one wearing a rain jacket. I ate dinner at ten and went salsa dancing instead of swing dancing as I would do in Seattle. Even after being here for a month I am still aware of the differences and find myself so intrigued and laughing a lot. My friend Robin arrived on Sunday from Washington and is staying to study with me the rest of the time. I am so, so thankful that she is here. It's crazy because I was doing really well this past month and thriving, but I didn't realize the affects and intensity of being alone until she came. God is so faithful with His timing and provision in bringing Robin, I am so blessed. I'm already looking back on the past month of being alone and recognizing ways that God has grown and changed me.

        I've gone to the beach the past two weekends, each time with a different group of girls. It's the Mediterranean, blue and clear, and so fun. Being from Colorado, I'm not used to salt water or the beach or being able to go cliff jumping into an ocean. The first weekend I went I burnt to a crisp, the second weekend I wore a shirt and shorts the whole day, my skin still recovering. The past week and a half my whole back pealed off to a new layer of skin. In a lot of ways that is what has been happening to me while here, God is pealing off parts of me and making me aware of new fresh things. It has been my prayer as well, that He would continue to peal off the dead or old parts of me as I draw near to Him and burn with His flame. I have found that when you ask God these things, He is sure to answer.

         The rest of the kids in my program have arrived and things are shifting here. Summer is drawing to a close so people aren't out on the streets as late, the weather is turning cooler, and school starts on Monday. My experience this past month of being alone and of waiting is drawing to a close. Many of the things that I've gotten the response, "Yes, yes, good, good, wait until everyone comes" (they talk in doubles here a lot...) when asked is beginning: many of the cultural activities, intramural sports, volunteering opportunities, intercambios ( a spanish student you meet with to practice your spanish with), and traveling.
        I'm grateful for this past month and excited for the change as well. It reminds me of a quote that was on a tea bag I had while in the wilderness this summer, "Live in each season as it passes; breath the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit.." by Henry David Thoreau. As well as the words of Soloman, "there is a time for everything...He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity into the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end..." Ecclesiastes 3