December

         December is here in Granada. I almost have too many thoughts about life right now to write them on here so instead I'll just give a little update; I feel like a lot has happened. We finished our last trip and since then I have been spending the last few weeks here in Granada exploring and taking it all in before I leave in 8 days. Coming off of the trip to Sevilla and Cordoba, I was sick with a kidney infection. It was an interesting experience to say the least; the medical system here is very different than in the States. They gave me the shots and the antibiotics to give myself shots without giving any direction. They didn't check my vitals or test my blood for potential blood poisoning. It was probably the most potentially intense illness I've had and yet I had no misgivings about it. I felt peace and was thankful it wasn't anything more serious. 

Me pondering the feeling of stabbing myself in the butt with my antibiotics using the shot they gave me...

        Last week I became an aunt again, and again to another miracle baby! I am amazed at the marvellous works of God. The doctors kept telling us over and over again after consistent appointments that the baby would have problems, mentally or physically, or possibly die. This was difficult news to hear and brought me and many others to the foot of the cross in prayer. I remember telling my roommate when I first learned this two months ago, "This is going to be for God's glory. I believe He's going to heal the baby. What if this is even just to open up opportunities for God to show Himself, His gospel, and glory to people in Spain?" Then a few days before he was born, I was spending some time praying for him and I felt the peace of God come over me and felt Him say to me, "Chelsea, I've already healed him, he's perfect." On Friday morning I woke up and got an email that Teague Marshall was born, and he is perfect. There were a bunch of specialty doctors in the delivery room with life support expecting an emergency or dead baby. They couldn't believe that a healthy baby was born. They did a bunch of tests and an MRI and he passed with flying colors. When I heard this I cried with joy. God is so faithful in His timing. That day at dinner I shared this miracle with my host family. We got onto a conversation about miracles and then the door opened for me to share my lifestory, another story of God's grace. It was crazy. I praise Jesus for His presence here.

All of my nieces and nephews, 3 of them new that I'll meet for the first time in 8 days!

        As the days wind down I'm getting ready to go home. I've never been one to be homesick, rather a very present person, but as my flight gets closer I'm becoming more excited to be home. It's funny how this often works. At times I feel weary of heart, restless, and ready to be home, then I experience something here in Spain that fills my heart with the joy of another culture and I'm so thankful that I am here. 
       One of these things was this past weekend. Robin and I went over to the house of the pastor and his wife of the church I've been going to here in Spain. They are wonderful people who living out the gospel in a simple and challenging way. We went over, learned how to make an authentic Mexican meal, and ate together with other people from the church. One massive pan of paella ( a traditional Spanish plate) and the Mexican food. It was a community sharing life together in a simple and beautiful way. One thing that struck me in this community is the lack of pretense. Eva, the wife, would ask us to do things blundtly and would accept our help when offered without playing the game of "are you sure?...I can really do it....only if you want to..." that I find others normally dance around. In one sense she would assume our help or involvement but not in an expectant or forceful way rather in a genuine understanding of the function, purpose, and workings of community. In the same way, they don't think twice about generously offering up their food, material resources, time, or emotional energy to us. It is real in a beautiful way. Another example is when I told the pastor my miracle story of my nephew before church and he immediately was about to call me up in front of the whole community to share it; I could anticipate his thoughts as he asked me, "of course, why wouldn't you share this to encourage others of the goodness and activity of the grace and power of God." They lack pretense. What they lack, in reality, is their selfish desires, their natural tendencies as human beings, their individual, one-track goals. It is an emptying of themselves to be filled with genuine love, fruit, and working of the something bigger than themselves, Jesus. In this context I see life. After seeing this example, I want to seek out and change aspects of my life so that I can live and bring out in others a community without pretense, and foster the genuine love of Christ. 

       

Robin and I with our intercambios friends, Elivira and Cristina