Hola otra vez!
Okay, so this really is the last of my email updates from my time in Sevilla. It's bittersweet, but thanks for reading these, even if you only have read one or two or if you read all of them - thanks for following my journey! It was great to write to you all and hear back from you as well. This has been a good way for me to learn how to express what I was thinking and feeling and be able to share with others even in a small way what it was like for me this past year in Spain. And I absolutely loved being able to share stories of the people that I met and of how God worked in my and their lives!
On May 17, Monday, I pretty much did nothing other than study. I had three finals that week, so that first day I spent in my house or at tutoring, trying to sit down and focus on doing well on my finals. On Tuesday I had my final for the Mosaics: Jews, Muslims, and the Christian Experience final, which went pretty well I think. It was just nice to get it done. I then took a break and met up with my friends Elizabeth (as it was her birthday!), Andrea, and JoHelen, just to see them. After lunch I also went to the last Bible study of the year and got to share with and hear stories about the year in general. It was really casual and laid-back, and it was nice to see that group one last time. I then took off for my last tutoring session and headed home to study before going to bed. I then got up the next morning, studied some more, and headed to the University of Sevilla for my first final there for my History class. That final will determine my whole grade for that class - talk about pressure!!! Geez. It just makes me appreciate so much more my classes in my program and the ones at Linfield. I felt like the test went pretty well, but we will see how I did. I was pretty stressed before I went there, even crying a bit, which is kinda sad looking back, but I think it was a mixture of stress, pressure, general weariness, fighting a cold and allergies, and trying to cope with the fact I was leaving soon. I'm pretty sure I ran on adrenaline that whole week. I still didn't succumb to drinking coffee though, and I still can't decide if that was a good or a bad decision. haha. But anyway, I felt better after I texted Jake, asking him for prayer, and he responded back with an enthusiastic, "Of course!" He and Martha and Lea and others were a huge encouragement to me that week as I knew that they were lifting me up in prayer.
Anyway, after my final I went home for a bit to study some more and eat and then headed to the Goodbye Party at my program. Most of the students (minus those of us who had classes in the U. of Sevilla, were already done and were flying out the next day or very soon, so they threw a party for us. I got there quite late because I ate dinner late, but I got to say goodbye to several of the students that I actually met that semester, and it was neat to see a few people before they left. I was sad when I left Sevilla because I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to some of the wonderful professors and staff at CC-CS who had helped me a lot that year, but I hope they know how thankful I am for each one of them. I got to know them pretty well after being there for 9 months.
On Thursday the 20 I had my last final - Classic Mythology. That final was also in the afternoon, so I had more time to study, but my roommate Emily left at 5 a.m. that morning so I was physically exhausted by the end of that day. I had stayed up late studying, woke up when she got back and couldn't sleep because I had so much on my mind (I actually studied at 4 in the morning, then helped her take her bags down and said goodbye), and I didn't get back to sleep until 6 or so, then getting up a few hours later. I do not recommend that, but at the time I was just so overwhelmed with everything and was still fighting a cold, and I just wanted to study, take the test and BE DONE. The test went pretty well, although I was worried about one part of it, but in the end I took it and finished and now have officially completed three years of college. What a strange thought!
Later that evening I went over to see Lucía and tutor her one last time in English. I got to say goodbye to her and her family, taking some photos and chatting. They told me that I have a place to stay there if and when I go back to Sevilla, which really touched me. What a neat, loving family! I then went to the last Discipleship Group (for me anyway) and got to hear from David and Martha and the others in the group. At the end I asked if we could all pray as a group, and they brought me to tears because they all ended up praying, most of them praying for me. It meant so much to me that they would do that. Indescribable. Afterwards we hung out there for a bit, and eventually went home quite late. I think I got to sleep in Friday morning, but I couldn't sleep too late because the two new girls, Katie and Christian, were moving in for the month of June, and I had to move all of my stuff to the other guest room and clean up a bit. I spent some time at home relaxing and chatting with my family (as my host parents had finally gotten back from their trip), and then I headed over to Martha's to have a chat time with her (and got to chat with Elizabeth!), which was such a blessing. We then got ready for Charlemos and headed into the center. We had a really good discussion about the Centurion and Jesus and about having faith in God. My friend Leti also surprised me with these two cute bracelets as a gift. We also played this game where we all wrote little notes of encouragement to each other. After Charlemos I was able to meet up with my friend Rosie from Australia and have a really good heart-to-heart with her. Thanks girl!
My last Saturday in Spain I spent with Inma, Jake, Martha, Hendrik, Maggie and Loida. Inma invited us to go out to her town on the beach and spend some time at the beach and then later at her family's chalet there. We all had fun playing in the water or sitting in the sun (although it was super windy and we got stung quite a bit from all the sand flying around) and watching the wind surfers. We hung out there for a while, and then went and got ice cream before heading over to the chalet. Thanks Martha! When we got there we met Inma's aunt and uncle (Jake and I met her uncle in Semana Santa), and they welcomed us there. It was a neat little place with a pretty garden and ceramic work that her aunt had done. I was impressed! They also had aloe plants that we used for the sunburns that we had accumulated at the beach. I thankfully put on sunscreen, so I didn't get it too bad, but some of the others were pretty red. I hope they healed quickly because it looked painful! Anyway, Hendrik, Maggie and Loida had to head back early, but Martha, Inma, Jake and I stayed for a while before we headed back, stopping in a few stores to shop for a bit. All in all it was a wonderful day. I also was able to get more good "heart conversations" with them, this time without finals looming over my head.
On Sunday I went to my church in Triana one last time, the church that God blessed me with all the way back in September. I got to say goodbye to the people that I had met there, and I sincerely hope that I can go back and see them again. That church, group of people, is doing great things in their community. I then spent time at home, eating lunch and trying to pack and write letters. I had a bit of a breakdown again just from the tiredness and overwhelmed feeling (and the fact that I was only halfway packed), but I did have some good time to talk with God about it. I finally got out the door and biked over to Sala Encounter, the church out in the Alameda, to say goodbye to the dear people that I had met there. We couldn't stay for the service unfortunately as we had a "See you later" party (for Jake, Elizabeth, and I) to go to, but Jake and I got to go up front and share what God had done in our lives through that church. I'm so thankful for that opportunity. I then took off with Elizabeth, Rosie and Jake to bike over to Martha's house for the party. I took Elizabeth on my bike with me as she didn't have one, and let me tell you, even though she doesn't weigh hardly anything, it is difficult to carry anyone with you on a one-person bike. I gained a lot of respect for Jake and Abraham, who have to do that from time to time. haha.
Anyway, the party was amazing. Hendrik and Maggie and Martha worked really hard and barbecued some yummy food and decorated Martha's place with balloons and such. A lot of our friends ended up coming (Martha, Hendrik, Maggie, Carlos, Inma, Rob, Jose Maria, Marixu, Carmen, Christy, Rosie, Rob, Thomas, Carlos M., Johnny, Loida, Marina, Yaneri, Nico...) and brought hugs and laughter and food with them. We all just spent time hanging out and talking, eating, writing notes, watching a cool slideshow that Martha made... I felt so incredibly loved and blessed and just wanted to shower all of that back on all of them but all I could do was say thank you and give them big hugs and smiles. I wanted to say more, but felt like I didn't have the proper words - in any language. It meant so much to me that they would take time out of their busy schedules just to come and spend time with us. And Martha and Inma even surprised me with this cute outfit that we saw in the store. It was such a sweet gift from them. It was hard to say "See you later" (I consider goodbye to be a bad word now) to so many wonderful people that night. People slowly left after a few hours, but Jake and Elizabeth and I stayed there for a bit, and Lea and Abraham were able to come over afterwards and hang out (as they were unable to come earlier). I was so happy to see them too, and I got the chance to have a good conversation with Abraham before he and Jake and I left to head home. I had to say Hasta Luego to Abraham then, which was hard, but I was able to head home with Jake (as we lived close together for about 5 days, haha), and it helped a lot to have someone to talk to and that I felt comfortable crying around. Thanks for cheering me up, Jake!
Monday was my last full day in Sevilla, and boy was it FULL. I got up that morning after not getting a lot of sleep, and then I met up with Lea in the center to go do some last minute shopping and wander that area a bit, talking with her. It was so sweet of her to spend her whole morning with me before work. It was fun to wander into shops with her and chat and everything. Miss you, hermana! I ran into random people that I didn't expect to see while I was out there, which was fun. I also walked over to the University with Lea to say goodbye to Leti and Lucia (from my class) really quickly before we both hopped on bikes and rode over to a different part of town so I could meet up with my friend Laura. She and I stopped at a little cafe to chat for a bit, which was really fun. We then went to Martha's so I could see Hendrik and Maggie and give them hugs, and Martha helped me clear up an issue I had with one of my flights. Thank you!!! I then finally headed home for lunch and got to spend a bit of time with my family. I then spent time packing, but had to run into the center to CC-CS to drop off some stuff and say goodbye to whoever was there. I then raced back home, packed some more, ate dinner, wrote another letter, and left again to go say goodbye to my intercambio and friend Mari Paz. I'm so thankful I got see her before I left. I then went back home, packed some more, and chatted with my host family and the girls and watched a procession of the Virgin Mary from the church nearby pass by on our little street. I'm kinda bummed I didn't get more quality chatting time with Edu and Pepe before I left (although we had good talks throughout the year) but I hope they know I love them and am so thankful to have another family in Sevilla. Before I went to bed, I left the house one more time and rushed over to Johnny's to say see you later to him and to Jake. I had a good conversation with Jake about the year, and it was great to look back and see all that God had done through the Bible study and Connexxion and everything. And then to end my super crazy day, after saying see you later (another difficult one!), I headed back and home and in my exhaustion finished packing into the wee hours of the morning before crashing in bed for a few hours of sleep.
I got up early Tuesday morning, ate some breakfast, lugged my bags into the hallway (and Pepe helped me carry them down) and then got to hug Pepe and Edu before heading out to meet Martha, who drove me to the airport. She, Inma, Rosie, Elizabeth, and Lea all went to the airport to see me off. I cannot explain how hard it was to hug them all again and then have to walk through security by myself, all the while wanting to turn around and run back. But I just prayed the whole way, knowing that wherever I go, I go with Jesus and knowing that it was time to go back to Oregon. Thanks girls for seeing me off!! I was so blessed this year in all that I learned from a God who really is God of the whole world and who really never leaves us or forsakes us and has plans waaayyy better than ours, and in all of the friendships that with wonderful people that He placed in my life. My flights back (all 4, yes FOUR of them) went well, and I even got to meet up with Fatima in Barcelona and then fly back with her, which was wonderful! I got to Portland quite tired and not a bit surprised that the pilot announced that it was raining outside. Welcome to Oregon!! But it was so nice to see my family and Alex again. And all of you that I have seen so far! Thank you so much for all of your prayers. They mean the world to me. This experience changed my life, and I have learned how to appreciate each person that God brings into my life and blessed me with - including each one of you! I hope you all are blessed!! I would love to catch up with you anytime. God bless you all immensely!
Con mucho cariño y abrazos fuertes,
Sierra
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