Wow, amazingly this will be my last blog post from Spain. I really can't believe that this year is coming to an end and I will be headed back to Austin tomorrow! It is such a bittersweet time filled with excitement about coming home and seeing where God leads me and sadness in leaving behind a place that I have come to love as well as the amazing friendship I have been blessed with here. I have an extended family here that will always hold a very special place in my heart! This is especially true for the Smith family who welcomed me into their home with open arms and allowed me to love on their kids. Saying bye to the triplets will be very hard but I know it is not goodbye so I will look forward to when I might see them again.
First off, I would like to say how grateful I am for all of your prayers, love and support as I have been on this amazing adventure. Each of you have had a special part in making this year possible and it has been amazing to see how God uses all of us in different ways to bring glory to His name. I have been so encouraged by all of you and am blessed that each of you are a part of my life.
This has been a year of growth and change, something I think I am learning to embrace. God has revealed a lot to me in this time. He has shown me things about myself I never knew were there and that if He is leading we can do anything. It is such an amazing feeling to follow Him. He has taught me to be bold in my faith....in sharing my faith with others and to follow the path He has set for me. I have learned that, though it may be scary to take a leap of faith there is great peace in knowing that He is holding onto you.
As I head home there is still a lot of change ahead but I am excited to see where God leads me. I am blessed to have the opportunity to return to the Austin Stone Community Church's children's ministry KIDS and continue coaching in the nursery as I did before leaving for Spain. It will be a new service time and team but I look forward to getting to know this team and the families we will be serving. One of the things God has really put on my heart while here is to become more involved with this amazing ministry so in the summer or fall I will hopefully be starting an internship with KIDS. This is something I am very excited about and can't wait to dive into. As of right now I have nanny work lined up through January for sure and am still waiting to see what I will be doing after that point. Hoping to continue nannying but may be looking for work in daycares. I know God will lead me to the the place He wants me so I will continue to look to Him for direction in this.
Prayers are greatly appreciated for safe and uneventful travels tomorrow. Also, for the transition back into life at home. As excited as I am to come home I know there is still a lot of change ahead. Please pray that I continue to seek God in this time and allow Him to lead me no matter where He is taking me.
I so look forward to seeing everyone soon and can't wait to share more about my time in Spain and what God has been doing here!
Much love to all of you!!
