Thursday, April 13, 2006
Pasta EVERY Day?!?
It is a wonderful experience to live in Italy because of the beautiful country, great food, and fine wine. The food is fresh and delicious but why must we have pasta every day!?! I am a nanny for a wealthy family. Every month the mother prepares a menu for the cook. You wouldn't believe all the carbs this family consumes! Pasta is prepared every day, sometimes TWICE a day and of course, we bread is served with each meal. Oh! and sometimes they have roasted potates as a second course served alongside roast beef, veal, or meatballs. Did I mention dinner is usually served at 8:00pm. LOL! The family went on vacation this week so the staff of six which consists of Peruvians are rejoicing because we will eat food that we crave. The meat of choice is chicken and we have been eating it every day...with RICE..no pasta. ; )
Thursday, February 23, 2006
MADRID and BARCELONA
The past few days was spent visiting friends in Madrid and Barcelona. Spain is such a wonderful place! The climate in Barcelona is mild and fair as usual, but the climate was colder in Madrid. Matter of fact, when I left the city it was snowing! It is not usual for that area to receive snow at this time of year so it was unexpected for natives and visitors.
If you have not already heard, I am moving to Barcelona at the end of the service year. Do not worry, I will keep this blog up and running and fill you on the tidbits of my new 'Spanish' life. I cannot believe how much I have been blessed and it is my privilege to share my experiences with you.
I will continue to serve in the English field in Barcelona. The upside to this move is I will be in an English group rather than congregation. This will help me to learn Spanish quicker and give me many opportunities to exchange encourgament with the Spanish brothers and sisters expanding their ministry and learning English and a BIG help to me to improve my Spanish skills.
It is amazing to think of all the changes that have occurred in my life in this past year and I cannot imagine any of these wonderful blessings taking place with Jehovah's help (Prov 10:22). Also, I would like to thank you all for your kind words of encouragement!
If you have not already heard, I am moving to Barcelona at the end of the service year. Do not worry, I will keep this blog up and running and fill you on the tidbits of my new 'Spanish' life. I cannot believe how much I have been blessed and it is my privilege to share my experiences with you.
I will continue to serve in the English field in Barcelona. The upside to this move is I will be in an English group rather than congregation. This will help me to learn Spanish quicker and give me many opportunities to exchange encourgament with the Spanish brothers and sisters expanding their ministry and learning English and a BIG help to me to improve my Spanish skills.
It is amazing to think of all the changes that have occurred in my life in this past year and I cannot imagine any of these wonderful blessings taking place with Jehovah's help (Prov 10:22). Also, I would like to thank you all for your kind words of encouragement!
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
London and Barcelona
The past few weeks have been a blur of activity! I was fortunate enough to visit my friends in the United Kindgom and Spain and have a wonderful time visiting London for the first time and seeing old friends in Barcelona again.
LONDON: The city reminds me of New York City in many ways, but I was quite impressed with its Metro system 'The Tube', the politeness of the British, IBSA 'UK Bethel', double decker buses, and the 'bobbies'. London gets a bad wrap for its frigid temperatures but it was surprisingly and pleasantly mild when I arrived. The temperature only dipped for one or two days during my stay, but it was unseasonably mild during my visit. My friends stuffed with fish and chips, pints of ale, and even managed to serve me a 'typical' English breakfast. A typical English breakfast consists of crumpets (English muffins), baked beans, sausages, and eggs. Of course, this all washed down with cups of strong English black tea.
It was difficult for me to warp my mind around driving on the rightside of the car and passengers sitting on the left of the driver. It also drove me bonkers when I had to cross the street because my mind was telling me to look in one direction for oncoming traffic but I knew that in the UK they drive on the 'other' side of the road.
The city is SO clean but VERY expensive. The Euro currency is weaker than the pound currency. When I converted 500€ to pounds, I was horrified to receive only 359£ . I was ready to board the plane and head directly to Spain!
Its an expensive city but definitely a great place to visit. Also, I enjoyed seeing some old friends living there and I plan to return one of these days....now, on to....
BARCELONA: Ahhhhhhhhh!!!! It felt SO GOOD to be back home, I mean in Barcelona, lol. I admit Barcelona has always felt like home away from home. I love that city so much. When I picture the myself in the new system I always dream of living next to the sea and mountains. I love history and modernity. This beautiful, vibrant, and dynamic city offers all of those things plus a great location because its only a few hours by train or car from other cities I like in Spain and an hour or two by plane to cities I like to visit in Europe.
The sun was shining as brightly as it does in August, glistening off the calm blue Mediterreanean sea, painting the sky amazing hues of red,orange, and violet when it departed for rest in the west in the evening. Except for the chill in the air when the wind blew you could easily forget that it was January.
Barcelona is a European city rather than a Spanish city. The city is proud of its history but is looking progressively toward its future.
The friends I have there are wonderful brothers and sisters that relocated to Barcelona for one reason or another. I am looking forward to joining them in the expat community there.
If you ever have the opportunity please make a point of visiting the city of Barcelona. You may not love it as much as me but I think you will be seduced by its old world charm and/or awed by its modernity. See you there soon.
LONDON: The city reminds me of New York City in many ways, but I was quite impressed with its Metro system 'The Tube', the politeness of the British, IBSA 'UK Bethel', double decker buses, and the 'bobbies'. London gets a bad wrap for its frigid temperatures but it was surprisingly and pleasantly mild when I arrived. The temperature only dipped for one or two days during my stay, but it was unseasonably mild during my visit. My friends stuffed with fish and chips, pints of ale, and even managed to serve me a 'typical' English breakfast. A typical English breakfast consists of crumpets (English muffins), baked beans, sausages, and eggs. Of course, this all washed down with cups of strong English black tea.
It was difficult for me to warp my mind around driving on the rightside of the car and passengers sitting on the left of the driver. It also drove me bonkers when I had to cross the street because my mind was telling me to look in one direction for oncoming traffic but I knew that in the UK they drive on the 'other' side of the road.
The city is SO clean but VERY expensive. The Euro currency is weaker than the pound currency. When I converted 500€ to pounds, I was horrified to receive only 359£ . I was ready to board the plane and head directly to Spain!
Its an expensive city but definitely a great place to visit. Also, I enjoyed seeing some old friends living there and I plan to return one of these days....now, on to....
BARCELONA: Ahhhhhhhhh!!!! It felt SO GOOD to be back home, I mean in Barcelona, lol. I admit Barcelona has always felt like home away from home. I love that city so much. When I picture the myself in the new system I always dream of living next to the sea and mountains. I love history and modernity. This beautiful, vibrant, and dynamic city offers all of those things plus a great location because its only a few hours by train or car from other cities I like in Spain and an hour or two by plane to cities I like to visit in Europe.
The sun was shining as brightly as it does in August, glistening off the calm blue Mediterreanean sea, painting the sky amazing hues of red,orange, and violet when it departed for rest in the west in the evening. Except for the chill in the air when the wind blew you could easily forget that it was January.
Barcelona is a European city rather than a Spanish city. The city is proud of its history but is looking progressively toward its future.
The friends I have there are wonderful brothers and sisters that relocated to Barcelona for one reason or another. I am looking forward to joining them in the expat community there.
If you ever have the opportunity please make a point of visiting the city of Barcelona. You may not love it as much as me but I think you will be seduced by its old world charm and/or awed by its modernity. See you there soon.
I'M GOING TO PRAGUE!!!
I have exciting news to share with you...I was selected to be a delegate to the International Convention in Prague, Czech Republic in July 2006!!! I am so psyched!
I attended the International Conventional in Budapest in 2003 and that was an experience of a lifetime. You truly have a full sense of the international brotherphood when you see brothers and sisters from many different parts of the world with different languages come together in unified worship. The love and joy continually demonstrated throughout the sessions and at the Convention sites cannot surpassed by anything else. I am looking forward to the International Convention in Prague and I hope to see you there! ; )
I attended the International Conventional in Budapest in 2003 and that was an experience of a lifetime. You truly have a full sense of the international brotherphood when you see brothers and sisters from many different parts of the world with different languages come together in unified worship. The love and joy continually demonstrated throughout the sessions and at the Convention sites cannot surpassed by anything else. I am looking forward to the International Convention in Prague and I hope to see you there! ; )
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
5 Reasons Why Jehovah May Allow Certain Problems
1. Jehovah may allow some problems to help DIRECT you. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivateus to change. Is God trying to get your attention? Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways. Proverb 20:30 - Bruising wounds are what scours away the bad; and strokes, the innermost parts of the belly.
2. Jehovah may allow some problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags, if you want to know what's inside of them, just drop them in hot water. Has your faith ever been tested with a problem? What do problems reveal about you? When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be filled with joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith and this will give you patience. James 1: 2-3 - Consider it all joy, my brothers, when YOU meet with various trials, knowing as YOU do that this tested quality of YOUR faith works out endurance.
3. Jehovah may allow some problems to CORRECT you. Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's like as a child, your parents told you don't touch the hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something whether it's health, money, or a relationship by losing it. It was the best thing that could have happened to you, for it taught you to pay attention to Jehovah laws. Psalm 119:71-72 - It is good for me that I have been afflicted, In order that I may learn your regulations. The law of your mouth is good for me. More so than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
4. Jehovah may allow some problems to PROTECT you. Problems can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Forexample you may be fired for refusing to do something unethical that your boss has asked you to do. Unemployment is a problem - but it may save you from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's action are eventually discovered. Genesis 50:20 - 20 As for YOU, YOU had evil in mind against me. God had it in mind for good for the purpose of acting as at this day to preserve many people alive.
5. Jehovah may allow some problems to PERFECT you. Problems when responded to correctly, are character builders. Jehovah is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship with Jehovah and your character are two of the most important things a Christian has. We can rejoice when we run into problems, they help us to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us to trust Jehovah more each time until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Romans 5:3-4- And not only that, but let us exult while in tribulation, since we know that tribulation produces endurance; endurance, in turn, an approvedcondition; the approved condition, in turn, hope.
....I hope you find these words encouraging!
2. Jehovah may allow some problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags, if you want to know what's inside of them, just drop them in hot water. Has your faith ever been tested with a problem? What do problems reveal about you? When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be filled with joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith and this will give you patience. James 1: 2-3 - Consider it all joy, my brothers, when YOU meet with various trials, knowing as YOU do that this tested quality of YOUR faith works out endurance.
3. Jehovah may allow some problems to CORRECT you. Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's like as a child, your parents told you don't touch the hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something whether it's health, money, or a relationship by losing it. It was the best thing that could have happened to you, for it taught you to pay attention to Jehovah laws. Psalm 119:71-72 - It is good for me that I have been afflicted, In order that I may learn your regulations. The law of your mouth is good for me. More so than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
4. Jehovah may allow some problems to PROTECT you. Problems can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Forexample you may be fired for refusing to do something unethical that your boss has asked you to do. Unemployment is a problem - but it may save you from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's action are eventually discovered. Genesis 50:20 - 20 As for YOU, YOU had evil in mind against me. God had it in mind for good for the purpose of acting as at this day to preserve many people alive.
5. Jehovah may allow some problems to PERFECT you. Problems when responded to correctly, are character builders. Jehovah is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship with Jehovah and your character are two of the most important things a Christian has. We can rejoice when we run into problems, they help us to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us to trust Jehovah more each time until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Romans 5:3-4- And not only that, but let us exult while in tribulation, since we know that tribulation produces endurance; endurance, in turn, an approvedcondition; the approved condition, in turn, hope.
....I hope you find these words encouraging!
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