Adventures in Spanish

So learning a new language is fun, not easy, and lets just say a different exciting adventure. For example, on Friday my friend Eunice and I were on our way to Sagrada Familia. I told her "nessicito un cafe antes de vamos Sagrada Familia," translated that means I need coffee before we leave. So after that I thought she said we would get it on the way and she asked me where I liked to get coffee. I told here it didn't matter, anywhere is fine. So she started walking and I followed...so I thought. After a good 10 minutes, she told me "your coffee sure is far away" So it turns out I was following her and she was following me...with no direction in mind. We laughed for a little bit then made our way to Starbucks. I'm thankful we were able to laugh about and not get discouraged b/c she was talking to me in English and I was talking to her in Spanish. Oh the adventures.

Another thing i have realized with learning a new language is fear. Its amazing how not being able to express yourself with words can lead you to be afraid of things that you never thought you would be afriad of. Yesterday happened to be one of those days...I was afraid to even go get cereal out of my cabinet in the kitchen, b/c I didn't want to run into someone and not udnerstand them and then not be able to have a conversation. One night I literally ate peanut butter b/c I did not want to be embarassed with my American way of cooking...more like lack of cooking. I have been afraid to ask for help, b/c I know the frustration of them not being able to understand me and me not understand them and we both turn red in the face. I'm afraid sometimes to even go wash my clothes b/c I'm really not sure if there is a time when I can and can't wash clothes. Sadly these are some of the fears I have acquired being here. I'm not writing this to make you feel sorry for me...please whatever you do, don't feel sorry for me. I'm learning from these things and striving to remeber that God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and a sound mind. Thankful fear did not stop me from coming to Spain and I'm seeking the Lord to not let it stop me from actually "being" in Spain. Its an adventure, thats all. What adventure have you heard of when someone didn't fall and scrape their knee, get dirty, fall down and get a little more hungry than usual? I'm learning and thats the important thing. I want to learn from every person i encounter each day. I am a student of the culture here in Barcelona, of Spanish, of people and I'm a student of the word of God. Its just kind of funny the things that fear will let you do. I'm glad I'm more aware of it now, so I can not let it defeat me. Its only in giving it to the Lord each day will I be able to not let fear bring me down.