Friendships

Lessons I have learned in three days of MOP -

• I am not a very good sitter.  Classes are all morning and all afternoon and we are supposed to be sitting still and listening and taking notes.  I am definitely better at multi-tasking and moving.  Finally figured out if I eat the new pretzel M & M's it helps me to pay attention
• Cross Cultural Ministry is more difficult than I ever wanted to admit - your own personal culture influences so much of your life and it makes judgment very easy.  Will I ever master the idea that different does not equal better or worse?  
• The "rose colored glasses" of mission work do not give an accurate picture of what life is going to be like when we reach Spain.  Yesterday was our first session on security and safety issues on the mission field.  There are some very serious considerations we must consider as we move forward.  
• I have a long way to go to being the person that God has called me to be.  (knew that before we got here, but have been repeatedly reminded as we have discussed some pretty hard topics)
• Alex and Hannah will do fabulous on the field.  They have made some great friends here already, of course they are going to Japan and not Spain - but they don't seem to think that is a problem.
• God cares and answers prayers.  A family here prayed before they arrived that David, their 11 year old who just finished the fifth grade, would have a friend here.  He doesn't have any close friends with similar interests in Japan (they are already there).  He is either several years younger or several years older than those around him.  They knew these weeks would be so much better if David could connect with someone.  David was the first person Alex met here.  They are both 11 and both just finished 5th grade and both love soccer and asking questions and exploring the world and so much more.  They have been connected since we arrived.  Isn't it great to know that God loves our children even more than we do?