update #19 - life in transition

Just let it be. You may as well; it is. Everything moves in and out at its own time. You have no control. You never did; you never will. -- Byron Katie


Since I first moved to Spain over 3 years ago, I knew my time here would be temporary. I had a sense of peace about being here and doing this work, but it felt like this was a stepping stone in the bigger journey. It can be tricky, though, not to wonder about the future...

How long is "temporary" - months, years, weeks? Where is the next stepping stone? Will it be for longer, or will it be just as temporary?

Adventuring in Toledo with Jimmy

You never really know where life is going to take you, nor when. I didn't know how long I'd be here. Much less where I'd go from here. There are plenty of things in life we can't know until we're in the midst of it. That's what makes (and keeps) life an adventure.

And I do love adventures: the newness, the excitement, the hope. But there are also moments of uncertainty, doubt, and questions.

So many questions in transition: Is this actually the best decision? What about that other option? What would life look like if we went down this completely different path instead?

On one hand, it can be a lot of fun to dream about those options. All the "what if"s. Picturing what life could be life if... I moved there. I met someone. I got my dream job. The list goes on...

I'll be honest, I easily get caught up in those daydreams. New cities, new work environments, new people, new cultures, new everything.

Stepping into those daydreams is another thing entirely.

Several months ago, I began asking those "what if" questions and surprisingly started getting some answers. The deep sense of peace I'd had about continuing to live in Spain these last several years came from a lack of open doors outside of this place. Because I didn't have any answers about next steps, it made sense to continue exactly where I was. There was something for me here and it wasn't quite yet finished.

There were many days I was ready to throw in the towel. But when it came down to it, I never could. There was something within me that knew that wouldn't have been right. So I stayed. I continued to pour out my heart, soul, and energy into my work. I formed meaningful and lasting friendships. I loved and felt loved by friends, coworkers, and families. I cared deeply for the people we serve in our neighborhood. 

Taking Ava out to lunch as her reward for
filling up her reading sticker chart

Our weekly English club - meeting a tangible
need while building meaningful relationships

I was as present as I could be to my friends, teammates, and those I was serving. In the midst of that, I realized that if I was going to stay well, I needed to figure out how I needed to be led, how I could contribute, who I really am at my core.

A lot of new things came up. And lot of things I'd learned about myself before were confirmed. More than anything, I gained confidence in myself.
And that confidence is what allowed me the freedom to start asking the questions that have led to some clear next steps. By no means do I have all the answers - not even a 5-year plan - but I do know the immediate next step, which is the most important thing since we can only take one step at a time.

We so often long to have all the answers, mostly to know that everything is going to turn out okay. But what kind of adventure is that?!

As intense and frustrating as this season of transition was - is, really - it has been an adventure. There have been ups and downs. There were some things I (thought I) could control, but honestly very few things. Life does, indeed, move in and out in its own time. Why try to force it? Why don't we embrace the adventure of transition? 

One step at a time.

Sunrise over our neighborhood

♥
mk

update #18 - visiting the Motherland

"the ideal is to feel at home anywhere, everywhere" -- Geoff Dyer

Feeling at home anywhere, everywhere is something I've always longed for - and I feel is a lot of what prompted me to travel as much as I have. There was a desire within me to explore all these places and feel at home in them. To be easily adaptable. To embrace living cross-culturally, and to allow parts of those cultures to seep into who I am.

Stockholm, September 2016

That's why I wanted to stay longer than a week or two in each city or country I visited.
Why I wanted to stay with locals, eat like locals, live like locals.
Why I wanted to learn their language.
Why I wanted to learn their customs and culture.

And yet, no matter how much desire I've had to learn all those things and live like locals, I have rarely felt at home in all the places I've traveled. Some cultures are too different from my home culture. Some languages are too unlike those I've studied for me to even attempt to communicate. Some customs are too foreign for me to understand.

There can be a lot of barriers to not feeling at home in a foreign place, which is what makes it so amazing when you find a place in which you do finally feel at home.

Village walks in Dalarna

Despite the fact that I spent my first 18 years living in America, I struggled to feel at home in that culture. Part of that could be moving across the country when I was 8 years old. Even though the move was still within America, there are some vast cultural differences between Pennsylvania and Washington state. I might not have been aware of it at such a young age, but I definitely went through some serious culture shock after that move. I put all of my energy into resenting my new "home" and longing for my old one.

Throughout my teens, I had several opportunities to travel to countries in Europe and Latin America. I loved each visit. It was fun communicating in a different language and practicing that skill. Though I hadn't been raised in those countries, something felt right about those places - those cultures. I felt more at home there than I felt at home in Washington.

There's always time for fika in Sweden

More than anything, Sweden felt like home. I remember being there for the first time at 18 and thinking I'd never felt so at home since leaving Pennsylvania. I spent a year in that country, in the land of my forefathers, visiting the town of my people, and exploring a bit of the beautiful countryside. I fell in love and was determined to go back, no matter how long or what it took. There was something within me calling me "home," despite not having been born or raised in Sweden.

I continued to travel and seek opportunities to get me back to Europe, but it took nearly a decade before I was back in Sweden. Many adventures between then and now, including a move to Europe, have made it more and more clear that it is difficult to be at home anywhere and everywhere. Despite my desire for that to be true, it was not easy to feel just as at home in Uganda and Nicaragua as it had been in Sweden. Even moving to Spain has had its challenges for me. I've come to realize that Sweden is a land filled with people who share so many similar values, with whom I can easily relate (since they're a country filled with introverts ;) haha), and is a huge piece of my identity.

Visiting the family home in Dalarna

In the three years (off and on) that I've lived in Spain, I've been able to visit the Motherland 3 times, each with wonderfully unique experiences. This last visit (nearly 2 months ago now, oops) brought me so much joy and made it that much harder to leave. I spent a quick weekend up north of Stockholm, visiting some relatives and seeing places of great importance to our family history.
It was beautiful in so many ways. A refreshing taste of Fall weather. Laughter-filled connections with distant cousins. Peace and quiet in cozy homes with incredible views of Swedish landscapes & lakes.

Family history & fika time

I love that place, more than words can explain.
I love my family. I love that culture. I love the green beauty. I love that it SNOWS there. I love that the days are really short in the winter and extremely long in the summer.
I love those things because they are part of who I am. I can't explain it any other way. Sweden is my home, whether or not I ever get to live there again. The Swedes are my people.

I still love to travel and learn about new cultures. But maybe this idea of being at home anywhere and everywhere has more to do with taking with me the parts of Sweden that make it home. I live in Spain for now. Who knows what the next 5, 10, 20 years hold. But what I do know is what a gift it's been to have gotten so much time learning about and experiencing Swedish culture over the years. Those are the things I can take with me, wherever I go.

Saying goodbye on a gorgeous Fall day

At the top of Lake Siljan with the lady cousins

And so, with my dalahäst, I can be at home anywhere, everywhere. ;)

Family group shot outside the dalahäst factory

♥
mk

update #17 - resting

"sometimes the most urgent and vital thing you can possibly do is take a complete rest" -- Ashleigh Brilliant

Rest is a pretty important thing that I think we too often take for granted. It's so necessary, our bodies require several hours of rest every day in order to function properly. Imagine how much we're denying ourselves if we don't find a way to *properly* rest every year, month, or week.

Lake Constance, Germany

Living in Spain, I've come to realize that even something as basic and simple as rest is valued differently in each culture. In America, it seems to be "work as hard as you possibly can for as long as you possibly can so that you can rest later... maybe" while in many European countries, they take an entire month off work every hear to vacation with their families, close shop at least one day a week (usually Sunday) to rest, and even have shorter work weeks. And it turns out all these things make for more efficient employees who have happier lives. Crazy.

So why is it still hard for me to prioritize rest?

How can I be better about fitting rest into my weekly routines?

And what does rest actually look like?

German wildflowers

For some, rest may be as simple as having a few hours to themselves to read a book, listen to some music or a podcast, go for a hike, or even go shopping. For others, it may require a lot more planning and time off in a completely different setting. I think we actually need a little bit of both - taking time to rest every week and going on a vacation. Those vacation days are meant to be used. You don't want to deny them of their purpose, do you? ;)



So a couple of months ago, I knew I was in need of a more of a "vacation rest," which meant leaving Spain. Thankfully, there are a bunch of places I can get to on a dime because of budget airlines in Europe. I chose Germany because it was close enough that travel time wouldn't eat up most of my short 3-day trip, it was a language I didn't know so I could mentally zone out when I was in coffee shops, and one of my best friends happened to be studying abroad in Munich the same weekend I was looking at going. There was basically no reason not to go.

Here are some photos from the whirlwind (yet restful) trip:

View right outside the Sbahn station - Marienplatz

Reunited after over a year!!

Munich mimosas with the best!

Taking a peaceful walk along Lake Constance

Exploring Memmingen, Germany

On this trip, rest looked like a lot of different things: getting some quality time with Laura, exploring some new places, having some quiet time to myself spent reading, and being out in nature that was GREEN.

When it was all said and done, I wished I could have stayed longer. Even just one or two more days would have been nice. But I did come back feeling pretty refreshed, which was the purpose of the trip. And so I think I will be a little more intentional about seeking out times of rest - whatever they might look like - on a more regular basis.

There will (nearly) always be work to do, but shouldn't have to go through life running on fumes. We should enjoy every aspect of life - both work and rest - and that requires a balance of the two.

So, rest up.
Go adventure. Try something new. Go for a hike. Read a book. Explore a new place.
Do something good for your body and soul.




♥
mk

update #16 - time

"learn to appreciate what you have before time makes you appreciate what you had" -- Ziad K. Abdelnour

It's now been almost 8 months since I arrived in Spain. In some ways it's hard to believe it's already been that long, but at the same time it feels like I said goodbye to family & friends ages ago.

Time is a funny thing.
One minute, everything is brand new - sights, smells, food, people - and before you know it, those things have all become familiar, second-nature, and it's sad to think about leaving.

Noche en Blanco (Málaga) with some great friends

Thankfully I'm not the one leaving this time, but some of the friends I've made in the last 8 months will be leaving over the next few months and it's sad to think they won't be part of my daily or weekly rhythms of life anymore.
Sure, there's Skype and WhatsApp and email and countless forms of technology that help people stay in touch from the other side of the world. But we all know it's not the same.

Spending time with my adorable new friends

I've tried to live in the moment, appreciating each day I'm here, every interaction and conversation, all the bits and pieces of life that make up a culture. And yet, without realizing it, time slips by.

It comes and goes on its own.

It's a beautiful gift that we often take for granted.

It's something we can't control.

All we can do, really, is make the most of what's in front of us:

The people in our lives right now.

The places we are.

The experiences we can choose to have.

A quick day trip to Granada came with this stellar view

We can be fully present to what's happening now and make some new memories, share in the laughter and love of good friendships, and soak up the sunshine life is offering us.

So go forth, and enjoy today.

♥
mk

update #15 - travel: Barcelona & Girona

"travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of the experience" -- Francis Bacon

Wine & tapas in Barcelona

Travel does wonders for the soul. It doesn't have to be far. But going somewhere that's outside of your daily (or weekly) "normal" gives a refreshing perspective. 


It has helped me appreciate the many things I have here at home - community, familiarity, routine, constant sunshine (even though I'd be fine with some change in the weather every now and then ;) haha) - while satisfying my desire for adventure, change, exploration, learning something new.

Finally got to see Ally IN SPAIN!

A couple of weeks ago, I got to spend a weekend up in Barcelona, visiting a few friends, seeing a bunch of sights, relaxing, enjoying some good wine, exploring the city - and even going up to Girona for a day. It was a wonderful weekend away, a nice change of pace, a breath of fresh air, and a fun adventure!

Sagrada Familia

Exploring Parc Guell - Gaudi's house!

With just 62 hours in the area, we made the most of our time: going to the Sagrada Familia, getting a 2.5-hour (FREE!) walking tour of the Gothic Quarter, hiking up to Parc Guell (where Gaudi's house and quite a bit of his other works are), walking Las Ramblas, and even taking time to relax and enjoy some wine and tapas. 

It was an ideal time of year to go - not quite peak tourist season yet, so there weren't too many people, and the weather was great (aside from the rain our first day there)! If you have the chance to go to Barcelona, I'd definitely recommend going in late Spring or early Fall if you can. :)

Sitting outside my new favorite cafe

Our last day in Barcelona, we decided to take a 40-minute train ride north to Girona. We walked the old city wall (which provided amazing views, including the one in the photo below), went to the cathedral but had just barely missed the cutoff for the free entry, so we decided to go to a cafe my friend had recommended (La Fabrica) and fell in love with the city a little more. The cafe is in this tiny little plaza between several buildings and at the base of some ancient stairs; it was surreal and awesome all at once. The best part of Girona: everything in the old part of town is walkable from the train station! I would highly recommend taking a day to go explore Girona if you ever find yourself in Catalunya.

View of Girona from the old city wall

There will probably always be a thousand reasons not to travel

- even for a quick weekend trip -

but it's completely worth it. Vale la pena! 

Take advantage of flight deals,

find a cheap train ticket,

plan a short road trip with someone...

go on an adventure.

Your soul will thank you.

♥ mk

update #14 - seasons

"everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn" -- elizabeth lawrence

Snow in Stockholm

Living in Málaga, I often miss the winter. I love snow sports, looking outside and watching the ground get covered in a blanket of white, seeing snow-capped mountain tops, sipping hot chocolate by a warm fire after a walk through the snowy woods... There's so much magic in that season.

I do also love the summer. And here, I get plenty of that. It's not sunny and hot all the time, but the weather is pretty pleasant for most of the year here.

So maybe what I truly miss is the change in seasons. Having spent 10 years of my childhood in Seattle, you'd think I would be used to the lack of change. But that is one of the things that led me to travel and explore other places. I wanted change. I wanted something different, something new.

How often do we find ourselves wanting change? It seems so prevalent in society today - we need new phones every 2 years, new clothes every season, new haircuts, new cars, new jobs, new apartments, new whatever. Are we so unable to be satisfied or content with all that we have?

Yes, it's good to have motivation to push yourself and grow, but at what cost? If we're always thinking about the next new thing, the next goal on our list, are we ever being present and enjoying the moment?

I'm here in Spain for a season. There are no certainties of how long this season will last - months, years, decades? But I might as well enjoy the summer while I'm here, instead of longing for winter.

A sunny "winter" day in my neighborhood

I can embrace this season, seeing the gift of each day, every conversation, each friendship that's forming...

So, rather than dwelling on what I don't have or what I'm missing, I choose to make the most of this season of my life. I know I'll miss it when it's over, so I might as well enjoy it while I'm in it.
 

A Málaga sunset

♥ mk

update #12 - perspective

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

In the last five weeks, I've spent the night in 6 different cities spread out between three countries on two continents.

I'm back to living out of a suitcase.

Enjoying the snow in Sweden

It's difficult to feel settled when constantly traveling. And even more difficult when the place where I want to feel settled isn't my home culture. I'm still adjusting to life in Spain. Then I go and explore Sweden (which was just wonderful) and come back to Spain for a week and a half and then jump on a plane to Morocco for a coaching training.

Three drastically different cultures. All within two weeks.

Visiting the souk in Casablanca

I think I'm just now recovered from all that travel and have registered that I'm actually back in Spain and here to stay for the foreseeable future. And you know what's amazing? All that travel, despite the fact that I was living out of a suitcase and constantly on the go, ended up helping me feel more settled here. 

Spain feels more like home to me now. My piso is a restful place that I come to take a break in the middle of my long days meeting with people, volunteering, and helping run our English club. I'm recognizing more and more of the faces I see in my neighborhood. My teammates are my extended family. I look forward to going to the soup kitchen and serving my (homeless) neighbors I often see on the streets selling flowers or asking for spare change. I'm excited to build relationships with the people in my neighborhood, investing in them as leaders, entrepreneurs, community members, and global citizens.

Maybe this feeling of being settled would have come eventually without all the travel this past month. But I'm grateful I got the best of both worlds - visiting one of my favorite places, exploring new cultures, and then coming back "home." 

Sunset on the Mediterranean

There is still some unfamiliarity to this life in Spain, but it's becoming more and more comfortable. And despite the frustrations that are part of adjusting to a new culture, I'm happy to be right where I am.

♥ mk

update #11 - christmastime is here

Christmastime is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year

Those of you who know me, know very well that this is my favorite time of the year. There's such joy, hope, and excitement in the air during this season. There's love and peace as families gather near and far to celebrate with one another.

For as long as I can remember, I've loved the Christmas season, willing it to start earlier every year (a bit to the dismay and frustration of friends and roommates over the years who have had to listen to Christmas music in October... They would have started hearing it in September, but I was careful to listen through headphones that early ;) haha).

Memories of my childhood Christmases are summed up perfectly by this next verse of the song:

Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share

I love snow and the magic it brings. Something so simple can blanket a town in white, bringing a quiet peace and tranquility upon its inhabitants. And it's such a beautiful image of the clean and perfect [new] life we're given in Jesus, the baby whose birth we celebrate at this time of the year.

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there

Making paper snowflakes to bring
"winter" to Southern Spain

This is only the second time I won't get to spend Christmas with my family, so in some ways it doesn't feel like Christmas is actually happening this year. I am, however, taking full advantage of living in Europe and am spending my favorite holiday in my favorite country - Sweden! It's wonderful to be back in the Motherland, spending time with relatives I've met and gotten to know in the last 10 years, reunited with my man after saying goodbye in Boston almost three months ago, and celebrating Christmas with a family friend who has been part of our family Christmases for about the last 20 years.

Definitely all amazing things that are part of what I enjoy so much about this season. As much as I love and cherish my childhood Christmas memories, it's a gift to be able to make new memories in this season every year. 

Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year...

As you all draw near to family and friends this holiday season, may you reflect upon the true gifts of love, hope, peace, and joy that are at the core of the meaning behind this most wonderful time of the year. Receive those gifts and be willing to give them as well. May we all carry the true Christmas spirit with us throughout the year.

Christmas cookies!

Our English Club Christmas party - plenty of
laughter and cheer that night :)

♥
mk

update #10 - holidays and families

"the love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth or privilege."  -- charles kurah


This time of year always makes me miss my family. In the United States, it's a time when extended families come together to share a meal of Thanksgiving. It's a time when some families begin decorating for Christmas. It's time when college students come home to be with their families. A time when a lot of young adults take time off work and make their way back home so they can celebrate and spend time with their loved ones.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with some of

our Spanish neighbors and friends.

Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!

I'm thankful to be in Spain right now, even though it's the most difficult time of the year for me to be away from my family.

I'm thankful I get to experience my favorite time of the year in a different culture from my own.

I'm thankful for the wonderful friendships I've been given here in Spain that make home not feel so far away.

I'm thankful that I'm able to feel at home here in Malaga.

I'm thankful for this unique experience to live abroad and immerse myself in a new culture.

I'm thankful for the new perspective I've gained from living here.

I'm thankful that Spaniards truly value families.

This past week, as I've been missing my family a little more than usual, I've started to notice the emphasis on families here.
When kids have a day off school and their parents have the day off work, it's almost assumed that the family will spend the day together. I went to the mall on such a day a couple of weeks ago and it was packed with families - moms, dads and kids all together. Crazy. That's just not something I normally saw in the States.
Then I started noticing things my Spanish friends would say about going away for the weekend with their parents. Because, evidently, that's a normal thing.
Even the way a traditional Spanish work (and school) day is set up to include siesta is designed so that families can spend some time and share a meal together every day.

What a beautiful thing it is! A value so important to this people group that it has shaped their culture.

Right now, living halfway across the world from my family and close friends, it's obviously impossible to share a meal together everyday. Or even have a conversation most days. But that certainly doesn't mean I love or value them any less. It just makes me wonder how this time in Spain will impact my own personal culture I'm developing as I take bits and pieces of cultures to which I'm exposed.

I'm grateful for this time in a culture that treasures family. In some ways it makes me long to be with my family and friends even more, but it also makes me want to be more present here. What other beautiful aspects of this culture will I get to discover over the next few years here?



♥
mk

update #8 - frustrations

"if you don't like something, change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it."  -- mary engelbreit


So many frustrations today.
So many things not checked off my to-do list.
So many tasks pushed out yet another day.

I started writing out - in great detail - each event and situation that frustrated me so much throughout the day and, as I was writing, I went through a big up and down of frustration. At first, it made me more irritated, just thinking through how I felt in the midst of each moment. Then, as I was recounting the stories, I realized how silly they all sounded. 

Being woken up by rain at 3:00 in the morning.
Going to (yet another) Spanish government office and being told (again) I don't have all I need.
The restaurant my morning meeting was at was closed today.
The (brand-new) bike I bought last week already has issues.
I had to walk in the rain. (Poor me.)

I mean, really?! Come on, Mikaela!

It was obviously a really trying day for me. ;)


Seriously, though. I can hear how ridiculous those complaints sound. Not that my feelings of annoyance and irritation weren't justified, but I was reminded - yet again - that so much of life is about our perspective.

A lot of what bothered me today was completely out of my control. There honestly wasn't much I could have done to change each of the situations themselves. But I did have control over how I thought about it. Unfortunately, most of today was spent thinking negatively about those moments.

But the day isn't over. 

This day doesn't have to end on a negative note. Nor do I have to remember those situations as frustrations. I can choose to shift my perspective away from the darkness and into the light. 

Look for the ray of light in the midst of darkness
(Photo: Monachil, Spain)

The rain that woke me up is nourishing the ground that doesn't often get the rain it needs.
I got to practice my Spanish with the lady I talked to at the government office. (And she was extremely patient with me throughout the situation we were both trying to figure out.)
Instead of eating out for my morning meeting, my friend/life coach and I got to cook breakfast together, which was really fun.
If I can't return my bike, this was a good learning experience for what not to do. ;) Plus I'll get to meet some new people at the bike shop I'll take it to to get fixed.
(I don't like to admit it, but) I actually think it can be totally freeing to walk in the rain.

Maybe next week my update will be entirely positive. For now, thanks for reading and supporting me from wherever in the world you're reading this!



If you can't change something, try changing the way you think about it.
It's worth a try.


♥
mk

update #7 - the return to Spain

"there is a difference between arrival and entrance. ...You can arrive at a place and never really enter it; you get there, look around, take a few pictures, make a few notes, send postcards home. When you travel like this, you think you know where you are, but in fact, you have never left home. Entering takes longer. You cross over slowly, in bits and pieces. ...It is like awakening slowly, over a period of weeks."  -- jamie zeppa

I have arrived in Spain.
After nearly 15 months in the States, it's surreal being back here. Surreal, a relief, frustrating, exciting, fun, exhausting.

So many different emotions going through me these days. A lot of new things coming to light this time around. Maybe it's because this isn't my first time in the country. Maybe it's because my commitment is for a longer stay this time. Maybe it's because I'd gotten used to American culture again without realizing it. Either way, culture shock is hitting me harder than I'd expected.

I thought I'd experienced enough of Spanish culture last year to be aware of how I'd feel being back here. I had set my expectations at what I thought was a realistic level to adjust back to this way of life within the first couple of weeks. But in these first couple of weeks, as I've worked on applying for residency, I've been slammed in the face with surges of frustration at how slowly things move here. Why must these offices close so early that I can only get one thing done each day?! How can anything get done in a timely manner around here?

But the slowness has really been a beautiful thing.

It has forced me to pause, slow down, and take in each of these experiences. I'm not here for two weeks, trying to see all that I can in a short amount of time. I have years to see it all, so maybe I should actually embrace the slowness of this culture and take that extra time to allow myself to settle in a bit better, to get to know the people I keep seeing at the market and coffee shops, to walk a little slower through my neighborhood and take in the sights, smells and sounds. When am I going to get this kind of opportunity again? Spain will only be new to me for so long, so why not make the most of it by taking on a bit of their culture and doing life at the pace most Spaniards would do it? (Novel concept, I know.)

The most important thing I need to remind myself to do is take things one day at a time. I'm still learning and adjusting. It's a process.
It happens in bits and pieces,
in conversations,
in walks through the city,
in meeting my neighbors,
in daily life.






I have arrived in Spain.
Arrived, but not yet entered. In time, probably without even realizing it, I will have entered. For now, one day at a time.


I'm off to the market...





♥ mk

update #6 - cross-cultural training & reflections

"I want to travel the world and breathe the air of new places." --unknown

Some reflections of the time I spent in the cross-cultural training this past month:

Culture is a beautiful and unique mosaic that I believe is a picture of the diversity and creativity of Christ. He makes Himself known in all cultures, people groups, and countries across the world, not just one. He is not limited to our simple understanding of a design for living. He is bigger and greater than we can imagine. He encompasses all cultures, never changing who He is by nature, but revealing Himself in different ways to different people.


We can stand to learn a lot about Christ by visiting and immersing ourselves in different cultures. Each culture’s unique explanation of the purpose of the animals, plants, landforms that fill this earth reveal just a bit more of who God is. In my opinion, culture is a picture of the Body of Christ – each part unique and necessary for the Body to function properly; parts of each culture are a reflection of who Christ is and when we learn more about other cultures, we are able to see new and different parts of Christ.


However, while there is much beauty in the unique creativity God has in forming countless cultures throughout the world, our human brokenness is also made evident in certain parts of these cultures. There is no right or wrong culture, but there are clear parts of each culture that are simply not Christ, but the flesh. In those parts, however, there is a story of redemption waiting to be seen.


And that’s the beautiful thing: Christ is in every culture because He is a mosaic of cultures, and culture is a mosaic of who Christ is. Though He may have spent His time on earth in the Middle East, He now relates to all people in all cultures. His love is bigger than cultural divides. He is greater than the differences that can blind us humans. And it’s His love that must be taken across these cultural barriers. It’s His love that can be communicated across the cultural barriers because He is the one constant that remains true in all cultures. We just need to look for Him with a different perspective. There may be different ways of seeing Him, relating to Him, understanding Him in each culture, but one thing remains constant: Jesus is there.


I think this is something truly evidenced in culture: His love, glory and power are understood in various languages and experienced by people all across the globe. There is not just one culture that understands and experiences Christ. He is present everywhere. He might look different, but I think people are just seeing a different part of His face. It’s still Christ. It’s all Him. This outward expression of who a people group is shows just a portion of God’s marvelous creativity. What a wonderful gift it is to have multiple perspectives of the things God has created – and of our Father Himself!


Given our discussion of the multiple views of culture, I believe that one’s attitude towards a given culture will be positively impacted by having a high view of culture because there will be an openness and willingness to learn from the people of the host culture. Having a low view of culture, however, can negatively affect one’s attitude towards a given culture and its people by allowing a preconceived notion of right vs. wrong to dictate all interactions a person has with people in the host culture. It would prevent one from being able to have genuine, trusting relationships with people of the given culture because there would not be a willingness to understand the reasons behind why people do what they do. There might be an assumption that if it is not done the same (“right”) way, it is wrong and therefore sinful. I also think that having a neutral view of culture will negatively affect one’s attitude towards a given culture and its people because that person won’t see the need to actually understand the culture of the people before building a relationship. There would be countless misunderstandings based on cultural differences that could be avoided if that person valued culture.


Having a high view of culture can affect one’s approach to missions by seeing that Jesus is the one who makes culture beautiful, unique and diverse. Understanding that He is revealed in different ways throughout the cultures of the world will help the missionary’s approach in sharing the gospel. Being culturally aware allows us to share Christ in a way that is understandable to people in our host culture. Having a low or neutral view of culture would likely lead to many difficulties in sharing the gospel with the host culture because there is no value for, or understanding of, the need to contextualize the gospel for the sake of the people in the host country.

♥ mk

update #5 - finding rest

"take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop." -- Ovid

I've been at a cross-cultural training for the past three weeks as part of my preparation for moving to Spain long-term. It’s been a time filled with learning from facilitators who lived overseas for a number of years, other students who are preparing to enter the field full-time as well, and everyone in between. Coming in to the training, I was feeling pretty exhausted from a number of months of traveling, not feeling settled anywhere, and constantly living out of a suitcase. I was looking forward to being in one place for six weeks – the longest I've stayed in one place since returning to the States last July – and (finally) getting some rest.

This training is out in the middle of nowhere, North Carolina, and there are about 30 students here, so in my mind, I thought I’d definitely be getting my share of solitude and alone time. I’d recharge here and be ready to hit the ground running and raise the rest of the support I need to return to Spain (hopefully) this Spring.

However, God had other plans in mind. I live in a dorm with 6 other women who are leaving to various parts of the world, so stories have been shared over meals, walks around (the booming metropolis of) Union Mills, in the classroom, and between fits of laughter. I've gotten less sleep and much less alone time than I’d planned or thought I might have. I haven’t read nearly as much as I’d hoped I would. I haven’t written on my blog in months. I've hardly had time to make phone calls during the week.

I haven’t, I haven’t, I haven’t.

But I have made some incredible friends.

I have been encouraged.

I have gotten rest.

I have been rejuvenated.

I have seen Christ in others.

I have fellowshipped with brothers and sisters.

Yesterday afternoon, it started to “snow” here. Now, I’m coming to learn that snow means something different depending on what part of the country (or world) you’re in. There’s maybe an inch or two of snow out there, but it’s covering a thick layer of ice. So our classes were delayed this morning. We were supposed to have a time of worship together as a class before our cross-cultural classes started, so we invited the guys to come over and join our dorm of girls for some songs and prayer. And it’s been incredible. 

Something unexpected.

Something truly beautiful.

Spontaneous outpouring of love for our Father.

I have gotten to rest here. It most certainly didn't look like what I’d expected. But, then again, when does it ever?

In Christ, I find true rest.

Only in Him.

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”

Psalm 90:14

♥

mk

update #3 - adventures in the South

"it doesn't matter where you go in life... it's who you have beside you."

Friendsgiving 2014: reunited with one of my best friends

I'm now back in Seattle after an incredible week in the South. When I first started planning this trip to North and South Carolina, I had no idea what the week was going to look like, who I'd be able to see, or how I was even going to get from one city to the next. Now, looking back on the last ten days, I'm amazed at how the details all fell right into place, humbled by the wonderful hospitality I experienced, and beyond thankful for the time I got to spend with friends - both new and old.

Exploring Charleston, SC with some
wonderful (new and old!) friends

Spontaneous adventures, many wonderful conversations, countless fits of giggles. Those things all make life - and traveling - that much more fun. But they can't be planned. 

It's when things aren't planned that I get to keep my eyes opened for opportunities to see, enjoy, taste, experience new things. I see these things for what they are: gifts.

Sharing a meal with a dear friend from high school
in Winston-Salem, NC

Every little thing that happened while I was traveling around the Carolinas seemed to be a gift - the extra time spent with new friends, the beauty of a change in scenery, the chance to catch up with friends and family I hadn't seen in years, the refreshing feeling of hiking on a cool Fall day, the kind of laughter that makes you double over, and the true fellowship that was centered completely around Jesus. I'm still amazed by it all, really.

It's pretty wonderful what can happen if I let go of trying to control every single detail and let God take care of it. That's something I've said for years and always thought it was a great idea, but it was such a struggle to actually let go of that control.

I've learned a lot this past year, but among the most life-altering was a complete shift in my perspective. I no longer have my own agenda, don't try to do things my way, don't even have expectations of what I think should happen.

Because it's only when I let go of those ideas that the most incredible moments, interactions, conversations, experiences happen. Everything becomes a gift.

Visiting my sweet cousin in beautiful Greenville, SC

♥
mk