Thankfulness

Hello dear friends! Happy Thanksgiving! I'm so very thankful for you!

This month has been extremely busy, but thankfully full of days off school. The first weekend of November, we had a 5 day weekend for the Moroccan Eid el Kabir.  I spent the weekend in Melilla, Spain and had such a relaxing time (see previous posts for info on that). Last weekend we had a 3-day weekend for the Moroccan Independence Day. Unfortunately, there was a lack of barbecues, watermelon-shaped fruit bowls, and fireworks displays. Thankfully, there was an abundance of laziness, tv/movies, and junk food. I spent two of the three nights at my friends' apartment, and I think we weren't out of bed for more than an hour on Friday; instead, we snuggled in for a day full of catching up on our favorite tv shows and enjoying our day off!  This weekend we had Thursday and Friday off for American Thanksgiving!  It's definitely interesting experiencing the holiday in another country.

 I was invited to eat with some wonderful friends.  We had delicious turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes (made by your truly :) ), homemade biscuits, apple crisp, pumpkin bread, and homemade toffee!!!  I was stuffed!!  It was so wonderful to be surrounded by friends, but it was bittersweet to miss , the parade, the dog show!!, all the Black Friday advertisements, and my dear, sweet family.  I was able to skype with them for a bit--the computer was set at the dining room table and it was ALMOST like I was actually there. . . I actually spent most of the day trying to image the day as any other typical Thursday to keep myself in the here and now, and not dwell on the fact that I won't be back home anytime soon.  Here are some pics of our splendid feast!

Update on the fabric fiasco from a million blogs ago: In August, I overpaid for fabric in the Medina in order to have a chair made.  Well, the tailor didn't have his paperwork or something in order, so he told us the police closed his shop and there was no way we could get in to get the fabric out. That was 2.5 months ago! Mark was going to get some papers legalized last week and just happened to be close to the shop and stopped by. Lo and behold, the shop was open!!! Apparently the owners of the building decided to take the store back and open it themselves.  And, it seems to have been open for a while!!!  Thankfully, they still had my fabric!!!  Yesterday, I went out with Amy and Michelle and found some additional solid-colored fabric for accent pillows. Now I just need to find a trustworthy tailor to make my chair before Christmas!! I'll keep you posted--and hopefully pictures will follow!

Today I'm going out again to buy fabric to make scarves! So fun!  When am I to plan lessons for school you ask??? That's a great question! :)

I thought I'd end my blog with some things I'm thankful for right now:
1. I'm thankful for the internet that lets me keep in touch with so many back home.
2. I'm thankful for the many coffee shops within walking distance of my house.
3. I'm thankful for Mark and Amy, their friendship, and their willingness to go above and beyond to make me welcome here and feel like family.
4. I'm thankful for the awesome care package my aunt and uncle sent me!

5. I'm thankful that I can still talk to my parents multiple times a week.
6. I'm thankful for the awesome teachers at the school & that so many of us have become such great friends in just a few short months!
7. I'm thankful I was able to get my fabric (& hopefully a chair soon!).
8. I'm thankful for all the cheap bananas and oranges in season right now.
9. I'm thankful that this weekend has been full of sunshine and 60 degree weather!
10. I'm thankful that Christmas in Paris is in only 25 days!!!! :)

When I am alone. . .

I've had a song going through my head all day.  Give Me Jesus by Fernando Ortega.  It's probably one of the most beautiful melodies I've ever heard, and it has the most simple & profound message for the listener--Give me Jesus!

This week I've felt lonely.  I don't know if it's because I came to Spain with friends and feel that much more comfortable here. I enjoy Morocco, I like a lot of things about Morocco, but Morocco still isn't home. It's home for the time being, but it's not where I want to be every night when I lay my head down. Spain isn't home either, but there are some things here that I can't get in Morocco and can in the U.S. (bacon, other forms of pork, Heinz ketchup), and it makes me miss home and family that much more.  On the other hand, it could just be that I'm simply lonely.  Yes, I'm usually surrounded by multiple people 6-7 days a week, but I just feel lonely. I want to constantly be surrounded by friends--people with whom I can communicate, people with whom I share similar beliefs and interests; people who know me for me and love me for me.

This song has been my heart's cry today.  When I am alone, give me Jesus!  I want to breath, lives, and be the words of this song! I find myself too often turning to other people and things to fill the emptiness that overtakes my soul so often.  I want that irresistible craving, that quench that won't ever be satisfied until Jesus returns to call us home. I want to be the person who says "Just give me Jesus!" Why do we (or at least me) always look for happiness and fulfillment elsewhere? I want to be so on fire and so passionate that you can really have the entire world as long as I can have Jesus.

I'm reminded of a dear, dear friend and sister who lived this message in her short life.  I, too, can tell that my heartstrings are longing for the creator. Oh, that I may live as she lived, and daily desire that "when I come to die, give me Jesus!!!"

Just some thoughts before bed. . . I hope that you want and crave Jesus daily, and that you find Him as you seek with your whole heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N3KPA9ltQE

Hello Break!

Well, it has been a long time, hasn't it?!

Friday  marked the end of the first nine weeks of school. That's right, folks!  One quarter down, only three to go this year.  The first nine weeks have been filled with tears, frustrations, more tears, and more frustrations! :) Actually, it was really cool to finally be a teacher.  After six years of schooling, I still wake up some days and think, "Is this really happening? Do I really have my OWN classroom?!"  It's pretty surreal.  I'm still adjusting to the life of a teacher, having difficulty managing my time, figuring out what the students REALLY need to know, and what I just THINK they need to know. . . but it's been a blessing and a learning experience--maybe not for the students, but definitely for me!

A few weeks ago, I traveled "outside" the country to Melilla, Spain with 3 other teachers from Amicitia.  Melilla is an enclave in the northeastern part of Morocco.  We took the midnight train (I would not suggest doing that as it's pretty much impossible to sleep in coach), arrived in Nador, Morocco at about 6am, took a taxi to the bus station, and a bus to the border where we walked across the border to Spain!  The guy stamping passports gave us a hard time because we didn't have our Visa papers (Of course we didn't!  They're at the police station for processing).  We can only stay in the country for 90 days until our Visa's go through, but of course, they act like they don't understand that fact when it's their rule!  Thankfully one of my roommates came with us who speaks Arabic, and she was able to talk the guard down and get him to stamp our passports.  We spent the night in Melilla, and it was super cool! My favorite part: the cars actually stop for you when you step into the crosswalk.  We walked around the quaint city center until, unfortunately, I ended up with a 24-hour flu bug that had been going around the school.  We were staying at a hostel that night (cheap route to go!), and the shared bathroom situation was definitely not my favorite that evening.  We left the next morning, Sunday, at about 10am, walked back across the border (ironically, it was the same guy as the day before and he was in a jovial mood this time!), and took a taxi to the bus stop.  We decided NOT to take the train back to Fes, as it was a 6-hour journey, and I was feeling poorly.  Instead, we all paid for seats in a grand taxi (basically a regular-sized sedan) and took the 3-hour car ride back to Fes.

The past two weeks were filled with "end of the quarter" stuff in preparation for our current break.  We had papers and tests to finish up, and now we're in the middle of a 5-day weekend in celebration of the Eid el Kabir.  This holiday is like the Moroccan version of Christmas.  They all get together with their families (so the train to Melilla yesterday was packed with people traveling home or to relatives' houses), have a week off school, slaughter a sheep in honor of Abraham nearly sacrificing Ishmael. . . . (hmmmmmm), and then feast on the sheep (yes, ALL parts of the sheep--liver, stomach, head, eyes. . . you name it, they eat it!) the rest of the week.  In my apartment building, the families keep their sheep in the basement until the actual holiday, which is Monday; the building has been continually smelling worse and worse this week.  It's like a regular farm!

In order to escape the farm smell, and the upcoming blood-fest, I traveled BACK to Melilla with the Wieds.  It was the cheapest route, as the closer we got to the holiday, the higher plane ticket prices to mainland Spain became.  Some friends of friends know a family here who have a large flat where we could all stay for a relatively cheap price.  A. and I took the train yesterday, and it was a much more enjoyable ride traveling during the way.  We chatted, read, napped, and arrived at the border about the same time as M. and boys (they drove and left three hours later than us!).  However, we were able to walk right across the border, and the men had to take forever waiting in the car! :) So. . . we got to the border, and the guy in the booth started speaking to me in Arabic.  I quickly grabbed my translator, and, come to find out, I was overdue to leave the country! What?! My 90 days expired this past week; yes, I knew that, but that's why I left the country two weeks ago! Well, he was saying that the time didn't count because we only left for a day. Excuse me?!!!! I was never told that was a problem. Everyone I had talked to who had gone to Melilla for a visa run had never had a problem; in fact, one person had left and returned in the SAME day.  Why in the world was I having a problem???  In all actuality, he could have taken my passport, detained me, and not allowed me to leave the country, but A. was able to explain to him that the police have my paperwork, and I DID leave the country within my 90 days. . . . and FINALLY he graciously stamped my passport.  So now we're just praying that they actually count this one since I'll be out of the country for about 3 days rather than just 1.  M. even had trouble crossing the border--they didn't stamp his passport! Apparently he looks Moroccan! :) By the time he got to the Spanish border he didn't have an exit stamp and had to go back through and wait, again, to get a stamp!  But, we're here now in beautiful Spain.  The weather in Fes has been rainy and cold lately, but today in Melilla, it's beautiful and sunny!!!!

I'm so thankful for this much needed break, and I'm looking forward to a great weekend with such wonderful friends!!! They are such a blessing in my life! :)  The boys and I spent the morning playing Heart & Soul on the piano, and we're about ready to head out the door and take a walk to the city center in the sunshine!

Oh, one other story before I go.  When A. and I were leaving the border guard yesterday, she said Insha'allah, the paperwork will be here by the time I have to leave the country again.  The man angrily asked if she even knew what that phrase meant.  After replying with the correct translation (If God wills it), he asked if she even trusted in God.  Yes! Really?! Yes, I trust in God through the Messiah!!! :)  So, I leave you with this little tidbit--How wonderful that we can come openly to the Father through the one He sent here. I'm so glad that I can trust through the Messiah & know that my salvation is secure!  Oh, praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!