The bags are packed (and actually light – how did that happen?!), the bed is stripped, the cupboards empty, now all that is left is a final meal at Pinky’s and getting to the airport.
Have 2 more posts for you when I’m home, then I’m done!
Happy and sad at the same time. 
They were fabulous!
The play went almost without hitch (one technical problem, but that’s live theatre for you!) and the club was a great success. We had 37 kids signed in and several more arrived after we had started. There was singing of Christmas songs – Navidad, Navidad, Hoy es Navidad (to the theme of Jingle bells), games, crafts, teaching on Jesus, the light of the world, and of course the play. It was amazing to see the kids have so much fun, and a large number of Moroccan ladies watching the Nativity story. God is amazing! It was really hard to say goodbye to the kids here as this group is what I have enjoyed most about my work here. We have stared something new, and hearing kids asking if they are allowed to come to the weekly Friday club, and asking when the next Saturday one is as they want to bring their friends along … wow!
I have lots of loose ends to tie up this week, and a number of social occasions. It seems so strange to think of myself back home. It’s going to be hard leaving people here, but I know I have made some really good friends and I’m looking forward to catching up with friends and family back at home. (Please pray for good weather for the flight – no snow or heavy winds!)
Liz
Well, today is the 10th of December, the day we have been working towards in the Alcala club since my first meeting with Mija back in September. It is the day of the Christmas club featuring the nativity play. We had the final rehearsal last night and it was… alright! The technology works, the stage is beautiful and the kids very cute. They are almost there! I’m sure it will be alright on the night, and if not, they are cute so will get away with it!
Pictures to follow!
(one week to go…please pray snow doesn’ disrupt the flight!)
Isn’t it amazing how God works. For the last couple of weeks I’ve been thinking about how to put into words the thoughts I want to take home with me. I’ve had several feelings and thoughts, but nothing really concrete. Then last Saturday we had a new workers meeting about different cultures which helped get things sorted in my head. On my journey into Church on Sunday I was starting to form things into something that would make sense to other people. And then the sermon was almost exactly what I had been wanting to say!! So I’ve been able to ponder this week about how it will work, and feel like I have actually got something solid to say!
God is good! But you’ll have to wait a while longer before I tell you my musings. That will be my final post.
2 weeks to go and Christmas has arrived. It’s beautiful!
Anyway, must go, I have a Super Mario game to film…
Liz
x
Hola a todos!
I cannot believe how quickly the time is going. In 3 weeks time I will be packing up my room and trying to get that case under 20kg again! I’m looking forward to going home. I am loving my time here, but feel it is only for ‘a season’. With Christmas coming it is good to have something to look forward to.
I have spent today making shepherds, kings, 2 camels and a dinosaur for the nativity play in Alcala. It is getting exciting now. The main character – the innkeeper- came to class on Friday having learnt all his lines – I didn’t know he had even taken his script home! They are taking it seriously, but also having lots of fun which is fantatic. Friday is the first time we will practice on the stage – a big moment!
We put on a club for the teenagers around Calvario last Saturday and although it was slow to start (1 person when the club was meant to begin!) we had a great time and 12 teenages came and enjoyed the craft and teaching. There are renevations going on in the Calvario church building so homework clubs there have been cancelled this week. Karen and I are using the time to cross some of the things off her list, like buying presents that the kids can ‘buy’ with the good behaviour points they have been collecting this term, and printing out the worksheets she has found over the last few months. It has been a useful time. 
A friend and her family came to stay over the weekend which was lovely. We did the tourist bit, going to the flea market (in the pouring rain unfortunately!) and going into the palace – awesome! The scenary around Madrid was stunning with the leaves turning all different yellows, oranges, reds and golds. I am told that this is an unusual year for Spain, usually the cold comes on so quickly that the leaves fall off the trees as soon as they start to turn, but they have been turning for a few weeks, so it is really beautiful.
Also Christmas has finally arrived. I heard my first Christmas song today, and it was great over the weekend to see the ‘tree’ going up in Puerta del Sol in central Madrid. I definately need to go in again when the lights are on, I think the centre will be an awesome sight.
I have been amazed at God’s faithfulness and the generosity of friends. The Church which hosts our Alcala club couldn’t fund the special club we are putting on for Christmas which will include the nativity play, but the cost has been covered, so praise God! It is so nice knowing we have the funds to put on a good afternoon that will hopefully get the non-Christian kids (and parents) thinking about the real meaning of Christmas.
Anyway, time to go, my dinosaur is ready for another coat of green paint!
Saludos
Liz
x
Hi all,
Well, my visitors have gone. 
But we had a great time together despite the weather. The rain did go away eventually and we were able to visit Toledo – beautiful! – and Madrid. It was lovely to be able to show them the places I have been working, for them to see where I am living, and meet the people I have been talking about.
We held a party for some of my friends here to celebrate Bonfire night. We had sparklers, fireworks (via PowerPoint) and a bonfire (candles), we ate jacket potatoes with toppings of beans, cheese and coleslaw, had trifle, and toasted marshmellows over the ‘bonfire’. It was a great night.
Now the Alcala club is preparing for Christmas. We will be putting on a nativity play and have started rehearsing and making animals for the crib. It’s great fun!
The first Christmas things are now beginning to arrive in the shops, but not in large quantities. It is lovely that it is only now beginning as it is only about 6 weeks away and that seems a sensible time frame. Some shops at home were selling things for Christmas before I left in September and I’m sure many of you are already getting fed up of Christmas songs playing in the shops! (one friend on Facebook said he had already had 3 mince pies! It’s November!!!)
Anyway, I must go, I have a meeting this evening with the women of the Alcala Church so they can see the resources Rainbows has. They have kindly said that they will make the costumes for the production and organise the events that will surround the performance of the play. It should be a good afternoon with games and activities about Christmas for the kids, and all finishing with the Nativity play.
Speak soon
love Liz
x
Hi all,
Just a quick one to let you know that my visitors have arrived and we are having a great time. Mum and Carole say hello! The only down side is that is it chilly and raining. We have postponed our trip into Madrid until Monday.
Fellowship days were excellent. Really good to meet with other Wekkers from all over Spain and find out how they are getting on.
Anyway, must get back to my visitors.
Post soon
Liz x
Hi all,
I have two things for you today. First the big news here in Torrejon is that is COLD! and… it RAINED!! It’s still mid to late teens during the day but drops much lower at night so the duvet is out and the socks are ready. On Monday I went sightseeing in Madrid and my flatmates thought I was mad as it was raining, but my view was that there would be less people and it’s only a bit of rain. Funnily enough the main language I heard from the other tourists around me was English. I wonder why?!
The second thing is that I have started going to another Church in Madrid. It is called Immanuel Baptish Church and is English speaking. I was enjoying being with Spanish people at Calvario, but getting and giving nothing of a spiritial nature as I was thinking about the language the whole time. It is a really friendly Church and I feel quite at home there after only 2 weeks.
Anyway, much to do, my Mum and a friend are coming next week – more news during the week.
Ciao
Liz x
Hi all,
It’s been an interesting week. After fighting hard, I lost the battle and surrendered to the bug that has been going around. I’m all better now and getting back into things.
The classes at Calvario have been good this week. I helped out a couple of boys with their English homework, and a girl with her pronunciation. ‘Liz, Liz, Como se dice ‘Merienda’ en Ingles?’ ‘erm, snack.’ ‘Y ‘Quiero’?' ‘I would like.. Por que?’ She runs off without answering. ‘Karen, Karen… I would like a snank. !! Brilliant.
Today I am planning for the club we have in Alcala tomorrow. We had a few more than expected last week and now have to plan for group with an age range of 10 years. We have decided to split them up, which makes it more structured, but it means a bit more work – not that it’s a problem. I’ve spent the morning trying to work out why my spinny thing we are going to make in craft time is not spinning! I think it is sorted now!
For those of you who pray I would value prayer for Jonathan and Sarah, they returned home 3 weeks ago to America to pick up visas, expecting them to be ready by the time they leave. Theirs have come through, but they are still waiting for baby Suzannas. (it seems silly to me that a baby needs a visa, but what do I know!!) They were meant to fly home today but have had to postpone until the visa comes through. Prayer needed I think!
Anyway, that’s all for now.
Speak soon
Liz
Hola!
Manic week is over and I survived! Here is a quick overview…
The Calvario homework clubs started and were good, but not as expected. Due to a teachers strike and a students strike there were not many kids! 6 on Tues and about 10 wed. I am helping with the younger kids – 5-7 and had none on Tues and 2 on Wed. Hopefully things will get back to normal this week, although there is a national holiday on Wed so there is no class!
The new club in Alcala started on Friday. We did not know what to expect but had advertised for kids 5+ to do English and Drama. We had 7 kids, the oldest was 7 and the youngest 3!! We quickly had to adapt what we had prepared. Neither of us has worked with kids this young so it will be a learning curve! We will see what this week brings!
On Sunday I listened to a sermon online about not worrying, read my Bible notes about not worrying, and had my work for the day app about… not worrying. I think God might be saying something! Perhaps I need to not worry so much about the language. I was feeling a bit useless towards the end of the week with such limited language – whenever anyone speaks to me in Spanish I panic! Not the best way to communicate!- but I had a real encouragement from someone who said they were impressed with how I interacted with the kids and got them to do what I wanted without any language! I felt really encouraged – perhaps I can be of use here even if I only start being able to communicate effectively towards the end.
I was sad to finish my course in Madrid, I feel I have learnt a lot from the teacher and the students there. The Torrejon course is more advanced and I’m struggling to understand the instructions, but am going to try a lower level course tonight to see if it is better for me. I’ll keep you posted.
I have had 2 interesting evening. First I went to a medieval market which was fascinating, and I learnt a bit about the story of Don Quijote, a local hero. It was great to see another place, people enjoying themselves, and be able to spend time with one of my flatmates – Tineke, who is Dutch. Then last night Karen, my other flatmate, hosted a Canadian Thanksgiving meal. It was a great evening. There was Karen (Dutch), Liz (Brazillian), Mjia, Sjaak and Tineke (Dutch), Lois (Equatorial Guinean), Antonio (Spanish) and me (English). Fascinating! The funniest thing was watching Antonio speaking English to practice and include me in the conversation and Mija and Sjaak replying in Spanish to make him feel welcome! The food was lovely and in a few minutes I am going to introduce Karen and Tineke to the wonder that is Bubble and Squeak!
Well, that’s all for now folks. I have Calvario club again this afternoon so I will let you know how it goes.
Adios
Liz
