Another Flashback

Wow. Two blog posts in one month. I am on a role. But, seriously...being a nursing student, keeping up with schoolwork, putting in community service hours [which we're required to do to graduate], and working is hard! Nursing students don't get enough credit..just sayin'. But, anyways, it's test day, and I typically don't do much the night of a test. Why, you ask? Because I just spent almost a whole week studying my butt off for the test I took earlier today. And I'm brain dead. And I need something fun. So, catching up on blogging it is! And movies. I'm also watching Cinderella. Probably my absolute most favorite thing to come out on dvd lately. I can't help it. I'm a sucker for fairy tales. 

Anyways, on to the real reason for writing today: another flashback to Spain. I only have a few journal entries left, but I still want to share!

Tuesday, March 10, 2015 - Leganes, Madrid

Spending time in God's Word

 Today we arrived at our location at 0930. A few of us were able to sit in on an intermediate/beginner Spanish class. It was great to get to learn that way! At around 1130, one of the men shared his testimony. It was amazing to hear how God was working in his life, even when he didn't know! Being here has really opened my eyes to the north African and Moroccan religion. I never thought I would have been so drawn to it, but I really am! These people have captured my heart, and I want to pray for them as much as I can! Especially S, as he goes back to Morocco and witnesses to his family.

Eating lunch in the sun

At 1430, we ate Dominoes pizza. We also worked on our lesson for the day. My group had a four-year-old class at 1730. They were brilliant! Most of them knew English words for colors and numbers, and we also played duck-duck-goose for 30-45 minutes! Between classes, we started organizing all craft supplies and teaching materials. At 1930, the youth came. The 2 teenage girls from Monday (H & I) that came yesterday brought five other girls! We had a lot of fun, playing ninja and around-the-world with them. My heart is already so full of love for them! I pray that we can be great influences, and that others will come along and witness. I want for them so badly to know Christ!

Adventures with the team

Well, that's enough for today. I still think my heart goes out to those children we taught and spent time with. I don't think God is calling me to Spain, but he definitely brought me there for a reason. To open my eyes. And show me others to pray for.

Now, to go enjoy the rest of the fairy tale on the tv.

XOXO, Nichole

Flashback to Spain

I'm sitting here at my kitchen table with a delicious cup of raspberry chocolate truffle coffee. Trying to pretend that it feels like fall outside, since it is, in fact, September. Which is kinda fall...although not technically. Anyways, I should be focusing on the task in front of me, which is to tackle my first patient profile/care plan/pathophysiology paper that is due tomorrow at midnight 11:59 PM. Instead, I keep thinking about the fact that I kept telling myself I would write about my trip to Spain. And only got one post done. So, here I am...procrastinating, and writing about that amazing trip. It shouldn't take too long, right?

Monday, March 9, 2015 - Leganes-Madrid, Spain 

It has been completely different than I thought. And yet, somehow, it's exactly how I thought it would be. We aren't technically in the city of Madrid, which I thought we would be. We're more on the outskirts of the city, like suburbs. Yesterday, we got to go into the city, which I absolutely loved!

Cimber, one of the leaders, going to church

Let's face it, I am a city girl. Some of my all time favorite places are cities. So, yeah, I love Madrid. We walked around for hours, took pictures, ate traditional Moroccan food and gelato.

Moroccan food

Gelato

 And let's not forget about the delicious Starbucks! Seriously, I think I may be addicted to cappuccinos now...

Starbucks in Spain

 It was an amazing day. But, the real magic happened today.

We started today by meeting at 9:30 AM to head to the mission building. Once there, we did some debriefing, had some coffee (my fav!), and prayed. One thing I have learned is that prayer is SO very important in missions! 

At around 11:00, Eva had some ladies come for aerobics. I think it is absolutely amazing how she can witness and build relationships through exercise! At 12:30, the team had our second Arabic lesson. We learned colors, objects, fruits & veggies, and some phrases [fast forward to September, and I don't remember anything..]. I honestly wasn't that interested in learning at first, but I actually really liked it! 

We ate lunch around 2 and started preparing for the night. At 5:15, my group (Deya, Collin, and myself) started teaching six 4th graders. It was great! We definitely had challenges, but I can't wait to see them again! If anything, God has just added six new names to my prayer list! These children need Jesus! 

At 8:15, it was time for the youth. We weren't sure if anyone would come, but two girls showed up. Deya, Emily, Kristen, Rachel, and I spent an hour spending time with them, playing games, and teaching them English. They were the sweetest girls ever!

I am so excited to see them for the next four nights! I especially am praying for them. At one point, they asked about America, culture, and religious freedom. They were amazed that all of us (five girls) had a choice in life and beliefs! It breaks my heart how much I take for granted! I feel like God has put them in my life (however brief that may be) for a reason. I will be praying for them constantly. I already feel like they have a little piece of my heart. 

I am so excited to see what God has for me and the rest of the team!

11:30, pizza for dinner. Yummy.

Well, I guess that's that. I finished one more entry about Spain. Now, time to start procrastinating, and time to start tackling that paper due tomorrow. At least there's coffee...

XOXO, Nichole

Long Time No See..

I'm alive! No.. Really. I can't believe how long it's been since I posted something. Like, years. Ok, actually just about a month and a half, but I feel like it's been forever! You know what they say about college..you have no life. Between classes, homework, driving home some weekends, required tutoring, and everything in between, I'm lucky to get any sleep! But, I love it. Really. I love the school atmosphere. Can't say I love my classes..but I love school. 

What has happened in my life lately, you may ask? Well, I suppose I will fill you in.

1) I started a Facebook page for my cupcakes. Yes. About time, right? Of course, it hasn't been a huge hit. I really should put up posters or something to get the word out. But, I have had 2 people put orders in, and hopefully once I REALLY start advertising, word will travel fast. I mean, I do make some pretty amazing cupcakes, if I do say so myself. Are you on Facebook? Check it out! Elizabeth Maree Cupcakes. Soon I'll have business cards. Moving up. ;)

2)  I have allergies. I know. Me. The healthiest child in my family. Allergies. I don't even know what to say! But, it's quite obvious when you have a foggy head, pounding headache, scratchy throat, stuffy nose, and stuffy ears (can ears get stuffy? not sure..but you know what I mean..) . Yeah, all of those things happened to me from Monday-Wednesday, and then I went home for Fall Break and viola! No more stuffiness. Then, BAM, come back from Fall Break and it all starts up again. Hmm..fishy. Thankfully there's this amazing stuff called Claritin that clears away those nasty things called allergies! Since I'm a poor college student, I went with generic Claritin. But, you know..it's the same thing. 

3) I AM GOING TO SPAIN!! Yep! So excited! We have these things called Global Teams here at school, and we take trips to different countries. I applied for the Spain Global Team and, well, I got accepted. The hard part will be raising the support, but I'm working on that. Hopefully this weekend I can REALLY start working on it, and not just thinking about working on it. But, brainstorming is the first part, right? We will be going during Spring Break, and it is going to be amazing!

4) Speaking of Spain, Spanish is definitely my favorite class. I am in no way speaking smoothly or expertly, but I am really enjoying the little achievements. One step closer to be fluent! Yippee! 

5) I joined an 8 week #FriskyFall challenge with #TIU. Yep, I would consider myself a #TIUgirl. (Don't you just love all of the hashtagging going on..) Anyways, it's a fitness challenge to work out daily. Some days I am better at it than others. I joined because I just wasn't making myself get up and go running like I wanted to. I used to be SO GREAT at waking up and running, but lately I've lost my love of running. Well, not lost..it's just been hiding beneath my super lazy self. However, this fitness challenge really helped! I wanted to lose weight, but I wouldn't say that happened..however, I have definitely gotten stronger! The first couple of weeks, I really struggled through some of the exercises. I wouldn't say I don't struggle anymore..I definitely still do. But I can do things that I couldn't before. And that makes me feel good. So, I've gotten the working out (for the most part) taken care of. Now I really just need to work on the healthy eating. I usually try to be healthy. But sometimes, that brownie is just begging to be eaten. Or that pumpkin muffin. Or scone. Or cupcake. You get the picture. I'm a foodie. I major foodie. And I especially love pretty food. But I really need to learn to control myself. Anyways, I guess I will stop lecturing myself on here. I'm sure you're not really interested or amused. Maybe you're amused. ... BOTTOM LINE: Next 8 week challenge from #TIU I will be focusing on working out AND eating healthier. And I just wrote that on the internet. So now you guys can hold me accountable. 

Well, I believe you guys are mostly caught up on my pathetically boring and unentertaining life. Maybe it will get more adventurous soon. Here's to hoping! Now excuse me while I go play "good student" and read an article for BWVW 101. Until next time..

XOXO, Nichole