My debriefing brain...

Well, obviously I returned to the United States safe and sound...though definitely physically and mentally tired. I was sad to leave Spain right in the middle of the campaign, but I will confess that I was ready to go. I missed home so bad. Trevor and Manoli had a brief interview with me the day before I came home, just to cover how things went in general and how things could change for the people after us. I'm glad they did that...it was good to be able to debrief with them a little bit and just be open and honest about my struggles as well as my joys. Overall, it was a challenging trip for me, and it was reassuring to talk with them, because they too have traveled a lot and understand how stretching it can be. So I guess I'm normal...haha. :)

My trip home was good...I don't remember a ton from it. I slept and watched movies most of the time. And it confirmed my previous opinion that the Madrid airport sucks. SUCKS. But after 10+ hours of travel, I made it home....and met my wonderful boyfriend at the airport, who was very patient with my immediate culture shock and complaints about the stifling humidity.

Now that I've been home nearly three weeks, I think I've had a chance to let my mind debrief a little bit. It's interesting to see how I inwardly react as I return to my home culture. There were some aspects of American culture that I really missed, and others that I now realize I really don't like. And I'm not talking just food and clothes and stuff. Cuz if we're talkin' food and clothes, praise God I'm back in the States, cuz I love me some chocolate chip cookies and a t-shirt! :) Haha. But in terms of principles and cultural values, my mind has been changed about a few things.

* Passion. Christian Spaniards are passionate about their Savior and whatever ministry they're involved in. I didn't encounter many lukewarm Christians in Spain...because to be an evangelical Christian is SO contrary to all they've been taught through their culture. No one would want to be a Christian flippantly. The Christians are unified there as well. They work together in order to suceed and grow in their faith and to benefit the ministry there. Now that I'm back in the States, I'm noticing the nitpicky fights we have in the church here. Where's the unity and community? Stop fighting and get to work. I'm not saying that there's no place for academic debate and discussion, because there definitely is. It just seems to me that we've got our priorities mixed a bit.

*Simplicity. When I returned to the States, I realized anew how complicated we make our lives. I loved the simplicity of life in Spain. This was even seen in their homes, in the way things were organized and operated. Things were just simple. I think that we as Americans just accumulate too much clutter...and we think we need things that we really don't...even in our super clean, fashion oriented culture. We don't need it all. Keep what you use and what you like. I'm definitely adopting this method of life. Simple.

*Family involvement. Spaniards definitely aren't Latino in the sense that they're with family ALL the time, and Grandma is in charge. But the extended family is definitely involved in each other's lives more than we would in the States. And the grandparents play a huge part in their grandchildren's lives...which I love. I'd love to implement this into my own family one day.

I'm sure that I will continue to think about this...especially now that I'm back in school and we're all about to debrief with our professors. But as far as this blog is concerned, I'm done. It's been a good summer...challenging...but I'm grateful for all I've learned and all that I will continue to learn as I process this whole experience. If you'd like to continue with me, please subscribe to my "normal" blog..haha. :) www.haileymorris.blogspot.com

Thank you all for your support and encouragement this summer!! I appreciate it!!!
Nos vemos. ;)

Campaign!!

These past few weeks have been...well, how can I put it. Insane? We've been preparing for and now are engaging in what OM calls the summer campaign. People from all over the world met in Rome last week, doing evangelism workshops and practicing some evangelism in the city. During that week, we also had a local campaign here in Ferrol. Since EVERYTHING slows down in Spain during the summer, the evangelical Christians do their evangelizing during that time. So we've been preparing for the hordes of people who would be living in our house and yard. Yes, I said yard. Haha.

We got a team in from Zaragoza and the Canary Islands (both in Spain) a week and a half ago. They all crammed in our house and our yard in tents (girls inside, boys outside)....and did I mention we only have one bathroom in the house? Showers are a fun challenge...haha. :) Although life in Galicia has gotten a whole lot crazier since they arrived, I've honestly REALLY enjoyed their presence here. They're a very happy, goofy group...which was something I needed. Even though I don't understand them all the time, it's been nice to just laugh and be a little silly with them. They even put fake poop in my shower one time! :) We've been doing evangelism here in Ferrol this week, through many different venues. Mostly through children's events in one of the town plazas. We've had puppets, crafts, balloon animals, clowns, dances...and the kids have actually come! I had the chance to talk to some people, and it's funny, but they're not so opposed to the evangelical church when we're doing something for the kids.

We also walked around Ferrol in pairs, passing out information about the church (the flyers laid out the gospel simply as well), and invitations to a free movie night at the church. We handed out thousands of flyers, and had only one non-church member show up. That can be discouraging, but that's how ministry is here in Spain. Visible fruit of your ministry is very slow and you have to be patient and faithful regardless.

We got another team in on Saturday as well...in addition to the team we already had. The new team had been in Rome with the international OM conference, and had spent a week in Madrid with the missionaries there (the people that Lydia and I were with in June). This team is all international. We have people from Chicago to Hong Kong to Holland to Germany. All over. Our house is even more crowded, and communication is even more fun than normal...haha. This morning, I found myself translating Spanish into English for a Dutch guy. And I'm not even that great in Spanish. I missed a lot, I know..haha. Poor guy.

The team that is here will be helping churches in other towns, rather than Ferrol. I haven't had a chance to minister with them when they go out, because I have had to do intern stuff in Naron, as well as prepare to leave tomorrow. :( But I'll post more debriefing thoughts later.

Practical Skillz...

Do you like our outfits? Haha. This picture was taken last week, with all the house girls, except Kaiti, who left a few days before. :( We were painting, and these were the nasty clothes we dug out of the missionary barrel. For the past couple weeks, we've been preparing frantically for the campaign, which starts today. I'm not completely sure what all that entails house-wise, but I do know that it's about to get pretty crowded in here. We're picking up a big group today, coming in from another area of Spain. 13 girls, one bathroom? Sign me up, please! :) Haha. I'm sure that it will be challenging, but that it will also be fun. As long as we all strive to communicate and behave unselfishly, we should be okay. But if you think of us, pray for us. :) I'm not sure how much I'll be able to blog in these next two weeks...but I will do my best. We'll see how the schedule goes.

Somehow, Steve Urkel speaking Spanish seems...wrong.

Yes, you read that right. This morning, I encountered a pleasant surprise on the television (or as my Brit roomate would say, the telly. heehee.): A nineties flashback...Spanish style. Full House and Family Matters in Spanish. I could only watch a few minutes of each...it was ruining the pleasant childhood memories I have of those shows. For heaven's sake, in Spanish, Steve Urkel's voice is a girl! And Carl just sounds downright creepy.

It was a good reminder for me that every person on this earth is culturally conditioned. I may have an idea in my head of what a nerdy voice or a creepy voice sounds like, but the Spanish obviously have a different idea. It also was a brief lesson about myself...what brings back pleasant memories? Why am I so resistant to change those memory triggers? I guess it's just a reaffirmation of what I have already learned about myself this summer...I value the familiar, and change is hard for me. Steve Urkel and Uncle Jesse remind me of pleasant 4th grade days...coming home from school by 4 pm sharp every day so that I don't miss my favorite programs. I would kiss my baby brother Colin (wow, that was a long time ago..haha), and plop down with him to watch tv. So yes, when I see those beloved shows in a whole new culture and language...seen through completely new cultural eyes, my mind is a little resistant.

That's how I've felt throughout this entire summer...resistant. Even restistance against resistance. Though Spanish culture is still Western (and not TOO different from ours), I have definitely gone through culture shock. They say that culture shock lasts 2 years, and the first 6 months are the worst. It's so easy to compare everything to how your people do it in YOUR country. It's far too easy to talk more about your country than ask questions about your host culture. I've found that my mind and body are resistant to the changes here, especially since we have an international team, and EVERYONE communicates differently. But then I also encounter another resistant feeling, that of rebuke to my initial resistance. I WANT my body and mind to be fully adaptable to all these new things. I really do want to be super cross cultural woman. But I must confess that this time in Spain has taught me that...I'm definitely NOT that woman. I have a lot more growing to do in the area of cross cultural communication. At least now I realize just how inculturatedly American I am.

Flamenco dancers and bullfights...staying up till all hours?

I beg to differ. Okay, my dear American culturally minded friends. What do you think of when you think of Spain? What have you heard? Do you think of flamenco dancers and bull fighting? Salsa dancing and tapas? How about bar hopping and staying up till 2 am? Friendly, open people who touch you and kiss you to the point of American discomfort?

Since I've been here...what? 8 weeks? I feel that I can now safely share some Spanish cultural aspects that I've learned. The biggest thing that I've learned is that you just CAN'T stick all of Spain in one mold. Did you know that Spain is divided into 50 provinces and 17 regions? And did you also know that most of the Spanish steriotypes are nearly ALL contained in ONE region? The flamenco dancing, bull fighting, staying out till 3 am people are in Andalucia. These people are known for being the most open, and very free in all they do. These are the people who hop from bar to bar, eating tapas and cat calling the ladies. Now mind you, these cultural aspects DO occur in other parts of Spain as well...but as far as being a part of the daily life of the Spaniard...Andalucia's about it. And coincidentially, this is a very touristy area. Sevilla, anyone? :)

Here's a news flash: the large majority of Spaniards are NOT Latin in ANY way. I have talked with numerous Latin American immigrants here, who complain that the Spaniards are cold and individual. I didn't think so...but then again, I'm from the midwestern USA. We're not the warmest either. But I can see how it would be challenging to come from a Latino culture to this one. There really are a lot of similarities to how Americans behave compared to the majority of Spaniards. Because we're all Western. And except for the kissing on both cheeks greeting custom, people don't touch you a lot here.

Duh...Spaniards love soccer. Oops, sorry...football. It's a BIG deal. They love their teams to death. When one of their players is fouled, they hurt for him. When a bad call is made, they scream at the television. When they win, grown men become three years old all over again. Wait...this sounds like my country.

In Spain...at least where I have traveled, bars are family friendly. Most people don't go to bars to get drunk and party...they go to have one or two drinks and fellowship with each other. And you don't even have to drink anything alcoholic. All the bars make cafe con leche and have all kinds of juices too. Needless to say, we've frequented bars. There's one right next door to the church...and we go pretty often. The workers know us now...and give us free food! Hooray for tuna empanadas! Kidding. They're not that great.

The Spanish are straight forward. What may seem rude to a North American isn't rude here. We might say, "please pass the bread." They'll say, "give me the bread." We'd say, "I'd like that please." They say, "I want that." I don't really mind. It saves time. You express a need, your need is fulfilled. :)

The Spanish are WELL DRESSED. Let me tell you. They spare nearly no expense or body pain to LOOK GOOD. In my best clothes, I look pathetic next to a woman who just threw something on. They got it goin' on. Even the little old ladies are stylin'. The downside of this is...the Spanish are bold, and try styles shamelessly. Sometimes they pull it off amazingly...and sometimes...well...not so much. Like this one lady at church who has these BRIGHT orange wedge heels. The roman soldier style that tie up your leg. Yes, the straps are orange too. And she wears them EVERY Sunday. Honey...please burn those. You can't pull that off unless you're Lady Gaga.

I'll let this be the last cultural aspect for now...the Spanish standard of modesty is NOT the same as American standards. The pastor's daughter here wears daisy duke length shorts...to church...and it's totally fine. Ladies go topless on the beach...discreetly, but they do. And nobody looks. Except for me of course...the conservative shocked American. Haha. :) There's cleavage on the news. People with professional careers wear jeans to work. And it's all totally fine. So I'm embracing it. Jeans every day!!! Wait...I already do that. ;)

My foot hates me.

Screw you, Jillian Michaels. Screw you and your 30 Day Shred. I've been with you for a month and I'm not seeing the shredding. And yes, MOM, I've been avoiding the cookies. It's not hard to do here in Spain, because they're gross. My point is, Jillian, I felt more of a difference after one day of backpacking than I did after a week of your video. Forget this 30 day crap. Backpack for a WEEK and you'll be shredded. My butt was firm after a day. Too much information? Sorry. I had to get it out. But seriously. I'd like to see that skinny lady do what my friends just did.

Yes, I said "my friends." I made it for 2 1/2 days...because my infamous foot injury flared up like crazy in the middle of the 3rd day. So I had to swallow the pride and call for a rescue. Oh well. It was really fun while it lasted. Well, mostly fun. My Greek roomate didn't really train beforehand...so she had to rest a lot more throughout the journey than I really wanted to. But I suppose that that was a good lesson in patience.

After 6 days total, our friends returned...all buff and tan. I was jealous...but I also couldn't really walk...so...

Ganamos!!!!!

Spain wins! Spain wins! Okay, who am I kidding. You all know that I couldn't care less about soccer. Points for trying? Well, though soccer isn't a big deal in the mind of this little blonde American, it's a HUGE deal here. And in most of the world. Plus my boyfriend loves it. So I'm trying, okay? For the sake of cultural immersion and brownie points. ;)

My roomates and I always said that if Spain made it to the final game, we'd go to the Plaza de Espana in Ferrol to watch it on the big screen. So last night, I found myself in a sea of underage beer drinking smokers, hating one team and desperately loving another. It was a taste of home...haha...I guess Ohioans do the same thing, huh? Except Galicians don't set things on fire, like OSU fans do. :)

Well...it was fun. I enjoyed it, I guess. :) I would have preferred watching it at home, where I could actually see the screen...and actually breathe (everyone smokes!!)...but I was glad to have the opportunity to be with the community when their beloved team won. :)

Oh, and ps...the picture above is of my roomate Kathy from Greece. She borrowed some kid's flag and scarf and asked him to take a picture. The kid and his friends really got a kick out of it. :) And check out this kid...I don't think she likes the fan gear.

A bit into the mind...

Of Spaniards. We learned quite a few Spanish quick witted replies/idioms this week...so now I feel a little better equipped to be sassier in this culture...haha. :) Here's a few:

Contigo el pan y la ceboya (May bread and onions be with you). This is what the Galician Spanish say to a newly married couple. It's true...even if you have no food, you usually have a bread product of some kind, and an onion or two. This is the Gallego way of saying, "we know you're so ridiculously happy that you don't even realize how little you have."

Porque sera? (Why will that happen?). Gallegos say this when the obvious is stated. It's like saying sarcastically, "oh reeeeeally? Why is that?"

Con pan y vino, andamos el camino (with bread and wine, we go our way). This is their way of saying, "we can make it through life with the basics."

El fuego del leon no es como lo pintan (the fire of the lion isn't what they paint him as). It's the Spanish equivelent of "his bark is worse than his bite."

And THIS is the best one....
Me voy a ver Chicago (I'm going to go see Chicago). Hilariously, this means, "I'm going to the bathroom." I thought that was just great. Haha. :)

Also, we're headed out on a 5 day hike to Santiago de Compostela tomorrow. We'll get back Friday afternoon...where hopefully I'll be alive enough to tell you guys all about it! If you want information on it, just google "Camino Ingles." Yes, we're walking that 110 kilometers!!! Yeah, let's DO it!!

Random things I failed to mention.

Our last day in Madrid, Lydia and I went to the Reina Sofia, the renowned modern art museum. The picture above is an original Picasso that I saw. Strangely, you're allowed to take pictures in that museum. I discovered a new found freedom in that...and I confess, I went a little picture crazy in the museum. I've never been allowed to take pictures in a museum in my life!

This hand is better...but since that day of benedryl (which my body does NOT respond well to...don't ever give me that), my other hand swelled, as did my face and part of my leg...all sequentially. Not all in the same day. I don't know what it is with the mosquitos here (or as my new found British friend in Madrid would say, the mozzies. haha.). I get bitten a lot in the States too, but they don't swell like this. I have since purchased a bug spray for my skin, a bug spray for the house, and another bug-repelling plug for our room. And just yesterday, I found a dead mosquito under it. I admit that it gave me great pleasure to see him die. I really don't understand why God created them. What purpose do they serve? Spiders I don't like...but I can understand their function in creation. Snakes I don't like...but I can understand that too. But mosquitos? Why, Lord?

THIS is the Starbucks display in Madrid. Seriously, USA....get it together!!! These desserts looked amazing. I did not partake...but I enjoyed looking at them.

Anyway. There's a smattering of subjects. Next time I'll talk about idioms I've learned here in Galicia...it gives you an insight into how they think. :)

Dey be on da box preachin'...

Here's a little taste of what Kilometre Zero (Kilometro Cero) is like...
When Lydia and I were in Madrid, we had the opportunity to go with this group one evening and watch them work, as well as participate. Yep, this little American got up on that red box! :) It really is a cool ministry...I encourage you to check them out!!

An interesting video:
http://www.youtube.com/user/KilometroCeroMadrid#p/u/7/DLnBws1XbGo


Their website:
www.ontheredbox.com

I guess I'm allergic to an unknown bug.

Look at my hand! Agh!! I've had mosquito bites before...but this is unlike any other bites I've had before. My finger is swollen. Gross!! So I'm going to take Benedryl (see, I don't even know how to spell it) for the first time. Just a little dose. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

I'm just not that cross cultural.

After our time in La Vera, Lydia (one of my roomates) and I went to Madrid to spend a week with another missionary couple, Ken and Allison. They were such a lovely couple...and they did many things as a couple that I thought were just precious...but this blog is not for Hailey's relational opinions. We'll save that for when I get back to the states and I'm allowed to return to my feisty self. Speaking of not being myself...

I'll just admit it. The hardest thing for me here is not the food, culture, or the language. It's not even the extraordinarily weird mealtimes. It's not even the foot-inflaming terrain! It's the people. It always is, isn't it? And not even the Spaniards so much...it's the people I work with. And what makes it hard isn't necessarily personality differences(though sometimes it is, of course) or their likes and dislikes. It's culture. Plain and simple. Almost all of us are from different nations...and those of us who ARE from the same nation are from extremely different parts. So communication is difficult. And personally, I get frustrated. I don't feel like I can be myself...and then when I am, I feel like I've offended someone. So I go off by myself a lot. Like right now..haha. So what's this have to do with Madrid and English people? Well, just that.

Ken and Allison had lived in a Spanish world for a long time...but their home was incredibly English. It was like they lived in a little English haven in the midst of a Spanish world. So enter me, an American (a sarcastic midwestern one at that), and I'm just plain confused. I've always thought that I was an adaptable person...but that's not true. I like constants. In fact, I love them. When I'm placed in new situations, I tend to ask five million questions and second guess everything. And EVERYTHING's different here. So I'm always asking questions, and feeling stupid. Not that I mind being curious and learning things...but I'm just not this cross cultural. Sometimes, you just need to be yourself. And I really don't feel freedom to do that here. But I guess you sacrifice some parts of your culture in order to fit in with the new one. I guess I can last without running and sarcasm for 6 more weeks.

Agricultural ministry, anyone?

Last weekend, our team drove the eight hours from Galicia to a region of Spain called Extremadura...to a valley called La Vera. It's about 3ish hours from Madrid. All the OM Espana missionaries from all over Spain come to this region once a year (specifically, the small town of Villanueva) to meet, encourage one another, and share what they're doing in their respective ministries. For us short termers, it was very beneficial to meet many different kinds of missionaries, and to hear their stories. It was also encouraging to the long term missionaries to see that young people still love Jesus and are still getting involved in missions.

We stayed at the home of a lovely missionary couple, David and Sharon, deep in the mountains. I wish I could remember the name of the range. But I DO know that the highest peak of the range was right in front of their house...here it is:

We also had a chance to meet a lady named Susana who lives with the missionary couple as a worker. She showed us around the farm, and we got to help her pick lettuce and cherries and some other produce grown on the property. David, Sharon, and Susana all shared their vision with us: to develop relationships in this very agricultural community, and to one day develop a school of agriculture. They want to use farming, which is the lifestyle of most of the population in that area, to develop relationships and share the gospel. Of course, they hinted at me to come help them. But what missionary here hasn't done that to me? That seems to be one thing that all missionaries are praying and hoping for: young people to come, help, and learn how to take over. A lot of the older missionaries just seemed so tired. I'd love to help them...but I can't help them all! :( I guess all I can do for now is pray for them, and pray that God will lead me in the direction He wants me to go.

This week....

Well, the coming of June was also the beginning of business for us. Our amount of free time has significantly decreased, and the amount of things to do has increased quite a bit. As the team, we're preparing for the retreat this weekend (missionaries from all over Spain, which aren't very many, come together to refresh and regroup once a year in La Vera). From there, Lydia and I will go to Madrid to see a little urban ministry (there you go, Mr. Craigen..haha), and have a free tourist day as well. All in all, our trip to central Spain will be about 10 days. So I'm expecting my communication to be limited, though I really have no idea. I'll take five million pictures...don't worry. :)

On Friday, we gained a new roomate for a week, Kathy from Greece. I feel horrible for her. Her Spanish isn't the best, and her English is worse. Plus, the way she communicates is very different from how us other girls communicate, so conversations are frustrating for everyone. It's exhausting for everyone to communicate in a language that isn't our own. When Mr. Clark said in Intro to Linguistics that language is identity, he wasn't kidding. People's language defines them...and they're extremely proud of it. Even my American English...I'm proud of it, I'm learning. I like the way things are in the US...and I notice that I tend to question anything that's not done the way I've always seen. I mean really, who eats dinner at 9? Who puts mayonaisse on salad? Who puts 6+ hours in between meals and then drinks coffee all day? Hello...shaky hands, anyone? Who are these people who don't plan ANYTHING? These people are the Spaniards, who God loves, and to whom I must learn to adapt. And I am. I am. But Lord knows I'm eating lunch at 11 when I get back to the states. :)

Uh..sure..yeah, we'll be Christians.

Welcome to Ares...a little fishing village by the sea. They're famous for their yearly festival to San Juan (I think it's San Juan), where they make spectacular designs on the street from flowers, shells, sawdust, nuts, and other plants. The center square was a picture of Jesus:

And then the other streets, filled with many different designs, all went out from the center art piece. Here's a few examples:




Isn't that amazing? They've been gathering the materials for weeks...and from what I hear, they do it all in one night.

Ares has a really interesting religious history as well. I'm not sure when, but about a hundred years ago, the people of Ares were very weary of the taxes imposed on them from the current Catholic priest. They discovered that the only way they could avoid the tax was if they converted to another religion. Therefore, they invited the evangelical missionaries to their town, and they all "converted" to Protestant Christianity. So it's hard for missionaries there, because everyone says, oh, we converted. Our families converted. They don't realize that it's a heart change...and not just SAYING that you're evangelical, yet still taking your kids to first communion and baptizing your babies. Haha. It's kinda funny, but sad at the same time.

Getting my sins absolved...

This past week has been chock full of very interesting Spanish cultural lessons. On Thursday, we went to the old city of Santiago de Compastela, where according to tradition, Saint James is buried. James the brother of John, for you Bible scholars who were wondering which one. The Catholics don't believe that Jesus had any siblings. Mary remained a virgin, remember? ;) Anyway, we arrived in Santiago and parked just outside the city and then walked in. The way was filled with those who had made the pilgrimage. I'm not totally sure where the pilgrimage actually begins, but people make the trip from wherever they are. So a lot of people on the road were decked out in hiking gear, such as this lady:

You can also see that she has a conch shell on her pack...that's the symbol of the journey. Most people had the shell on their person in some respect...either on their bag, or as a necklace.

The city was just full of history...all of the buildings were ancient, and the cathedral was just magnificent:

I'm not sure when it was built, but I heard that it was during the 1100's. The line was a little too long to get in this time, but us girls are making the trek (yes, the hike!) from Ferrol to Santiago in July...so we'll have a chance to do it then, hopefully. This year is very special to the Spanish, because it's a Holy Year. It's holy to them because San Juan's feast day (July 25th) lands on a Sunday. So apparently, if you make the pilgrimage to Santiago, all your sins can be absolved. Obviously, I don't believe that...but seeing all these sincere people making the trek and doing all they could to appease God was saddening. I wish they knew what I know...that man can't please God with anything we do. We're depraved sinners, searching after our own pleasures, and wanting nothing to do with Him. None of our rituals please Him. The battle for evangelical Christians here is rough. They have to face thousands of years of history that says that Catholicism (mixed with a good dose of witchcraft as well) is the only way. Yet such a system binds its followers in fear and ritual. In Christ they could be forgiven and set free from all bondage. The trip to Santiago made me thankful for that...and also gave me a new determination to help the missionaries in any way I can.

Easing into normal life...

Hello friends...all who read this blog. All 4 of you. Haha. I'm hoping that more read this than who actually subscribe. Oh well. I'm thinking of combining the two into one...putting my spain posts into my other blog. Maybe that'd be easier. Anyway...this week was awful and good at the same time. I definitely struggled more with culture shock this week...missing home and loved ones considerably. And then I felt guilty for feeling that way. "C'mon, Hailey," I would think. "You've been dreaming about this trip forever! Why are you so bummed out? Get over it and make the most of it!" It's just culture/language shock...and the lack of familiar loved ones to help me bear it. It will pass...and in fact, has gotten better just this week. I've had full conversations this week...intelligent, older than five years old discussions. And I've sang this week. Those two things perked me up quite a bit.

Today we went out and ran some errands in Ferrol. It never ceases to amaze me how well dressed the people are here. Even the little old ladies have got it goin' on. Seriously. Actually, even the beggars look nice. We saw one lady on the street today...begging for money. But she was dressed very nicely and carried a lovely purse! That baffled me. In the states, people who beg look like they should be begging. If they looked nice, that'd be laughable. I asked Manoli about this later...and she said that because of the financial crisis, people are desperate for whatever they can get...but they will not compromise with their clothes. Even if they're destitute, they'd rather spend any money they have on nice clothes than anything else. That's unthinkable to me as an American...if I'm in a crisis, luxuries are the first thing to go. But in order for me to understand how the Spanish think, I need to get outside my own mindset and strive to comprehend why they do the things they do. Manoli said that the Spanish would rather be seen as having it all together. Even though everyone knows that everyone has problems, they don't like being perceieved like that. It's very important in Spanish culture, apparently, to look nice, clothing wise and in other areas. Appearances are valued...even more so than in American culture, it seems. It's a little different though. It's more about the clothes. Americans want the hair, makeup, body..and then clothes and accessories. Here it seems to be shoes and purse first, and then clothes...followed by hair. Hardly anyone seems to wear makeup here. I have not yet joined in that trend...maybe soon I'll get the nerve? :)

There are bug bites all over my body.

And I guess that's not a horrible thing. These Spanish mosquitos think I taste pretty good...I suppose I could take it as a compliment. :) We're all tired today...we've been pretty busy these past few days. We went to a sewing/craft class yesterday, and a ladies Bible study the day before, the beach the day before that, and we went to a special children's ministry today. We do have a lot of down time, but I think the language barrier and the change in schedule is just so different, that my brain is exhausted. Plus it's super hot and hilly here...which makes getting around a little tiring too. But I'm not complaining..sure, it's challenging right now...but that's what internship is all about! :) Plus, since when do I get to see things like this:

See? All worth it. It's amazing how much of a language you can pick up by just being in the culture. I've learned words that I never would have come across in a spanish class...like eyelash, thread, needle...even nerd! Haha. The little ladies at the Bible study and craft class were very gracious and patient with us, as we needed a little extra pronunciation and clarity of speech. And kids are just great for that too. They love that we talk more or less like them! Haha. Anyway...I'm still pretty tired, so I'm going to rest more tonight before the hecticness of Sunday begins...but here's another picture for good measure...this is in Ferrol, the larger town we're beside.

Estoy aqui!

Well friends...I made it! After a long 10 hour ordeal filled with babies crying, American girls loudly smacking their gum, and judgmental French ladies behind me, I arrived in lovely Galicia, Spain. Just some clarification....I live in the city of Naron, which is right next door to Ferrol, and all are in the province of La Coruna...which is in the region of Galicia. The Spanish seem to like to specify where things are.

I live in a little house with 2 other girls, one from Tennessee and one from England. There will be other people coming to live with us soon as well, one more permanent and others for a night or two. The food here is great so far...and not too much different from the States, really...except for the wonderful taste of non-processing. :)

I don't really know much yet...except that I don't know as much Spanish as I thought. But I'm also very low on my Spanish confidence right now. I'll get it back eventually. I was also told that this church we're working with is the only one in the region....and there's more than 35,000 people here. That's what I read when I was researching this area too....that Galicia has next to no Christians. Most are non practicing Catholics, or don't care about religion at all.

Well...I'm on a break now, but Trevor and Manoli (the missionaries) will be here soon and we'll go over more houserules and things to know. I will update this blog as often as I can! The internet's pretty decent here...so email me if you wish. :)

5 Days!!

Hi friends! (all 3 of you who subscribe to this blog..haha. I'm sure more read it than actually subscribe.)

Well, I leave for Spain on Monday! Crazy, right?? I can't believe that this is actually happening....I've been dreaming about this since I was a little girl. I still have 3 finals this week, and I have to pack and get my life organized before I can leave...but I'm goin'! :) Here's a few updates...

The good news...I'm covered financially, praise God. A big THANKYOU to all of you who contributed in this way. Other good news...I've had a chance to study about the region I'm going to...and I'm really beginning to love this culture and the people already. I'll fill you all in as I learn more firsthand. But if what I've been reading about is true...I'm in for a crazy learning experience!

Please pray that:
- I will have a safe trip, with no dangers or crazy delays (I'm sure you all have heard about the ash cloud over the Atlantic Ocean that is cancelling many flights to Europe).

-I will be a relief and a blessing to the missionaries there. Their names are Trevor and Manoli.

-That I will adjust to the Spanish culture quickly and as painlessly as possible...so that I won't offend anyone...and so that I can thoroughly enjoy my time there with the people.

-Pray that I will grow closer to God through this time, and that He will give me clarity, wisdom, perspective, and guidance for the next stage of my life.

-Pray that people will realize that they cannot be satisfied without the life changing power of Christ in their life. Let us be an example of that power.


Okay, that's all for now. I'll keep you guys updated!!! :)

Hailey

Noticias..

Hello friends! Or should I say...amigos.. :)

So good news and bad news. I have 2/3's of my support! Woo hoo! But I need about $1,000 more..which is good! So please be praying that the Lord will provide that. I'm confident that He will. He's faithful, even when I'm doubtful.

I'm also continuing to study and learn more about Spain...and I'd like to do more of that. However, school, work, relationships, and choir take a LOT of my time...and of course, I'm becoming overwhelmed just like all college students around this time. Finals are fast approaching!! So please, if you think of it, pray for me. I want to arrive in Spain refreshed and ready to work!

Thank you all for supporting and investing your time, finances, and prayer into this trip! It's going to be a wonderful learning experience for me, and I'm SO excited about it. I feel so blessed to have people in my life who want to be involved.

I'll keep you guys posted!! The trip is comin' up fast!

Here's the happenings..

Most of the preparation for the trip is going very well. I've been put in contact with the two missionaries in Ferrol, as well as with one of the girls I'll be working with. I've sent out support letters and numerous emails...and I've got a prayer base established. All of which are incredibly important. But one important aspect of my trip is pretty far behind...the fund raising. I know, the horrible word. Money. I hate that I have to deal with it in ministry, but that's the practical side of life. I need it to live. And since I'm a student who roams about quite a bit, I have to depend on the friends I've made along to way to support me on the mission field. Though prayer is by far the most important gift one can give to a missionary, finances is another way that friends can invest themselves in that ministry. If you put your money somewhere, you'll be more likely to remain interested in that issue. So all that to say...honestly friends, I need funds. My deadline is approaching, and I have next to nothing. I realize that it's tax season, and that wallets are tight. Even just a little bit from many friends will go a long way. I truly want my friends and family to be involved in this trip with me, and to invest in my summer ministry. :)

ps...if you'd like to find out how, scroll down. all the info's there.

Una Actualizacion...

That's Spanish for "update." I'll have you all fluent by the end of this internship process. :) Well, as of now, I'm preparing myself culturally and prayerfully. OM sent me some very helpful resources to prepare myself for the culture change that I will encounter in Spain...so I'm the process of reading those as well as doing my own personal research on the area. Here's a little of what I've learned:

Ferrol (the specific city in the area in which I will live), is about 5 miles from the ocean, and has historically been a ship-building community for the Spanish navy. Since it's in the area of Galicia, Galician (or Gallego, as it's referred to in the area) is another widely spoken language in addition to Castiliano (Spanish). So I may be doing more linguistic analysis than I thought! Which is good. Bring it. :)

I am still short on funds...so if you think of it, be praying that God will bring in the necessary financial resources so that I can get out there and learn something this summer. I'm confident that He will...He's always been faithful to me, and if this opportunity is from Him, He'll finish what He started. :)

Also, if the thought comes to you, please also be praying that God prepares me spiritually for this trip. As a college student, it's so easy to get so swamped with everything else that I forget to take time and enjoy God's word and presence. But Spain, like most of Europe, is very spiritually dark and resistant to the Gospel. I need to be spiritually prepared for it...and that comes through LOTS of prayer on my part and on the part of my prayer partners. So please join me in that.

Thank you all for supporting me in my little adventure...have a wonderful rest of the week!

Yes, you can help. :)

Hey everyone! I want to send out a huge thankyou to those who have begun to pray with me concerning my trip. I know I'm still early in the process, but I'm already getting super excited about the whole thing. I can't wait!

If you would like to help me prayerfully as well as financially, here is how:

-Shoot me an email at haileymorris28@yahoo.com and let me know that you would like to be a part of my prayer base here in the States while I'm gone. I'd like to have a team lifting me up the entire time that I'm away. I believe strongly that prayer works! So leave me a comment or shoot me an email, and I'll put you on the list!! :)
-I will prepare a prayer letter very soon (soon as in, when I have a picture done), but in the meantime, if you'd like to help me financially, you can do so by credit or debit card on OM's website. Here's how it works:
*Go to www.omusa.org
*Under the GIVE tab, choose "How to Give" and then choose
"Give to a person/family in OM." Then respond with
my name, the country in which I'm going to work (Spain, if you didn't
get that..haha), and then my OM Missionary Code, which is:
2275933. The minimum amount that you can do online
is $25.
-You can also help financially by check:
*Make the check out to OM or Operation Mobilization.
*Checks should include my personal account/OM missionary code,
which again, is 2275933.
*Checks can be mailed to: OM: PO Box 444, Tyrone, GA 30290-0444.

And of course, everything is tax-deductible. :) Thank you all for anything you can do prayerfully as well as financially.

Here are some more details...

Hey everyone! I'm getting super excited about my upcoming ministry experience and learning opportunity in Spain this summer. I just got the details of my trip this week. Here's what you need to know..

• The trip dates are approximately from May 18th-August 7th. That's about 12 weeks.


• I'll be working with a missionary couple in Ferrol, La Coruna.


• The approximate total cost of my trip is about $3,300...and this includes airfare, food, lodging, local traveling expenses, and a trip to Madrid and La Vera to visit other missionaries.


• I'll be working in a summer outreach called Transform Outreach, as well as working in the local church and church plants.

Here's a link if you're interested in reading stories and seeing how God is using OM in Spain:

http://www.om.org/where-we-work/spain.html

I'd love to partner with you through prayer as I prepare to make this trip. Please keep the following things in prayer:

• That God will begin to prepare the hearts of those who will hear the gospel this summer


• That the missionaries and national believers would be encouraged this summer as interns come to help and learn


• That God would begin to prepare my heart and humble me as I get ready to go


• That the Lord would provide the finances for me to be able to go

Thank you all for being involved!

This white girl's goin' to Spain!

IT'S OFFICIAL!

I have been accepted by Operation Mobilization to embark on a short term adventure to Spain this summer. And by short term, I mean a three month internship. :) I'm incredibly excited about this. For years, I've studied the Spanish language, the cultures of various Spanish speaking nations, and made friends with native Spanish speakers. I've been to Central America a few times, but I've always wanted to travel to Spain...and FINALLY it's happening.

At this moment, I don't know a whole bunch of details about my trip. As OM tells me, I will relay here in this blog. Here's what I DO know:

• I'm going to an area of A Coruna called Naron, in Northwest Spain. It's about 5 miles from the beach, which is amazing. :)


• I will be living in a house with other workers there (who may or may not be english speaking), and learning the culture.


• I will be assisting in the church office, church plants, music ministry, evangelism, and whatever else they want me to do. :)


• The trip will be from May to August, approximately.

As soon as I know more details, I will post them here. But in the meantime, please be praying for me in this excursion. I really want to learn a lot about language, culture, and cross cultural ministry from this experience. If you want to set aside a few pennies for me too, that'd be great. Haha.