Picture: Bram & Jeff at La Alhambra in Granada, Spain.
It has been a full year in Spain.
Many people want to know "How has your life changed?"
Jeff has taken on the challenge to answer that very question...
I drink sterilized milk & juice from a cardboard box.
I eat out exponentially less, and only at restaurants with a ‘play place’
17 months between boys seemed ok, until 3 vs 2: the apartment is very loud
I wash my Salvation Army uniform tunic & pants in the washer and hang dry
I have personally paid over 2,000 USD for official items, not counting things that could be taken officially back home
At times I have to park 200 – 300 yards from the apartment
I walk 4 flights of stairs multiple times a day; groceries, toddlers, luggage, trash
I’ve lost 25 lbs
Most days I have to park ¼ to ½ mile from the Corps and lug in instruments and program material.
Although a vehicle seems a necessity; w/maintenance & operating costs it constitutes 20% of the budget
I’ve lived with 75% humidity all summer
God is bigger than my stress
God has been faithful in every situation
I love the smell of the salt air as the breeze comes in off the coast line
I love to watch the clouds billow over the mountain
The view from our balcony makes it all worth it
I get to spend twice the amount of time with my family
Although my Spanish is far better today than when I arrived; it is by no means where it should be
I rely on our prior experience & training to move forward, all the while finding the ‘new’ ways God is calling us to minister.
Pastorally, Corps Officership is the same no matter where you serve & administratively
All things relative, we would accept a second term.
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