Today, as I drove home from church, a noteworthy event took place.

I left CalvarySLO around 10:15am, and turned out onto Broad St, where a maroon Ford Aerostar van pulled up next to me (it didn’t look too different from that pic).  I took off from a stop light, and the van was going about the same speed as me, but I took no notice.  My window was down, as it was a beautiful SLO Sunday morning, and I wasn’t about to miss it in order to run my AC.  

I was enjoying the 3 minute drive home, soaking it in by not taking off from the light too fast.  I was even thinking to myself about how this is an excellent way to conserve gasoline, too!  The man in the passenger seat of the van (who I assume was of Mexican decent, perhaps he was some other latin american nationality, though) called out through the open window of the Aerostar,

“Hey!  ¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás?”

The driver whistled at me, and both gave that machísimo smile.  You know, that smile.  I don’t understand how any woman has ever been wooed by that smile.  Come on, ladies.  That really works on you?

I was caught off guard for a split second, then called back in my best Mexican accent as I slowly increased my speed,

“¡Buenos días! ¡Muy bien, gracias!  ¿Y usted?”

Well, that did the trick. They stared back, dumbfounded.  The ol’ white girl speaking Spanish gig strikes again!  I love my life and my (seemingly) useless major in moments like this.

Here is what the focus of my life has become, and will continue to be for the next 5 weeks (thank goodness for the quarter system!):

Ah, Senior Project.

I realize it has been a bit since I’ve written anything on here.  Well, after a little hiatus, I am back.

Most noteworthy:  I went to El Salv last week during my spring break.  It was so good.  I reconnected with friends that I haven’t seen since summer and fell in love once more with this miniscule Central American country.  Spanish came even easier than it did last time.  It was great to work alongside the Stint team and to get to know them more.  As great as it was to be in El Salv with a team of 29 people from Poly, it was really strange to be there without the peeps from my summer project team.  Overall, I loved my week there, and wouldn’t have chosen to spend my money or time any other way.  The Lord has placed a special passion on my heart for the people of this country, and he whispers so gently and clearly into my heart while I am there.  Will the future hold more trips to El Slav? Only my Savior knows.  Needless to say, it was wonderful to be back.

In other news:  school is so lame.  I seriously detest it sometimes.  I used to have this passion for learning and eagerly anticipated the start of a new quarter.  I would listen to my professors in lecture, hanging on their every word, hoping that they would notice my excitement for their classes.  Now I just sit there, ho-hum, watching the seconds tick away on the clock in the back of the room, hoping the professor doesn’t notice how frequently I turn my head and look  backwards to check the time.  I had to buy two tiny (around 200 p) French texts for about $250, and I can’t even really read them (because, let’s face it…I don’t really comprehend French).  I have homework for the first time tonight, and I feel myself growing more and more apathetic towards the text.  In this case, I’m not so happy to be back.

Economics update:  back in the work force.  Double timing.  I’m starting to Nanny for two families here in SLO for just a few hours a week.  Sophia, a 3 year old whose energy is only surpassed by her immense appetite should be a handful. After watching her last night, I had a nightmare that it was my responsibility to put her to bed.  Oh dear.  Cassius, a 3 week old boy is so tiny and so sweet.  I hope I don’t break him when I hold him.  Baby got back.

Forecast: finally submitted my application to Campus Crusade today.  It’s official folks….I’m planning to intern with Crusade here in SLO after I graduate in December.  I am excited/nervous/overjoyed/anxious/shaking in my boots.  Ministry is my passion.  I just love sharing the gospel.  I just fear raising support.  All of your prayers for my heart are appreciated.  I trust a big God for big results.  I really do believe that he loves me, that he has a marvelous plan for my life, and that this plan includes joining staff with Campus Crusade.  After all of this time wandering away from his fold, making my own plans for the future; I’m following his lead as he calls me back.

I guess that’s all for now. My heart hurts today, and I’m not really sure why.  I feel like I’m being refined.  And I feel the tender touch of the Lord as he molds me into his image.  He is protecting me from what could be big time heartache, and yet I still feel the pang of loss as I surrender my plans to him each day.  It is good, hard, stressful, painful, lonely, exciting, satisfying, to be back.

dear pablo neruda,

i wish i had more creative energy right now.  your poetry is great.  i’m just pooped, and can’t come up with anything good to say about your poems.  i’m sorry.  hopefully the writer’s block will clear before tomorrow at 2, when the essay is due.  hope you’re proud of your beloved communist party.

con cariño,

sara

For international flights, the luggage weight limit is set at a strict 50 lbs.  Therefore, I will be packing all of my clothing for my 6 week project, meanwhile keeping track of the weight of my bag.  My mom, sister and I shopped around at Kohl’s tonight in search of the perfect mid-sized luggage.  I found a satisfactory piece, which I hope will satisfy my need for clothing (two to three weeks worth of underwear) and the regulations on luggage weight.

I also think that the large “AMERICAN TOURISTER”  logo on the bag might be a “steal me” sign in Spanish.  Oh well.  God will provide for our safety

Also, I read up on “Cruzada” the Latin American branch of Campus Crusade for Christ tonight.  Pray that I would be able to memorize scripture in Spanish this next week!

“Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino , la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.”