Hello friends and family!
As you probably know, I’m studying abroad this semester in Madrid, Spain. While I’m there, I plan to send out a weekly update with some brief highlights, prayer requests, and pictures. I have either talked to each of you specifically, or else assumed you would like to stay up to date with my travels. If you decide at any point you would like me to take you off the list, just email me and I’ll take care of it. Otherwise, you can expect an email from me each Sunday for the next 20 or so weeks. That said, let’s get into it!
This week is departure week. Once I’m all packed up, I’ll fly out on Wednesday afternoon and arrive Thursday morning in Madrid. I will then spend the next couple of days settling into my apartment, meeting my 8 (yes, eight) flatmates, and attending some orientations for my college program. The whole experience is very exciting, but still feels a bit surreal.
Prayer Requests
I have so many prayer requests on my mind and heart for this eventful week. The few that stick out most are:
- Pray for safe travels, and a smooth entry with no visa or luggage issues.
- Pray for my initial interactions with my flatmates: that God will give me boldness and opportunities to show the love and care of Jesus, and to speak His name from the start.
- Pray for my spiritual growth: to immediately set up good habits, that this new place can be an opportunity to grow ever closer in my walk with the Lord as I depend on and seek after Him.
- Pray for the Lord to direct me to a local body of believers with whom I can worship and participate in His Church while I am in Madrid.
I’m so grateful for this incredible opportunity to explore another part of the world and to grow personally, spiritually, and academically (physically, as Peregrin Tuk says, “I’m not likely to grow any more—except sideways”). I want to thank y’all for your care, support, and prayers. James 5:16 says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” and I appreciate every prayer on my behalf, trusting that none are uttered in vain. I look forward to sharing my journey with you all!
Contact me while in Spain
One final note: while I’m abroad my phone may be unable to receive normal texts or calls. Feel free, of course, to email me at this address. For those who may want to text or call me, I’m happy to say you can do so using WhatsApp (https://whatsapp.com/dl/). Just download it, and use my phone number (248) 631-6305 to connect with me! With that, it’s time to continue packing, so I will leave you with a typical Spanish farewell.
Atentamente,
Timothy
