Destined to West Coast living....

So it dawned on me the other day that I can't really seem to avoid West coasts. For most of my life I have resided along the beautiful, breath-taking, and otherwise completely priceless and irreplaceable West coast of Michigan. Then after having lived 9 months inland in Venezuela, I moved out to the West coast of California taking two years to finish my studies. I then moved back to the MI West coast only to be called again to still another West coast: the West Coast of Portugal!!! Thats right... I'm moving to Portugal.
I am happy to announce that my little jaunt across the Atlantic to visit potential churches was a huge success. The trip on a whole was a really great experiences, though at times a bit overwhelming. After spending a week visiting the Christian Associates team in Lisbon, Portugal, I hopped another plane and flew to Madrid, Spain. There I hung out with two different teams/churches. One team was located in the suburbs of Madrid while the other was located in the heart of the city. Both teams were wonderful to me, making sure I felt welcome, giving me time to ask questions and get to know them, as well as making sure that I was able to play the tourist and see the countryside/city. I was so glad to meet them and really see the different ways that God is working to bring people closer to him in very different contexts. However, after the visit to Spain, I returned to Portugal and was able to take part in a vision casting meeting held by the Lisbon team. I was so neat for me to see the vision for this team, where they are and have come from and where they hope to see God take them. It was there that I really got excited because I could see myself in that context. I started getting a vision myself to start up a volleyball ministry, a hiking ministry and maybe even a community of runners! Some of the already established ministries I could help out with are: Young Life, Christian Surfers, House Churches, Small Groups, Orphanage Volunteering, and maybe even helping out by teaching in the local Christian School. Along with seeing the potential for ministry, I was also really excited after I met the team. I felt at home with them, and felt like I was already one of them. One particular missionary is a single woman of 26 who will be looking for a roommate. We really hit it off and are excited about partnering in ministry together in helping our generation experience Christ. I could go on and on about my vision and hopes for the next two years, but I will save that for later blogs. Right now, I just wanted to pass along the news of where I feel God taking me and ask you to pray with me as I take the next steps in the process. I am so pumped to finally have a picture of where I am going next, but before I sign off I'd like to include a top ten list of the trip including some of the fun crazy touristy details!
Top Ten Experiences of my Whirlwind Iberian Peninsula Tour (though besides #1, the order doesn't really matter!)
10. Trying to be brave and experience the local food specialties of Portugal, only to almost loose my lunch on the first bite of the "delicate and delicious" stuffed squid!
9. Navigating my way through the Madrid Metro and never really getting lost... only slightly turned around!
8. Passing out tomato and tuna sandwiches to the homeless of Madrid
7. Experimenting with my new camera and tripod in the middle of Plaza Mayor, a large, public, touristy square, and having even the tourists give me funny looks as I pulled my shenanigans.
6. Once again calling attention to myself, as I tried my hand, or rather, my mouth, at learning Portuguese all to the amusement of my newly made native friends.
5. Taking runs with my dear friend Hillary along the classic brick boardwalk that hugged the local beaches of Lisbon all the while sharing our hearts on life and living cross culturally.
4. Diving into my first official surf lesson from a Portuguese woman who is ranked third in the nation for professional surfing and who happens to be sponsored by Rip Curl.
3. Sauntering through the Prado and the Rena Sofia museum breathing in deeply the many works of Picasso and lots of other people I have never heard of.
2. "Renting" a free bike with a flash of my passport and riding for nine miles along the west coast of Portugal almost reaching the most Western point of all of Europe.
1. Meeting all the fabulous missionaries and kindred spirits that God has placed in the spiritual dry corners of Europe in hopes of reviving it once again!!

Once again, thanks for reading and thanks for your support!! Please keep me updated on what is happening in your life as well! I would love to hear from you! Blessings and stayed tuned for more to come!!