Merry Christmas

Rebeka 21, Elizabeth 17 & Sarah 9

One Step Forward

After FIVE very long years, the day we have been waiting for arrived.  Elizabeth received her USA citizenship!!!!

Signing

In the ceremony hall

On the stage

Very happy sisters!

At home

Favorite Food from Spain

One of Elizabeth and Sarah's favorite foods in Spain was Patatas Cheddar and Bacon.

A mid-afternoon snack !!

That does not sound very Spanish and actually was not very Spanish, but it was new to us and they enjoyed it.  We discovered it at 100 Montaditos, a small restaurant that served "snack" foods and had deals on different days of the week.  My kind of place! 

Eagerly anticipating something yummy.

It would have been more like lunch in the States, but because of the very different meals times in Spain, it was a mid-morning or mid-afternoon meal that kept hunger at bay while we waited for the next real meal.

Eaten with a tiny plastic fork!

When we got back home I tried to recreate it and came pretty close.

Patatas Cheddar & Bacon

frozen shoestring potatoes
bacon, cooked and crumbled
shredded cheese

After cooking the potatoes according to the package sprinkle the bacon and then cheese on top.
Then put it back in the oven until the cheese melts
I served it with the tiny forks we had brought back with us - fingers would work just fine!

My version.  Pretty close to the real thing!

Thank You from Rebeka

On what would have been the weekend of Rebeka's orientation in Katmandu I am reminded that I never posted the thank you note that she sent.  My delay, not hers.
 
Hello again, 

Thank you so much to everyone who has shown their support to me during this time. While canceling my trip to Nepal was an extremely difficult choice to make, your support and affirmation has played a huge part in helping me come to peace with the decision. I am also extremely grateful for all the donations you have made to me, which in turn I have been able to send to Save the Children and their relief efforts in Nepal. 

The response was truly overwhelming. Prior to the earthquake, I had my doubts about being able to raise enough money to afford the trip. I know now that I had no reason to have those doubts. I was able to donate $1,860.00 to Save the Children with your help, and I have also heard from people who have been responding to the disaster through different avenues, as well. 

I am at peace with the way this situation has worked out, I feel I was able to make a substantial contribution towards helping the children affected by the disaster, and I am certain now that I made the right decision. 

Thank you again so much for all your assistance and support throughout this process. 

 Rebeka

Proud Parents

A lot has happened in the short week since we last communicated with you. The earthquake in Nepal hit us - through Rebeka - very personally. There have been many prayers, many phone calls and many tears and at last much peace.

Click  here  to read what she wrote about her decision.


As parents we are just so proud of her and how mature she has been during the entire decision making process.

Nepal Update from Rebeka

After a lot of thought and prayer, I have realized that now is no longer the right time for me to go to Nepal. I believe that the current need is greater than what I can provide, and that the priority now should be with emergency response volunteers.

I also know that there is a huge lack of resources in Nepal and I want what is available to go toward the emergency response volunteers and the people in most need. As much as it broke my heart, I came to the conclusion that my presence is not what is needed most in Nepal under these current circumstances.

Instead, I will be donating the money I had saved personally for the trip towards the rescue and relief efforts for the Nepalese children. This was an extremely difficult decision to make, but I feel this is the course of action that will be of most benefit to Nepal and the affected people at the moment.

I am hoping that friends and family who were planning to support me on my trip, will now consider making a donation toward the relief efforts in Nepal. I have been donating to Save the Children  who has been working in Nepal for decades and is currently providing shelter and resources to the children affected by the earthquake.

As heartbroken as I am about my own trip not working out, I am blessed to be safe, and so thankful that I am able to help in other ways. I hope that in the future God will lead me to Nepal, once the time is right and I will be able to be of real use to the people. In the meantime, I am doing what I can from here, and keeping the victims and families in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you all for your continuing support!
-Rebeka

Second Generation Missionary

Alternate Title:   

She's Going Where?!?!?!

Rebeka is nearly grown up now and is making her own travel plans.  She will spend her summer volunteering with children in Nepal through the Hope & Home organization.

As parents, Nepal seems even farther away than Spain.  But we are supporting Rebeka in this trip and believing that God will use her in an amazing way as she follows Him in this direction.

Here is her plan in her own words:

  ~ Rebeka’s Summer Plans ~

Hello everyone! In case you have not already heard, this summer I am planning to travel to Nepal, where I will volunteer for eight weeks. I am extremely excited about this opportunity to visit new places, gain new experiences and perspectives, and be of as much help as I can be. Below is more information with the specifics of what I will be doing.

Who?

I have made my plans through the organization International Volunteer HQ, a volunteer travel company. The IVHQ partner organization I will be working with in Nepal is Hope and Home, which works with international volunteers to offer meaningful opportunities and seek sustainable solutions for education, health, conservation, and development issues.  These organizations work together to secure accommodations and meals for volunteers, ensure safety while abroad, and provide in-country support.

 

What?

While in Nepal, I will be a childcare volunteer. I am very excited about this, as it has been a while since I have been able to work with children, something that I love doing.

In developing countries like Nepal, thousands of children are orphaned, leaving them with no real home, family, or educational opportunities. As a childcare volunteer in Nepal, I will be placed in an orphanage where I can help local children in their day-to-day lives.

My general role will be to be an older sister to the children, something I have a lot of experience with! The specific tasks of each volunteer vary depending on the orphanage and the needs at the time. Examples of typical volunteer work can include; teaching, assisting with learning general life skills and health education, organizing games and activities, drawing & painting, and showing the children lots of love.

I am especially passionate about girls’ education in Nepal, one of the reasons that led me to choose this destination. I have been in contact with the Program Coordinator in Nepal about the role I can take as related to this area of interest, and am very excited about the ways I will be able to engage with the girls at the orphanage where I will be working.

When?

I will be flying out of Jacksonville on Thursday, May 28th, to begin my program on Monday, June 1st. I will have a 3-day orientation in Kathmandu to help me get adjusted and acclimated before I begin at my permanent volunteer placement.

I will be in Nepal for 8 weeks, ending on Friday July 24th, after which I will return to Jacksonville for a few days before heading back to Berry College, to begin my new position as a Senior Intern for the Bonner Scholars Program before classes start up again in August.

Where?

Hope and Home has volunteer placements in four main areas within Nepal – Kathmandu, Chitwan, Chitlang and Pokhara. Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal, and placements here are on the outskirts of the city in rural and urban areas. Chitwan is approximately 150 km from Kathmandu, in a flat fertile plain. Chitlang is rural, about 2 hours drive from Kathmandu. Pokhara is located in mid-western Nepal and is a popular tourist destination, because of its amazing lake and mountain views. After doing a lot of research on these areas and looking at a lot of beautiful photos, I am hoping to be assigned to Pokhara, but I will be happy to serve wherever I am needed!

How Much?

I am applying for aid from my Bonner scholarship, and I have been trying to save up all year, but college is expensive and I still need a little help reaching my goal! I would appreciate if you would prayerfully consider supporting me financially on this trip. Below is an overview of the financial aspects of this trip. (I am not a math major so if something doesn’t add up, I blame Excel!)

As previously mentioned, I am applying for financial aid from my scholarship. I am waiting for it to be officially approved, but it is highly likely I will receive this funding:

Here is the total of what I need now, after the Financial Aid and what I’ve already paid:

Slightly less daunting! Of course, I’m sure other things might arise along the way, as they tend to do, but these are the numbers I know as of now!

Tax deductible contributions can be sent to:
Barnabas, Inc.
228 Ponte Vedra Dr. Suite 700
Ponte Vedra Beach FL 32082
Please write “Nepal” in the memo.

My program fees are due May 1st, and I would like to purchase my flights before then as well.
If you have any questions just let me know! You can contact me through a comment on this blog  or by e-mail at garcia@reydelasnaciones.com.

Thank you so much for your support, and for taking the time to read this letter! I am just ridiculously excited about this opportunity, thank you for helping make it a little more possible!

Love,
Rebeka •

Plans for the Future

A beautiful day in Boadilla del Monte outside of Madrid.

As you may have suspected we are making plans to head back into the mission field.  During our time in Florida, Jaime has been making regular mission trips to Guatemala and Spain and has maintained the missionary focus with other activities through our non-profit organization, Barnabas, Inc.  Our Missionary Call has never left us.

We have been praying about moving to Spain for several years.  The church in Spain has been praying.  For many reasons it was just not the right time.  Well, those difficulties seem to have passed and we feel as though God is giving us the green light to move forward.   

Please pray with us as we step out in Faith to follow God's Call. 

Silver Anniversary

It has been 25 years since our first Garcia Gazette was published. 

We are dusting off the presses and getting the Garcia Gazette ready for publication again.  This time around we have this accompanying blog which allows more regular contact.