The Grace and Peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Greetings from Barcelona 🙂
Andrei and I arrived safely in Barcelona back in July, and our journey here has started. But at times life can be such a whirlwind of change. It apparently is one for us at this season. While moving to a new country isn’t something unfamiliar to us, this time feels different. Just a few days after we arrived in Barcelona, I was hit with intense abdominal pain like I’d never experienced before. Without hesitation, we rushed to the nearest hospital, and so began the journey of uncovering the source of my discomfort. After numerous medical exams, the verdict came in: gallstones, and with it the need for surgery to remove my gallbladder.
While reassured by the surgeon that a cholecystectomy is now one of the most common surgeries globally, the timing couldn’t have been worse. We’re at the start of a new chapter in our lives and ministry, trying to settle into this beautiful yet unfamiliar place. Nevertheless, God’s grace abounds. My abdominal pain, though disruptive, hasn’t been debilitating. We are proceeding with the surgery and will decide on a date very soon.
I can’t express how grateful I am for Andrei, my husband, and his fluency in Spanish. He’s been a rock, handling everything from scheduling medical appointments to navigating hospital conversations in Spanish with ease. His support through all of this has been invaluable.
At the same time, my heart has been heavy with worry for my family back in southern Lebanon. As tensions escalate in the region with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, fear for the safety and well-being of my family and my people weighs on my heart and mind. Yet, through it all, God’s grace has remained constant. My family is holding on, surviving one day at a time.
Andrei and I are slowly but surely finding our footing here in Barcelona. We’ve found a lovely long-term apartment in the lively Gracia neighborhood, and I’ve started Spanish classes.
My work with The Outreach Foundation (TOF) is off to a promising start. In fact, I gained more responsibilities right as I began my work 😄
The person who would be my immediate supervisor departed from TOF, and I was invited to step into a bigger role, assisting Executive Director Mark Muller with overseeing our enduring partnerships in the Middle East while continuing to develop the Arabic Diaspora project.
I have been making incredible connections with Arabic ministries in Spain and across Europe, and I am thrilled about the doors that are opening. The photo to the right is with Hany Fouad, an inspiring Egyptian pastor ministering to the Arab Christian Community in Barcelona. I am excited about working with them and serving alongside them, especially in their amazing work with women and children. Also, I am happy about the Arabic ministry connections that I am making across Europe. I will keep you posted as I get to know them better and hopefully start visiting them soon.