When God makes your day

Wow... I almost forgot about the European Soccer Championship... I guess it's because I'm having as much fun as you guys over there on the other side of the big water. So don't worry Zack, I'm fine =)

Some weeks ago, I was invited to take part in a kind of "talk show" about the topics of the Bible study guide for the Sabbath school programm for the Adventist channel TV Nuevo Tiempo. Since it sounded like a challenge (talking Spanish in front of cameras), I accepted. They gave me two topics of the next quarter but at the end, they only needed me for one. Was enough excitement for me anyways... =) I didn't really realize what I had agreed to until I stepped into that building last Wednesday and saw a group of them on the screen already "at work" in the studio. There were two pastors (at least I think Christian is one??), the always smiling professional talk show host Sandra Katerinhe Monlina and a student around my age. Well, I guess you won't get out of it now, Maria... and before I could think too much about it, they had "painted" my face and Christian greeted me with a big "Welcome"-smile.

Seemed like he would take part in "my" show, too. I sent a quick "Thank you" heavenwards when somebody was already putting this little microphone on my collar in the right spot. With Katerinhe and Christian, I had already two people who are great at creating a realxed atmosphere. It might seem like an insignificant detail, but in that situation, I was so happy to have somebody there I knew at least a little bit. (Christian helped translating for the chapel building group in March since he speaks English and Spanish and that's how I got to know him and his family.) Before starting the first block of 14 minutes, we talked a bit about the topic and where we wanted to put our focus... and it seemed like 3 minutes and the first part was over. We talked a bit about where to put the emphasis in the second part... and before I realized it, time was up again. Wow. That was quick! I felt happy and relieved. We took some pictures and the group for the next topic was already waiting.

In a really good mood and eating my "sandwich with Oreo", I walked into the direction they had told me I would find busses that go to Quillacollo (I had taken a taxi to get there). When I got to the main road, I actually kind of knew where I was and I didn't have to wait a minute for the right bus to pass. I stopped it and off we were. 5 minutes later, I saw that we were about to pass a supermarket. Since I hadn't been to that one before and I still had some time, I made use of the Bolivian bus system and cried: "Voy a bajar." It was really worth the stop! I found German bread (you know, bread without much air and a lot of grain stuff), whole wheat baguette, cream cheese and Nutella! I know that Nutella isn't really healthy and not very cheap here either, but I decided to buy it just that one time over here. Heavy German bread with Nutella... delicious! Especially since the Bolivians don't really know what to put on bread besides butter and jam. I miss all the spreads we have and make at home!! Well, half of the stuff you can buy in that supermarket seems to be imported from the States: Starburst, Skittles, IGA Ketchup, Philadelphia, Bush's Beans, Peanut Butter, Cranberry Juice and Welsh's 100% Grape Juice... I actually grabbed a can of chilli beans, too, because they reminded me of my road trip across the States and were surprisingly affordable. I left that "IC Norte" in even higher spirits than I had entered it. I couldn't afford to buy everything I would have liked to (the Grape Juice really tempted me because the Bolivians don't seem to like sugar free 100% juices but without a fridge I reasoned that it wouldn't be worth it), but that didn't matter. I felt like the richest person on earth with my bread, cream cheese, beans and Nutella.

The rest of the day was great as well although not extraordinarily special. I was back in time for lunch, did some laundry before running to my classes, we had Wednesday night prayer meeting in the university church and afterwrds I packed my backpack for the camping trip with the dorm... We were to leave the next day at 5am - but I'll use another blog for that experience... =)

For now I will stop, thank God for making these 6 months really unforgettable and go to sleep since I'll have two exams tomorrow. May God give you days like my last Wednesday every once in a while, too.

maria