littlemissionarygirl's Xanga

Friday, September 19, 2008

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:36:31 GMT

Ministry Update - September 12

This entry was originally published at missionarygirl.org

I’ve been given the task of creating an intro, outro, and banners for the series Sermon of Jesus. We recorded most of the programs for this series earlier this year and will be having another shoot in a few weeks. I’ll be recording a piece of footage today, and next I’ll be able to focus on composting the video together to make the intro.
On the publications side of things, I was made aware of a need to reprint copies of a document our hospitality staff uses for orientation. Before printing, there is a need to revise some of the information and keep it up to date and accurate, so I’m planning to do that in between video projects.
The video server that Tim was testing a few weeks ago has more or less come to a standstill, once he realized that he doesn’t currently have the hardware to properly test it out. Apparently to test it he would need a bunch of hard drives, and we don’t have any of the right kind that would work for it. So, for the time being, that project is on hold for him.
Tim’s recently found a new setup for programming the web-based network media library that he’s been trying to get off the ground. He’s testing the possibilities that the new program will provide, and so far has been pretty impressed. He’s building it along the same style as Adobe Lightroom, an existing photo manager/editor, and is hoping to implement a lot of the same features (like keywords, groups, starring systems). This media library will hold the thousands of photos of Spain, North Africa, and MMC that have been taken over the years by staff and professional photographers, and will be expandable to include a catalog of video clips as well.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:39:58 GMT

Ministry Update - August 29

This entry was originally published at missionarygirl.org

We returned last week from our mission’s biennial conference in Switzerland. We enjoyed great teaching from speaker Charles Price and his wife Hilary, and times of fellowship with the other Avant missionaries serving in various European fields. Switzerland is a beautiful place, even though it rained just about every other day. The rain and greenery was a welcome change from the dry climate of southern Spain. Tim led a “discussion group” on internet security for one of the sessions; he is really good at explaining technical things!
On Friday, our first full day back at the office, Tim ran into all sorts of computer problems! (At least the computers waited until he got back before breaking!) All day Friday and through the weekend, he worked on completely reinstalling the network phone system, along with fixing some problems on his own computer. He is also working on finding a way to more efficiently back up the phone system, in the case of another incompatibility issue.
Tim came across a possible solution for a much-needed networked video storage system, and is now setting up test computers and trying it out. If his tests prove the system workable, it will enable us to set up a server almost equivalent to Apple’s servers, using open source software and non-proprietary hardware. (Translation: it will do the same thing for cheaper, built and programmed by our own IT personnel.)
Here in the video studio, we’re preparing for another Arabic video shoot. We’ll be finishing shooting several more programs for the Sermon of Jesus series (the one we were working on in May). The set we built is still in the studio, but will need to be cleaned up and have some of the props put back in to make it ready for shooting.

Monday, September 08, 2008

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:45:53 GMT

Málaga Type

This entry was originally published at missionarygirl.org

I have to admit, I love type. So much so that Bringhurst’s Elements of Typographic Style is bathroom reading material.

I know that Trajan is the “movie font“, “Font Conference” is a favorite, and I continuously annoy my husband by pointing out and naming fonts at any given time.

So it is within this context that I announce a brilliant new project of mine, one that’s been rolling around in my head every time I ride the bus or drive the streets. I propose a plan to document evidences of bad font usage in Málaga! It won’t be hard, there’s an instance or two of “brush script” (a big graphic design “no-no”) on practically every corner.

This venture could even turn into a source of income. Just like you can’t visit Hollywood without being offered a map to the star’s houses, I could go so far as to sell maps and give typography tours of the city!

Well, at the very least, a map of Málaga with all known appearances of “brush script” would sure be a funny thing. If only to me.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:16:58 GMT

Some Kind of Ruckus

This entry was originally published at missionarygirl.org

AKA, “A Spanish Midnight Fiesta”

All night I’ve been hearing some kind of big gathering or party just down the street. Sounds like a lot of people are having a lot of fun. At one point they were all singing something, then clapping, cheering, and just a minute ago there were loud noises from what could have been fireworks. (All the neighborhood dogs had to start barking at the noises of course, but by now they’ve subsided considerably.)

It’s after midnight but I don’t think the party will die down anytime soon. Yup, they’ve just started up again with the singing. I suppose I can either go to bed with my windows shut and my ipod playing, or walk down the street to go join them!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:44:39 GMT

News

This entry was originally published at missionarygirl.org

On our return from being away for two weeks we were shocked to discover that Spain has not only suffered bombings in Málaga and Benalmádena (no casualties) but also a deadly plane crash at the Madrid airport.

My heart hurts for those affected.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:33:06 GMT

Packing and sorting.

This entry was originally published at missionarygirl.org

Packing time again! This time, for a two week Europe trip - visiting parts of Austria and Italy, with one week of it in Switzerland for a conference. As much as I think I like to travel, I’ve found that even more than traveling, I like returning home at the end of it. No worry about where we’re sleeping for the night, how to get there, or how lost we can get while trying to find it! Málaga always feels like home.

Regardless, Tim and I need at least one good chance to take a trip to other places than Spain, and this is our chance. Who knows when next we will be able to do something like this. Unfortunately, I only know about 15 words in German. Ten of those are the numbers 1-10. I know even less Italian!!

During our time in Switzerland we’ll get to experience both Tim’s birthday and our one year anniversary. A more beautiful place to enjoy those days, I could not have imagined! Our God is so great to both create such a beautiful place, and to bless us with the ability to be there. Hard to believe it’s already been a year of marriage - time passes quickly.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:47:45 GMT

Monday = Sobre Certificado and a Passport

This entry was originally published at missionarygirl.org

Guess what? I received my new US passport today! In all of it’s American glory. Even with the uncertainty I first had of buying a “sobre certificado” (certified envelope) for the consulate in Madrid to send my passport back in, it turns out that everything worked fine and I even received it a few days earlier than I expected.

Seeing as how I have my new passport back, with new name and new passport number, I’m now able to begin the even more involved process of reapplying for my Spanish residence card.

Oh joy! More updates as they come available.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:47:45 GMT

Weekly Ministry Update - October 11

This entry was originally published at missionarygirl.org

October prayer letter has been emailed (if you didn’t get it, and wanted to, let me know). Tim, Sarah and my mom will be helping get some paper copies sent out to friends and supporters back in the States within the next week, so pray that all goes well with that.
DVD project is coming along. I have prepared some audio and video clips to use with the DVD menu - but we need to figure out what Arabic words to use for the navigation. Still no word on the other language translations.
Over the weekend I had a number of ideas for a new video project. After talking to Dan on Monday, we determined that this is definitely something to pursue. The project is still in the very pre-production stages, and a number of questions and issues need to be addressed before anything can move forward, but it is definitely an idea that has the potential to greatly benefit the work of MMC.
In his absense, I managed to aquire from Jamie the information needed to access the mmcmedia.org website to get in and change some things, at the request of Dan. Since last night I’ve added a few things and made some changes, although much more still needs to be done. Check out the story I wrote (yes, it is almost the same one that was on missionarygirl.org a few days ago!) and the photo that goes with it (I took that picture in N. Africa!).
Overall.. a lot of stuff is happening, I have an awful lot to do and get done, but even more will be coming up with the video shoot next week (and the set construction beginning tomorrow). Staying up till 2:30 am. last night, working on MMC stuff, might seem pathetic. But that is what I’m here to do, so why not do it?

Until next time, you stay classy San Diego…

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:47:42 GMT

Planeando y Preparando…

This entry was originally published at missionarygirl.org

Todavia preparamos las cosas para la boda — hay tantas cosas que hacer y tan poco tiempo!

En casi tres meses me case, y en menos que dos meses me voy a EEUU. Solo tendré un mes y pico allí para arreglar todo lo que queda para el día de la boda - y lo que hacemos en las semanas siguientes. A mí, un mes me parece muy poco tiempo! Hay algunas cosas que puedo hacer desde España, pero no mucho. Pero, creo que sería igual, planear una boda aquí o en el lugar de la boda…no importa de donde la planea, siempre va a darme mucho estrés!

A veces pienso que no puedo esperar más: quiero que la boda y todo eso estrés que viene con los planes de boda sean terminados, y que seamos casados ya! Creo que así sería más facil relajar y divertir la idea de ser casado…con tanta trabajo en llegar a eso día, parece que no hay tiempo ahora que pensar en todas las cosas buenas que nos están pasando.

Hay que acordarme de no preocupar de que va a pasar — no puedo controlar el futuro, todo está en las manos de Dios. Hablé un poco con Monica hoy (la esposa de Eber - él trabaja conmigo en MMC), y ella me entiende completamente con cosas de boda, porque ella se casó en febrero, creo. Su consejo mejor para mi era sobre la necesidad de poner mi confianza en Dios. Él nos ayudará, nos dará el dinero que necesitamos para volver a España, y él va a arreglar las cosas para nosotros — tanto en la boda como en nuestras vidas — en su manera y su tiempo.

Si hablas español mejor que yo (que no sería difícil) corrijame por favor!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:47:38 GMT

Short little update…with Photos!

This entry was originally published at missionarygirl.org

Tim led the music on Sunday, and that went pretty well considering it was his first time playing with the band, and considering that he’s only been going to the church for about a month now! So praise God for that. After church, we had a birthday party at MMC for one of the missionary kids, who just turned 8. Her mom made her a cake with a doll in the middle, so the cake looked like her dress! It was very creative. [read the remainder of this post]