Lauren Gadbois and Gideon Adams
Seville, Spain
For seniors Lauren Gadbois and Gideon Adams, a recent semester abroad in Spain offered cultural immersion and understanding.
Lauren knew that her goal was to grow in her Spanish-speaking abilities and improve her fluency, comprehension and pronunciation while also gaining new perspectives abroad.
“After struggling to adjust in a new culture, my professor challenged me to look at life in Spain through a new lens and explore what the Lord had in store for me,” she shares. “Being able to communicate with another group of people I wouldn’t have been able to before has been the most rewarding part. Embrace the opportunity, step out of your comfort zone and make the most of every moment abroad. You never know how the Lord will use you to grow His Kingdom.”
Gideon echoed the challenges of acclimating to a new environment but said he ultimately found a strong sense of community and belonging with those he encountered.
“I felt that God gave me the strength to break out of my shell,” he explains. “I met so many people, learned a lot and saw God move through them and through me as I interacted with them.”
From Olivet The Magazine, The Parent Issue – Autumn 2024. Read the full issue here.
