NUNS IN SPAIN - ARRIVAL
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¡A Nun's Life Ministry estáen la casa!
 We are in Spain preparing for World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid. We arrived early and have joined other pilgrims in following the path of Saint Teresa of Avila. Like the great saint herself, we have been walking the cobble stone roads of the city visiting places such as the Monastery of the Incarnation where Teresa entered and became a Carmelite nun to the Monastery of Saint Joseph, the first foundation of the Carmelite Reform begun by Teresa. Here's a little flavor of our pilgrimmage so far!
Bendiciones,
Sister Maxine and Sister Julie
Eat, Pray, Walk
 Lots of restaurants line the cobblestone streets “behind the walls” in Avila. We’ve sampled some of the regional favs -- eggs, ham, chicken, cheese of many kinds, aspargus, and fresh bread! And of course the espresso, guaranteed to help you power-walk the steepest hill in the city.
The food isn’t fancy--not much in the way of intriguing spices or exotic seasonings. But it is healthy and hearty, and when eaten in the company of good friends and the communion of saints in Avila, I wouldn’t have it any other way!
- by Sister Maxine Kollasch, IHM, Consecrated Foodie for A Nun's Life Ministry
Cool to Be Catholic
 This is the first time I've been outside the United States. It's made oblivious by my stampless passport and blank stare when one of the "locals" talk to me. (Note to self: two years of Spanish in high school is not going to cut here. Not when you've just graduated from college.)
Other than the language issue, Spain is absolutely beautiful. As we walk through the old churches and monasteries I get the deep sense that I am at home. It's incredible to imagine the people who have prayed in the very places that we visited. I have a very good hunch that their prayers were not too different from mine: to be happy, to find peace and maybe to enjoy a good sangria with good friends.
These are the times I am truly thankful that I am Catholic. Being in Spain has put me touch with our rich Catholic tradition. When we do things right we do them really right.
- by Audra Turnbull, Missouri Correspondent for A Nun's Life Ministry
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