Another Favor for a Friend

A few months ago I posted an entry about my friend Kat, whom I met here in Murcia.  (You can view the post here.)  Back in January, Kat had to leave Murcia to fly back to the United States because her father had developed a serious lung disease.  Fully dedicated to her family, for a month Kat spent every day by her father's side in the hospital. Sadly, her dad passed away on February 8.

In my pervious post about Kat I asked you, my readers, for your thoughts and prayers.  Now I'm asking you for your support.  Inspired by her father, Kat has decided to bike 3,300 miles across America in order to raise money for the American Lung Association (ALA).  Here is an email that she recently sent out:

Dear Friends,

I’m writing to share my latest adventure with you and to ask for your support.  This summer, as a tribute to my father, Richard Narvaez, I am biking across America.

The 48-day, 3,300 mile “Big Ride” from Seattle to Washington, DC starts June 20^th and is sponsored by the American Lung Association of Washington (ALAW).  I need your help to raise $6,000 as a contribution to ALAW for the ride.

My father passed away from pneumonia this past February and since his death, I have been overwhelmed by the stories that patients, colleagues and friends have shared about his generosity, kindness and good spirit.  He truly devoted his career to saving lives. To honor his memory, I am riding his bicycle across the country and hope that the money raised can help prevent lung disease.

When I lost my father, I thought that I would never find the confidence to embark on new bold adventures.  As I move through the healing process, I realize now more than ever how each moment is a gift and it’s important it is to seize the day and take on the impossible.  But most importantly, to do it for the story.

If you would like to donate online or get additional information about the ride, go to http://action.lungusa.org/goto/knarvaez.  To follow my training or read about my adventure on the road, please visit www.katnarvbikesamerica.com.

Thank you for your support.

Katherine Narvaez

So once again, I'm asking you to help a friend who has helped me make my "Murcian experience" possible.  If you could donate even $5 or $10 at ALA's website, it would help Kat achieve her goal in memory of her father.  Thank you so much.

We wish you the best luck Kat!

A Small Prayer for a Large Purpose--Please Help

Kat and her father

At the very beginning of my journey to Murcia, God sent me a helping hand to assist me in sorting through the confusion of visa requirements and job arrangements here in Spain.  This helping hand's name was Kat.  Somewhere along the way of being tossed around from one University of Murcia department to another, I received Kat's name and email address while I was still in the States.  She turned out to be my most helpful guide to Murcia.

Being a veteran American English lector here at the university, Kat knew all of the answers to my questions.  In fact, she provided me with the most concrete answers than anyone at the university could give me.  Not only that, but she opened up her home to me when I first arrived in Murcia in October.  I stayed at her apartment for a week before I found my own.  She hosted me, showed me around the city, and even accompanied me on a couple trips to the Extranjería.  I'm not sure I could have made it here without her help.

So now I would like to help a friend who is currently going trough a much more trying time than I was in September.

Over Christmas break, Kat went back home to Pennsylvania to spend the holidays with her family.  Only a few days after she arrived back to Murcia in early January, she turned right back around and jumped on a plane to the States due to a family emergency.  I don't know the specifics of the situation, but her father had developed an infection of the lungs, and it seems now he is in a comatose state.  Kat has been in Pennsylvania ever since, faithfully tending to her father waiting for him to wake up.

So I'm asking you to please pray for Kat, her father, and her entire family.  Watching a loved one in these types of conditions is immensely difficult, but I couldn't even imagine the strength required to help my father is such a situation and to simultaneously manage a life on the other side of the ocean.  If there is anything I would appreciate more from my readers it would be their prayers for Kat and her family.  Just a daily small prayer goes a long way.

We love and miss you Kat!

Thank you all so much.

-Ashley