August 14, 2025 • 21 mins
I would love to hear from you! Send a text!
That gentle whisper of "it's time"—have you felt it lately? That nudge toward something new, even when everything familiar feels comfortable enough?
In this deeply moving conversation with Andrea Ward Fernandez, we explore the complex emotions and practical realities of knowing when it's time to move. Andrea shares her remarkable journey from living her entire life in Spain to suddenly relocating to America to pursue teaching at a Christian school. Her story illuminates the tension between loyalty and growth, between honoring roots and spreading wings.
What makes Andrea's experience so powerful is the unmistakable alignment she witnessed when the time was right. After years of consideration, everything fell into place with breathtaking speed—a job offer, housing arrangements, and transportation all materialized within days. "It was from nothing to everything in a couple of days," Andrea explains, "like the Lord giving it all on a silver platter."
Yet her story doesn't gloss over the challenges. Andrea candidly discusses the overwhelming feelings of being lost in a new culture, the anxiety of separation from family, and the countless daily adjustments required when transplanting your life across continents. Throughout these difficulties, Andrea discovered something profound about trust—that we only truly learn to depend on God when we find ourselves with no other options.
Whether you're contemplating a physical move or navigating any major life transition, this episode offers both inspiration and practical wisdom. You'll discover that moving doesn't always mean running away—sometimes it means finally running toward what's next. You'll learn that you can love what's been and still let go, that you can honor your past while outgrowing it.
If that whisper of "it's time" has been getting louder in your life, this conversation will give you permission to explore it, not hastily, but with intention and courage. Take your first brave step today.
Let's create your transition gameplan:
Book your discovery call
You can find me at:
Website
Facebook
Shock
Limbo
Re-Entry
Sound of You
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Is there a major life transition benching you?
I know you may be asking what'snext?
What's my purpose?
What if?
Because I've asked those too.
Welcome to the Start yourComeback Podcast.
I'm Toni Thrash, a certifiedlife coach, and I want to share
the tools and practical steps tohelp you create a winning game
(00:23):
plan to move into your newadventure.
Hi and welcome back.
(00:57):
You're listening to episode 97of our how to Know when series,
of our how to Know when series.
Over the past few weeks, we'vebeen diving into those pivotal,
life-altering decisions.
You know the kind that makeyour heart race and your mind
spin.
We've talked about how to knowwhen it's time to leave your
marriage, how to know when it'stime to leave your job and, just
(01:19):
last week, how to know whenit's time to retire.
Today, we're turning the pageto another major transition how
to know when it's time to retire.
Today, we're turning the pageto another major transition how
to know when it's time to move,whether that means changing
cities, countries or simplyleaving the comfort of what's
known to pursue something new.
And to kick off thisconversation, let's talk about
(01:42):
loyalty.
Loyalty is one of thosequalities that gets baked into
us early.
It's honorable, it's sacred.
Imagine this You've spent yourwhole life in the country of
Spain, surrounded by familiarplaces, loved ones, traditions,
language, rhythms that feel likesecond nature.
You love your country becauseyou've never known anything else
(02:06):
and then, at 24 years old, youdecide to leave it all behind,
to move to the United States toteach, to build a new life in a
land where everything feelsforeign.
Not because you're disloyal,but because something inside of
you whispered hey, it's time.
(02:27):
Today we're unpacking thatmoment, the one where loyalty
collides with growth, thetension between staying rooted
and taking flight.
How do you know when it's timeto move?
Let's talk about it.
My guest today is Andrea WardFernandez.
She is a Spanish immersionfifth and sixth grade teacher.
She was born and raised inSpain and she's lived in Spain
(02:50):
her whole life until last year,when she did move to the United
States.
She's the daughter of anAmerican dad and a Spanish
mother, and she defines herselfas a Jesus lover.
Andrea, thanks so much forbeing here today.
I'm thrilled to have you so.
Welcome to the Start yourComeback podcast.
(03:12):
Hi, toni, thank you so much forhaving me.
I feel absolutely honored.
You heard me talk about Andreain the intro, and so I just kind
of want to jump in because, assomeone who was born and lived
their whole life in Spain andnow, because of your dual
citizenship, you've now opted tocome to the United States to
(03:34):
teach, and so I kind of want youto talk about the process that
you went through, if you will,because that's this week's topic
is how do you know it's time tomove?
The listeners would really loveto hear that.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Okay, All right, absolutely so.
As Tony just mentioned, I wasborn and raised in Spain.
I've lived in Spain my entirelife, but my dad's American, and
so I always, just since I was alittle girl, knew that I wanted
to move to the US when I wasolder.
And I always come back to theUS when I was older and I'd
always come back to the US overthe summers and throughout the
(04:07):
years to visit family andfriends and stuff like that.
But I'd never actuallyexperienced what life was like
in the US, and so I wanted toexperience that.
And that was from a very youngage.
And you know, when I finishedcollege, I graduated college, I
got my undergrad, and I rememberI just had a conversation with
(04:28):
a friend, a good friend of mine,and she asked me she said hey,
what do you, what are you goingto do now that you've graduated?
And I said I would love to moveto the US and, you know, go and
work there and live there.
And she put me in touch withher aunt, who lives here in the
US and she's a teacher.
And so we started talking andwe were in touch for about a
(04:52):
couple years and in that processof trying to decide if it was
time for me to move to the US ornot, if I felt like it was
right or not.
There were just a lot of thingsthat really were not in
alignment, like there were justa lot of questions that should
have been, you know, like, yes,absolutely, and they weren't,
and so I just decided to get mymaster's instead, and so I just
(05:13):
kind of left that, you know, inthe back burner and that that
desire was still there.
But I just understood and tookit from the Lord that it just
wasn't time.
And so, fast forward two years,and I was finishing up my
master's and I got in touch withthis lady again, my friend's
aunt.
She told me that she was a subat the school that Tony and I
(05:35):
now work at, and so I was like,oh, it's a Christian school, and
so I hadn't even thought ofthat.
And I was just thinking youknow, public education the whole
time.
And, and so she told me she waslike I'm a sub here, I don't
know if you would be interestedin applying, you know, for a
position at a Christian school.
And I was like, of course, andyou know, christian schools are
(05:56):
not a thing in Spain, so Ididn't even think about it.
But, and so I, I went onto theschool's website.
I, you know, applied.
They had an open position thatwould be good for me, so I
applied for the job and, longstory short, I ended up, you
know, being offered the job.
And so great, you know, now Ihave a job in the US.
(06:16):
So that's the first step, right?
So now I have a job in the US,which is great.
First step.
And next thing I needed was aplace to live, you know, because
that's pretty important.
And I remember I had aconversation with my parents and
my my mom was like, you know,it's awesome that you got
offered the job, blah, blah,blah.
But she was like I would reallylike to know where you're going
(06:38):
to live before you say yes tothis.
And I only had seven days tothink this through to say yes or
nay, yay or nay.
And and I told my mom and I waslike seven days to think this
through, to say yes or nay, yayor nay.
And I told my mom and I waslike, mom, you do realize I only
have seven days to say yes orno to this job position, right?
And she was like, yeah, soanyway, that was a Wednesday
night, I mean I remember it asclear as day.
Wake up the next day, it wasThursday morning and I'd gotten
(07:01):
a text message from my friend'saunt who you know had told me
that I could live with themduring, you know, whenever I
moved to the US, and so that Imean, that was a huge answer to
prayer.
Obviously.
I think the Lord laughed when Isaid you know, it's only seven
days, and the Lord was likeright, I'm not going to do it in
(07:21):
seven, I'm going to do it inone.
And so things just kind ofaligned.
I mean, I got the job and now Ihave a place to live because,
you know, this family openedtheir doors up to me and said
that I could live with them.
And I mean, okay, mind you, Ididn't have a driver's license
when I moved here because, youknow, I'd never lived here
(07:43):
before.
So it was like I need to havesome.
You know, I have to have a wayto get to work, you know, to and
from work.
But this family were very kind,they were like we can drive you
to and from work.
And then one of my amazingcolleagues I'm going to shout
her out Kelly, because she'sawesome, she is the one who is
helping me out with that as well.
But basically I'm saying all ofthis, it was just like
(08:04):
everything aligned, like it wasjust like everything came
together like that, becauseliterally I got offered the job
and then the next day, you know,I had a place to live, I knew
how I was going to get to andfrom work, at least, you know,
move around the area, and so itwas from nothing to everything
in a couple of days, and so itwas just.
It was just how I knew I waslike to everything in a couple
(08:26):
of days, and so it was just.
It was just how I knew I waslike man, like it's, like the
Lord is just giving me all ofthis on a silver platter.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
So I just I knew I had to say yes.
I couldn't say no, man.
What a story that is.
That's incredible.
Well, everything aligned, soyou knew that it was the right
time to move.
Okay, so let's talk about, ifyou don't mind, answering this
question like tell me what yourparents' initial reaction was,
even after you got the place tolive and someone to drive you to
(08:54):
and from work.
What was their initial reaction?
And then I'm going to ask youwhat your initial reaction was
when you got to the States andstarted in on everything.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Okay, so my parents have always known that I wanted
to move to the US.
It was something that I alwaysvoiced, you know, from a very
early age.
So they always knew that thatwas something that I had in my
mind and in my heart.
And I mean my dad, like I saysomething that I had in my mind
and in my heart.
And I mean my dad, like I sayhe's American, he went to Spain
as a missionary over 30 yearsago and so my I mean he is, you
(09:28):
know, he is adventurous.
He did not know the language,he did not know hardly anyone,
he, I mean he, he just went forit.
And so my dad had already gonethrough that process and of
moving, you know, and and so heknew what it was.
And obviously he was superexcited that.
You know, his kid was like, oh,now I want to move back to
(09:50):
where he's originally from.
And as for my mom, I mean Iknow it was probably hard for
her, but she just always, youknow, I don't know, her reaction
was just like I'm just soexcited for you and so happy for
you because you know this issomething that you've wanted.
And two, I mean this is clearlythe Lord, who is, you know,
guiding you to do this, and soyou know, just knowing that you
(10:14):
are doing what God is callingyou to do, that you know it's
everything.
So yeah, you know it'severything, so yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Man, that's incredible.
Well, so let's just say youmoved here, you got settled in,
you started work, like, becausethere's a lot of there may have
been some fears you weren'treally recognizing, you were
just so adventurous and ready togo.
But maybe when you got here youfelt like I don't know if I can
(10:45):
do this, or there was someanxiety or some, I don't know
that there's big emotionsanytime you move, right, and
especially when you move acrossthe world.
Right, it's different whenyou're just moving from one
apartment to another, you know,in the same city, but when you
move across the world, you leaveyour entire family there and
(11:08):
move in with people you don'tknow and start a new job that
you don't know anyone, and yeah,so can you maybe just talk
about that for a couple ofminutes and just tell us what,
what all was going on in yourhead?
Now let me just say this I knowyou were praying and I know you
believe the Lord moved you hereand all of that, but still
(11:33):
sometimes, yeah, yeah, do youmind sharing that?
Speaker 2 (11:36):
No, absolutely not.
Yeah, you know the Lord callsyou to do stuff and it doesn't
mean the ride is going to beeasy and there's not going to be
any you know, you're not goingto trip up, you know, and you're
not going to have things thatare going to come up that you
didn't expect and that you'rejust going to have to walk
through and work through.
It just means that he's goingto be there to help you walk
through it, right?
But as for my emotions, well,obviously I was ecstatic.
(12:05):
That was just my that, that wasjust my initial, you know,
reaction and emotion.
From the beginning and I think,when I'm, until I moved here, I
, and until I actually, you know, said bye to my parents and
actually started work and beganmy new life here, I was not
aware of how hard it was goingto be.
I feel like one of the mainemotions was just fear and to,
you know, and anxiety, whichanxiety really is, fear is just,
(12:26):
you know, to the umph degree,and so it was just, I felt very
anxious.
I just felt, you know, man, I'm, you know, this is a new job in
a completely different culture,and I mean, granted, my dad did
always try, you know, to raisemy brother and I, you know, in
American culture and teach usand all the things, but there's
(12:48):
only so much you can teach whenyou're not living in the country
, and so it was just fear, and Ithink it was just.
I don't even know how I felt.
I think I felt sad.
I felt like I was lost for atleast a couple of months.
The first couple of monthsbecause you're trying to find
yourself, you're in a completelydifferent dynamic situation,
(13:09):
context, culture, people, andyou don't have your people right
, which is your close family andthe people that you've always
known, right there with you towalk you through it, to help
walk you through it, and so itwas just a very.
It was a.
It was very difficult.
The first couple of months werevery, very difficult because it
was like I just felt like Iwould.
(13:30):
You know, every day I waslearning 50 new things and and I
was just like, oh, and you know, from like schedule to food, to
like all of those things thatyou don't even think about and
that you take for granted.
I had to learn from the get-goand yeah, I mean even with like.
You know, when you meet up withsomeone here in the States, you
(13:51):
meet up with them and you sayit's 5.30 and it's like 5.25,
5.28.
In Spain, you say 5.30 and it'slike, yeah, 5 know 540.
So like even those littledetails like that to me were
just.
Oh, like if they say 530, itmeans 530 on the dot or a little
before that.
So it was just, it was a lotall together well, did you?
Speaker 1 (14:15):
did you go through a period of like maybe doubting
why you came, because maybethere was some loneliness that
was involved in the first coupleof months or three months,
until you found your footing andgot grounded with the people
(14:35):
that you work with and and yourchurch family?
Can you maybe address that justa little bit?
Speaker 2 (14:41):
yeah, of course I don't.
That's a very good question.
I don't think I doubted, likeif I was doing, if I had done
the right thing and moving hereor not.
I don't think there was a doubt, because I just knew that.
I knew that, I knew that it wasGod who had orchestrated all
things and had led me to thisplace.
And even in the small detailswhich I'm not going to get into,
(15:02):
but mean, there were justdetails everywhere that I was
like God, you are just amazingof how he put everything
together.
But you know, I think it wasjust more like I did not, I just
expected it to be.
You know, all happy-go-luckyand no difficulties, and you
know, we're just, yeah, we'rejust going to do this.
(15:22):
And I think it was more so that.
And it was hard.
And I remember one there wasone instance in one moment where
I was like God, if this is howit's going to be, I'm not going
to be able to do this Like I'mgoing to, I'm not going to be
able to survive this.
This is too much Like, this isoverwhelming.
And I just remember the Lord ledme to this verse in James where
it says you know, be joyful intrials.
(15:44):
Just rejoice in trials, right,because the testing of your
faith produces endurance.
And I was like, okay, god, I'mgoing to try and be joyful.
It's not easy, but I'm going totry and just remember, like
you've brought me here and youhave me here on purpose, with a
purpose, for a purpose, and I'mjust going to try and hold on to
(16:04):
that.
And surely enough, you know,you just have to persevere and
it's not easy a lot of the times, but you just have to make that
choice and be like, okay, Ijust got to get through this.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
So wow, wow, wow.
I love this so much.
I just, you know, I've nevermoved.
The furthest I've moved is sixhours away from where I live,
and so I can't imagine what it'slike to move to a country that
(16:35):
you kind of know because yourdad tried to teach you but you
don't really know what it's likenow, 30 years later, kind of
deal, and so I'm just sograteful that you agreed to come
on and share with my listenersabout what it's like and how,
how that felt, and what you,what you've gained.
(16:55):
Can you just maybe leave uswith one final thought?
Like, like, what is the biggestthing that God's taught you in
this last year?
That is like made it all worthit that's another very good
question.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
You have very good questions, tony.
I would say the biggest thingthat I've seen that God has
taught, god has taught me and Iand I'm it's something that I've
known, like you know, in mybrain for forever.
The Lord calls us to trust inhim, and I think that's
something that unless you are ina position where you are left
(17:33):
with no other options but totrust in God, then you're not
going to actually do it, and soI'm grateful, even through that
really hard time, that period oftime you know that was that was
awful, really it was.
It was really hard.
But that period of time, youknow that was that was awful,
really it was, it was reallyhard, but I'm grateful for it
and I wouldn't change a thingbecause it the Lord really
invited me into.
(17:53):
Okay, you know all of theseverses that talk about you know
giving God all your cares andyour anxiety.
Put your trust in him, knowthat he is going to make a way
where there seems to be none,know don't rely on your own
strength, rely on the Lord andit.
It was the perfect opportunityfor me to actually live that out
, and so I would say you knowthat that anxiety has really
(18:15):
almost basically disappeared,because it's like I've learned
to say okay, god, I trust youand I know that you're going to
make a way where there seems tobe none.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
That's a word for all of us to take to heart, for
sure.
Well, thank you again for beinghere.
Thank you so much for agreeingto be on here last minute,
because I literally just askedyou, like three days ago.
Hey, this is the topic for thisweek's episode.
Would you mind jumping in andjust sharing a little bit about
(18:44):
your story?
I'm just super thrilled to beyour friend, your colleague, and
getting to watch you learn todrive a car.
Welcome to the United States,my friend.
So here's what I want you toremember Moving doesn't always
mean you're running away.
Sometimes it means you'refinally running toward what's
(19:05):
next.
You can love what's been andstill let go.
You can honor your past andstill outgrow it, and you can be
loyal and brave.
If today's episode stirredsomething in you, if you're
starting to feel that whisper ofit's time, I want you to give
yourself permission to exploreit.
(19:25):
Don't rush.
Just start listening moreclosely.
Start walking it out, one bravestep at a time.
And if you're navigating atransition, whether it's a move,
a divorce, a new season ofempty nesting or stepping into
something brand new, I'd lovefor you to check out my book
Start your Comeback.
(19:46):
It's your playbook fornavigating life's hard pivots
with purpose, faith and strategy.
It's filled with true stories,coaching, insights and practical
tools to help you rise from themiddle of your mess and come
back stronger than ever.
It will be out for release inOctober.
If you would like to know allthings about the book, please go
(20:07):
to my website, tonythrashcom.
Sign up for all emails and thatwill keep you in the loop, as
always.
Thank you for showing up foryourself and for being part of
this community.
Join me next week as my goodfriend Brittany Tinsley joins us
for the launch of her new bookcoming out September 9th.
(20:32):
I'll see you next time.
Hey, thanks for listening.
I don't take it for grantedthat you're here.
You didn't listen by mistake.
If you want to reach out, youcan DM me on Instagram at Tony
Thrash Until next week.
Remember, there's still timeleft on the clock.
(20:53):
Let's get you off the bench tostart your comeback.
I want to give a special shoutout to Country Club for the
original music.
You can find them on Instagramat Country Club.
Is there a major life transition benching you?
I know you may be asking what'snext?
What's my purpose?
What if?
Because I've asked those too.
Welcome to the Start yourComeback Podcast.
I'm Toni Thrash, a certifiedlife coach, and I want to share
the tools and practical steps tohelp you create a winning game
(00:23):
plan to move into your newadventure.
Hi and welcome back.
(00:57):
You're listening to episode 97of our how to Know when series,
of our how to Know when series.
Over the past few weeks, we'vebeen diving into those pivotal,
life-altering decisions.
You know the kind that makeyour heart race and your mind
spin.
We've talked about how to knowwhen it's time to leave your
marriage, how to know when it'stime to leave your job and, just
(01:19):
last week, how to know whenit's time to retire.
Today, we're turning the pageto another major transition how
to know when it's time to retire.
Today, we're turning the pageto another major transition how
to know when it's time to move,whether that means changing
cities, countries or simplyleaving the comfort of what's
known to pursue something new.
And to kick off thisconversation, let's talk about
(01:42):
loyalty.
Loyalty is one of thosequalities that gets baked into
us early.
It's honorable, it's sacred.
Imagine this You've spent yourwhole life in the country of
Spain, surrounded by familiarplaces, loved ones, traditions,
language, rhythms that feel likesecond nature.
You love your country becauseyou've never known anything else
(02:06):
and then, at 24 years old, youdecide to leave it all behind,
to move to the United States toteach, to build a new life in a
land where everything feelsforeign.
Not because you're disloyal,but because something inside of
you whispered hey, it's time.
(02:27):
Today we're unpacking thatmoment, the one where loyalty
collides with growth, thetension between staying rooted
and taking flight.
How do you know when it's timeto move?
Let's talk about it.
My guest today is Andrea WardFernandez.
She is a Spanish immersionfifth and sixth grade teacher.
She was born and raised inSpain and she's lived in Spain
(02:50):
her whole life until last year,when she did move to the United
States.
She's the daughter of anAmerican dad and a Spanish
mother, and she defines herselfas a Jesus lover.
Andrea, thanks so much forbeing here today.
I'm thrilled to have you so.
Welcome to the Start yourComeback podcast.
(03:12):
Hi, toni, thank you so much forhaving me.
I feel absolutely honored.
You heard me talk about Andreain the intro, and so I just kind
of want to jump in because, assomeone who was born and lived
their whole life in Spain andnow, because of your dual
citizenship, you've now opted tocome to the United States to
(03:34):
teach, and so I kind of want youto talk about the process that
you went through, if you will,because that's this week's topic
is how do you know it's time tomove?
The listeners would really loveto hear that.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Okay, All right, absolutely so.
As Tony just mentioned, I wasborn and raised in Spain.
I've lived in Spain my entirelife, but my dad's American, and
so I always, just since I was alittle girl, knew that I wanted
to move to the US when I wasolder.
And I always come back to theUS when I was older and I'd
always come back to the US overthe summers and throughout the
(04:07):
years to visit family andfriends and stuff like that.
But I'd never actuallyexperienced what life was like
in the US, and so I wanted toexperience that.
And that was from a very youngage.
And you know, when I finishedcollege, I graduated college, I
got my undergrad, and I rememberI just had a conversation with
(04:28):
a friend, a good friend of mine,and she asked me she said hey,
what do you, what are you goingto do now that you've graduated?
And I said I would love to moveto the US and, you know, go and
work there and live there.
And she put me in touch withher aunt, who lives here in the
US and she's a teacher.
And so we started talking andwe were in touch for about a
(04:52):
couple years and in that processof trying to decide if it was
time for me to move to the US ornot, if I felt like it was
right or not.
There were just a lot of thingsthat really were not in
alignment, like there were justa lot of questions that should
have been, you know, like, yes,absolutely, and they weren't,
and so I just decided to get mymaster's instead, and so I just
(05:13):
kind of left that, you know, inthe back burner and that that
desire was still there.
But I just understood and tookit from the Lord that it just
wasn't time.
And so, fast forward two years,and I was finishing up my
master's and I got in touch withthis lady again, my friend's
aunt.
She told me that she was a subat the school that Tony and I
(05:35):
now work at, and so I was like,oh, it's a Christian school, and
so I hadn't even thought ofthat.
And I was just thinking youknow, public education the whole
time.
And, and so she told me she waslike I'm a sub here, I don't
know if you would be interestedin applying, you know, for a
position at a Christian school.
And I was like, of course, andyou know, christian schools are
(05:56):
not a thing in Spain, so Ididn't even think about it.
But, and so I, I went onto theschool's website.
I, you know, applied.
They had an open position thatwould be good for me, so I
applied for the job and, longstory short, I ended up, you
know, being offered the job.
And so great, you know, now Ihave a job in the US.
(06:16):
So that's the first step, right?
So now I have a job in the US,which is great.
First step.
And next thing I needed was aplace to live, you know, because
that's pretty important.
And I remember I had aconversation with my parents and
my my mom was like, you know,it's awesome that you got
offered the job, blah, blah,blah.
But she was like I would reallylike to know where you're going
(06:38):
to live before you say yes tothis.
And I only had seven days tothink this through to say yes or
nay, yay or nay.
And and I told my mom and I waslike seven days to think this
through, to say yes or nay, yayor nay.
And I told my mom and I waslike, mom, you do realize I only
have seven days to say yes orno to this job position, right?
And she was like, yeah, soanyway, that was a Wednesday
night, I mean I remember it asclear as day.
Wake up the next day, it wasThursday morning and I'd gotten
(07:01):
a text message from my friend'saunt who you know had told me
that I could live with themduring, you know, whenever I
moved to the US, and so that Imean, that was a huge answer to
prayer.
Obviously.
I think the Lord laughed when Isaid you know, it's only seven
days, and the Lord was likeright, I'm not going to do it in
(07:21):
seven, I'm going to do it inone.
And so things just kind ofaligned.
I mean, I got the job and now Ihave a place to live because,
you know, this family openedtheir doors up to me and said
that I could live with them.
And I mean, okay, mind you, Ididn't have a driver's license
when I moved here because, youknow, I'd never lived here
(07:43):
before.
So it was like I need to havesome.
You know, I have to have a wayto get to work, you know, to and
from work.
But this family were very kind,they were like we can drive you
to and from work.
And then one of my amazingcolleagues I'm going to shout
her out Kelly, because she'sawesome, she is the one who is
helping me out with that as well.
But basically I'm saying all ofthis, it was just like
(08:04):
everything aligned, like it wasjust like everything came
together like that, becauseliterally I got offered the job
and then the next day, you know,I had a place to live, I knew
how I was going to get to andfrom work, at least, you know,
move around the area, and so itwas from nothing to everything
in a couple of days, and so itwas just.
It was just how I knew I waslike to everything in a couple
(08:26):
of days, and so it was just.
It was just how I knew I waslike man, like it's, like the
Lord is just giving me all ofthis on a silver platter.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
So I just I knew I had to say yes.
I couldn't say no, man.
What a story that is.
That's incredible.
Well, everything aligned, soyou knew that it was the right
time to move.
Okay, so let's talk about, ifyou don't mind, answering this
question like tell me what yourparents' initial reaction was,
even after you got the place tolive and someone to drive you to
(08:54):
and from work.
What was their initial reaction?
And then I'm going to ask youwhat your initial reaction was
when you got to the States andstarted in on everything.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Okay, so my parents have always known that I wanted
to move to the US.
It was something that I alwaysvoiced, you know, from a very
early age.
So they always knew that thatwas something that I had in my
mind and in my heart.
And I mean my dad, like I saysomething that I had in my mind
and in my heart.
And I mean my dad, like I sayhe's American, he went to Spain
as a missionary over 30 yearsago and so my I mean he is, you
(09:28):
know, he is adventurous.
He did not know the language,he did not know hardly anyone,
he, I mean he, he just went forit.
And so my dad had already gonethrough that process and of
moving, you know, and and so heknew what it was.
And obviously he was superexcited that.
You know, his kid was like, oh,now I want to move back to
(09:50):
where he's originally from.
And as for my mom, I mean Iknow it was probably hard for
her, but she just always, youknow, I don't know, her reaction
was just like I'm just soexcited for you and so happy for
you because you know this issomething that you've wanted.
And two, I mean this is clearlythe Lord, who is, you know,
guiding you to do this, and soyou know, just knowing that you
(10:14):
are doing what God is callingyou to do, that you know it's
everything.
So yeah, you know it'severything, so yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Man, that's incredible.
Well, so let's just say youmoved here, you got settled in,
you started work, like, becausethere's a lot of there may have
been some fears you weren'treally recognizing, you were
just so adventurous and ready togo.
But maybe when you got here youfelt like I don't know if I can
(10:45):
do this, or there was someanxiety or some, I don't know
that there's big emotionsanytime you move, right, and
especially when you move acrossthe world.
Right, it's different whenyou're just moving from one
apartment to another, you know,in the same city, but when you
move across the world, you leaveyour entire family there and
(11:08):
move in with people you don'tknow and start a new job that
you don't know anyone, and yeah,so can you maybe just talk
about that for a couple ofminutes and just tell us what,
what all was going on in yourhead?
Now let me just say this I knowyou were praying and I know you
believe the Lord moved you hereand all of that, but still
(11:33):
sometimes, yeah, yeah, do youmind sharing that?
Speaker 2 (11:36):
No, absolutely not.
Yeah, you know the Lord callsyou to do stuff and it doesn't
mean the ride is going to beeasy and there's not going to be
any you know, you're not goingto trip up, you know, and you're
not going to have things thatare going to come up that you
didn't expect and that you'rejust going to have to walk
through and work through.
It just means that he's goingto be there to help you walk
through it, right?
But as for my emotions, well,obviously I was ecstatic.
(12:05):
That was just my that, that wasjust my initial, you know,
reaction and emotion.
From the beginning and I think,when I'm, until I moved here, I
, and until I actually, you know, said bye to my parents and
actually started work and beganmy new life here, I was not
aware of how hard it was goingto be.
I feel like one of the mainemotions was just fear and to,
you know, and anxiety, whichanxiety really is, fear is just,
(12:26):
you know, to the umph degree,and so it was just, I felt very
anxious.
I just felt, you know, man, I'm, you know, this is a new job in
a completely different culture,and I mean, granted, my dad did
always try, you know, to raisemy brother and I, you know, in
American culture and teach usand all the things, but there's
(12:48):
only so much you can teach whenyou're not living in the country
, and so it was just fear, and Ithink it was just.
I don't even know how I felt.
I think I felt sad.
I felt like I was lost for atleast a couple of months.
The first couple of monthsbecause you're trying to find
yourself, you're in a completelydifferent dynamic situation,
(13:09):
context, culture, people, andyou don't have your people right
, which is your close family andthe people that you've always
known, right there with you towalk you through it, to help
walk you through it, and so itwas just a very.
It was a.
It was very difficult.
The first couple of months werevery, very difficult because it
was like I just felt like Iwould.
(13:30):
You know, every day I waslearning 50 new things and and I
was just like, oh, and you know, from like schedule to food, to
like all of those things thatyou don't even think about and
that you take for granted.
I had to learn from the get-goand yeah, I mean even with like.
You know, when you meet up withsomeone here in the States, you
(13:51):
meet up with them and you sayit's 5.30 and it's like 5.25,
5.28.
In Spain, you say 5.30 and it'slike, yeah, 5 know 540.
So like even those littledetails like that to me were
just.
Oh, like if they say 530, itmeans 530 on the dot or a little
before that.
So it was just, it was a lotall together well, did you?
Speaker 1 (14:15):
did you go through a period of like maybe doubting
why you came, because maybethere was some loneliness that
was involved in the first coupleof months or three months,
until you found your footing andgot grounded with the people
(14:35):
that you work with and and yourchurch family?
Can you maybe address that justa little bit?
Speaker 2 (14:41):
yeah, of course I don't.
That's a very good question.
I don't think I doubted, likeif I was doing, if I had done
the right thing and moving hereor not.
I don't think there was a doubt, because I just knew that.
I knew that, I knew that it wasGod who had orchestrated all
things and had led me to thisplace.
And even in the small detailswhich I'm not going to get into,
(15:02):
but mean, there were justdetails everywhere that I was
like God, you are just amazingof how he put everything
together.
But you know, I think it wasjust more like I did not, I just
expected it to be.
You know, all happy-go-luckyand no difficulties, and you
know, we're just, yeah, we'rejust going to do this.
(15:22):
And I think it was more so that.
And it was hard.
And I remember one there wasone instance in one moment where
I was like God, if this is howit's going to be, I'm not going
to be able to do this Like I'mgoing to, I'm not going to be
able to survive this.
This is too much Like, this isoverwhelming.
And I just remember the Lord ledme to this verse in James where
it says you know, be joyful intrials.
(15:44):
Just rejoice in trials, right,because the testing of your
faith produces endurance.
And I was like, okay, god, I'mgoing to try and be joyful.
It's not easy, but I'm going totry and just remember, like
you've brought me here and youhave me here on purpose, with a
purpose, for a purpose, and I'mjust going to try and hold on to
(16:04):
that.
And surely enough, you know,you just have to persevere and
it's not easy a lot of the times, but you just have to make that
choice and be like, okay, Ijust got to get through this.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
So wow, wow, wow.
I love this so much.
I just, you know, I've nevermoved.
The furthest I've moved is sixhours away from where I live,
and so I can't imagine what it'slike to move to a country that
(16:35):
you kind of know because yourdad tried to teach you but you
don't really know what it's likenow, 30 years later, kind of
deal, and so I'm just sograteful that you agreed to come
on and share with my listenersabout what it's like and how,
how that felt, and what you,what you've gained.
(16:55):
Can you just maybe leave uswith one final thought?
Like, like, what is the biggestthing that God's taught you in
this last year?
That is like made it all worthit that's another very good
question.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
You have very good questions, tony.
I would say the biggest thingthat I've seen that God has
taught, god has taught me and Iand I'm it's something that I've
known, like you know, in mybrain for forever.
The Lord calls us to trust inhim, and I think that's
something that unless you are ina position where you are left
(17:33):
with no other options but totrust in God, then you're not
going to actually do it, and soI'm grateful, even through that
really hard time, that period oftime you know that was that was
awful, really it was.
It was really hard.
But that period of time, youknow that was that was awful,
really it was, it was reallyhard, but I'm grateful for it
and I wouldn't change a thingbecause it the Lord really
invited me into.
(17:53):
Okay, you know all of theseverses that talk about you know
giving God all your cares andyour anxiety.
Put your trust in him, knowthat he is going to make a way
where there seems to be none,know don't rely on your own
strength, rely on the Lord andit.
It was the perfect opportunityfor me to actually live that out
, and so I would say you knowthat that anxiety has really
(18:15):
almost basically disappeared,because it's like I've learned
to say okay, god, I trust youand I know that you're going to
make a way where there seems tobe none.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
That's a word for all of us to take to heart, for
sure.
Well, thank you again for beinghere.
Thank you so much for agreeingto be on here last minute,
because I literally just askedyou, like three days ago.
Hey, this is the topic for thisweek's episode.
Would you mind jumping in andjust sharing a little bit about
(18:44):
your story?
I'm just super thrilled to beyour friend, your colleague, and
getting to watch you learn todrive a car.
Welcome to the United States,my friend.
So here's what I want you toremember Moving doesn't always
mean you're running away.
Sometimes it means you'refinally running toward what's
(19:05):
next.
You can love what's been andstill let go.
You can honor your past andstill outgrow it, and you can be
loyal and brave.
If today's episode stirredsomething in you, if you're
starting to feel that whisper ofit's time, I want you to give
yourself permission to exploreit.
(19:25):
Don't rush.
Just start listening moreclosely.
Start walking it out, one bravestep at a time.
And if you're navigating atransition, whether it's a move,
a divorce, a new season ofempty nesting or stepping into
something brand new, I'd lovefor you to check out my book
Start your Comeback.
(19:46):
It's your playbook fornavigating life's hard pivots
with purpose, faith and strategy.
It's filled with true stories,coaching, insights and practical
tools to help you rise from themiddle of your mess and come
back stronger than ever.
It will be out for release inOctober.
If you would like to know allthings about the book, please go
(20:07):
to my website, tonythrashcom.
Sign up for all emails and thatwill keep you in the loop, as
always.
Thank you for showing up foryourself and for being part of
this community.
Join me next week as my goodfriend Brittany Tinsley joins us
for the launch of her new bookcoming out September 9th.
(20:32):
I'll see you next time.
Hey, thanks for listening.
I don't take it for grantedthat you're here.
You didn't listen by mistake.
If you want to reach out, youcan DM me on Instagram at Tony
Thrash Until next week.
Remember, there's still timeleft on the clock.
(20:53):
Let's get you off the bench tostart your comeback.
I want to give a special shoutout to Country Club for the
original music.
You can find them on Instagramat Country Club.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.