Royal Adventures

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that my household had been receiving the mail of the Prince of the Royal Dutch Family! Well, after we had received 10 items (even a package from the Japanese Embassy), we decided that no the prince was not going to come and get it and that we had to get it all back to him. So Joelle (a roommate) and I went to the Dutch Embassy in Brussels explaining "we have the mail of your prince." It was there that they told us that he used to live at our address! So we asked for a forwarding address, and all they gave us was the address of the embassy. :( Regardless, it was a "royal adventure."

Another adventure that I am embarking on is CSM (the "Reach the U" of Europe), August 1st - 12th. There are 11 students from Belgium going for leadership training, to be joined by another 100 students around Europe. I am so excited to see what God will do with these students lives as they further surrender themselves to Him! Pray with me that this conference will not only encourage them to approach closer to God, but also that they may be further envisioned to reach their campus' and their nations.

Fireworks and Flowers

July 21st was Belgian's National holiday or "independence-type day." IT was a lot of fun the whole city was vibrant and ran rampant with activities! From little side vendors to traditional Belgian dancing. And in the evening they celebrated with a spectacular display of fireworks! The whole day seemed to "scream" red, yellow and black.

Then, on the 23rd, I have been wanting to bless my roommates with some flowers (as well as have some in my own room), so I went down to the corner open market to see what they had. I had six euros with me and I considered flowers a very good investment. So I asked what I would be able to purchase with it. (They were starting to close up and the weekend market was already over.) They showed me a huge beautiful bouquet and said I could take that, then they proceeded to load me with flowers, a dozen cream roses, yellow daisies, hydrangea, and a "bushel" of queen ann's lace, all for free. By the time that I had finished my six euro shopping experience, I had two VERY big arm loads which equated to more flowers than I have ever had before!

So now my roommates and I can all enjoy them. We have spent good quality time together since we all started living together, we have watched some fun movies, we saw the fireworks, and we have spent time in prayer for one another. It has been great!

Little wonders

I love little wonders in the world that make us smile. Right after my parents left, I boarded a bus and headed out to see some very good friends of mine for three days in London. Michelle and Nigel just had their first baby Elliot in November and I haven't seen them for 3 years so it was great to catch up. Michelle and I laughed so hard that I had tears running down my face many times. And every time that little baby Elliot saw me, he had the HUGEST smile on his face and just started giggling. Truly the laughter of children is a great and wonderful sound.

Another little wonder is the strange mail that we have recently been receiving at our house. It is addressed to Prince and Princess van Nano. At first I thought it was just someone calling someone else and endearing name, but then we googled it and saw that the names were really the royal Dutch family prince and princess!! So apparently we have royalty living under our rough and not even knowing it! I wouldn't mind meeting them though... I have no idea how they got our address, but it's from four different people, even the Japanese embassy!

As I drink my glass of water to refresh me after this hot day I say "cheers" to little wonders. It's those "bits" in life which become memorable.

Leaving on a jet plane

Since Steve Turley, who I came here to assist left in April, his wife Deanne and their kids followed on June 27th. I shall miss living with them, but we were able to have some good goodbye time before they left. I am now living with three other girls who go to SFC with me. With the depart of Deanne, this now means, that as they were (and officially are) the leaders of Students For Christ, the leadership of overseeing the group has been passed off to myself and a former student Raymond. This will be new but I know that with your prayers it will go well. I am very excited about what God has in store for this upcomming year, which will have a big emphasis on sharing the love of God with others, something that I also have a heart for.

Back on the saddle again

Back on board! It's been a long time since my last entry, a big reason for that is that I was gone and not at the computer. On the 17th of June, with tear-filled eyes of joy, I met my parents at the airport in Brussels. From there I was able to show them Brussels as well as my favorite spots in Belgium. It was so good to show them my life here, where I live, the campus, my favorite things, ect. Then Bright and early on the 21st we left for our little adventure. My parents decided that SINCE they were in Europe they would take me on a little trip. We went to Italy and then up through Switzerland seeing good friends. The picture above is all of us in Brussels. It was a lot of fun, but it was not without uplanned adventures.

First off the heat was definitely something that we would have liked to change. It was about 110 F (42 C) It was roasting, and of course it was at 3p that we had to walk across the cities with our suitcases behind us in plain heat. A lot of times it felt like we were just going from shady area to shady area. Another big adventure was that we enjoyed having a free non-structured trip by not planning every last detail, including to not planning our hotels. In Europe it is easy to go to information and then they tell you where an available room is with what you asked. When we arrived in Basel, Switzerland, the tourist office was closed and we didn't know that it was a Basel-holiday that a vast amount of other Swiss residents went to. Every hotel we checked said they were full until we found this decent looking non-rated hotel and went in. We didn't realize until after we got the rooms that they were "fantasy rooms." What I mean by that is that in my parents room the entire interior was painted like a royal purple dessert tent looking out onto the Sahara with a wall of mirrors on one side, and in my tent I was in an old stone building looking out onto the desert, of course with the wall of mirrors. It was SOOOOOOO ODD, that is the only way I can describe it. I never want to stay anywhere as odd as that again.

And our last adventure was having our suitcases lost as we flew back into Brussels from Zurich. It was not until the 10th that I was able to pick them up, and by then, my parents had already left. I loved my time with them and it was hard to see them go, but I am so fortunate that we were able to form as many new memories as we did on the trip. :)

Lovin Summer

To the tune of Grease's "Summer Lovin"

Sunny weather, had me a blast...
Sunny weather, happened so fast...

I went out, just to see
Got a tan, cute as can be

Rainy days driftin' away, to uh-oh those sunny days
Uh Well-a well-a well-a huh

Do you want me to tell you more? The weather here in Brussels has been in the 80s, it has been so great! But since I've gotten used to our overcast rainy days, it feels so much hotter, but regardless, it'll be great summer weather for my parents to see the Belgian sun, since it rarely shows it's head. I am so excited, they come this Saturday at 7:30am, and I have so much in mind to show them! Hopefully the weather will continue to stay sunny.

Quick Update & Prayer Request

Hey y'all, I'd like to ask for you to pray for me. I found out yesterday that my Grandma has died. She has been sick for a long time now, so I am glad that she is no longer suffering, yet that doesn't always mean life is joyful for all she left behind. I am clinging on to God as my refuge right now. One thing I've realized, is that when we seek refuge, that doesn't mean that the storm goes away, it is still there, yet that I have refuge from the storm. Thank you for your prayers (for myself and for my family).