Adventure One: Amsterdam

After a long twelve hour bus ride, and two hour ferry boat ride, I, along with about 30 other American students, arrived in Amsterdam around 11:00 a.m. last Friday morning! Much to my surprise, the city was extremely pretty. Canals, lined with boats, run through the city, while the buildings that line the streets look old and very "Dutch-esqe." Unfortunately, the citizens of Amsterdam have failed in keeping some of the canals very clean, but for the most part, I thought the city was beautiful.

We spent the first day doing a lot of walking, but it was so nice to see the city by foot and be able to pop into some of the local stores and such. We began the second day with a tour of the Anne Frank House/museum ..... which was humbling to say the least. I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank in middle school, but to actually see it, walk it, and experience it, was incredible. To put your self in her position, to stand in the confined rooms with no windows, to remain quiet throughout the small house, and imagine spending days and days in that environment really makes you grateful for the life God has blessed you with. At the end of the tour, there is a picture of Anne's father, Otto, standing in one of the rooms; it was taken on his first trip back to the House since he and his family had been discovered and taken. Otto lost his entire family; he was the only survivor, and his face in this picture says it all. You can see pain and heart-break all in this one man's face as he looks over the last place he held his loved ones. You were also able to watch a video of Otto reminiscing about Anne and her diary. He describes how Anne never talked about her feelings around others, and how he learned more about her thoughts from reading her diary years later than he did in those years he spent with her in person. He ends by saying that even in having a close relationship, "sometimes you never truly know your own children." It broke my heart; you could see the regret he felt in never really knowing his daughter's thoughts and feelings about life. All I wanted in that moment was to tell my loved ones, especially my parents, how much I loved them, and how blessed and truly grateful I am to have them in my life. We are all blessed with the time and ability to show our loved ones how much we care for them, are thankful for them, and love them. Time and ability are two things that some people don't have anymore. Being away from the loved ones in my life has made that fact even clearer, so since I have the time and ability .... I will say it now: I love you all and am so thankful for the role each and everyone of you have in my life. Ephesians 1:15, "I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers."

We spent the rest of the day exploring a local market filled with jewelry, hand-knit gloves, scarves, and hats, jams, candles, breads, meats, vegetables, and pastries. It was so great. We were able to experience what the locals experience, except for all our cameras, maps, travel backpacks, and water bottles!

Also in my weekend in Amsterdam, I toured the Royal Palace, tasted some delicious food and chocolate ( we stopped at a legit Chocolate Factory in Belgium ), saw some art work, and had a fun time with friends! I know everyone is wondering, and yes .... Amsterdam is a different world. Most everything is legal, including drugs and prostitution. I knew that beforehand, but it was still a shock. For the most part, the locals I talked to were very nice. However at several stores, the clerk would ask "Are you just visiting Amsterdam?" And immediately after we replied yes, many of their responses were questions such as "Ohhhh. Going to smoke lots of weed eh??" I honestly can't count how many times I was asked that. It just makes you sad for them .... I am glad I have better things to experience and focus on. It is moments like this that make me yearn for more churches to do missions in Europe. Europe is not like places such as South America who might have never heard The Word of God; unfortunately, Europe has heard it, but they are so extremely ignorant to it. Hebrews 2:2-3, "For if the message spoken by the angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?" I saw many beautiful churches scattered throughout Amsterdam, but as far as how well they are at bringing people in and spreading the Gospel, I'm not sure; I have no doubt that a city like Amsterdam would be a very difficult place to do that. There are so many people in Europe that need someone to share the Word with them, whether they have heard it already or not. So, we shouldn't stop - Keep telling them. "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:15-16

I learned so much from my weekend in Amsterdam, and I am so glad I got experience it! It was a great start to my adventures abroad, and I look forward to the many adventures I will experience in the coming weeks, and the things God will teach me through them!