Reykjavik airport: A hidden wonder

What can I say about a place where I spent 17 hours? Well I didn't leave the airport so my findings may be quite biased. I will still share.

When I arrived, I decided to find a nice to place to sleep so if I did wanted to leave the airport, I would have so energy to do so. I found a spot next to a spanish-speaking couple and snuggled into my warm blanket and used my macbook for a pillow, it worked quite nicely. I played some tunes and drifted off to sleep. When I go to the place between sleep and dreaming, some guy paid by the airport to be mean, woke me up. He said I wasn't allowed to sleep on the ground. Disappointed and still tired, I went to find a seat so that I could sleep. If we couldn't sleep on the ground, then I assumed we could sleep on the seats. I found a spot and propped up my feet on my suitcase, it was warmer than the floor. Soon again I drifted off into sleep land with the help of some smooth music. Again he came and woke me up. What was his deal!!!??? I wasn't sleeping on the floor that time. I soon discovered we were not allowed to sleep at all. We were trapped in the airport and they didn't want us to sleep. What were we supposed to do?

I talked to my dad a little on skype and he told me I could punch in his good eye, a family expression I assume most people don't understand. Either way I wanted vengeance. I don't function well without sleep, yet I tried to make the best of my surroundings. I started talking to the these guys who came and sat by me. They were friendly italians full of energy. Maximo had warm, kind eyes and a nice smile; his friend Roberto looked like Ben Stiller and he was funny (What are the odds?); and the last guy who's name I forget was nice without any sort of distinguishing features. Maximo played my guitar for while and sang, it was awesome. I played some but felt less-talented and shy. Communication was not so easy because he english wasn't so great but I managed to learn a little about them. They were good friends on vacation for 10 days. They arrived around 2am, and they were trying to decided about getting a rental car. Then they would explore Iceland. He told me that it was an adventure which meant they didn't plan much in advanced. It was a shame that I was only passing through because they seemed like a fun bunch of guys. Though it was probably for the best considering Roberto offered his friend Maximo to me. I felt at one moment that the guitar playing seemed more like a serenade.

I talked to another guy named Matt from Colorado. He was nice as well and sitting next to me when I first met the italians. He had these dreamy blue eyes. He decided to go into town and bravely bare the cold and wet climate. I wasn't in Iceland to pick up guys or to be picked-up but I was entertained for a while and shockingly not cranky. I don't want to speak too soon but I can say that my morning monster could be getting less scarier.

All I can say is I haven't slept much and I am happily typing this entry. I'm not too tired. I feel really hopeful for the next phase of my life. My optimism keeps me from feeling sad that I left my home for the moment. I'm putting my energy towards seeking God's plan for my life and desiring to be sensitive to hear the plans He has for me.

My inspiration for today comes from Psalms 42:6,12, it repeats the same verse twice. “Why am I so sad? Why am I troubled? I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise him, my savior and my God.” What else could we possibly need?

L'été à Nantes/Summer in Nantes

Même si je suis sans travail, sans de l'argent, je trouve toujours une activité de m'occuper. C'est vraiment facile! Il faut avoir une imagination et l'energie. Je prends les vacances c'est vraiment les vacances et pas une petit pose de mon travail. C'est une bénédiction de Dieu d'avoir ce privilège ce que je n'avais jamais eu. Chaque jour je remerciais mon Dieu parce que je ne les merite pas...

Even though I am job-less and penni-less, I always find something to do. It's really easy! All you need is an imagination and the energy. I am taking a vacation, a real vacation and not a little time off from work. It's a blessing from God to have this honor that I never had before. Everyday I thank God because I don't deserve it...

Good photos and fun times. I even inserted a video too.

Summer Highlights in Nantes

Due to the fact that the french get 5 weeks of holidays per year, it's my task to adapt to the system as part of my cultural studies.
I'm loving life, living simply and feeling very spoiled... Bonnes Vacances!

Highlights: June & July

• House sitting near the centre with Shagate le chat
• Meeting missionaries, mostly americans
• Picnics near the chateau and near the Loire river
• Bikes rides, fixing my bike, then more bike rides
• Long walks of reflection and prayer
• More reflection, more prayer
• Reading
• Playing guitar and singing
• A little dancing
• Staying cool on hot days
• Encouraging conversations
• Making new friends
• Seeing people leave, sniff sniff...

More to come...

 

 

Time Goes Fast

I have this perpetual feeling that time is going by so quickly. There is no way to stop it. I am in a car driving and I cannot stop. Time won't stop itself and I can do nothing to stop it.

This may even clarify the dream I had the other day. I was driving my dad's car with my sister, Tiffany. We were driving down a street with trees on both sides. The car suddenly started to accelerate and I panicked. There was something ahead that I could potentially crash into so I stepped in the brakes. They didn't work and I had to make a quick decision. I remember telling my sister I would have to use the emergency brake. I grabbed it with my right hand and pulled up. The result was stunning. The top detached from the bottom leaving the wheels and seats while the rest flew off. We were still safe and the car but it was wrecked. I freaked out because I would have to pay for it. Then my sister decided to say something. She said "Tell them you found it like this already."

Sometimes we start things that we cannot stop, this it could be a good thing.

How to obtain a visa

How a person may obtain permission to live in France, and most other western European countries:

1. Student visa: This is the easiest way to have a visa. You choose to study and apply to any school you like. Success rate: High
2. Work visa: This is the most difficult way to have a visa. You must be able to preform a job no  french person can do, meaning you have to be very specialized. Success rate: Low
3. Marriage visa: This is an ideal way for some people to have a visa, yet not so easy. Finding someone to marry is key, being committed for the rest of your life would be another challenge all together. Success rate: Uncertain

My recommendations:

All options are possible but none are ideal. Finding a place to live and having to battle with permission to stay is tiring and frustrating. I recommend having a concrete plan and sticking to it. If it doesn't work, then it's not meant to be, therefore return to your country and try another method. In all circumstances, enjoy your stay to the fullest and don't let the administrative stuff get you down. Respect the rules as much as possible.

Worshipping and enjoying life in Nantes

Wondering what lies next...

True Beauty

God is amazing!

Being a believer in Christ is not a life meant to be lived on our own. Seeing people who have faith in God and make bold declarations in the name of Jesus is more than just encouraging, it's beautiful to see. Day to day, there are so many difficulties to face, it's even harder to face them alone. We need others around to be a support and hold us up when we no longer have the strength. God places the lonely in family (Psalm 68:6). It's a truth not only in the bible but also for life in general. I am baffled at this truth. My life is far more exceptional when I am connected with other believers, apart from him I can do nothing, I am nothing.

Today I was impacted by the beauty of two young people's faith. Their commitment to God and choice to follow Christ encouraged me so much. They confirmed in my heart that I made the right choice and I don't want to ever go back to a life without Christ.

Thank you, Emmanuel and Tabita

Combats le bon combat de la foi; saisis la vie éternelle, car Dieu t'a appelé à la connaître quand tu as prononcé ta belle déclaration de foi en présence de nombreux témoins. 1 Timothée 6:12

Que belle prière avec Jacob, Emmanuel, Tabita, Thomas, William (What a beautiful prayer)

Les témoins (the witnesses)

Oh quel joie! (What a joy!)

Update letter

I recently wrote a friend an update letter. It gave me a moment to reflect on my life more recently so I want to share. No worries more to come!

I am still going strong here in Nantes, it's my home. I may have chosen to come here randomly but there is nothing random with God. He was the one who brought me here and it's clear that this is where he wants me to stay for the moment. I am engaged in so many projects here that I feel like it's giving me a firm foot on the ground. I have moved around so much in the last 7 years and it's nice to feel planted. I see that there is a need for my gifts and I am finding more ways to use them. In my church, I get to serve using my social skills and artistic talents. I am apart of the GBU (Groupe biblique universitaire), which a student bible study I snuck into. I am praying and hoping that I can host a GBU bible study in home next semester. It's all in God's hand's because I don't have place, I am staying with a friend. I just have so many desires to serve and open my home to students. I am also on a team that organizes youth nights every couple months. It's called PULSE (Prière Unité Louange Service Édification) or (Prayer Unity Worship Service Edification). Our vision is basically to do all these five acts in our walk in Christ and encourage the youth in their faith. God is sneaky because he is making me a missionary in my local church and to students without me even realizing it. ;) I love it! What's really amazing is I love what I am doing and I am using my gifts. So for me this is all very natural. God is so faithful. I just sent in my paperwork for my long-stay visa. I am praying that it will be accepted and I won't have to get extensions anymore. Not having a visa and only extensions makes me feel not-quite-settled. I know this is where I should be so I have faith that God will finalize all the details.

I would like to add this image as a dedication to my friend Anne. You will be truly missed. Love you!

Holly, Anne, Ji, me

Always faithful

A new year is quickly speeding by. I am so thankful that I am still in Nantes, I have so much to be thankful for. This week has been tough because I am sick but I still try to count my blessings. I have a place to live, food to eat, great friends and more importantly I have a faith that doesn't disappoint. I know that it's sounds crazy but everyday I face difficult challenges. It's only by the grace of God that I can wake up each day and fight against hopelessness and discouragement. There is a force inside me that is so much stronger than anything I could imagine.

So what do I do with this gift? Well, I thank God daily. All my struggles are for a reason and I know that they push me towards the greater things yet to come. Whether you are a believer or not, this verse still remains true: the best is yet to come.

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead" Philippians 3:13

Another quote I would love to share is one from a friend. I believe he has the same vision for his life. It just keeps getting better and better...

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." C.S. Lewis
Don't look back, keep going...

Pondering mustache

Friends!

Good food

A place to lie down