It is 10:53 in Fort Worth, Texas
It has been a long time since I posted, So I'll split my time up into four sections for y'all.
1) 2nd session at Camp Ozark
2) 3rd session at Camp Ozark
3) Brief intermission in Texas
4) mission trip to Guatemala
So, 2nd session at camp was the BOMB. I was a counselor for 15 year old guys (one of whom some of us met randomly at A-Fran's house right as we were leaving to go skiing, he was being tudored by Mrs. Francis). It was just like making 10 new friends, it was really easy. We basically just played hacky sack all the time and had raves in the cabin. AWESOME.
3rd session at camp... was a bomb. Not so awesome. I had some tough kids that were just mean to each other. It's two weeks of my life I would like to forget, as bad as that sounds. Highlight of the session- seeing John Alford and recieving a Drogba jersey that he bought for me while he was in Spain.
Now to the interesting part. The brief intermission in Texas. I was home from the July 13th to July 19th. I basically just hung out with Rob and Kelly. It was really just us (and Katie but she lives real far). The highlight of the break was when Kelly and Katie and Michelle came out to Rob's house to shoot with us. They got to shoot an SKS Russian Assault Rifle, an AR-15 assault rifle, a 9mm Glock, a .308 Sniper Rifle, a .223 Rifle, and a 12-guage shotgun. It was fun to finally show them what we do all the time. Shooting at Rob's house is to us as watching youtube is to Master Wayne. We just do it when we get bored. We also got to show the girls Rob's beast of a truck that is dangerously close to being done, and will display the RAW power inside in the next few weeks here. Anyway, It was just great being back in Texas. Arkansas got kind of old, like real old, like fast. But on July 19th I left the Great State again to head to Guatemala.
I went with my church from Fort Worth as a leader on the high school mission trip to Guatemala. It is really the only thing I have to compete with all of y'alls "studying abroad" and what not. It really was an amazing experience. We landed in Guatemala City, then traveled to Antigua, then Panajachel, then Santiago Atitlan. It was in Santiago Atitlan where we did our mission work. We worked for four days building houses for widows, and working on a christian camp that is being built by our sister church down there. It was really cool to be able to finally use that Spanish that I have been learning for oh so long. I talked soccer and construction with one of the elders of the church we were working with, it was great. Highlight of the trip was a USA vs. Guatemala soccer game during which yours truly buried a goal from about 15 meters (A-Fran, you would have been proud). The people there were great and the Holy Spirit was very active and God definitely is making his mark on the town of Santiago Atitlan. In all its glory though, Guatemala sure as hell wasn't Texas, and when asked what my favorite part of the trip was, I would say that seeing the Texas Coastline as we passed over it on the airplane trip home.
That is basically my summer in a nutshell. I didn't really see the cool places that a ton of y'all did... I didn't hike the mountains of Spain, or drink a beer in Germany, or have wine in Milan, or tour Manchester United's stadium. But I think I'll just agree with Alex and say that frankly I don't ever miss anything much except you guys and Texas. I can't wait to see everyone again. The historic district of College Station is about to get rocked... until then
Screw them, we're from Texas
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The Hills are Alive with... Rain
Dear Dear Friends (bah - dit - tuh - dum - duh ["hotel song" anyone?]),
I arrived in Vienna today on from Salzburg, and, yes, the hills are still there. In fact, I had a series of "Sound of Music" songs stuck in my head for the two days I was there.
So I woke up after my first night to a rainy day. It rained until noon, and then there was a break. Naturally, my optimism led me to believe it would be a good day for a three hour hike up the Unterberg past the ice caves to a plain on top where I could behold the hills in all their beauty. Well the bus ride to the bottom of the mountain went fine, and the first hour hiking was actually pretty enjoyable, but optimism cannot tame mother nature. Luckily, as the downpour began, I noticed that all the trees had wet trunks except for one strong evergreen tree down the way. I figured that the dry tree would be my best bet, I totally felt like Bear Grylls because I stayed dry, and made it down the mountain alive. I could have also felt like Survivorman if I wanted to, but I would have had to stay in the rain and build a shelter and then try and fish but not catch anything.
On my way back to town I stopped to see Schloss Hellbrunn, where part of the legendary "Sound of Music" was filmed. I got lost in a little town at first, and then decided I didn't mind being lost because the town of Anif was so pristine in the mountain mist - so I wandered - and after an hour or two happened upon the castle.
Anyways, not alot happened in Salzburg, but I wanted to let you all know that you should visit it, especially if it is sunny - i'll certainly come back some day.
Twenty, going on Twenty-One,
Thomas
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
An Open Letter
It's 11:45 P.M., Tallahassee time.
Dear Europe,
Let me be frank.
I don't miss you.
Sure, you make a mean croissant, and really, I was fond of your liter-and-a-half-big-mamba-jahamba-bottled-water, but...I don't miss you. It's true that, during my time living abroad, I enjoyed a few glasses of wine and two espressos each and every day. It's also true that I spent four weeks in Barcelona hitting up Buenas Migas and uncorking uncorkables atop monumentos nacionales. It's, furthermore, true that my only class-related responsibilities were taking photos of old people and charming alleyways, but... I don't really miss you.
You've got a point when you mention my going to Venice, and scoring a genuinely Italian bed and breakfast with Max & Cody. Your argument continues to be strong when you remind me of the gnocchi we ate there and of the breakfasts we lingered over each morning, but...I don't miss you.
I am nearly convinced of the tiniest twinge of longing when you recount my week in Paris, France, where the wildly entertaining Andrew Threlkeld and I had the most fabulous quiche of Julia Child's afterlife, and, yes, I do remember the uncannily-named "Old Man Tea" we enjoyed. It's true that I bought four kinds of coffee there, and it's also true that a French McActualperson recommended a White Bordeaux for a picnic we bought at an open air market, and it's even truer that I got to eat at Chez Gladine twice, Katherine...
But, gosh, I just don't miss you.
Amor/Amore/Aimer
-A.
Well, When I lived in London..
11.38am. Somewhere between London and Manchester, UK.
Knowing that you all feast upon my every word, I must first apologize for my lack of posting. I hope that you can understand that I have been very busy living experiences as opposed to writing about them all the time. I'm sure we will all have plenty of time to recount our favorite "Well, when I lived in [London | Barcelona | Florence | Flint]..." stories. That's not ever going to get old. (I wish there was some sort of sarcastic font I could use.) Anyway, when I lived in London, it was amazing.
Right now I am traveling from London to Manchester by way of a Virgin Rail train. Usually, I have lecture everday for three hours (from 2-5) and class in the mornings for and hour (11-12). As you might guess, this leaves very little time for tomfoolery during the day, and indeed excludes the option of a long weekend thanks to Friday class until 5. We did recieve a warning on the day of our orientation that this was not, by any means, a holiday. Great! But I decided that since I haven't yet missed a class, I deserved at least one, especially to tour Old Trafford: The Theatre of Dreams.
I really have learned a lot in my class (Judgement and Decision Making for Managers) but have learned as much or more in the pubs. The pubs are a huge part of their culture and I wish it was the same back home. Here are some things that i have been taught by my friends from around the world.
Americans love marshmallows.
We love PB&J.
We dress poorly.
We don't know how to dance properly.
We are loud.
Many Europeans pay more attention to our politics than theirs.
George Bush is a Methodist (They really pay attention.)
We are narrow minded.
Obama is everyone's favorite.
Everyone in France knows about Paris, Texas.
Most people love Texas.
Texans often say, "Hey y'all why don't you come to my ranch and eat beef jerky."
Also, "Later Alligator."
Those are just a few of the many things the Europeans have told me about the US and Texas. It's fun to hear what they think about us, although its not usually very good, but perhaps very true. The pubs generally lend themselves to great conversations, I don't know what it is about them but that's how it seems to work. For example, I was at the pub the other night with Dixie Houser, Abbey Konz (who were both traveling through), and some of my friends from the LSE. Two of the people there were Alexander from Spain, literally one of the coolest people that I know, and his equally cool girlfriend Anna, from Canada. They met in Paris while they were studying two years ago and now both live in Spain, no big deal. We were talking about her thesis on religion and propaganda in politics when the conversation turned to each of our religious beliefs. Both of them, being terribly smart, were asking very deep questions and were genuinely interested because they had never really heard it before. The level of questions was that of Predestination vs Freewill and the Perseverance of the Saints. They kept saying things like "You don't have to talk about it, if we are offending you by asking please let us know." Very cool. They just kept asking and asking and we got to tell them all about Christianity and the whole Gospel story over a beer (don't tell Grandma.) The funniest part was when they asked if we believed in abstinence and we said yes, Alex put his hands up and said "Wait wait wait, you.. (pointing at me) you believe in this?" I had to laugh while saying "I do indeed." It was a really fun conversation and they seemed genuinely interested. Amazing how God works.
Although class takes a lot of my time, I've managed to still have fun. I've seen all the touristy things, I've played soccer in Hyde Park, I've gone shopping, I've gone to Hillsong Church London, and I've hung out a lot with my friends. Sunday, while taking a stroll through Hyde Park I happened upon Speaker's Corner, an area of the park where people stand up on small ladders, or hang from lampposts (pictured) to rant and rave. (They stand off the ground so they can talk about the Queen. If they speak poorly of the Queen while on British soil, they can be arrested.) It's a really cool place.
I walked up on the first speaker (the one pictured) screaming in a Middle Eastern language, turns out he was screaming about politics in the Middle East. I walked about to the back to take some cool pics when one of the men pointed at me and shouted something in his language. At that point, all of them turned and looked at me. So there I was, most obviously an American, with my camera, and around 100 Middle Eastern men looking at me. Having no idea what was just said I did the only sensible thing: slowly raised my hand and gave a sheepish wave. Something else was said and everyone laughed. I left shortly after that.
The next thing I saw was a man in a wheelchair doing the ol' fire and brimstone speech. He had engaged two or three Muslims and was telling them how they were sinners. I stopped to listen for a bit and more and more people gathered until there were about 20, mostly men, mostly Muslim. At one point a Muslim man name Arif said "Well even you're Bible says that Jesus was a sinner," to which I had to speak up and say, "Excuse me?" From that point on it was me and him for about 2 hours, with up to thirty Muslims looking on. It was so much fun! He was very polite and we talked sensibly for a very, very long time about Jesus and what they believe. I will tell you what, they know the Bible in a way the few Christians do. He was quoting, referencing, and giving me history of the language of the verses. I was amazed. It's a shame we don't do the same, but that's a whole other post. Somewhere in the conversation he half jokingly said, "I hope you aren't an American, because I'm an Iraqi." I said, "I am, and I'm from Texas!" He laughed and patted me on the shoulder, someone in the crowd formed their hands into dual handguns* and made shooting noises. God bless Texas. Needless to say, he didn't convert and neither did I, but hopefully I left him with some things to think about, as he did for me.
I later got into another discussion, this time about 10 clearly Muslim men surrounding just me as it was getting dark. All in all a pretty good day and something I'll never forget.
For those readers who are still with me, I hope you have enjoyed my recounting of a few of my adventures. Soon I will be posting pictures of my trip to Manchester and the tour of the stadium. I'll also keep you updated about Monty Python's Spamalot, which I am going to see on Thursday. I can't wait to get back to school, I hope you all plan on coming back early so we can party like its Freshman year. I'm so grateful for such a solid group of people surrounding me, I have indeed missed that.
To all you lurkers: come out of the woodworks, I miss hearing from you.
Until the next time I see you,
aaron
*get it?
Knowing that you all feast upon my every word, I must first apologize for my lack of posting. I hope that you can understand that I have been very busy living experiences as opposed to writing about them all the time. I'm sure we will all have plenty of time to recount our favorite "Well, when I lived in [London | Barcelona | Florence | Flint]..." stories. That's not ever going to get old. (I wish there was some sort of sarcastic font I could use.) Anyway, when I lived in London, it was amazing.
Right now I am traveling from London to Manchester by way of a Virgin Rail train. Usually, I have lecture everday for three hours (from 2-5) and class in the mornings for and hour (11-12). As you might guess, this leaves very little time for tomfoolery during the day, and indeed excludes the option of a long weekend thanks to Friday class until 5. We did recieve a warning on the day of our orientation that this was not, by any means, a holiday. Great! But I decided that since I haven't yet missed a class, I deserved at least one, especially to tour Old Trafford: The Theatre of Dreams.
I really have learned a lot in my class (Judgement and Decision Making for Managers) but have learned as much or more in the pubs. The pubs are a huge part of their culture and I wish it was the same back home. Here are some things that i have been taught by my friends from around the world.
Americans love marshmallows.
We love PB&J.
We dress poorly.
We don't know how to dance properly.
We are loud.
Many Europeans pay more attention to our politics than theirs.
George Bush is a Methodist (They really pay attention.)
We are narrow minded.
Obama is everyone's favorite.
Everyone in France knows about Paris, Texas.
Most people love Texas.
Texans often say, "Hey y'all why don't you come to my ranch and eat beef jerky."
Also, "Later Alligator."
Those are just a few of the many things the Europeans have told me about the US and Texas. It's fun to hear what they think about us, although its not usually very good, but perhaps very true. The pubs generally lend themselves to great conversations, I don't know what it is about them but that's how it seems to work. For example, I was at the pub the other night with Dixie Houser, Abbey Konz (who were both traveling through), and some of my friends from the LSE. Two of the people there were Alexander from Spain, literally one of the coolest people that I know, and his equally cool girlfriend Anna, from Canada. They met in Paris while they were studying two years ago and now both live in Spain, no big deal. We were talking about her thesis on religion and propaganda in politics when the conversation turned to each of our religious beliefs. Both of them, being terribly smart, were asking very deep questions and were genuinely interested because they had never really heard it before. The level of questions was that of Predestination vs Freewill and the Perseverance of the Saints. They kept saying things like "You don't have to talk about it, if we are offending you by asking please let us know." Very cool. They just kept asking and asking and we got to tell them all about Christianity and the whole Gospel story over a beer (don't tell Grandma.) The funniest part was when they asked if we believed in abstinence and we said yes, Alex put his hands up and said "Wait wait wait, you.. (pointing at me) you believe in this?" I had to laugh while saying "I do indeed." It was a really fun conversation and they seemed genuinely interested. Amazing how God works.
Although class takes a lot of my time, I've managed to still have fun. I've seen all the touristy things, I've played soccer in Hyde Park, I've gone shopping, I've gone to Hillsong Church London, and I've hung out a lot with my friends. Sunday, while taking a stroll through Hyde Park I happened upon Speaker's Corner, an area of the park where people stand up on small ladders, or hang from lampposts (pictured) to rant and rave. (They stand off the ground so they can talk about the Queen. If they speak poorly of the Queen while on British soil, they can be arrested.) It's a really cool place.
I walked up on the first speaker (the one pictured) screaming in a Middle Eastern language, turns out he was screaming about politics in the Middle East. I walked about to the back to take some cool pics when one of the men pointed at me and shouted something in his language. At that point, all of them turned and looked at me. So there I was, most obviously an American, with my camera, and around 100 Middle Eastern men looking at me. Having no idea what was just said I did the only sensible thing: slowly raised my hand and gave a sheepish wave. Something else was said and everyone laughed. I left shortly after that.The next thing I saw was a man in a wheelchair doing the ol' fire and brimstone speech. He had engaged two or three Muslims and was telling them how they were sinners. I stopped to listen for a bit and more and more people gathered until there were about 20, mostly men, mostly Muslim. At one point a Muslim man name Arif said "Well even you're Bible says that Jesus was a sinner," to which I had to speak up and say, "Excuse me?" From that point on it was me and him for about 2 hours, with up to thirty Muslims looking on. It was so much fun! He was very polite and we talked sensibly for a very, very long time about Jesus and what they believe. I will tell you what, they know the Bible in a way the few Christians do. He was quoting, referencing, and giving me history of the language of the verses. I was amazed. It's a shame we don't do the same, but that's a whole other post. Somewhere in the conversation he half jokingly said, "I hope you aren't an American, because I'm an Iraqi." I said, "I am, and I'm from Texas!" He laughed and patted me on the shoulder, someone in the crowd formed their hands into dual handguns* and made shooting noises. God bless Texas. Needless to say, he didn't convert and neither did I, but hopefully I left him with some things to think about, as he did for me.
I later got into another discussion, this time about 10 clearly Muslim men surrounding just me as it was getting dark. All in all a pretty good day and something I'll never forget.
For those readers who are still with me, I hope you have enjoyed my recounting of a few of my adventures. Soon I will be posting pictures of my trip to Manchester and the tour of the stadium. I'll also keep you updated about Monty Python's Spamalot, which I am going to see on Thursday. I can't wait to get back to school, I hope you all plan on coming back early so we can party like its Freshman year. I'm so grateful for such a solid group of people surrounding me, I have indeed missed that.
To all you lurkers: come out of the woodworks, I miss hearing from you.
Until the next time I see you,
aaron
*get it?
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Waiting to Exhale
Gentlemen and Ladies,
Well, it has been quite a long time since my last post and for that I apologize. My lack of recording my thoughts onto bloggerfreak.com reflects in no way their existence. It's funny how time flies isn't it though. I remember the morning I left for Afreeka with Maxwell. Now we've been back for 18 days. Time flies. No longer friends, colleagues, mates are we where we were. No, no we are where we are.
Friends, we have been everywhere. We still are everywhere. This is a summer of stories. Mamma Mia! This is the season we will never forget. We have danced. And drank. And ridden trains. And laid on beaches. Had our language critiqued by the Dark Knight. And been driven up the Wall-E by each other's stories. And oh!, how I have Wanted to see each one of you so badly. I would Journey to the Center of the Earth just to Meet Dave somewhere...anywhere. Now friends when I discuss our friend group to outsiders- which often occurs- it seems to refer to "us" by anything less than The Golden Army is heresy. See I think so highly of each you, it is hard to explain to anyone the depth of this feeling. It seems I might have to jump around like a Space Chimp just to get my point across. But my real point is Golden Army, that though we are continents apart, we truly are together. I have tried and tried to explain this concept and I can only make it crystal through these words by Mr. Stevens from a song titled "John Wayne Gacy, Jr."
"And in my best behavior I am really just like [them]
Look beneath the floorboards
For the secrets I have hid "
Though these lyrics refer to serial killer turned pedophile (shout out A-Tone), let us not harvest from this area of our crop lest our bounty still be underdeveloped. We shall mature past to this point. Even at our best, underneath it all, though worlds apart, We are the Aggies the Aggies are We.
So I charge you to remember this. Wherever you are. Wherever you are going. Represent our family. Because underneath the floorboards, we are really just the same...
gn
Well, it has been quite a long time since my last post and for that I apologize. My lack of recording my thoughts onto bloggerfreak.com reflects in no way their existence. It's funny how time flies isn't it though. I remember the morning I left for Afreeka with Maxwell. Now we've been back for 18 days. Time flies. No longer friends, colleagues, mates are we where we were. No, no we are where we are.
Friends, we have been everywhere. We still are everywhere. This is a summer of stories. Mamma Mia! This is the season we will never forget. We have danced. And drank. And ridden trains. And laid on beaches. Had our language critiqued by the Dark Knight. And been driven up the Wall-E by each other's stories. And oh!, how I have Wanted to see each one of you so badly. I would Journey to the Center of the Earth just to Meet Dave somewhere...anywhere. Now friends when I discuss our friend group to outsiders- which often occurs- it seems to refer to "us" by anything less than The Golden Army is heresy. See I think so highly of each you, it is hard to explain to anyone the depth of this feeling. It seems I might have to jump around like a Space Chimp just to get my point across. But my real point is Golden Army, that though we are continents apart, we truly are together. I have tried and tried to explain this concept and I can only make it crystal through these words by Mr. Stevens from a song titled "John Wayne Gacy, Jr."
"And in my best behavior I am really just like [them]
Look beneath the floorboards
For the secrets I have hid "
Though these lyrics refer to serial killer turned pedophile (shout out A-Tone), let us not harvest from this area of our crop lest our bounty still be underdeveloped. We shall mature past to this point. Even at our best, underneath it all, though worlds apart, We are the Aggies the Aggies are We.
So I charge you to remember this. Wherever you are. Wherever you are going. Represent our family. Because underneath the floorboards, we are really just the same...
gn
Friday, July 18, 2008
that what happens if you don't sign out from my laptop
Lieber Thomas,
du hast dich leider nicht ausgeloggt aus meinem Notebook! ;-) So today, when I came back from the Kossmanns and from shopping with Travis and Max, I checked my computer and you were still signed in on blogger.com! You should better be vorsichtig! Ich hoffe, du hast eine gute Reise und noch ganz viel Spaß! Und nochmal vielen Dank für deine Hilfe! Es hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht mit dir zusammen in der Kirche zu arbeiten und auch abzuhängen! Gott segne dich!
hihi
Regina
du hast dich leider nicht ausgeloggt aus meinem Notebook! ;-) So today, when I came back from the Kossmanns and from shopping with Travis and Max, I checked my computer and you were still signed in on blogger.com! You should better be vorsichtig! Ich hoffe, du hast eine gute Reise und noch ganz viel Spaß! Und nochmal vielen Dank für deine Hilfe! Es hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht mit dir zusammen in der Kirche zu arbeiten und auch abzuhängen! Gott segne dich!
hihi
Regina
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Christmas Cheer
Beloved Friends,
It is a cold and rainy day in Germany, a cold and rainy day which reminds me of a late October day in Aggieland, a late October day where I would think to myself, "Today feels like Christmas. I should probably listen to Christmas music."
Thus, today while we continue painting the church building of Christus Gemeinde Siegburg, Regina and I will be listening to Christmas music. Undoubtedly this will lead to me pulling out the Christmas music back home earlier than usual, but you will just have to bear with me and enjoy the holidays!
Tomorrow I leave for Rostock to meet up with Victor, a man I have been in touch with who is helping plant a church up there. Then I will head to Salzburg and Vienna to see my sister a few days after that.
So, much love from Germany, and Christmas cheer to you all.
"God Bless us, everyone",
Thomas "tiny tim" Deetjen
It is a cold and rainy day in Germany, a cold and rainy day which reminds me of a late October day in Aggieland, a late October day where I would think to myself, "Today feels like Christmas. I should probably listen to Christmas music."
Thus, today while we continue painting the church building of Christus Gemeinde Siegburg, Regina and I will be listening to Christmas music. Undoubtedly this will lead to me pulling out the Christmas music back home earlier than usual, but you will just have to bear with me and enjoy the holidays!
Tomorrow I leave for Rostock to meet up with Victor, a man I have been in touch with who is helping plant a church up there. Then I will head to Salzburg and Vienna to see my sister a few days after that.
So, much love from Germany, and Christmas cheer to you all.
"God Bless us, everyone",
Thomas "tiny tim" Deetjen
Saturday, July 12, 2008
pausing in the whirl wind to reflect and give thanks
Friends! I have not forgotten about any of you. I actually think of each of you often. Thinking is something I have learn how to do this summer. There is a difference between idle thinking and purposeful thinking. You know like instead of just humming to the song that is playing, I'm actually focusing on what the words are saying or instead of just thinking about my friends, thats you by the way, praying for you all and giving God praise for each of you.
Anyways, I have typically been reading the blog quickly on the weekends, laugh a lot to myself cause no one ever understands when I try to explain things, and then have to turn the computer off and go back into the isolated world of camp! Camp is done for me this summer and I have learned some of the biggest things ever that I haven't fully processed. First of all, when I arrived at camp for orientation, I wondered what I was doing there. I was at a completely different camp this year without the comfort of familiar faces and friends to lean on. It was just me and God. Also, I learned what God's love is and how he loves. I haven't fully grasped it but it is something that has stuck with me. Just think about this: Why is love a commandment? and What do you mean when you say 'I love you'? Those hit me hard, spent a week wrestling with these questions and focusing my energy and thoughts on God. It was neat. So neat that I started wondering to myself why I don't do that more often.
My last week at camp I learned the Bigness of God. Don't know if that is truly a word but it is what God truly is. As my last week approached, I became very sad about leaving and threw a pity-party for myself. Sorry, I would have invited you guys but I didn't think if would be very much fun for you. Anyways, I was convicted on thinking about myself and instead I decided to give everything to the Lord for my last week. He had been doing great things during camp for the campers and in my own life. I was now expecting more change then ever in just one week that I had. So, I find out for the last week I have the one age group I have never had and that I would consider the hardest for me to have patience with and that is the elementary group. As I read about these "brand-new" to camp 3rd graders, I see that none of them have accepted Christ. I took a deep breath and again, prayed for BIG things. God did more than what I could have ever expected. Guys, all of the campers in my cabin accepted Christ that week. It truly wasn't 'just the thing to do' either. It was for real. As I asked one of the campers why she wanted to accept Christ as her Lord as savior, she said she wanted to know Him more! An 8 year old said that! God wasn't done quite yet as I had been praying for a specific family whose father is currently in Iraq. This family has a daughter who will be at A&M in the fall. Her mom had shared a few things with me and my heart broke for her and this family. On friday, after all the parents had prayed for her, this sweet new sister in Christ accepted Jesus as well and was baptized along with the girls in my cabin. I was crying for joy and for glory to our Father.
This story is more indepth and I would love to share it with any of yall when I see you but I just wanted to share with you what I have learned this summer and to ask each of yall for encouragement and accountability that I never lose sight of how great our God is. We don't have to be a camp to see great things happen or to refect on Him always, I want to be able to do this with my friends.
I wasn't sure where this post was going to be lead when I first started typing but I do want you to all know I am thinking of each of you and have enjoyed hearing about your travels. I'm off to Alaska in the morning and don't worry, I will have pictures to add onto the others that yall of shared to show the glory of God's creation. Thank you friends, brothers and sisters.
"Therefore if there is any encouragment in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." Philippians 2:1-2
Anyways, I have typically been reading the blog quickly on the weekends, laugh a lot to myself cause no one ever understands when I try to explain things, and then have to turn the computer off and go back into the isolated world of camp! Camp is done for me this summer and I have learned some of the biggest things ever that I haven't fully processed. First of all, when I arrived at camp for orientation, I wondered what I was doing there. I was at a completely different camp this year without the comfort of familiar faces and friends to lean on. It was just me and God. Also, I learned what God's love is and how he loves. I haven't fully grasped it but it is something that has stuck with me. Just think about this: Why is love a commandment? and What do you mean when you say 'I love you'? Those hit me hard, spent a week wrestling with these questions and focusing my energy and thoughts on God. It was neat. So neat that I started wondering to myself why I don't do that more often.
My last week at camp I learned the Bigness of God. Don't know if that is truly a word but it is what God truly is. As my last week approached, I became very sad about leaving and threw a pity-party for myself. Sorry, I would have invited you guys but I didn't think if would be very much fun for you. Anyways, I was convicted on thinking about myself and instead I decided to give everything to the Lord for my last week. He had been doing great things during camp for the campers and in my own life. I was now expecting more change then ever in just one week that I had. So, I find out for the last week I have the one age group I have never had and that I would consider the hardest for me to have patience with and that is the elementary group. As I read about these "brand-new" to camp 3rd graders, I see that none of them have accepted Christ. I took a deep breath and again, prayed for BIG things. God did more than what I could have ever expected. Guys, all of the campers in my cabin accepted Christ that week. It truly wasn't 'just the thing to do' either. It was for real. As I asked one of the campers why she wanted to accept Christ as her Lord as savior, she said she wanted to know Him more! An 8 year old said that! God wasn't done quite yet as I had been praying for a specific family whose father is currently in Iraq. This family has a daughter who will be at A&M in the fall. Her mom had shared a few things with me and my heart broke for her and this family. On friday, after all the parents had prayed for her, this sweet new sister in Christ accepted Jesus as well and was baptized along with the girls in my cabin. I was crying for joy and for glory to our Father.
This story is more indepth and I would love to share it with any of yall when I see you but I just wanted to share with you what I have learned this summer and to ask each of yall for encouragement and accountability that I never lose sight of how great our God is. We don't have to be a camp to see great things happen or to refect on Him always, I want to be able to do this with my friends.
I wasn't sure where this post was going to be lead when I first started typing but I do want you to all know I am thinking of each of you and have enjoyed hearing about your travels. I'm off to Alaska in the morning and don't worry, I will have pictures to add onto the others that yall of shared to show the glory of God's creation. Thank you friends, brothers and sisters.
"Therefore if there is any encouragment in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." Philippians 2:1-2
Friday, July 11, 2008
Swiss Solitude
10:18 pm
Siegburg, Germany
Liebe Freunde und Freundinnen,
The travel stage of my journey has been flying by, literally flying. Think about it. Yesterday I talked to Katie for the first time in three weeks - omg. And the rest of you who don't have skype, or who just haven't been on, i'm just sitting around waiting to talk to you.
My visit to London was fantastic, it is truly one of the modern marvels of the world, and yes, Alex, Aaron and I did have high tea at Harrods and spent a few hours getting lost in the store.
So the cheapest flight out of London was to some place called Basel Switzerland, so I was like, "sure, I'll go to Basel, its a 35 Euro flight." Beautiful country, Switzerland. I went hiking for 7 or 8 hours the only full day I was there, had a roll and apple for breakfast, bread cheese and an apple for lunch, bread and an apple for dinner, and more bread and an apple later - living the dream hittin up the supermarkt (supermarket in English) with my Swiss Francs. Anyway I have been a loner for much of my trip, often times enjoying it, but hiking alone in the Swiss hills was truly my best day of solitude. The heavens certainly declare the glory of the Father. It is always interesting to me to be in awe of Cathedrals and all the epic Architecture I have seen over here only to be completely baffled by the singular most beautiful view I have ever had of God's green earth. A special time. Anyways I realized on my hike down the mountain, after I had been talking to myself for awhile, that it was time for me to get to Siegburg and spend time with people. It is good to be staying with my friend Travis and his host family, the Kossmann's, while I help their church do some remodeling. Thank you, God, for providing plans for me as always. I cannot wait to get home to my real friends though.
I appreciate you all,
Thomas
Friday, July 4, 2008
Final Night In Costa Rica
I am sitting in the Costa Rica Backpackers hostel laughing out loud right now. For the last hour i have been reading blog posts and shooting boogers out of my nose onto the keyboard as I try to muffle the laughter. honestly people are staring at me.
I am so glad to read that you´ll are experiencing other cultures and finding adventure. I am really looking forward to hearing stories and sharing laughs. As for me, traveling alone and using only public buses for transportation is always an adventure. So is checking email in the 2nd story of Paul´s Pizza Parlor in Turrialba, Costa Rica. To say that I had an awkward hour and a half would be an understatement. I did learn a few spanish words from him though after he explained them to me. For example, ¨transvestite¨ you don´t learn that one in Spanish 202.
I am coming home tomorrow and will be starting my domination of high-schoolers on july 12th. I would love to see anyone and everyone possible. Please let me know if you are in the states via facebook or cell phone.
Just some advice...God is the same in the US as He is in every country. For those of you traveling this should come as a great comfort. Even when you miss your buses, experience lonliness, and feel threatened by sketchy guys with machetes God is there and those feelings and experiences happen for a reason that we don´t always understand. Be bold and courageous.
I am proud to be able to call you´ll my friends and my brothers and sisters. Love.
Pura Vida,
T-Rob
I am so glad to read that you´ll are experiencing other cultures and finding adventure. I am really looking forward to hearing stories and sharing laughs. As for me, traveling alone and using only public buses for transportation is always an adventure. So is checking email in the 2nd story of Paul´s Pizza Parlor in Turrialba, Costa Rica. To say that I had an awkward hour and a half would be an understatement. I did learn a few spanish words from him though after he explained them to me. For example, ¨transvestite¨ you don´t learn that one in Spanish 202.
I am coming home tomorrow and will be starting my domination of high-schoolers on july 12th. I would love to see anyone and everyone possible. Please let me know if you are in the states via facebook or cell phone.
Just some advice...God is the same in the US as He is in every country. For those of you traveling this should come as a great comfort. Even when you miss your buses, experience lonliness, and feel threatened by sketchy guys with machetes God is there and those feelings and experiences happen for a reason that we don´t always understand. Be bold and courageous.
I am proud to be able to call you´ll my friends and my brothers and sisters. Love.
Pura Vida,
T-Rob
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Slow Down
9.37am. Train station, Paris, France.
Paris is wonderful. I have very much enjoyed this city, perhaps second only to London which is fortunate as that is where I will spend the next three weeks. I speak a little French (enough to tell the girl at the ticket counter that she was very pretty, although I might have said "you is very pretty." Either way, while giggling, she said something back in French that I didn't even get close to understanding. I think it was "Will you marry me?" but alas, I had to catch a train.) I ate two or three chocolate tarts a day, but they are like really small pies so its ok, its like having six 100 calorie packs and saying "Oh but they are only a hundred calories." Same situation. I got to see Andrew and Alex this time! We had a great dinner (I again had the steak with an omelette on top), crepes, drinks, and great conversation. I know everyone has said that we have the best friends so I wont say it, but we do have the best friends. Big party when we get back!
Italy was no France, but still pretty cool. Florence was by far my favorite, perhaps because we had anna to show us around and take us to all the cool places. We went out with Anna, her roommate Coco and her friend Khaki (I know) to a very nice Florentine restaurant, in Florence. Being a red-blooded, Friends of W, God Bless America American, I looked for the steaks. I was delighted and surprised to find a blueberry steak. Despite its vague name, its merely a quality steak covered in a very thick, deeply blue blueberry sauce. Tal: I'm cooking this for house dinner when we return. Just as good no doubt. After dinner we headed to the Ponte Vecchio for some quality live music including thickly accented versions of DMB and Sting. The scene that unfolded on the bridge was one of things where you just knew you were witnessing greatness.
Around 200 or so people were just hanging out, listening to music, and being very romantic on the bridge. Along comes an upbeat song and up stand the dancers. The first was terribly, even disgustingly, Euro. Big ol aviators (at night mind you), slicked back grease-hair, fancy embroidered shirt that almost looked like a thrift store pearl snap, and of course tight blue jeans. Now the blue jeans weren't just jeans, on the right leg, in large white English was written "SLOW DOWN." Thats Euroclassy if I've ever seen it. Character two: slightly larger, perhaps moderately larger, wonderfully American woman in an uncomfortably see through-ish bright green shirt. You know where this is going. So Eurostar is pulling out all the stops, swaying those skinny hips and pretending that slicking his hair back is indeed another dance move. Its not. Please keep in mind there are maybe 5 people dancing, an old couple, the aforementioned, and then a snaggletoothesque randar: doing her own thing and totally content to be dancing. So Green Shirt is making her way towards Slow Down in an awkward, half dancing, half walking, wholly unrythmic way. She gets over there and they begin to dance together with the crowd feeling every move, some with ooo's and aahhh's, and some moves can only evoke laughter. Thencomes what we've all been waiting for: the kiss. Think of a wonderfully romantic moonlight kiss on the bridge in Italy between two young lovers: this was NOT that. At all. They are dancing and Green Shirt leans in close and goes right for the lips. She doesn't quite have the smooth landing we all dream of, unfortunately. She manages to hit Slow Down's lips at which point he turns his head and ramps up the dance moves, aka slicks his hair. The crowd loves it! Gasps and applause ring out, either for Green Shirt's brazenness on Slow Down's cool pants. Either way it was awesome, and time for me to dance. Nothing as exciting as their saga, but Khaki asked if anyone would dance up there with her, and I didn't see any reason to not live the dream. Khaki and I jumped in with GS and SD and totally spiced things up, to the crowds approval. Youre only young once right? Pictures to come, I promise. Anna, if feel I have erred either by comission or omission at any point, please let me know.
But as for now, thats as far as our story goes. Until the next time,
aaron
Paris is wonderful. I have very much enjoyed this city, perhaps second only to London which is fortunate as that is where I will spend the next three weeks. I speak a little French (enough to tell the girl at the ticket counter that she was very pretty, although I might have said "you is very pretty." Either way, while giggling, she said something back in French that I didn't even get close to understanding. I think it was "Will you marry me?" but alas, I had to catch a train.) I ate two or three chocolate tarts a day, but they are like really small pies so its ok, its like having six 100 calorie packs and saying "Oh but they are only a hundred calories." Same situation. I got to see Andrew and Alex this time! We had a great dinner (I again had the steak with an omelette on top), crepes, drinks, and great conversation. I know everyone has said that we have the best friends so I wont say it, but we do have the best friends. Big party when we get back!
Italy was no France, but still pretty cool. Florence was by far my favorite, perhaps because we had anna to show us around and take us to all the cool places. We went out with Anna, her roommate Coco and her friend Khaki (I know) to a very nice Florentine restaurant, in Florence. Being a red-blooded, Friends of W, God Bless America American, I looked for the steaks. I was delighted and surprised to find a blueberry steak. Despite its vague name, its merely a quality steak covered in a very thick, deeply blue blueberry sauce. Tal: I'm cooking this for house dinner when we return. Just as good no doubt. After dinner we headed to the Ponte Vecchio for some quality live music including thickly accented versions of DMB and Sting. The scene that unfolded on the bridge was one of things where you just knew you were witnessing greatness.
Around 200 or so people were just hanging out, listening to music, and being very romantic on the bridge. Along comes an upbeat song and up stand the dancers. The first was terribly, even disgustingly, Euro. Big ol aviators (at night mind you), slicked back grease-hair, fancy embroidered shirt that almost looked like a thrift store pearl snap, and of course tight blue jeans. Now the blue jeans weren't just jeans, on the right leg, in large white English was written "SLOW DOWN." Thats Euroclassy if I've ever seen it. Character two: slightly larger, perhaps moderately larger, wonderfully American woman in an uncomfortably see through-ish bright green shirt. You know where this is going. So Eurostar is pulling out all the stops, swaying those skinny hips and pretending that slicking his hair back is indeed another dance move. Its not. Please keep in mind there are maybe 5 people dancing, an old couple, the aforementioned, and then a snaggletoothesque randar: doing her own thing and totally content to be dancing. So Green Shirt is making her way towards Slow Down in an awkward, half dancing, half walking, wholly unrythmic way. She gets over there and they begin to dance together with the crowd feeling every move, some with ooo's and aahhh's, and some moves can only evoke laughter. Thencomes what we've all been waiting for: the kiss. Think of a wonderfully romantic moonlight kiss on the bridge in Italy between two young lovers: this was NOT that. At all. They are dancing and Green Shirt leans in close and goes right for the lips. She doesn't quite have the smooth landing we all dream of, unfortunately. She manages to hit Slow Down's lips at which point he turns his head and ramps up the dance moves, aka slicks his hair. The crowd loves it! Gasps and applause ring out, either for Green Shirt's brazenness on Slow Down's cool pants. Either way it was awesome, and time for me to dance. Nothing as exciting as their saga, but Khaki asked if anyone would dance up there with her, and I didn't see any reason to not live the dream. Khaki and I jumped in with GS and SD and totally spiced things up, to the crowds approval. Youre only young once right? Pictures to come, I promise. Anna, if feel I have erred either by comission or omission at any point, please let me know.
But as for now, thats as far as our story goes. Until the next time,
aaron
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