Week 12

Well, it is here. The end of my Germany tour. It feels strange to think that almost three months ago I landed in Frankfurt. I was a different person then, and I like the thought that I have grown. I still do not have my German perfected, but I think it would take longer than I want to spend here. Something to keep working on though, thats always handy.

I spent most of last week in cologne, a beautiful city with wondeful people. I found myself drawn back to the cathedral many times during my stay. My favorite time, I was with a Mexican guy named Leo. We went in at a quarter past seven on an overcast and rainy day. Most places in europe have indirect lighting on the outside for when it gets dark and the building can be lit up and look pretty. The cathedral had that on the inside. after a certain point it was too dark for the lights to penetrate the dark, so it gave this amazing infinite feel to the place. Leo is catholic and I asked him if he would pray aloud in spanish. As I looked at the quiet vastness around me and listened to strange, yet familiar prayers, I was struck by how amazing God is. How incredibly infinite He is. It was a good night.

Some of you may have seen that my travel plans for yesterday didn't quite work out how I wanted them to. It was somewhat frustrating, but then I was quieted. I realized there was nothing to do and accepted that. Luckily, the hostel in Cherbourg was nice enough to refund that nights stay, no problem. That was a nice blessing.

I leave on a ferry tomorrow to Rosslare, Ireland. From there I will get a train to Cork and stay there for a few days before heading to Killarney. I am excited to see the emerald isle but still miss the rolling flint hills. One month to go and then I can see them again (as well as all you!).
I appreciate the prayer please continue to provide it!

Side note: Congrats to Jordan and Kayla! Hope it was great!
Samwise Greenhill

Week 11

I spent the last few days in Hamburg. My time there was punctuated by the friendly hostel lady named Kiki. She was wonderful, friendly and nice. She drove me, out of her way, to a grocery store my first day there. Then, on my third day there, she did my laundry for free! She was probably my highlight for Hamburg.

There was not that much to do in the city, though I did meet a nice guy from London named Louis. He and I spent some good times together and had a few good talks. The people I have met on my travels continue to work in me. I remember praying last year that I would grow a heart for people, something I knew I was lacking, and I believe that God is doing that. As I meet more and more people, I continue to grow to love them as a whole. People are wonderful beings? What a foreign idea to me!

My favorite place in Hamburg was probably my old friend from Dresden, the Elbe river. I spent a good number of hours walking its old banks, admiring the ships and the docks and enjoying the sound of water lapping on stone. There was a large building that I walked by on Sunday and found out that it was the home to the famous Hamburg Fish Market. There were lots of vendors selling every variety of fish (well, probably not every one, but it seemed like it) as well as people selling delicious filets. Not a bad way to leave the city, a nice full belly and a good feeling.

I arrived in Köln the same day. I met a guy named Sam in Frankfurt am Main and I remember what he said "You know, the thing about Cologne for me was the Cathedral. i stepped out of the train station and was just struck by how massive and beautiful it was". I believe I cannot express it any better. I must have stood looking at it for five minutes. Gorgeous.
I am excited to see Köln and the places it has to offer. I feel it will be a fitting end to the Germany leg of my trip.

I leave for Ireland on the 29th, passing through Paris and Cherbourg on my way. I am looking forward to the ferry ride and being on the open ocean for the first time! Please pray for safety and wisdom during that part of my travels as I will finally be in a country that doesn not really speak English or German (no, not Ireland, France!).
I need to wrap this up, but know that I am thinking of all of you and looking forward to seeing you in July!
-Samwise Greenhill

Week 10

I´ve been in Berlin for the last ten days and I´ve found it to be both charming and a little too big at the same time. I´ve met some wonderful people from all over the world, some Australians, South Africans and Canadians, just to name a few. The hostel here was a very comfortable place to be and all the guests were very friendly with one another. It reminded me of home.

I went to several museums here over the last week and a half. They were all pretty amazing, especially the natural history museum. The thing I think I liked most, however, was the Reichstag. As you walk towards this huge building, you can´t help but feel the gravity of where you are. I looked up at the pillars in front of the south entrance and imagined them covered in fortifications, swarming with German troops, who were ready to die for their Führer. I have said it many times on this trip already, but I still say that I don´t know what I would do if I was in their position. Both then and at the beginning of the war. It would be so hard to starve and starve and have no hope, and then hear a man saying that he can feed you, give you work, and make your country great again. Hard to think about.

One other cool thing I did while I was here was I went on a free walking tour with a girl from New Zealand named Christi. The tour was titled "alternative Berlin" and it was a tour of street art, graffiti, portions of the Berlin Wall and a few squats where artists just took up residence and just started painting, sculpting, and making rings and other jewelry in the early 90s. It was a really cool tour and the squats were sweet to see (we actually went inside to see little make-shift galleries) I enjoyed seeing their art and their communities.

I´ll be heading to Hamburg today for five days and then on to Cologne for another five. Berlin has been good and I´m looking forward to the next few cities as well.
Love you guys,
-Samwise Greenhill

Wek 9

Leipzig! The city of Bach! I went to the Thomaskirche my second day here and felt a little awed to be in the same chapel that he played in for so long. Really sweet! My time here has been good, though I got a little sick on Tuesday (traveling is a bit tiring). I´ve been spending some time with a friend from German 4 who is doing a semester abroad here at the Uni Leipzig. It was nice to see a familiar face! He´s been here for a while now, so he has introduced me to some sweet people, recomended some good things to see and taken me to some really cool clubs and pubs. Leipzig itself isn´t exactly a beautiful city, though it has nice parts, and it´s not really a modern city, though it does have modern bits to it. It simply is what it is. I have taken a liking to cities who are un-ashamedly themselves. Yeah.

So, I´ve started doing this thing where I pick a favorite place to eat or go in each city I´m in (usually a bakery or a park or a statue) and try to visit it at least three times during my stay. I think it helps me remember the city better. Sometimes its not about seeing all the big things a place has to offer, but instead getting to know a cozy little spot that you can remember fondly in combinaton with the whole city. Here, it has been the bakery/coffee shop around the corner from my hostel and probably my friend´s apartment (its my rule, so I´m allowed to have two!).

God continues to teach me hard lessons. Sometimes, when I fall short, I get so upset at myself and then end up doubly frustrated because I´m focused on me, not Him. Bit of a paradox there. I need to remember that my sin is covered, no matter what happens, that much is done. God already forgave me, so why do I need to feel guilt? I think I´m starting to understand what my good friend Jordan once tried to explain to me. We need to confess our sins, be humbled before God, but we don´t need to feel guilt, since he has already forgiven us. Its good to know, but hard to remember.

I will be heading to Berlin tomorrow and will stay there until the 18th. It promises to be a very nice time. I hope you are all doing well, drop me a line and tell me! I´ve got to go now, have a good weekend!
-Samwise Greenhill