Amsterdam!

I made it! Finally, I'm here!  And I can't believe it. I'm still not sure it has sunk in. Last night we (fellow staff members/volunteers) went bike riding. We passed canal after canal, beautiful building after beautiful building. We went to the public library and at the very top admired a gorgeous view of the city.

So arriving in Amsterdam was a little tricky. I was flying out of Pittsburgh to JFK and then onto Schinpol. Well, New York was hit with a huge blizzard and my first flight was canceled. Onto plan B. I called the airline and was rerouted through Detroit at 7:25 that evening. So I spent the whole day at the Pittsburgh airport (btw, Ben & Jerry's have excellent smoothies). I made it to Detroit with an hour to spare till my next flight. Then, to Amsterdam. A very long plane ride. Screaming baby and all.

Arriving at the airport was such a relief.  Navigating it was another story....for one their exit signs look like this:

I made it to the right baggage carousal after wandering around a bit just in time to save my suitcase before it was carted off somewhere else. I made my way out to the train station. It was very confusing, so many entrances and exits, escalators leading to different trains... I found a ticket booth, somehow managed to buy a ticket to Amsterdam Centraal and went  down to a dock to wait. I asked someone if that was the right train and they said yes. Meanwhile, there is a overhead message playing over and over again in Dutch. I eventually figure out that the regular train to Centraal station is under construction and I have to take a different train. So I head over to the correct dock. I fight my way onto to the train, suitcase and all and take off. Now, what I'm worried about is "will there be someone there waiting?" I sent an email saying that my flight was canceled and gave the new arrival time, but hadn't received a response. When I finally made it to the station there were sooo sooo many people. All shoving and pushing trying to get out.

I made my out to the station and into the city. The first thing that hit me was smoke. Everyone was smoking kids, adults, everyone. Then it was the bikes, everywhere zipping by you, laying on the ground.  I headed over to the Victoria Hotel which was the appointed place to meet. No one was there. So pulled out my phone and called the house. A girl came  a picked me up and we walked about 20 min over cobblestone, through tiny streets, by canals, to the house. Finally, I had arrived.

Wow (in a good way), is all I can say. These next few months are going to be amazing. I can't wait to learn, grow, and serve the Lord. I've had so many good conversations already. Met people from all over. This is going to be  a great adventure!

Amsterdam

All my life all I've ever wanted to do is travel. (It might have something to do with my parents naming me "Sojourner") And now God as provided me with an opportunity to serve him and see the world. Honestly, I'm quite shocked. 

Never did I imagine that I would be going to serve on a missions trip.  I was never interested in that kind of thing, but here I am on my to live in another country for 6 months all for God!


So how did it all start? Well, a couple of months ago. My co-worker Emma was telling me about how she used to live in Amsterdam and work at the Shelter Youth Hostel. Immediately, I was in. The thought that kept going through my mind was "This is what I want to be doing, should be doing."


At first, I was a little iffy. I had my plan. I was going to attend Paul Mitchell's school of Beauty in San Diego. I had toured the school and started the application process. I had all my ducks in a row. But, wham, here comes God, with his master plan. 


One month after hearing about Amsterdam I had applied, written my testimony (which by the way, is by far one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but well worth it.), and sent in reference forms. 3 weeks later I received that amazing email:

Dear Eliza,

Thank you for your patience! I apologize that it took a bit longer to get all papers together and to come to a decision. But now that everything is complete, we want to thank you for your application, and the open way you shared your answers and your testimony with us. We sensed that you have a desire to live for Christ. and a willingness to learn and to grow.  We are happy to inform you that you have been accepted as a staff member at the Shelter Jordan for 6 months, from 1 January till 1 July 2010.

I don't think I stopped shaking for at least a week. 

So what exactly am I going to be doing in Amsterdam. Well, I'll be serving as a receptionist, waiter, cashier, and cook. Not all on the same day. Also, I'll be a student. While I'm over there I'm going be study apologetics, world religions, how to read the Bible, discipleship, modern culture and religion, as well as team-building, prayer, and outreach. Their mission statement is this:

Mission

1. To reach young people with the gospel by sharing heart to heart and to show the Lord Jesus Christ in the hostel.

2. To equip and train our volunteers for this purpose.

AHHH!!! I'm so excited I can't wait!

Blessings,
 ~ Eliza ~