How I miss Thee my Quirky Albuquerque

A list of a few things I miss about the strange city we call Albuquerque:

The way the dust rolls over your well traveled highways. *sarcasm*
How your colors paint the sky and your clouds form in shifting shapes.
Chick-fil-A and Lotaburger.
The lavender bushes that dot the landscape like freckles on a ginger kid's face. ;)
Tramway.
Paseo-del-Norte.
Flying Star dates with my girl friends.
Making friends with the Flying Star workers because we're there so often.
The mountains and hiking.
Red or green? To which I reply with slight fear, "Neither, thank you".
Frontier.
That Greek restaurant we discovered on campus just before coming.
The bosque.
Uptown and checking sales at The Loft.
Living in 4 Hills. (Where we won't be returning.)
Parties at our house.
Lack of humidity.
Olo.
My family.

How I miss Thee my Quirky Albuquerque!

------------------------------

I had always felt that the way I was raised and the way I ticked insinuated that I belonged overseas somewhere. Now that I'm here, in some ways I feel that more and more. There are so many things I absolutely love about being here. Public transportation, for one is initially somewhat terrifying, but the system is easy to figure out and when you have it down the whole world is opened up to you. Secondly, fresh, unprocessed, yummy, delicious produce, purchased a couple times a week from the grocery is delightful. I mean fresh baguettes--heck yes. And then there's a whole conglomeration of peoples and people groups in one area the size of a state in the ...States. Architecture! How could I forget architecture and language...

Yet, though my heart is so full here, I feel a tinge of longing. I have a longing for the far away familiar and for those whom I love: my family and the community that I left in Albuquerque. For the silly things that I listed above. Something tells me, though, that when I'm home my heart will miss once again the things that became familiar but will then be far away.

A post that my friend recently wrote touched my heart. My heart feels similarly to what hers has so beautifully communicated. In many ways it feels torn in two; torn between two realities and two ways of life. It's as though my heart has become two dots on opposite sides on the map of the world.

I'm learning more fully that when something is chosen and a path is taken, there *is* sacrifice. There are things that I am going to miss. Since I've been here in Belgium I've missed having Easter with my family, my Dad's birthday, Mother's Day, my brother getting his driver's license, one of my best friends will be moving with her new husband to a different state, I haven't been there with a best friend during a tragedy, and there's major change going on in our college ministry where both Katina and I are on the leadership team. So yeah, while I am here in Europe getting to see things I'd only before dreamed of (and really, let's be honest, Belgium had never before entered my mind as somewhere I would go) I am missing some major life and relational events.

This all may end up being slightly exaggerated. I have found that God has enabled me to be fairly adaptable in whatever climate He places me. But I do feel that wherever I am, there will be a slight longing to be in the other place on the map.

I don't want to go too deeply into it at this time and I apologize slightly that this is turning into yet another spiritual metaphor, but I can't help but ponder our "now and not yet" motto when considering these things.  All these longings, unfulfilled desires, and the imperfections of the life we live are a reminder that we've not yet reached perfection. There's always going to be that feeling that something isn't complete. Because it's not. It's in the process of being completed. Our salvation  in Christ is complete and still in completion. There is an end to our story but still the plot thickens. God's given us guidelines through His Word about what pleases Him and how to live life, but where do I live out that life and what exactly do I pursue?

I told Rebecca that I feel like there have been so many more desires awakened and realized while we've been here, but they've led to even more questions and fewer answers. I'm sorry, I don't know if that flows well or stays directly on topic, it's just where my thoughts happened to go. We're leaving Belgium in 3 weeks and coming home in 5. Right now, in many ways I can't wait to be home, but I anticipate my heart wanting to return once I've come home. You see my conundrum? Rebecca answered with a smile that the Lord often does that. "He's not a reluctant revealer." He does desire for us to know His steps, but even more so, His desire is for us to seek HIS face.

At the core of all these longings and desires: to be in one place while I'm in the other and vise versa, is the need to be satisfied in where God has placed me. His sovereignty intertwines with His goodness and His love toward me. When I am exactly where I need to be, where I've sought His face and am not against His will prescribed for me in His Word, when I'm honoring Him with what He's given me and am seeking His face, I can rest securely in His immutability. (Thank you Tozer.) He never changes! And in Him, all is complete!

"I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes it's boast in the Lord;

let the humble hear and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me and let us 

exalt His name together!

I sought the Lord, and He answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to Him are radiant

and their faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord him

and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps around 

those who fear Him and delivers them.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

Blessed is the man who takes 

refuge in Him!

Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints,

for those who fear Him have no lack!

The young lions suffer want and hunger;

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing."

Psalm 34:1-10

Villers-la-Ville

Thursday, May 3rd was an epic day off. Hava Flave invited me to her school for lunch where we dined on Belgium's Panera Bread cousin and she gave me a quick tour of Louvain-la-Neuve. After a quick coffee and tea, she headed to class and I headed back from whence I came - the train station - to continue my adventurous day off. Off to the delights of Villers-la-Ville. 

Ready for a day of adventure

I took the train to Ottignies, got off and boarded another train to Villers-la-Ville. Once there I roamed around attempting to find signs telling me where to go. Ha! What good are signs that don't exist when you can wander around and see the lovely village and try to find someone who speaks English who can give you directions??? 

The train stop without a station...

At the intersection next to the tracks I chose to go right

And learned fairly quickly that I should've gone left. 

I  found someone who spoke English (ya gotta look for the youngsters) and was able to get directions from her and was on my way to the abbey. 

*****

In case you're wondering:

Abbaye de Villers is the ancient ruins of a Cistercian Abbey founded in 1146 A.D.  For a time-line of the history of Abbaye de Villers click on this link. Or click this link for more information. Even Wikipedia provides an further info that is interesting. So far these web-sites provide the extent of my knowledge of the place. There have been a few books written about Villers-la-Ville...but they're in French. 

*****

I've always been insanely curious about all things that are very old. I love the personal aspect about history. I think most people's view of history is that it's dull and boring, but the fact that actual souls lived out these lives in often different manners than we live today is fascinating to me. I love to imagine and picture what lives were like, and yes, I suppose I romanticize their lives to a certain degree. 

As a child growing up, when driving from one side of Oklahoma to the other, or when going on long family road trips, I always wanted to stop in the ghost towns that were just off the nicely paved roads that we traveled. I don't think I ever voiced these desires, but when sitting in the back or middle red upholstered seats of our black Suburban, I looked off in wonder at those dilapidated buildings as they flew beyond my vision, our Suburban carrying on to our intended destination. You can imagine then, since I was never able to physically be among those enticing ruins, what it might be like for me to have stood among the ruins in Villers-la-Ville.  

It was truly awe inspiring. Breath taking, even. 

Above is the abbot's palace.

Traditionally Cistercian architecture used only stone, 

but in the 1440's Abbaye de Villers started using brick.

There were several areas closed off by gates, deemed too dangerous to explore...

which of course makes them all the more enticing to me. Ugh. 

I love that in the picture above you can see what is left of what covered the brick and stone 

as well as some beautiful scroll work on top of the plaster.

Looooove this!

I believe this might be the square where the monks walked and prayed daily...not sure though.

And this is inside the sanctuary where the choir loft used to be.

I almost broke out in song, 

singing "Alas and did my Savior bleed and did my Sovereign die?", 

when someone else walked in and I kept my tune to myself. 

"The sacred vessels, vestments and books for worship were kept here, 

along with the relics held by the monastery (which were not on display). 

The storage niches can still be seen." 

Storage niches.

There was actually much more of the abbey to be seen, but I spent so much time just being there and soaking it all in that I didn't even realize that the property was much more extensive than what I was seeing. I was there for an hour and a half, but could have easily and contentedly spent two more. 

The atmosphere was incredibly peaceful. Before I left the house, Rebecca and Annie had said you can feel the prayers of the men on the grounds. I found that to be true. It does have a "sacred ground" feeling. I found myself thinking about that feeling on my walk back to the train. I didn't want to leave that peace. I wanted to feed on it and bask in it, however the Holy Spirit brought to mind that wherever He is, there is peace. I praise Him that the Lamb of God has made way for me to be in His temple always and forever. Man no longer needs a physical building to 'find' God. That peace doesn't have to only be found on the grounds of an old, forsaken abbey. That peace is found in Christ and through Him resides in me! 

 

Is there a Well around here?

Two weeks ago on a Sunday, Katina and I boarded a train for Brussels, excited at the prospect of finding The Well. (Fun fact! "The Well" is also the name of our college group in the Burque...) Katina found directions and wrote them down in her moleskine, and we were pumped to share a new experience together as we anticipated the joy of fellowship with fellow brothers and sisters. However, not unlike our other adventures together we went the opposite direction after we left the train station and ended up wandering around for 30 minutes, trying to find our way to The Well's meeting location. When we finally made it to Nativitas we found the building dark and empty, it's doors locked. We stood around, made a few more efforts to get in, even asked a guy who looked like he *might* be looking for the same meeting we were trying to attend.

"Excuse me, are you looking for The Well?"

Strange face made in my general direction. "The Well? Is there a well around here?" (reeking with friendly sarcasm)

Nervous/embarrassed laugh "Uuuuuh, heh heh, no, not to my knowledge."

"What is it then?"

"It's kind of like a church, but they meet around here."

"Oh, well I know nothing about things like that." Begins walking away with smug smile on face

Katina laughs at me. :)

...

We made a phone call and our friend made a couple phone calls to no avail. What to do now? Wellllll we're starving. Let's hunt for food. We made our way back toward the train station a different way than we'd come, wanting to at least see something different if we weren't going to get to go to church.

We were about to order food when our cell phone rang. Carlton to the rescue! He picked us up and took us back to Nativitas where the group had finally returned after a time of walking around the neighborhood together. It was totally providence, for we had a *great* conversation about the church, what it is in different cultures (what works in the States doesn't necessarily work abroad), what it is Biblically, and what kind of expectations we have because of our own lives and the things that we've made church out to be in our own minds that aren't necessarily Biblical.

It was a great night. The group consisted of 20 people from New Zealand who were in Brussels on a mission trip and 6 or so other people who are regular attenders of the small group. They were incredibly welcoming. It gave us such a beautiful taste of community and the broader Church.

During a time of prayer, every time one of the New Zealanders (?) prayed I couldn't help but think of Flight of the Conchords. If you haven't heard of them, check them out, but watch with some discretion. They're hilarious but not completely clean (so maybe watch the second video first):

Katina and I felt an instant love for these people whom we didn't even get to know, but loved all the same. At the end of our time together, they all gathered to perform the Haka chant:

                                        Not the best video quality, but I think you'll get the idea.

This website describes the haka chant as a "war chant and challenge". It is performed by the All Blacks rugby team of New Zealand prior to a match against teams not native to New Zealand.

We were able to go back to The Well this Sunday and enjoyed it just as much. Our group was small in number with only 8 in attendance, but the Word was preached well, there was fellowship and a visible bond with believers from all around the world. God is certainly changing and broadening our minds on what the Church is and what it looks like. Praise HIM that the gospel is central to the Church. That Jesus is the head and that no man can tear it down. It is built by and on Christ, the cornerstone, and held together by Him as well. I can't wait to see all His children (His inheritance) gathered together at last, rejoicing in God our Father.

BRUSSELS

BRUSSELS!!

Thanks to our lovely housemate Haven, we were able to take a day off together and go into Brussels for the afternoon and evening. We were stoked...and maybe slightly scared. The thought of traipsing around a foreign city we'd never seen before was exciting. But the thought of getting on a train, speaking to a conductor and purchasing tickets and working through things we'd never done before was a little daunting. As we practically ran toward the train station we skipped going inside and went around the building directly to the platform. I worried that we were doing something wrong and were going to get in trouble...something I keep worrying about-getting in trouble for doing something unintentionally wrong in a city that speaks a different language and I won't be able to explain myself and I'll look like a fool and be hanged or something. Soo obviously in this made up tragic scenario of mine, no one here speaks English or has any grace towards foreigners, and they're all living in the 19th century when wayward cowboys were hanged. Hmm.

We sat on the train, paid the conductor for our tickets (he spoke English) and waited for our stop. Twenty-ish minutes later a sign said BRUSSELS-(and something else that I unfortunately cannot remember). So we hopped up and sped out of the train. Katina left me in her dust while I fumbled down the steep and shallow stairs, twisted my ankle and fell on my butt in front of only three people all of whom acted like they didn't see me. I wasn't sure whether to be thankful or offended... Having emerged at the top of the street we weren't recognizing anything as it had been described to us that it should look. We looked at a map and saw that the station we were at was in fact the wrong station. We'd gotten off too early. (On our way home we counted 5 stops too early.) We made a phone call and found out that things weren't so bad, we could actually walk to Grand Place from where we were, but it would take at least 30 minutes and we'd have to ask people on the street for directions. Ok, cool. We can do this. It's a pretty day, the buildings are super neat-o and the people seem nice. We picked a direction and began walking. We chose a subject. He was younger and dressed in a blue suit taking a smoke break outside a very tall, long building. "Pardon, est-ce vous parle anglais?" "Oui." Oh good! We're looking for Grand Place... "Unfortunately you are walking in the wrong direction." Ha! Of course we are. :) He was very kind and gave us decent directions. We were able to follow them for some time before asking a woman, standing on the sidewalk, bottle of water in hand, friendly looking, younger, a prime subject for my do you speak English question. She actually looked excited to speak in English with me. Had I invited her to lunch with us I think she would've come. She asked me for the time, I told her and we marched on. Onward into a world of little plazas with green meadows in the middle of the streets where statues were erected in the center and patrons lounged in groups huddled around their lunches. We passed a string of black cabs, cabbies eager to help us toward our goal and take our money, but we were determined, however, not to spend any transportation money but to use our God given means of transport.

We walked.

And we walked.

And walked some more.

Finally we sat down across from a random building to take a break from asking directions and of course from walking.

We're at this intersection

Across the street from this statue on one side.

And this building on the other side.

Statue of a boy...

Where we were sitting.

Finally we worked up the nerve to get up again, picked a direction and moved on, timidly at first but with growing confidence as the budding explorers that we are. We rounded the corner and found out we had been sitting feet from a royal palace! I didn't get close enough to get a picture, but I saw with my own eyes a building of palatial grandness with guards at the entrance and everything.

A brilliant church we found in our wanderings.

Just look at that ceiling.

Gargantuan lock

Colossal door

This must be the father from Fiddler on the Roof.
Of this I am convinced.

We reached this clock archway three minutes past the hour.
So we missed the production that had to have occurred at the strike of 3 o'clock.

We followed some ACCORDION music we heard and found these guys. Accordion music. In a country that speaks French. Played by a young Belgian man. Awesome.

You should've seen the accordion players jacket.
It totally looked like something from the 90's.

We stopped for lunch at the place across from the busking Belgian men and sat outside for half a sandwich each and shared a plate of salad and frites with the best mayonnaise dipped fries I've ever had...and I've never, ever, ever had mayo on my fries. Never. Ketchup is the king of fry all condiments in my opinion, but apparently when in another country those things that I find to be odd eating habits of other people must be tried.

We had seen this structure from a mile away, thought it looked interesting
and had been heading for it this entire time.

Turns out it was this awesome plaza.

And when I say awesome...

I really do mean we were in awe.

It's a large plaza with a 360 degree view of the most amazing architecture I've seen in my life.

In the picture above you can see all the flowers being sold. In August volunteers will create a huge carpet of flowers in the center of the plaza. The carpet is made every other year and from the gorgeous pictures I've found it looks breathtaking. Apparently it takes one million begonias to complete. I'm sad we won't be here to see it. 

It gives you a feeling of greatness and smallness simultaneously. 

Built in 1699
Ahem.
1699.

This was built in the 1400's.

The detail and precision and grandeur...I wish these pictures could capture them and the feeling we both had. Katina took a video of the view which captures it better than flat pictures. Maybe she'll upload it for you.

At this point my camera battery died.
:(

After looking around and feeling a sense of amazement, we went inside an information center and found out that this was indeed Grand-Place. We'd made it! :)

The rest of our afternoon and evening was spent wandering and discovering more of the fine area. We were enchanted. At dusk we grabbed some ice cream and followed our noses wherever we desired to go.We came to a beautiful arched shopping and restaurant area, followed the long open hallway for a while until it intersected and opened up to a street. We turned left and were so glad we did. Upon turning left we felt that we had entered into another world. It was a small passageway with restaurants on either side. The sky had turned dark and each restaurant was lit up with lanterns and twinkly lights. All the restaurants had patios and the waiters were all dressed in fancy outfits, standing at attention in the streets. We licked our ice cream as we walked down this enchanting avenue, came to the end of it and wanted to walk through again. "Are we back on earth?!" was Katina's response. We continued following the crowd to random streets, and when we were tired, decided to head back through Grand Place which was just as gorgeous and slightly more magical in the twilight.

Loved. It.

I wish I could communicate to you just how magical everything felt and how much it communicates to my heart an even greater desire to be with all things international. This desire was already there, but it continues to grow. People and relationships. Travel. Experience. Building a broader world view of what's out there. How people think. How they live, etc. I'm excited to see what comes of this adventure.