Tonight I don't really have anything too interesting to be writing about. No new adventures. No castles. No Spain... just another ordinary week in Dublin. Ireland is beginning to feel like home to us because it is where we have been, and also where we came back to after being in Barcelona. Also, after Barcelona Dublin seems to be a bit plain. Although, we do still see new things every day. Chelsea and I went on a nice run yesterday along the River Liffey which was beautiful and refreshing. We took a walk one day out to the port and around the older side of Dublin which is way better than the touristy part - so much more character. Dublin has it's charm for sure.
Since I haven't been distracted by all of the touristy things to do for the last couple of days I have had a lot of time to think and quite a bit of time to wish I could buy an airplane ticket with our savings - or what is left of it - and come home. It isn't really that I am "homesick" necessarily, it is more like I am done with this whole traveling thing. I miss having a safe haven and a kitchen that I can cook in. I miss having a wardrobe and not a suitcase on the floor of a small room with a concrete view out the window. I miss my family, my church family, and I miss having a car! Goodness what I would give to just go driving for hours. My heart goes out to anyone living in a foreign country - Josh and Joy you two rock! All of these things are weighing on me, but more than any of the material things I miss relationships. Sure, I have internet talks and short, fuzzy phone calls, and Facebook... but honestly, I miss hugs. I miss making a difference in the lives of others. I miss long nights with my closest girl friends. Okay, but seriously - I'm just being a complainer now. It really is gorgeous here and I am learning a lot and stretching myself and deepening my character by sticking it out and trying my hardest to see the sunlight coming through the cracks.
We went to a church today - a Christian one. We actually walked about 2 miles to get there, asking multiple people for directions on the way. We barely made it in time. Sadly, we were happy that we didn't come early. The church was really small, which isn't a bad thing at all, but you could tell that they like never have visitors because everyone stared at us when we walked in with confused looks. We found seats and as I was looking around I noticed that all of the women were wearing head coverings and skirts, so Chelsea and I felt a little out of place. The sermon was about baptism and all of the details of it. The speaker spent about 10 minutes telling us that a sprinkle would not do, and that the water could not be clean or chlorinated and that it had to be natural water. Needless to say, it made me miss Connexion even more. I miss real people talking to me about real, challenging, hurts-to-talk-about-it things. Does it really matter what kind of water you get baptized in or how much you use? Come on people. I will give them a little credit. We did get a couple of smiles on our way out which was nice and a few words from the pastor. It was also encouraging just to know that Christian churches still exist in Europe.
On an upside, I started reading a book called "Crazy Love" and it is helping me to take a step back and realize that I have been missing the big picture. God is the same no matter what part of the world I am in and no matter how out of my comfort zone I am. No matter how different life feels over here, God is always the same. He is the constant in my life, and I don't love Him nearly enough. I have a lot going on emotionally here, and I just can't imagine being someone dealing with all that life throws and not knowing the hope that exists because of Jesus. If I was feeling all of these things and looking at my pain and all the dirt that clouds my life and I didn't know about the joy of salvation and the beauty of forgiveness... well, I don't know what my life would be like. I know that because I know the truth that I can get through anything. Thank you Jesus!
Well, no spectacular plans for the week. I am talking Jared into going to the zoo with me even though it costs 15euro each. I just think cute furry animals will make me amazingly happy. They always have for my entire life. Funny how God makes us all so differently. Jared likes to kill them. I like to watch lion king over and over and pet every dog that I pass on the street. I pet a seeing eye dog once and got into trouble. ahah. That is beside the point. I think we will go to the zoo. After talking to you about it, I have realized it is a must. Plus, they have a safari section, and I really love elephants and lions. Yay! Gah, I'm excited.
Well, my fingers are freezing off because it is colder here than in Danville and I am sitting outside of Starbucks since there are no seats inside and I needed internet access for a bit. Isn't it ridiculous that it is colder here this week? ... you just wait till I am in Italy. Bye :)
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