highlights

These past two and a half months have been amazing.  I can't believe how much has happened and how quickly the time has passed.   This picture is from my very first day, and only a couple of these people are still here.  But the exciting thing is that the current staff is almost all staying for 9 or 10 months.  And they're just as lovely as the wonderful people who have left already.  

 Seriously, the staff here is wonderful.  We've got mostly Germans, some English people, a few Americans, and a few Dutchies!  

So, my schedule is pretty irregular.  I occasionally work in the cafe.  Like, for example, these delicious Nutella frappucinos.

I'm also a cleaner supervisor, which means I get the opportunity to work alongside some great people who usually don't know Jesus.  We keep cleaners for about a month, and we have daily devotions with them.  It can be a pretty exhausting shift, but it's also the most rewarding!  Check out some of my favorite cleaners: Kostas (Greek), Marco (German), and Etta (American).

Bust most of my shifts are at reception, and I love it!  Welcoming people into the hostel is super great.  

I should also mention that I've seen some beautiful and fun things.  Amsterdam is absolutely full of history, old buildings, and cool museums.

I've also had some really awesome roommates, like Rachel (from Iowa) and Rebekah (from England).

This is the cafe, where I get to have a lot of conversations with guests, cleaners, and staff!

Enjoy a few more pics of the people I love, pictured below.  ;)

Oh, and don't forget that time that Rachel and I organized a hostel night, complete with games, a message, and a dinner for about 50 people.  It was a masquerade theme, and I talked about being authentic with God and with others, and I played a song on my uke.  So fun!

These past couple months have been full of firsts.  Like destroying a guitar with my bare hands.  Biking more than I ever have before in my whole life.

More importantly, they've been full of God.  Worship on the patio.  Sharing my testimony a billion times.  Devotions and small groups and praying together.


So there's a short glimpse into my life.  Let me know what you want to see!  Sorry about the long blog silence.  More to come!

amsterdam

When I left Maryland last August, a guy who I barely knew was part of a group of young adult Jesus-lovers who were praying for me.  He said that God was telling him to tell me this: "Some really hard things will happen in Haiti, but those things are not the end."

At the time, I thought this might be a clue to the fact that I would be staying in Haiti a long time, persevering through many obstacles.  After all, I had originally attended to stay for at least 5-10 years.  I had no intention to stay 9 months and then leave.  It's funny though, because the words were true.  Some really hard things happened, and they were not the end.  Then I got to this beautiful place, where every day is filled with joy in the Lord and laughter with beautiful children.  When things were easier, the end showed itself.  There are a million reasons to leave, but there are a million reasons to stay too.  Like Gregory, Maya, Sania, Fiona, Suzie, and the rest.  But none of those reasons matter.

I explain this better in this video, so watch it if you haven't yet!

July 1st, I start a 6 month contract with a hostel in Amsterdam.  WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?!??!?!

I'm sure this seems a little out of left field to you.  It did to me too!  As I said in my video, I'm not leaving for any reason other than God is calling me there now.  I was so surprised, but I'm also excited!  I asked God to give me the amount of money to stay in Haiti for how long He wanted me to stay.  When I got the money I had planned for each month up to May/June, all the money coming in stopped suddenly.  Then I applied to work with www.youthhostelministry.org, and they accepted me!

The three pillars of their ministry are to:

Practice hospitality.

Pursue hearts for Jesus.

Live in community.

I am so excited about all of those things!  I'm really excited about being part of a team, since I've been somewhat on my own the past 9 months.  I'm also excited that they are committed to learning and growing together, through life as well as curriculum.  

This is an example of a schedule of some of the things I will be doing!  

Fortunately, I was able to save a lot of money on my original budget for Haiti - mostly by eating oatmeal and grilled cheese sandwiches and being frugal.  So I have about $1,000 left over from Haiti, and these 6 months in Amsterdam are only going to cost about $3,000.  So I'm raising $2,000, and I would really appreciate it if you could pitch in!  I'm also having some fun things and incentives.  Check them out at Love Amsterdam. 

Prayer Requests:

That I will make the most of my 27 days left here.

That I will have a restful, lovely, fun, and non-stressful 7 weeks in the states as I visit 7 different states and try to see lots of friends and family before I leave for Amsterdam.

That the girls will take the news well and not spend our last month together upset with me.

My Maya might be going home with her mother, which could be a good thing or a bad thing.

Love all of you!  Please let me know your questions!

And now, catch up on the videos from this week!