Jumbles

:) this title makes me think of the "jumbles" that we do in florida in the newspaper (whcih i guess we could be doing in the trib as well)

So grateful for all of my friends at home-- I'm so blessed to feel SOOOO supported by all of you while i'm over here. I am forever thankful and forever and ever a much stronger and more Christ-like person because of each of you (family included).
Thank you for loving me.
I am very appreciate today-- it was not as high high of a day as yesterday--- but that's to be expected-- yesterday was soo fabulous its hard to live up to that 2 days in a row. I was much more tired today as Dad probably knows b/c he saw my computer still logged on at 2 am my time. Another girl- Caitlin - from chicago said she was up til 2 am as well due to all the time changes/busy day hype etc.
This school is MAJORLY about the beer, bars, and going out.
I do not think I will have a problem, its just a great experience to have b/c its SO different from bethel- there are several bars on campus and the student government doesnt really organize much expect events surrounding alcohol--- they will have beer chugs, beer pong, etc etc. Parents, grandparents, no worries. I will not be participating; I may go, but you have nothing to fear. You've raised me to know what's good for me and what isn't. I am glad to have such a different expeirence ESPECIALLY after all of the bethel culture--
its sooo good for me to finally be exposed to the real world--- i mean no longer do i have ANY christians-- i think there may be one who is also dating a christian (but she's not with us too much b/c she's from antwerp--shes the one frmo the states who is dating the belgian)
theres oen chrsitian girl who i think really portrays a "meet the tuckers" type lifestyle-- i mean, she said how its going to be a real pain to find the ONLY lutheran church in brussels and its all the way on the other side of town, adn i said, well cant you go to another church, adn she said, well, no, you see denominations have different teachings--- i was like, girl, it would be good for you to get out of "YOUR denomination" for a little while--- she said back home they're all "really close knit" -- thats when i asked her if they ever did outreach--- good grief--- no wonder one of the reasons the church in america is dying--- they're breeding old fashioned tract givers with no mistakes--- geesh-- i on the otherhand feel like all the bethel classes and teachigns about "how to bring faith into the workplace"... maybe i didnt pay close enough attention to that for the type of circle im currently in.
i'm used to the lifestyles of everyone here-- i have no problems with them -- but i love talking about my God and so i'm gradually dropping in mission trips, etc. rather than shove things down their throats-- now, family, i'm not saying, go to the other extreme, i think its true, as Jon and i were talking, now instead of the church saying NOOO to everything, now we say "sure, in moderation" to everything. so i do see the point of having a balance-- just all a part of my christian school upbringing-- nwo its the time for me to decipher how and when i'm name dropping J.C. into convos-- i'm not gonna put out the cheesy lines, but i will be real about who is my Savior b/c i want all of them to know Him tooo!!


interesting how thsi group is sooo close-- im  happy with it though-- a couple girls and i went home early tonight b/c we were all tired adn exhausted from traveling the metro forever with some of the boys-- we were looking for some site seeing-- one guy said that the red light district was nearby and we were going to walk past,but didnt end up finding it (but traveled on the metro for an hour plus )
when jon and i rode the bus from amsterdam to brussels we saw a ton of prostitutes sitting on stools and chairs, standing ini the glass windows framing themselves for those walking by to "purchase some pleasure" -- it was soo sad-- i have such a scarred image of this one blond who had on what looked similar to a pink bikini (lingerie/underwear i'm sure) -- they all looked so expectant to find someone--- chris (a tall guy who was thinking of finding the red light district--said that he'dseen them in belgiium and they were all fairly ugly/ or old-- i remember seeing them at moulin rouge and they looke d fairly normal-- dressed in tights and skirts and a little extra makeup, but it was NOTHING like this spot on the way into the city of brussels--- there must ahave been at least 20 girls all in these different glass windows lining the streets-- the windows went from the floor to the ceiling and my heart just broke for them--- i have such a heart for them b/c its all about identity, meeting ends meet, and their value. Freeset (the ministry who takes the women off the streets in kolkatta to get them out of prostitution means SO much to me) God bless them-- i think that would be an awesome thign to be a part of for a year-- id love to go spend a year of my life ministering somewhere like that. how incredibly powerful -- to think of these women literally being given new lives and a new chance to be able to make money in some other way-- and how heartbroken and numb they must feel-- the damage must run SO deep. :'(  wow.
sooo anyway--- that was a big take-away that i'll probably never ever forget.
anything else i should share-- it was a long mostly boring, monotonous day-- my phone battery popped out so i have no service till tomorrow when i get back into the office to retype in my pin # (every time the phone gets turned off you have to redo the pin) bummer
i'll meet "my neighbors" at around noon to go to the office and meet everyone else to go get lunch , and shop :) fun to have friends.. i love friends.
girls are super sweet that im closer to-- i like them-- not so much into the status type girls-- but im still friends with them-- im just not into the clingy-ness and i feel like those who care sometimes have less confidence and cling more. maybe some would say that about me, i dont know, its just fun to be with everyone.
one of my neighbors-darcy had her boyfriend around tonight so taht was fun to meet him. we got split into smaller cell groups earlier in the day for going out and getting to know the campus/tour etc, and they wre ok-- not super super thrilled- ill most likely save some friend making energy for my classes ;) and internship-- sweet! cant wait-- thank God i got it already locked in-- how amazing He is!!
lots typed again tonight-- nice way to chill out and process my journey over here-- writing more for me and some for you all (everyone from the south --which is many of the isa ppl-- are saying ya'll -- some even said i talked like a minnesotan!! AHHH oh no lol my worst nightmare--hehe i already knew itd rubbed off here and there though ;] )
have a tour of burssels on saturday monring and i guess a bar hop on friday night-- they say bars dont close til 7 am or somethign-- are you serious?? these ppl go crazy over here!! the president of the student government said that 'you wont have to worry' about bars closign before you get your fill. good grief... they also some 300 some beers over here and theres no way to try them all before going back to the states--... i guarantee many kids will be trying.
have a night to chill out-- its 10 pm now and will maybe take  a shower and try ot sleep early tonight-- i need it. lots ahead of me still
love