(continued...)
After Amsterdam, Bethany and I took a series of long trains to get to Copenhagen. I've learned that Denmark is impossible to reach by rail. (Mark 10:27) But we made it and were greeted at the Copenhagen H station by Elizabeth, another friend from Capernwray. She showed us around the city. I thought it was great. From our hostel we had an excellent view of some of the downtown. We had a cool time. We took a cool canal tour. I was NOT impressed by the little mermaid statue, but it was interesting to see it and hear all the things that have happened to her, especially her head, over the years. It was a bright, sunny day, continuing the good weather I had for nearly every day of the whole month. **am I in California? I really enjoyed going to Christiania...the free city situated in a beautiful part of copenhagen. The best way I can think to describe it would be like a huge people's park, a little more classy, and filled with Danes. I have to say Danish hippies impress me more than their Berkeley counterparts. I had a good cup of coffee and a traditional danish ice cream bar (no weed, although I almost bought a cookie before I started thinking what might be in it), and we walked along the river and looked at all the cool houses, bikes, and artwork.
After a couple days in Copenhagen, Bethany and I went to a village in the hills outside of Aarhus, where we stayed with the family of Jan, a danish exchange student who lived with my dad's family in the 70s. This was one of the best, unexpected parts of my trip, because I learned so much from this danish family about my family, especially about my late grandparents. It really felt like I was with family. I hope to see them all again. I really liked the kids...one was a lot like my brother Daniel. We had amazing danish pastries...mouth-melting carbohydrate-crispy sugar spirals! BRILLIANT! We also went to the (ersatz) highest point in denmark..."sky-high mountain"...this little hill...(like the parking lot was only 100 yards from the summit. but it was beautiful.
After Aarhus, we joined Elizabeth again to go really far up north where I can't pronounce the names, so I don't know where it was (I also couldn't pronounce the Danish names when we were in the South). We had a blast...beaches and sand dunes...biking through the forest and more beaches...cool danish church on sunday and the best ice cream I've had in a long time. I'd really like to learn Danish and go back often...stopping in Germany, of course, on the way.

(continued)...
After Ansbach in Franconia, I went further south in Bavaria to Munich. I have a friend from Capernwray who lives there, and two other women from Capernwray were visiting her. So it was the four of us for a couple days near the end of March. I remember Elizabeth (my munich friend) showing us all a ton of churches the first day I got there, probably because I expressed some interest, but my interest in old european churches (as well as any european museums) has dwindled away over the month. However, there was a very disturbing church of note. What happens when one is German and survives a frightening ship wreck and sees many die, and, wishing to thank God for his rescue using his architecture design skills, builds a house of God? A dark spirally church, with spiky gilded doors, black boat frescoes and lots of skulls, some with swords stabbing creepy looking angels. But it was interesting to think about what it would be like to go to some of the nicer looking churches. I think that would be really cool. That day playing Deutsch monopoly (which is very different, although I couldn't resist saying things like GIVE ME NEW YORK...FREE PARKING! the whole time. by the by, i won...having taken possession of my dad's favorite, the green ones). After that we went to an excellent restaurant where I had more sauerkraut and pork schnitzel. It was great to see more Capernwray friends and we stayed there a long time talking and sharing really good desert. It was the best when this clear American showed up and said, "I hear you talkin' English..Where're y'all frooommm?" And I was so excited I answered, "WE'RE FROM AMERICA!!" but then looked around the table at my friends who were: English, Canadian, and German (the start of a joke maybe) and after some recalculation added, "Actually, just me, but it's SOO great to see another American in this country." For as much as I like Germans and Bavaria, I do feel pretty homesick these days. There is nothing like northern california...more on that later.
I stayed at a German couples' house who spoke little English. The last night they dressed me up in Bavarian clothes, took pictures of me, and invited me back for Octoberfest...I'd love to go, just don't know when the next time I'll be free to go to Germany in September. I also went to Salzburg, Austria for a day, but it was a cold, rainy Sunday and very uneventful. my favorite part was the famous horse statue closed off with a giant box around it. I think their rebuilding it. typical. However, I ate the most gorgeous apple streudel and got a good picture of me eating a mozart ball chocolate in mozartplaße in front of his statue.

Amsterdam: I spent two days in Amsterdam before heading up to Denmark. Mixed feelings. It was a beautiful city, with canals and cool architecture (i knew nothing about amsterdam before). However, the city was also very gross. My dutch friends at capernwray laugh at me when i tell them i didn't know my hostel would be in the red light district...that was weird. I met up with my cousin Bethany the second day, but for the first night it was a bit weird walking to and from my hostel, being beckoned by ethereal dutch ladies from storefront windows in the gathering shadows...luckily food was the only thing I indulged in (and not food from "coffee shops") We did one of the new europe free tours the second day...not as good as the one we did in Scotland earlier this year...for the same reason. There is a lot of good history to amsterdam i'm sure, beyond "look at the smallest house in the city, "here's the biggest bridge" and "this cafe has the BEST cannibus." I did take a really informative canal tour the first night...with all the bridges nicely lit and some cool history. By far the best part of my time in Amsterdam was the Van Gogh museum. (this was when I still liked museums.) I just really enjoyed what i saw of his work and it was cool to hear his story. I'd like to learn more about him.

Hi...I think I can begin talking about my travels this last month...don't know how long it will take me, but i'll get there. (I'll keep posting as I go)
To begin...at the beginning (or the end if you catch my under milkwood allusion *See Wales)

Germany: My favorite country. I know i've talked a bit about Berlin. It was great going around with three good friends from Capernwray and one's little brother. Berlin was an awesome city. Very clean and diverse--by atmosphere, ethnically (i.e. the bomb food like doners which we ate every day), varied history etc. I don't remember the name, but there was a really cool, giant church near Alex the radio tower featured in the 2nd Bourne movie. It had some cool statues (well, A LOT--it's Germany). my favorite was the reformers circling the pews, even upstaging the 12 apostles a bit. CALVIN, LUTHER, ZWINGLI all serious, holding books and stuff, and then there was this one i've never heard of smiling at the congregation. very funny. that's how i want to be portrayed when i'm a reformer. this church had a cool dome and we could walk around it outside, seeing the whole city by day. Later in the week we did the same thing in the Reichstag dome at night, seeing everything we'd seen the last four days. It was excellent.
After Berlin we went to a small village outside of Ansbach in Bavaria (actually it was Franconia if your eager to catch me in a historically charged technicality). That was great. It was where my German friend Phil lives, in a huge farm house with his family and other jolly German borders. We ATE so well. all sorts of schnitzels and sauerkraut glowing golden, beckoning me to partake. Some highlights were eating with an old german lady phil knew who spoke english well enough to call me "Jack the Ripper" and talk about poetry and elementary school teaching in Boston. (I would love to live in Boston, even just to be able to ride subways...i love subways.)
We also went to Dachao, one of the first concentration camps, and longest lasting. I was very impressed and moved by the holocaust memorial in berlin, and it was good to go deeper and learn more. I also enjoyed, well, loved the youth group at a local church i went too. Only Germans would spend three hours pouring over scripture, discussing the holy spirit, and then stay till 1:30 in the morning to laugh and hang out together. I met my long lost relatives the Thiel sisters...(one was named Katherin Thiel...which is my sister's name) they pronounce it Teel. I would really like to go back to Franconia and see them and Phil again. It was sad to leave, but I would not trade my time there for anything (in addition to doing a lot more cliche things that sound travel booky and such)....more on the rest of germany following...

I'm in Berlin right now (for those of you who haven't seen my facebook status...which says the exact same thing-I can't diversify). Right now I'm enjoying the company of some fellow students and the atmosphere of a german pub by going on the internet lol. So I totally was just asked (AUF DEUTSCH) if I wanted a small coke or a large coke and I totally just answered in German (perfunctorily!)...and impressed everyone (including myself) by the German I didn't know I had. I know it's not a big deal...but I'm happy. I'm having a good time here. I really enjoyed seeing the berlin wall yesterday and Checkpoint Charlie. Today we saw that movie with Tom Cruise about the Hitler assassination attempt. Cool and meaningful to be in Berlin when I saw it. And cool to be with Germans--my bible school friend Phil and his friend Lucas. The best part is meeting Germans (like Phil's other friends) and speaking and hanging out with them. I actually just really like meeting people, even those in the hostels with us (not the sketchy Frenchies down the hallway who like to party). I'm excited to go down to southern Germany (the Nurnburg---I can't spell anything---area) on Tuesday.

I'm going traveling for the next month. I'll try to update. Here's a preview. My itinerary will include: Berlin, Ansbach, Munich, Salzburg, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Lyon, Paris, Cardiff, and Swansea. Please pray for me as I travel. Wish I was back home though with you all (sincerely). Peace.

I welcomed St. Patrick's Day by ripping off my dark jacket covering (having counted down from 11:59 the previous night) to reveal my full green attire. Then ran from room to room bearing my good tidings. Then I (exaggerating a bit) ran around the green English hills while a Canadian looked on. I felt bad for one guy from Texas because it was his birthday, and I thought he was joking. Needless to say, enthusiasm for his birthday was deferred. Last night, my worship team put on a kind of sending service for all the students for prayer and encouragement as we all go back to our mission fields. (many are not continuing after spring break in a few days). We sang a song written by St. Patrick, sort of, and to introduce it I said: "Tomorrow is my favorite day of the year. We celebrate probably the world's most famous missionary. Does anyone know who he is?" No response. That's kind of how this day's been for me. True examples. They blow me away:
[British Dan trudges in for breakfast]
John: Happy St. Patrick's Day!
British Dan: I'm British

or

[German Phil walks in wearing all black. He asks--]
German Phil: Why are you pinching me. Ouch.

I pinched SO MANY people today. It was really sad. They didn't have corned beef for dinner either. Nor cabbage. So I finished reading the Old Testament (!) finally (in a tree) and then followed a creak as far as I could go reading a book on Gerard Manly Hopkins.
Came across this poem that is supposed to be as if he had written it:

I have no use for poems. They keep my heart
more occupied with pleated rhyme than God
(forgive me). Jesuits denounce the part
of life that most enthralls. And so, the rod
swings heavier than the pen. The sword wins.
A stroke of the blade, ten fall. No loss
is great compared to this: my self begins
again, alone, with God. Herod could toss
children on clattered cobblestones that night
for Jesus' sake, for his salvation. Why,
then, won't I burn this childish verse, a light
sacrifice indeed? Something young must die.

As poems catch fire, my heart assumes a flame
for God. Now no one will recall my name.

I resonated especially with it because I've given up writing poems for Lent...so I can have spiritual and life experiences to enjoy without fitting them into images and music. So that was really encouraging. I guess it was a good day. I have about 2 hours to get to Ireland (the republic of) though. Not sure about that.

...on every St. Patrick's card I write
May your corned beef never be lean
And may all your St. Patrick's be green!

It's certainly overdue to talk a bit about my crazy experiences in Morely during my 10-Day Outreach.
Overall, it was an amazing experience. Stressfull, yes. Very changelling--I feel like I've learned so much (frequently through mistakes). But very fun. So much laughter and good times getting to know the people on my team better. A time I really had to depend on God for strength. Some highlights:
-My host family was THE BOMB. Heather and Neale (and Damorice the hamster, who was really part of their family). There was always lots of food (crisps, fruit, toast--they were the kind of people who always have really good english jams in their fridge). They had tons of books (but they acknowledged in typical english irony that they merely had "one or two"). In addition to making my way through Ezekiel (which I love) I spent my nights reading Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas...and a really good collection of T.S.Eliot poetry (Ash Wednesday etc. is my favorite). They were really nice and chill...and, Heather being a minister, were able to offer good practical suggestions for us.
-Bible Exhibitions in primary schools. We spent most of our mornings putting on exhibition where we told the story of the Bible while acting out some of the key characters. I was asked after the first day to be the narrator for the whole thing after just playing Abraham the day before. That was great. Challenging and new, but I loved teaching the kids and talking about Jesus. My favorite part was telling the story of the tower of babel where I'd ask the kids what languages they new. (British children take foreign languages in school). And then I'd act out how it went down: Pourquoi tu ne peut pas me comprendre. On construit un grand tour?! Where do we put the bricks? Donde esta la puerta? I think I enjoyed doing this more than the kids, but one mustn't always judge comedy based on audience reaction.
-We ran kid's clubs as an after school program in a school, where we presented the gospel over the course of a week. That was really great. I spent most of the time entertaining the kids while they were queuing up to have a go on the bouncing castle. We had a nice family service to close the week, and I taught the kids about the apostle Thomas and what it means to believe in Jesus.
-We went to the morely town hall and were introduced to the governor (wearing full garb--gold necklace and robes). He was very, very proud. but we took great pictures with him, and pretending we were judges and jury in the courthouse. the worst part was when i was asked to thank him formerly on behalf of my outreach team. As Mark Twain would say, we shall draw the curtain of charity over the rest of the scene.
-Pensioners lunch. We had great fun (and lots of awkward silences) meeting elderly yorkshire people at the coffee mornings and the luncheon we held. Nice to talk to people about God and the relationship he wants with us, and the needs we have that only he can meet and be received warmly and talk about deeper issues with adults.
-YZup. A youth group. We did have a powerful time of testimony sharing and a cool video, but my role for the evening was teaching them how to line dance. In my spontaneous texas accent that I didn't know I had (and was actually really hard to stop using) It's so fun to fulfill every stereotype.
-SAS. Another youth group evening. We discussed what it means to love God with all our mind. Part of the discussion included a guy from morely talking about his experiences on stage. There is a wrong way to take what i'm going to now say, but it's surprising how well certain techniques of method acting actually apply to those of following Jesus. I should write a book.
-The Food. Yorkshire pudding....so beautiful. Moist and succulent even...and somehow toasty. And custard. loads of it. but i've already described it all. Some very nice Earl Grey tea also. I went to Nandos again. Which is a well-brilliant Portuguese chicken restaurant. spicy and tender chicken...filling my tummy and giving me heartburn. life is good.
-Two worship services we lead. One centered on the Hope we have in Christ. The other on Christ's sacrificial Love (it being Lent). I shared a bit of my walk with God in the latter service. And we introduced the song Sing to Jesus which my church played hecka last year. (i try to use the word hecka as much as i can to keep some of my northern californian spirit).
Maybe I'll think of more things to talk about later....that's all for now.