'Three cheers for the greatest guitarist on Grafton Street. Hip hip hooray!'

Well, hello.

I feel silly apologizing for not writing these past several days. I know that making that apology presumes a readership that checks this site often enough to notice my lack of posts. However, I am sorry for keeping you in the dark, even if you were unaware or apathetic of the dark. That concludes my (silly and presumptuous) opening comments.

During the school break for carnival last week, I saw some of Ireland. I saw Green. It was nice to my eyes. We flew to Dublin, day-tripped to Wicklow, then moved on to Kilkenny. I hardly know what to say. Dubliners were friendly. I was going to spend the entire four days in St. Stephen's Green, but they close the park 20 minutes before sunset.

We celebrated Aubrey's birthday. 'She's not like other girls, she's (was, rather) a birthday girl.' Aubrey Wilson is a lovely lady and travelling friend. Aubrey has basically been Patience and is a peace-maker always. Three cheers for the greatest Aubrey on Harcourt Street. Hip hip hooray!

We climbed a large hill in Wicklow. I don't know how to put words to the beauty of the view from the top of it. I haven't ever wanted so badly to be able to fly. Ever.

Kilkenny was so good to us, and better than we thought. It was like the underdog of Ireland, and it won the championship. When we arrived most everything went wrong. While we were eating dinner and trying to amend plans for the next few days we prayed for God to direct us and keep us from discouragement and frustration. Then Anne sat down. Anne and Michael are a couple from California who are living at the hostel, the Folksrath Castle, this winter and helping Jack with management. Anne, after giving us more advice than we would have known how to ask for about touring the area, offered to drive us herself to visit a few places that were inaccesible by train or bus. Really? Really. Praise God. So, she drove us a ways outside of the city where we walked through the ruins of a 12th? century priory and then also through a monastery and cemetary. I don't know that the memory of those places will ever leave me. I hope it won't. The monastery, especially, was steeped in silence from years of prayer and thought and study of God and I was so encouraged to walk there.

Now it's exam week.

A friend of mine who is overseas at the moment e-mailed a reminded that I wanted to pass on. He says, "Still, there is always the cross...and there is someone who hangs upon it. If we walk the road we have been called to walk, death is certain: death to some desires, death to some relationships, and perhaps even to our very lives. Still, what other promise is there greater than that of resurrection and His Kingdom? He is worthy." Thank you, Jim. Thank you, Jesus.

This is close to awfully long, but I have one more story. On Saturday night we were sitting in a Dublin train station. We were hungry and were facing a bakery that was closing. The ladies started throwing away sandwiches from the refrigerator, but turned to us and asked if we'd like any of them for free. We said yes and thank you. When we started eating Bethy told us that she had been worried about her declining bank account and the expenses as we travelled. She asked God to make her more dependent on Him for every need, and to show her practically how He provides. He did.

God be with you:
Audrey.

Oh, dear.

In other words: I lost a beloved notebook today on a train.

Sad day.

There goes a lovely (copied, thank goodness) picture of my grandma, all evidence that there once was fall in Waco, the month of October, my coffee klatch reminder, most written memories thus far on the trip, and the other decorations on and contents of the moleskine.

Some good came out of it. An hour long trip out of my way in an attempt to retrieve it = time to stare out the window at Dutch country. Turns out the wood from 'The Magician's Nephew' is actually somewhere between Herleen and Maastricht. I saw it, though only for a moment, just as I imagined it to be when reading the book last summer. Also, as this was my first time in awhile to misplace something not inherently valuable but very much so to me, I was pretty starkly apprehended with the thought of the grief of our Father for His lost children, and His desire for their return home. My loss is miniscule, really.

Love
You Know Who

Oh, dear. In other words the window is open and it is lovely out.

I'm home from Paris. Home is a relative term here. I feel removed from two already. Maastricht has become the third for a time and I like it as such.

Well. The Sacre Coeur is one of the more beautiful churches I've ever seen and is on a hill. Like a city on a hill. Visiting the churches around here is beneficial for multiple reasons: the architecture and the art work is stunning, really- it's incredible- and gives definition, more than normal buildings, to the grandeur, the beauty, the majesty of God. I am also compelled, when visiting these churches, to pray that the body of Christ be built up in a place where indifference to the Creator seems prevalent.

The Seine and Notre Dame are most worth seeing when so few do- at sunrise. Chocolate crepes are dangerous to my health. I like them too much. I need a friend. I need Jesus. Need for Him is a reality, so I'm learning to enjoy feeling it.

I miss you, and I'm
off to read James Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,"
Audrey

the view from my window

My winter hat and scarf, which have mourned their inactivity in various Texas closets and their use in unworthy weather, will realize their full potential today. It is snowing in Maastricht. It's not at all like sleet-snow. It is snow and it looks like peace, and I will be in it before too long. Class comes first.

Classes have started this week. I am taking two political science classes with Dr. Waltman, who is a dear man and wonderful professor and our trip sponsor. Dutch Art History began yesterday and I don't really know what to say about it just yet. Our professor has studied in nearly all of Western Europe and done archaeological digs throughout the Middle East. She speaks seven languages. She is a bit intimidating, but I'm excited for the new subject of study. I've never taken art history. As my Comparative European Lit professor broke his arm and is having surgery this week(?) that class won't meet for another two weeks. Sorry. I mean, I'm sorry for him, and also sorry that those might be boring details for you.

We had our first Bible study last night, twenty of us or so, and looked at James 1. I enjoy, more than I enjoy a lot of things, talking about Scripture with other people and hearing their insights, hearing what the Holy Spirit has revealed to them about the passage. We need community. If there were no other reason, and there are plenty, that it is right for us to be the body of Christ it seems enough that we gain more understanding about the Word through others. I miss yellow house lifegroup. I'm glad for life and group meetings here.

If anyone wants to meet me at the Eiffel Tower, this is the weekend to do it. Mom- if you're reading this- don't worry, I left your black coat at home.

I'll leave you with this.
"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

au revoir,
peace,
audrey

We're not so different

Berlin is bustling.
Berlin is bursting at the seams with diversity and with delicious pastries and with a rich and sometimes tragic history that I've hardly skimmed the surface of, yet I was glad to have seen the place. I was glad that we happened to make it on the weekend we did, as there was a massive community garage sale/outdoor flea market or something of the sort very near our hostel.

We saw a man in a bakery near the train station one evening. He was a bit shaky and obviously unaware of his surroundings. I felt the frailty of my human condition- we are not so different, he and I - and gladness at the sureness that, "though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16 Praise Jesus.

Audrey

So I am off to Berlin...

That's weird.

I am very excited for World Mandate in Waco this weekend. Do you hear me? Very excited. And my brother is going. The excitement probably doubles with that.

More to come,
Tot ziens,
Audrey