Ahh, Europe

How can I describe this trip so far but that it's amazing? Incredible. Absolutely stunning. Beautiful. Exciting. New. Surreal. The descriptions could continue. I don't have time to write a lot but we've had the chance to visit the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium so far, and we will also be going to Luxembourg and France. LOVE it SO much. God is so good and is working in this trip. It is amazing and exciting to see. I can't wait to see what the next part of this trip brings, we are on day 4 of 10 and have already experienced so much...with so much more yet to come. Maastricht, Netherlands, is an incredible city and seeing the mission and vision of the missionaries there is so cool. It's so hard to find the right words to describe this trip. Right now we are just 5 minutes away from the city of Bastogne, in Belgium, in the middle of World War II history, literally a hill away from where the Battle of the Bulge took place. It's so unreal. Pray that God would continue to give us His favor and wisdom and creativity for this trip. He's been so evident in everything we've done so far, and I'm really encouraged and excited, and not a little bit curious, to see what happens next.

Jesus & the Samaritan woman

Have you ever wondered what this conversation was like? I read this passage yesterday and man...I'm sure it was an intense conversation. John 4. Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

John 4: 6-26 (My version)

Jesus sat down by the well…tired from a long day’s walk.

Samaritan woman walks up to draw water.

Jesus - “Would you give me a drink of your water?”

The woman looks at him, appalled, since Jews would never stoop so low as to talk to a Samaritan in those days.

Woman - “What do you think you’re doing, asking me for a drink?”

Jesus (seems to ignore her question and switches the topic (yet stays on topic)) - “But God’s gift of living water is even better - if you knew this, you would be asking me for a drink.”

Woman - “You have no water with you, and nothing to drink with, not even a cup. Our ancestor Jacob built this well and drank from it himself…who are you to say you are better than him?”

Jesus - “Drinking the water from this well will just make you thirsty again, but whoever drinks my water will never be thirsty again.”

Woman - “Then give me a drink of your water so I don’t have to keep coming back here to draw more water.”

Jesus - “Bring your husband here.”

Woman - “I don’t have a husband.”

Jesus - “I know. You’ve had 5. And now you’re living with another man and are not married.”

Woman - “Whoa. You must be a prophet.”

Umm…wow. No kidding. Pretty sure if a man sat down and started telling me all about myself…I’d be a little stunned, and convinced too…or making sure he wasn’t some weird creeper…

Then the conversation switches to deeper topics of worship and the coming of Christ.

Woman - “I know that Christ is coming, and when He comes He will explain everything to us.”

Jesus - “I am Christ, who you speak of.”

Whoa. Wow. Throughout the Bible, Jesus is reluctant to proclaim who He really is. It seems like He tries to keep it under wraps so people won’t notice. I know it’s because His time had not yet come. There was a time and a place for everyone to find out who He is. But here, beside a well after a long, hard day’s journey, he talks with a Samaritan woman, an outcast to the Jews, and reveals Himself to her. What an intense conversation. I would have loved to have been a “fly on the well” there. [Pun intended]

 I wish the Bible told us the entire conversation. Sometimes I wish the writers had included emotion so we could better understand the context, the experience, the tone of voice, etc. How exactly did Jesus ask the woman for water? Did the woman stare at him in shock? Snap at him? Was she rude to him? Was he gentle? Did he command or request? How did she respond when Jesus told her about her past? I don’t know if I would have been so welcoming at first. My reaction would be - uhhh, go away you creepy stalker! And was Jesus nonchalant about telling her who He really is? Sounds like He was pretty purposeful. I am the One you speak of. And how did the woman respond?

Sounds like there was a lot of room to pass Jesus off as some weird, tired, dehydrated traveler. But the woman listed to Him. Engaged Him in conversation. She wasn’t afraid to ask questions. To ask Him who He was and what the heck He was doing. And He told her. And in the end she and her whole town believed. I just think that’s so cool.

On a side note...4 days and counting until Europe! Aaahhhh!!!!! :)

1 week!

Only 1 week until I leave for Europe. Crazy. Love it. I'm getting so excited. I'm at peace about it finally, too. God's working on my heart to prepare me...and I can sense that excitement and purpose rising...packing party tomorrow!

In 1 week I will be on a plane... :)

Sunny Fort Myers and BASEBALL!

I am about to head out for my 1st Twins spring training game...can't even begin to tell you how excited I am. I've always wanted to go, and now I'm actually here! :) With awesome seats, too. I'll have to post a picture later. For now, GO TWINS! :)