So I forget where I left off... The second day in the Netherlands, I woke up at 8am and had slept a good 12 hrs!! rested, yet still a little tipsy feeling like I was still on a plane :) Went by train with Iemkje to Amsterdam by train. It was so fun. We sat and laughed and talked the whole 2hr ride there and back. It wasn't till the end of our trip Iemkje pointed to the word on the window beside us. " Silence". oops! oh well. :) We laughed a lot too, because we were a little slap happy :) The country is so so beautiful. Again I thank the Lord for such a wonderful trip.
We arrived at Haarlem, which is the town where Corrie Ten Boom lived. We visited her house, which is now a museum, and heard her story. Underneath her house was her father's watch store. We walked around Haarlem and then visited her church. The church was very beautiful. The organ was a being played and was a little un nerving :) Afterwards, we caught a train to Amsterdam and walked around town. We walked to the house of prayer which is in the red light district. It was sobering and sickening to see families that were shopping stop by the windows and peer in at the ladies. There were several men that seemed to be keeping a close eye on the girls from a distance outside the windows. It is in such plain view and there is so many brothels! wow. Kind of lost my appetite and felt sick to my stomach. We walked around some more and then back to the train station. A drunk guy started talking to Elizabeth in the red light district, and a drug addict talked to me on the walk to our bicycles. He rambled on in dutch as I caught up with Elizabeth and Iemkje :) All is well. Don't fear. :)
WE had a great time on the train again, and not a bit silent :)
Thursday, I went into town with Iemkje to Leeuwarden. Such a lovely town! She had a meeting with her boss and I enjoyed exploring the town for an hr and a half. :) Brick roads, old buildings and new ones, small shops, canals and bridges... so pretty. No fast food chains around. A Mcdonalds here and there, but mostly a bunch of authentic, unique restaurants, cafe's and sandwich shops. Love it.
I love the clothes and fashion here fyi. :) prices aren't too bad either depending on which shop you go to :)
After Iemkje's meeting we went home, woke up Elizabeth and drove to meet Iemkje's dad. We took his boat out in a canal and road for a couple hours. It was so great! I got to drive the boat too!! such pretty houses and senery :) Definitely got some sun! Got to see some really cool, older boats! awesome. Afterwards, We went her parents house again and ate. Iemkje's younger brother is an intern at a dairy farm. He showed us the farm and the cows. 700 cows! Half of them pregnant!! It was cool. Iemkje's brother is only 17. He is really tall and quiet. A bit shy with speaking english, so Iemkje translated. We then went home.
Friday, We went to town and got to see the friday market, where a bunch of booths were set up in the town square. Food, flowers, fresh made stroop wafels! We spent the day down town, riding bicycles everywhere, everyday!! Little hard sitting if you know what I mean. A lot different than sitting on the prayer room chairs :) We visited the leaning tower in Leeuwarden and climbed the 143 or so steps!! I am definitely using muscles that haven't been used in a while. :) We got home and watched "The Hiding Place" about Corrie Ten Boom, made dinner and ate it outside in the grass.
Today, we got up bright and early. Drove to catch a boat to the island of Ameland. We took the 45 min ride to the island, rented bikes and drove to the light house about 12-14 kilometers!! Myself and Iemkje hiked up the 258 stairs of the lighthouse!!! Definitely feeling the burn on that one! What I say next I really want you to read so I will post in on the next one... :)
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