A Very Long Day...

I was up early... and it was raining hard... but soon, while sitting in the lobby and having a mug of milk coffee, the rain stopped. The view was spectacular... what a place to have my quiet time!

I went up and packed and brought a roll and some cheese and my thermos with water and the pizza. I was off... It was difficult to say good bye to Pam and Suz. I had journal about what this trip has meant to me...

I made it to the train station and hopped on the train to Interlaken Ost and when that arrived, I found the platform for the train to Basel. 

The train was crowded... and there were people who were strangely dressed. It turned out that the BIG ComicCon was going on since Thursday... and people in Switzerland are really into this. I guess people come from all over to attend it! SO, the train station was packed... I didn't like the big city feel, especially after being in such wonderfully refreshing places... 

I had time so I walked around... as I had 5 Francs to spend. I didn't want to buy food for myself as I brought some great stuff... and I have plenty to drink. So at the end of this area, there was a candy shop. Isaiah wanted more sour candies... and I couldn't believe... there was a 50% off on some of the sour candies. So, I got four bags for 5 francs! Perfect!

The train arrived and I was on... and it was really packed too... as two trains were cancelled... making this train the only one that was heading up to all the different places from Basel to Hamburg Harbor! I got off at Mannheim and couldn't find my train... What's going on?

It turned out that there was construction going on and the train was cancelled and now, a bus was provided to shuttle people to another train station where the train will start!

I didn't look at it and thought the other train station that we were being bussed to was only 10 minutes away... NO... it was like a two hour bus ride! We finally got to the train station at 3:50 and the train took off at 3:54! I had to walk really fast... and as for catching the bus, I was sitting at the wrong place and almost missed that... God worked that out as a bus pulled in and the driver got out to stretch his leg and I asked... He pointed me to the other side of the road... WOW!!! I was only three minutes away from the time that the bus was set to depart. If I didn't catch that bus... I would never have made it.

So... the train arrived at Darmstadt at 4:07 and I wanted to walk to the Main Center, which was about 1.9kilometer away. On the way, I donated the clothes Pam gave me in the Red Cross collection clothes bins. That was great!

When I made it to the Platz, the signs for the trams were so confusing. I got out the coins and bought a ticket: 4.50Euro! Not cheap... and the tram finally came at 5:20... After getting on, I had to really pay attention when the stops were announced! In about 20 minutes I heard my stop... and I saw the yellow mailbox... After getting off, I walked about 100meters and pressed the door bell and someone buzzed me in. A dear nun walked out and greeted me... It was the same lady who I have been emailing... 

I feel so blessed to be here... Two other individuals are here from Taiwan as they are here to join the Pentecostal Retreat that will be taking place from May 22nd to the 25th. And another gal from Columbia/Germany has a brother in Taipei, serving with OMF... It was just amazing all the "Taiwan" connections!

Another sister greeted me and gave me a tour of the place as we walked to the building where my room is located.  On the way, she stopped at the big chapel and we sat in silence for more than half an hour. It was very special. 

My room is exactly what I was hoping for... I wanted a silent retreat... and this place is perfect... Of course, it won't be too silent as there are people who are here... but I get to have an extended quiet time. Tomorrow... I will join the service at 9:30. And as for meals... breakfast and dinner are help yourself... Everything is in the refrigerator. You can choose to eat or just stay in the room. Only lunch at 11am is a hot meal... again, you can decide to join or just stay in your room. They have the electric hot water thermos, so I can just go and make myself a cup of hot water and have my morning coffee... I can go and do my run on Monday and Tuesday if I want... Or I can just sit and walk around the grounds... They have a prayer garden... and many places to be alone. 

I will leave here on Tuesday to head back to Taiwan. I saw several of their books which I might like to buy. And I will give them clothes to donate... including my big jacket. I don't know when I'll leave, but my flight is on Tuesday afternoon.

This is a gift from God... Of course, I will leave a donation... 

So... overall... it was a long day of traveling... I left the hotel in Lautenbrunnen at 7:45 and arrived here at around 5:45. 

After the tour and settling in, I was immediately ushered into the breakfast/dinner room... and you can just help yourself. I had a banana and an apple and a slice of cheese. They had everything... but I still had pizza to finish. So... it was not too hungry. 

I came back into my room and unpacked and plugged in the phone to be charge and used the hot spot to blog and check my email.

Yes... I will go to bed early... 

And throughout the day, I was messaging Pam and Suz to find out what they were doing... They have safely arrived in Geneva and will fly back to the States tomorrow... I sure do miss them!

Daily Lovely Insight:

Why do you think this is significant?

Seek Him First!