Iceland for Easter
Picture yourself reading this about a month and a half ago, just after I returned from Iceland. I'm a little behind, so I'll just write it as if I have just gotten back.
Monday, April 2, found Elisa and I sitting in the Oslo airport, waiting to board our plane. As we sat there, I happened to look up from the book I was reading, and see two people I knew! They saw us at about the same time, so they moved to sit closer, and we began to chat. Before long, Jan David and I decided to head on a journey of discovery.
You see, in the international section, at least, of the Oslo airport, spaced about 20 meters apart are some tall silver poles that loop around at the top like canes, and then form into an upside down bowl shape, with a small cylinder poking out of it. Jan David told me that these cylinders emitted sounds that could only be heard by the person standing directly underneath. I had to admit I was skeptical, but very curious, so off we went to listen.
Sure enough! I stood under the first one, and heard a woman whispering soothing words like "waves, ocean, light, etc." It wasn't very clear, but it sounded like she spoke some words in Norwegian and some in English.
Well, that was interesting, but then I had another question: Did the other ones emit the same sounds? So, we went to find out! The next one we encountered was the sound of the seashore. If I closed my eyes, I could almost smell the salty air. Well, not really... But, it did make me want to find out what the next one sounded like! It turned out to be a baby gurgling and cooing.
So, that was my first discovery, before I even reached Iceland! After that excitement, we boarded the plane, a little later, and were off, to explore a new place!
Iceland is one of the most interesting countries I have ever experienced! It's beautiful in a barren way. People have said it's like being on the moon. Well, I've never been there, but I would imagine it to be similar, but with less soft and squishy moss.
Besides the interesting landscape, however, the first discovery we made is something you may not expect. We sat in the bus, watching the island pass beneath us as we entered the outskirts of Reykjavik. Suddenly, Elisa exclaimed, "There's a Taco Bell!"
I gasped in astonishment as I turned and saw that it was true! A Taco Bell in Europe! They do exist!! Well, this one does, anyway. Alas, though, it was still a ways to the main bus station, where we got off, and we never made it back to try out an Icelandic Taco Bell. Sigh. I guess I will have to wait a little longer still, before I can get some cheap, fake Mexican food.
Well, we reached our destination, at last. The Hlidardalskoli, where the first European Youth Convention was being held. We were able to stay there, and explore a little bit for the first two days, before the meetings started. So, we experienced the luxury of the Blue Lagoon, the sights of Reykjavik and the strangeness of a cave in an earthwake rent and volcanic island.
Then, the conference began. I've attended quite a few conventions, and almost all of them have been very good, but for some reason, God used this one to particularly inspire me to reach out to those who do not know Him! So, I have a much stronger desire to do evangelism, and to work for God in any way that I can!
If you're interested in some of the meeting topics, let me know, and I'll put those up. Otherwise, I won't make this post even longer. I will simply say that it is time to tell people about Jesus! Friends, we have been offered eternal life with our Saviour! How can we be so selfish as to not pass on the message with others!
Monday, April 2, found Elisa and I sitting in the Oslo airport, waiting to board our plane. As we sat there, I happened to look up from the book I was reading, and see two people I knew! They saw us at about the same time, so they moved to sit closer, and we began to chat. Before long, Jan David and I decided to head on a journey of discovery.
You see, in the international section, at least, of the Oslo airport, spaced about 20 meters apart are some tall silver poles that loop around at the top like canes, and then form into an upside down bowl shape, with a small cylinder poking out of it. Jan David told me that these cylinders emitted sounds that could only be heard by the person standing directly underneath. I had to admit I was skeptical, but very curious, so off we went to listen.
Sure enough! I stood under the first one, and heard a woman whispering soothing words like "waves, ocean, light, etc." It wasn't very clear, but it sounded like she spoke some words in Norwegian and some in English.
Well, that was interesting, but then I had another question: Did the other ones emit the same sounds? So, we went to find out! The next one we encountered was the sound of the seashore. If I closed my eyes, I could almost smell the salty air. Well, not really... But, it did make me want to find out what the next one sounded like! It turned out to be a baby gurgling and cooing.
So, that was my first discovery, before I even reached Iceland! After that excitement, we boarded the plane, a little later, and were off, to explore a new place!
Iceland is one of the most interesting countries I have ever experienced! It's beautiful in a barren way. People have said it's like being on the moon. Well, I've never been there, but I would imagine it to be similar, but with less soft and squishy moss.
Besides the interesting landscape, however, the first discovery we made is something you may not expect. We sat in the bus, watching the island pass beneath us as we entered the outskirts of Reykjavik. Suddenly, Elisa exclaimed, "There's a Taco Bell!"
I gasped in astonishment as I turned and saw that it was true! A Taco Bell in Europe! They do exist!! Well, this one does, anyway. Alas, though, it was still a ways to the main bus station, where we got off, and we never made it back to try out an Icelandic Taco Bell. Sigh. I guess I will have to wait a little longer still, before I can get some cheap, fake Mexican food.
Well, we reached our destination, at last. The Hlidardalskoli, where the first European Youth Convention was being held. We were able to stay there, and explore a little bit for the first two days, before the meetings started. So, we experienced the luxury of the Blue Lagoon, the sights of Reykjavik and the strangeness of a cave in an earthwake rent and volcanic island.
Then, the conference began. I've attended quite a few conventions, and almost all of them have been very good, but for some reason, God used this one to particularly inspire me to reach out to those who do not know Him! So, I have a much stronger desire to do evangelism, and to work for God in any way that I can!
If you're interested in some of the meeting topics, let me know, and I'll put those up. Otherwise, I won't make this post even longer. I will simply say that it is time to tell people about Jesus! Friends, we have been offered eternal life with our Saviour! How can we be so selfish as to not pass on the message with others!
posted by Dillypuff at
5:41 PM
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