All of the sudden, we rounded the corner, and out of the whole country, we found what I think are the two places in Holland that haven't changed in the last 15 years. We spent the bulk of my childhood in the Netherlands in two small houses. The neighborhoods around those two houses have remained the same, down to the very paint colors on the garages.
Where I had been sad and worried that my childhood years had been lost in fuzzy memories of places that no longer existed, returned a flood of vivid memories, and I can't tell you how happy it made me.
I learned to ice skate on this canal.
Our first home in Holland. I learned to ride my bike on this little sidewalk.
Every day, regardless of weather, we would play soccer on this field, using the tree as the right goal post.
A view of our second neighborhood. Even the garages are painted the same still. My best friend lived in the house with the brown and red garage.
The playground in the middle of the neighborhood.
And finally, this is the house where I spent the bulk of my childhood. My room was on the top floor where you can see the window.
Where I had been sad and worried that my childhood years had been lost in fuzzy memories of places that no longer existed, returned a flood of vivid memories, and I can't tell you how happy it made me.
I learned to ice skate on this canal.
I learned to fish from this bridge.
Our first home in Holland. I learned to ride my bike on this little sidewalk.
Typical Dutch weather.
Every day, regardless of weather, we would play soccer on this field, using the tree as the right goal post.
A view of our second neighborhood. Even the garages are painted the same still. My best friend lived in the house with the brown and red garage.
The playground in the middle of the neighborhood.
And finally, this is the house where I spent the bulk of my childhood. My room was on the top floor where you can see the window.
Labels: photos, road journal
Well, I've been in Holland for two days, and last night I played for the first time at ACC (the church in Amersfoort). It was beautiful to spend time in song and worship with the church where I spent so much of my childhood.
It never fails to amaze me how universal music can be. Singing songs like "Poetry and Patience" never fails to bring a response from at least one person who comes to me afterward and says, "thank you, that's exactly what I needed to hear." It's humbling to know that God can use such simple words to have such a profound impact on those who hear it.
I'm pretty sure my set was video taped last night, so I'll post that up here whenever I get it. I'll be with the church again tonight.
Tomorrow night, I'll be driving to Amsterdam to be with the youth at Maranatha Church. I'm excited to be with them as they launch a new youth movement in Holland.
Emotionally, it's been a wild few days. As I return to this beautiful country that I used to call home, I'm realizing that nothing looks the same as when I left it, and the things that are the same are fuzzy memories. I suppose I've become a full blooded Nashvillian. I've spent so much of my life traveling on planes, cars, and vans. There was a time not so long ago when I wondered aloud to some of my friends if I would ever find a place that I was peaceful about calling "home." For now, home is my little one-room attic apartment where I don't even own any of the furniture. It's funny how much you can learn about yourself in a few short days.
It never fails to amaze me how universal music can be. Singing songs like "Poetry and Patience" never fails to bring a response from at least one person who comes to me afterward and says, "thank you, that's exactly what I needed to hear." It's humbling to know that God can use such simple words to have such a profound impact on those who hear it.
I'm pretty sure my set was video taped last night, so I'll post that up here whenever I get it. I'll be with the church again tonight.
Tomorrow night, I'll be driving to Amsterdam to be with the youth at Maranatha Church. I'm excited to be with them as they launch a new youth movement in Holland.
Emotionally, it's been a wild few days. As I return to this beautiful country that I used to call home, I'm realizing that nothing looks the same as when I left it, and the things that are the same are fuzzy memories. I suppose I've become a full blooded Nashvillian. I've spent so much of my life traveling on planes, cars, and vans. There was a time not so long ago when I wondered aloud to some of my friends if I would ever find a place that I was peaceful about calling "home." For now, home is my little one-room attic apartment where I don't even own any of the furniture. It's funny how much you can learn about yourself in a few short days.
Being Born Pre-Order Now Available
0 Comments Published by Wes on Friday, January 9, 2009 at 2:28 PM.
Right now Wes...
