Almost There....

Ok, so I don't want to jinx myself. I'm not actually in Tel Aviv yet. But, I am checked in and at the Amsterdam airport! Reservations made! Boarding pass in hand! (figuratively.) Both bags checked... for free! (Each of those things was at least one wait in some line at some airport.... in other words, a lot of progress has been made just to get me to this point.) Phoenix was great and all, and I did get to do some cool stuff, and am really grateful to many people who made that stay actually enjoyable, but it feels really good to be this close. Steps left: Security (at gate), flight (which is delayed right now, but only by a few minutes), customs, bus ride, taking bags to room, and maybe a bit of sleep. Classes start tomorrow!

Today I arrived in Amsterdam at about 9 a.m., and I was determined to switch my body clock as quickly as possible. I'm going to sound like Ryan after this trip, "Ya, I haven't slept in like three days..." Ha, just kidding. Ok, enough boring. So, to keep myself awake, I adventured. (The proper verb right there would probably be "ventured", but I like being inventive.) Crazy fun! I traversed across all Amsterdam to get to the local ward. The thing was, the ward started at 10 am, and because of really confusing and convoluted directions, I didn't get there until 12 pm. I kept praying on the way over that it would be one of the wards that had Sacrament last, and that I would get to partake. I truly know that God is looking out for me. I know that all of this confusion with travel has all happened for a reason, or really, for many reasons. I know, because when I really need something to work out, it always does. Example: We got to go to the Mesa temple while in Phoenix. At first it was going to cost about $15 a person for transportation, but then the hotel shuttle driver offered to take us, despite the fact that it was far outside his obligatory 5 mile radius range. When we got to the temple, I had to wait, because not only was my recommend literally on the last day of being valid (This was August 31) but I also didn't have it. After a worker called around for about an hour, he finally got through, and I got ushered right through the baptisms. I've never been that much on my own before. It was so beautiful. And after all that waiting, and thinking I wouldnt be able to go (my group had already finished) it was miraculous to me to be able to perform those ordinances.

Anyway, my point is that I was able to attend Sacrament in Amsterdam. I've known few wards that meet with Sacrament last, but I am so grateful Amsterdam is one of them. Going to church turned out to fruit many more blessings. First, I encountered people all along the way who were necessary to get me to my destination, including a super awesome English-speaking teenage girl going to the same area who was able to guide me through an unlisted tram switch, and a Italian woman on the way who was going to a different church on the same street, and we were able to walk together, and help each other. Also, one of the members was on the same train back as I was, so he ended up giving me a tour of the central city. This was so generous, because it meant I had a translator as well as a guide. I saw so many amazing things! I spent over an hour in the Anne Frank museum, getting to see the actual house she hid in, and to learn about her and her family. Her sister Margo (?) seems amazing.

I also saw canals, and monuments, and incredibly beautiful old architecture - the old palace, old churches, places where Rembrandt supposedly did "_" in. (Lived, drank tea, paid debts, drank things other than tea...) Ahh! It was so beautiful! I never knew Amsterdam to be such a fascinating city! I wish I could write more, but I am hungry, and then need to get to my gate. Love you all! Bless the rest of my travel that it will be less hassle-y (see, inventiveness) and I pray you are all well also!

Much love,
Cali

PS I should edit this post, but for now, any rambling or misgrammars I'm going to blame on sleep deprivation, and obviously not an inborn tendency to write a novel in place of a paragraph.

PPS I didn't have my camera, but hopefully pictures will be en route.