a crowded world: Falling for Wien

I feel as if I've been gone for months... but it's only been a week and a half!

This week we've been exploring Vienna (or Wien) and all that it has to offer... and I love it! The city holds so many beautiful things, so much raw adventure, and so many things to experience.

The biggest thing this week has been trying to figure out how to get around. There are usually four options- the subway, the tram, the bus, and if all else fails- walking. My friends and I have decided that we love the subway. It's very straightforward and relatively easy. We are still trying to figure out how to ride the tram (let's just say I carry my map around with me wherever I go.) I have discovered that I love being able to hop on and off local transportation or just walk around to various places. Driving seems like such a hassle!

We start school tomorrow. My only class at school will be German. The rest are online. So I'll be done around 10AM everyday... rough life, right?

They give us Friday off of school, so Thursday afternoon to Sunday we get to travel to whatever country we want... or whatever place we can afford. We were all looking forward to this part of the trip- planning adventures. But we realized that it's not so simple. Sure, if money was endless, no problem. Most of us decided that we want to call our Mommys so that they can help us plan our trips... how do they plan vacations so easily?

But, we have all realized that even though things may not work out like we were expecting or hoping, adventures and joy come when you invest in where you are... not wishing you were somewhere else.

I read this verse in Hebrews 13:5

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you..."

It's easy to wish I had more money so that I could do everything and anything but like the verse says, the Lord calls us to be content and He gives us what we need. Nothing more, nothing less.

Thank you for all of your prayers. It means more than you will ever know to feel comforted by a blanket of prayers and support form people I love. The Lord is beyond good.

A picture from our tour of Vienna.

This is for Rachel. A four story Forever 21 right in the heart of Vienna.

My favorite part of the city so far. A stretch of shops and restaurants.

A beautiful church that is under construction currently but still awesome.

Lunch for the day! From a little stand that sells hot dog style food. Not too bad.

The outline of a house from a very long time ago.

Pictures in my apartment. For the nights I get lonely or for the times I need to remember that God has been faithful in my life and will continually be faithful.

Across the Dublin river. A couple of those buildings belong to the UN.

The Schonbrunn palace. AMAZING. We took a tour but we couldn't take pictures inside... You need to come to Vienna just to see this beautiful place.

Olivia and I are trying to take a picture... but she steps on my toe... as you can see.

And it HURT.

She just laughs.

So thankful for these friends!

The palace grounds are COVERED with unending gardens. It started to rain so we couldn't stay long... but we will be back and I will post pictures!

Noodles and coffee. We find cheap and easy things to cook.

Mass again in another BEAUTIFUL church.

We rode a bus up a mountain and then hiked down vineyards. What you see is Vienna. Gorgeous isn't it?

I live here!!!

After hiking down a bit we stopped to have a small worship service on the side of the 'mountain.' We sang, took communion, and had a devotional. Lipscomb has been doing a devotional in that spot for the past 17 years. Traveling with a group of students who are all part of the Body of Christ is unparalleled. We can all relish in the beauty, knowing who it comes from.