Fridayyyy

Longest day. ever. Our first tour, au musee d'antiquite d'Arles, began at 10:00. We spent about an hour and a half learning about the presence of the Roman empire in Arles. For example, we learned about the forum, les thermes (public baths), necropoles (cemetaries), et l'arene (stadium, arena).

After the tour of the museum, which sadly I thought was a bit boring and a bit long, we boarded the bus to head to Nimes, a nearby city which also has remnants of the Roman empire. We first visited l'amphitheatre (huge. and very well preserved.), which was used by gladiators, bull fighters, and even rock stars. Our tour guide then lead us through the streets of the city. We learned about the history of Nimes, which has a very interesting coat of arms. To commemorate a victory of the Roman empire, the image of a crocodile chained to a palm frond was designed. Therefore, crocodiles are everywhere. Including four stuffed crocodiles (ranging from 300-500 years old), which hang from a ceiling in one of the state buildings today. Nifty.

We finished our tour at the Jardin de la Fontaine, a beautiful garden which was the first public garden in France. In the park one can find the ruins of a temple to the Roman goddess Diane. Besides being an incredibly hot day, it was really cool (ha no pun intended).

The bus ride back to Arles was really fun. The table in the back of the bus seats 8 people, the number in our group, so we all sat around and just talked and laughed until we got back to our hotel. For being a group of incredibly diverse people, we have blended very, very well. We're different enough, and yet the same enough. Our differing personalities make each conversation new and fun. I could not be more thankful for this group of people, as they have made my first week in France so much easier.

Dinner was really fun too. I ate so much. I ate lamb, rabbit, mussels, fish...thats really quite remarkable for me, honestly. I never try anything new. After dinner, we walked around a bit more and have just been hanging out at the hotel since then.

On a separate note: Yesterday on the bus, I finished the book Redeeming Love. Mary, I am unbelievably thankful that you got that book for me. It was the best book I have read in a long time, mainly because it brought to light several things in my life that have pulled my focus away from God. I'm not saying that the book is theological per se, or better than the Bible, obviously. But, reading a book based on the book of Hosea, reading about God's unfailing and redeeming love in a new and different way struck a chord with me. I think its easy for me to read my Bible and kind of let the stuff go in one ear and out the other because passages are familiar or I'm not really focused because I'm tired and am reading my Bible because its part of my daily routine. Redeeming Love struck me because God's love was demonstrated through a fictional story that moved me and held my attention, all while incorporating the idea of God's sacrifice and intense, unrelentless love.

After I finished the book, I just sat and stared out the window and cried a little bit. Cried because the story moved me, cried because it applied to me, cried just because. No one saw me though, haha, because everyone was sleeping. I was hit with the realization that while I had come into this study abroad experience saying: trust God first, others after; think of God first, others after; worship God first, worship no other...thats the opposite of what I've been doing for the past week.

I've been clinging to the internet as a source of connection with those I love, forgetting that God's availability doesn't depend on free WiFi. I've been spending all my time with new friends, having fun, going out (which in and of themselves are not bad things), forgetting to reserve time for God each and every day. I've been thinking of myself and others, even putting them and myself up on pedestals, forgetting to think of God.

I've been without internet for the past few days. My cell phone died this morning and I was without it for the entire day (gasp). On the bus this morning, I was stressing because I felt like I had no way to contact anyone. My mind then wandered to God. Humbled, I prayed that I would use this technology-free day to rest in the Lord's presence as much as possible.

It was a good day.