Paris! Staying at a Deacon's House

Thank God for today. Today was the last day in Spain. Nothing much happened there, it was mainly packing and travelling. 

Then I came to Paris in the evening. I think I'm gonna like this place.  It feels much like Canada for some reason. 

Thank God that He guided me to stay at a deacon's house. The deacon offered me to stay during AMC at his house after he learned that I was coming to Paris. When I got here, he picked me up from the station too. May God remember his and his family's love. 

Today I once again felt the heavy feeling or guilt in my heart (it had happened many times before for a while now). I've been reflecting on this feeling I had, I thought that it was unreasonable that I would feel this way, since God's will for us in Christ is to live joyfully. 

Thank God, He moved me to think more about His words.  And I felt a lot better when I reflect on His words. Although sometimes I could feel that something was blocking me (the heavy feeling) from thinking about God's word. It's Satan preventing me from reflecting on God's words (thank God that He opened my eyes to this in AMC, and He strengthened me also to overcome it with prayer). There may be struggles still spiritually, but God has given me the faith to continue the fight until I overcome it with His power one day.  

Casa de Campo

Today I went got in touch with the nature in Madrid. First I went down to the river, then made my way to the park Casa de Campo. Thank God, originally I didn't know what to do in my last full day in Madrid. I had no interest in visiting museums, and I didn't really want to see any more cathedrals. After praying about it, I decided to go to the river and the park. Thank God, it was a really great experience. And it was 1000 times better than touring cathedrals. 
First I passed by a park before I got to the river. To my surprise, I saw wild parrots in the park. I've never seen wild ones before, only caged ones.  Thank God, wild ones are much better to behold.  And the internet doesn't really introduce Spain as wild parrot country, so thank God that I was able to see them. 
Then what was very awesome was the park Casa de Campo. I originally thought that I would need to take the metro to the park, but it just so happened that the park was right on the other side of the river. Thank God for His guidance. 
Casa de Campo is the biggest park in Madrid, it's more like a forest than a man-made garden like Retiro park, which is what I really like. There were small hills, grass, trees, and they were all very nice in a sunny day.  When I got to the highest point of the park, I can see city Madrid on the other side -- bricky buildings over the end of the green sea. It was really nice. 
Thank God, His creation is a lot better than our creation. 

Cathedrals, cathedrals, cathedrals

Man, there are a lof cathedrals in Madrid. There's one beside the Royal Palace, and another one I think it's called the St. Andrew (which I got to by accident), and other ones that I happened to pass by. But today as I was visiting the cathedrals, I started to think how these places were used to worship God (well, not exactly), and now people are paying money to get into the cathedral for touring. A place for worship has become a place for business. For us today, when we come to church, do we come for material benefits or spiritual benefits?  

The other place I went to was the Retiro Park. It was pretty big. And in the park there was a crystal palace, which is only a palace looking building made out of glass. Then what's inside of the crystal palace is a cart with creepy puppets in there, what's more was that they were automated, with creepy music and creepy lights too. After I took a video of the singing puppets and some pictures, I went out of the building. And I thought that not all musics are inspired by the Holy Spirit, there are a lot of musics that are inspired by evil spirits.  It probably has happened back then, and it's happening around us today too.  

Thank God, today was a very cold day in Madrid, and it snowed here, which doesn't usually happen in Madrid. God knew that I wanted to test out my jacket and my boots, and He prepared cold weather for me in Madrid. He's funny that way haha. Thank God. 

Sabbath in Madrid

Today I attended the Sabbath service in Madrid. The service here starts at 3:30PM to around 4:30PM because of the members work there. And thank God that He has given me the opportunity to lead the service in Spain. It is truly the grace of God.  He helped me to reflect on His words while I'm travelling. Originally I was a bit concerned because I had to speak for an hour without translation. But thank God that He helped me through the hour. 
The members in Madrid are renting a classroom in a cram school (I think that's what it was). And today there were about  10 to 15 members attending the service, since some members went back to China. 
After the service, a sister invited me with some other sisters over to her house, and we had some snacks and tea there. After the tea, she brought me out to go around Madrid.  I was really touched by her love, and may God remember her love.  
When we chatted, she mentioned that at this moment the members in Madrid are lacking workers. So they don't have a lot of opportunities to have preachers encouraging them through sermons. So we really need to remember them in our prayers.  
May God keep on guiding their faith. 

Way to Madrid

Thank God, I arrived safely at Madrid today. And I wasn't robbed, thank God. 
There was God's wonderful guidance all the way. 
I went out to see the sunrise at the beach at 8:15. The sun was a orange ball slowly rising out of the horizon of the sea, and the sky was a bit pinkish coloured.  It was pretty cool. 
Afterwards I went for breakfast at Mcdonald's (they didn't have a hashbrown in their meal!). Orginally, I was thinking to buy a suvenier from Starbucks on the way back to hotel after breakfast, but I gave up becasue I wanted to save time. Then it just so happened that there was a Starbucks on my way back to hotel. So I was able to get the suvenier without wasting more time. 
On my train to Madrid, I got a sandwich at the bar. And this sandwich needed me to open a small bottle of olive oil (I think?) to add in there. I was struggling with that bottle. So I prayed to God to help me to open it. When I tried again, I was still struggling with opening it. After some moments, a guy by me took the bottle and opened it in one try. Thank God! 
When I arrived at Madrid, a kind person helped me to find my way around the metro. And he also suggested me of what to do in Madrid. Thank God, God dropped down some more plans for me. 
Today, after I got to the place to stay and settled down, I started to feel the power of Satan trying to cause my heart to not believe again. It was probably because I tried to think about how to argue against a heretic teaching, but was having a hard time.  Thank God, after praying twice, I could feel that the power was leaving. 
God has shown me His grace today. May we all be kept in His love always. 

Pickpocketed

Today I was pickpocketed. Wasn't fun. But God was still very gracious to me.  

In the morning I planned to walk along the seaside for the day.  Thank God when I went out in the afternoon, the sun was out and it was quite warm (even though almost everyone on the street was wearing a jacket, including me). For the first part of my journey it was very fun: I saw a cathedral from the outside, and I enjoyed the walk down to the seaside.  
Then I was pickpocketed half way to the beach. The pickpockets disguised as charity workers. It was so obvious, but at that moment I didn't think too much..
All my money in the wallet was gone. (and I gave them .70 euro too)
I immediately realized something was wrong right after they left, I checked my wallet, and sure enough, all the cash was gone.  And it was too late to get the money back. 
I was very angry with myself for a long time for how stupid I was. But I still had half of my unfinished journey.  So I pressed on my way to the beach. 
Thank God, He slowly opened up my mind: only the cash was gone, but all my credit cards, liscence and everything else were still there; and I didn't put all the money in my wallet; they didn't take my wallet either. Thank God. 
For some moments I was able to enjoy the beach more and I felt the joy welling up from my heart. Even though when I thought about it I still felt the pain and blame myself for my stupidity. But as I walked back to the hotel, my heart was much calmer than before. Thank God for this lesson at the very beginning of my journey.  Who knows, I might be foolish enough later to get all my money robbed if not for today's lesson. So thank God!
After I got back to the hotel, I checked the money I didn't bring. To my surprise, I found 50 Euro bills there. And in the morning I was looking for them. Thank God, if I found them in the morning, I would've lost even more money. 
Than God!

Members in Barcelona

Thank God for His guidance, I arrived in Barcelona, Spain, last night. I got on the AeroBus from the airport and missed my stop to the hotel. But thank God that the following stop wasn't too far from the hotel.  Even though the streets were kinda dark around the hotel, but I was safe, thank God.  

And thank God that I was able to get in contact with a brother living in Barcelona, and he agreed to meet up with me that night.  Since his way home happens to pass by the hotel I live in, it wasn't too much trouble for him to get around. 

After we met, to my surprise, he asked me to go to his house. And when I arrived there, his parents offered me dinner to eat (I was actually hungry because I was afraid to walk into a restaurant on my first night in Spain). When his dad brought out the food, I was so touched by their love. The food was very delicious too (sashimi, chaomien, ..) May God remember their love.  

When I chatted with the brother, he pointed out the direction for me to get to the seaside, and it happened that the hotel I booked wasn't too far from the seaside (30 to 40 mins walk).  This is God's grace because originally I didn't have a clue of what to do in Barcelona, but God just dropped a plan from heaven into my lap.  

He also mentioned that there isn't a lot of members in Barcelona, and there isn't a church in Barcelona yet. And this brother is the only youth in that area too. May God help and guide the members in Barcelona, so that the seed of the gospel may spread there.  

In all, thank God that He has provided me with my daily bread and a plan to get around.  And I had an abundance.