Friday, March 27, 2009

haggling hotels and motorcycle adventure

Currently: Cinque Terre Region, Italy. 2 days
Next up: Roma, Italy.
Well hello and Buongiorno from Italy. The last few days have been crazy. I got to tour the French Rivera by motorcycle! With the gentleman I couchsurfed with we road the coast during a beautiful day. The best part of couchsurfing is that you get to meet local people and experience local life void of typical tourism. I had the best meal I have had in a while.





motor-gorn, french style










Long story short, do not trust a French train station information attendant. They could for instance tell you a train exisits at the next stop for your desired destination when in reaity one did not appear for eight hours. Yep, eight, one more than seven and less than nine. Luckily though I other lost Americnas and local characters to bid my time. Five in the morning never could come quicker than this past morning.

Currently I am in the "five terras" region. I would put my photos up but lets be real, they would not do justice. So do yourself a favor, google Cinque Terra and click on images. This is where I will be sleeping tonight. After some haggling I was able to find a great single hotel room for less than half the price. If even has a shower, which when compared to the number of times I have showered thus far, is cause for celebration.

Once again, God sends people to lighten my heart and renew my spirit. Today at five in the morning a random Christian man came up to me and started talking to me. I do not even know how he knew I spoke english. And after a sleepless night sitting on the beach God gave me sweet rest on the train. I ended up having almost an entire sleeper cabin to myself! Amazing. I sprawled out and sleep sold for a few hundres miles along the coast here.

More and more I am able to see how Jesus is supplying my every need. The sad thing is that I had to come here to begin to rely on God in more of the way we should everyday. Sometimes the very act of finding food or a train station is cause for prayer. Yet God has been taking care of me his often faithless foolhearty son.

The truth is that God cares much more for us than all of creation put together. If God takes care of the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, much more will he care for us his children. As I travel I see purpose put front row. Everywhere I go people are living for one thing or another. Each country I go to I see the same disatisfied lives. People are all running, all around the world, after joy and peace but save Jesus come up empty.


God has given me opportunities to talk about his love with every person I have stayed with thus far. I pray that my words are backed by his spirit. Please pray that God continues to use me and give me a humble spirit conscious of my reliance on his grace and provision.


God knows every hair on our heads. This understanding requires active response. It also lets us sleep at night knowing our lives rest firmly in the hands of a God that is much greater than any problems of this world.


Enjoy some photos. Welcome to Italy. I am super pumped for great pizza.


Nice, France

8 comments:

  1. Dude I love reading these. Keep me updated; love you brother!

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  2. Jen and I are going to Chinque Terra for our honeymoon. Would you recommend?

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  3. I love the Motor-Gorn picture. Hope you had a great night of rest and a warm relaxing shower. We are watching the KU game. KU up by 7 at the half. We are in the middle of a winter storm. Snow, sleet, and ice. I love you Chris. Mom

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  4. Chris, I have exciting news for you. It was Sunday night - real late, and something happened. God has been pursuing me for so long now, and our paths crossed in a very real, peaceful way.

    I dedicated my life to full-time Christian ministry, and yesterday I dropped my education classes, and I am staying in just the Spanish/Liberal arts field.

    I have been praying for you, and I have so much to share with you about many things. I really miss you, and I have so much joy for you, for all that you are experiencing. I'm proud of you man. Good night.

    Chris - in the fire.

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  5. Still loving the messages. Praying for you daily. Your grandparents wanted you to know that they are reading daily.

    Unfortunately, KU's out of the tournament. They eventually lost to Michigan State. They played well. Their youth showed at the end though. Still proud of what they accomplished this year. Rock Chalk! DE

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  6. PS- So glad you wore the helmet. It follows this philosophy- "WATPATT" (Wear All The Protection All The Time!) :-) DE

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  7. Chris, this post really spoke to me. I feel that God has called me to try to educate St James about what true Christian stewardship is - a response to God's great love for us! We need to remember his gifts in everything we do, all the time. Reading the section about God knowing every hair on our head, and that this requires an active response, just took my breath away. While in Italy, vive bene, spesso l'amore, di risata molto!

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  8. Hey Chris. What an encouraging post for me. It was good my heart to read this post on this day.

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