Lost and Found

I have had such a variety of emotions today. I started in such a good mood and ended in a not so good mood.
This morning I woke up to warm home-cooked bread, different types of cheeses and meats, homemade strawberry jam, and hot coffee. Needless to say, I woke up in heaven. After my fabulous breakfast, I headed downtown to my very first day of class in Germany! It was a very exciting first day of school. It wasn't the same excitment that you usually experience going to class on your first day - Although I might be the only one who is guilty of being excited about going to class the first day.

After class, Chelsea and I do what we do best - shop. We bought the most amazing European pants! (check them out at Europeanboozer.blogspot.com. I don't have my USB cord yet!) They are kind of like Aladdin pants. Except they're floral.

Around 6:30, Chelsea and I head over to her host home, Linda's house. From there, Linda made bratswurst and potato salad. Good ole German food! As great as everything is here, I have to say; I miss America's water.
The water here is, A. Not free (so there is no point in ordering it) and B. It's carbonated.

So anyways, after dinner tonight, I left Linda's house around 8:20 to catch the bus at 8:30. I was supposed to get of at the university and then get on the 69.
When I arrived at the university, I get off the bus just to figure out that there is no 69 running on that part of campus. AHH!! It was such a bad feeling know that I didn't know how to get back to my dorm without bus 69..

I walk down the road for about 1/2 a mile and realize that I recognize nothing around me. I turn around and start walking, then go in the opposite direction of where the bus dropped me off... If I were to talk about everywhere I've been tonight, it would take forever.. So, after several hours and bus stops later and running into many people who do not speak English, I make it back to somewhere I have been everyday since I've been here! And from there, I walk to my dorm - about 3 miles away. At night. Did I mention I don't have a cell phone that works???

So as I am walking with my mini flashlight that would knock someone out in an instant if I hit them hard enough, tighty gripped in my hand (one perk of living in Memphis - overly alert and ready to break out moves you never though you had) I am walking right next to the woods. I don't know if it was just me being on the verge of tears because I was so annoyed at this time or what, but I felt like Dorothy on the yellow brick road.. It felt like I walked forever but I never got any closer! I just kept praying to God that He would please let me get to my dorm safe, no matter how long it took. It was so dark and I all of a sudden kept replaying how everyone kept telling me, "Oh, Germany is soo safe. You have nothing to worry about. It's nothing like Memphis."
The whole 3 hours I was lost, I knew deep down that I really would make it back okay. Not because I knew my way around Germany (because I don't. At all) but because I knew God wouldn't leave me side for one second, and He was really the one guiding me back to my dorm.
No matter how often family and friends will be there for you. There are circumstances like mine tonight, where your friends and family would be there for you in an instant, but it was literally impossible. No phone to call anyone and not very many english speaking people and over 10,000 miles away from home. All you have is Jesus to guide and lead you back safely.
It's just God's way of saying, "Put your trust in Me always, because I am truly the one who will always be there when no one else can."
Don't worry, I don't think Chelsea will let me go anywhere by myself again. Not at night at least.
Once again, please excuse any grammar/spelling errors. It's way late. :)