YouthHostelMissions
 
 
 
 
Recovering Christianity
Friday, June 22, 2007
Europe is certainly a different world from the one I have always known.  I have now been back in the States for over a week, and have had some time to reflect back on the trip, removed from it.  Needless to say, you become somewhat desensitized to the differences by the end of 31 days.  However,
 
Euro-America: A joint blog w/ Neal and Mat
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
So Neal and I thought we’d share some of our wise insights on the differences we’ve observed thus far between Europe and America....just in case you were wondering.
 
kings and kingdoms, the King of Kings, and the Kingdom of God
Monday, June 4, 2007
George Bush is in town right now.  He went to Prague Castle today, where there were tons of guards decked out in official Czech military regalia all around the place.
Prague Castle is an enormous complex on the top of a hill overlooking a river--a perfect area for a medieval fortress.
This Castle
 
Here I Stand....
Friday, June 1, 2007
I couldn’t sleep last night.  I really couldn’t.  The main reason was that I went to Lutherstadt Wittenberg this morning, and I was so excited I could barely sleep.
Wittenberg was really impressive.  It was amazing for me to see the door where he nailed his theses, and to see his house, and the
 
Amazing Dinner, Asian Invasion, and a Snowy Winter’s Morn (in May)
Monday, May 28, 2007
Well, Interlaken has proven to be a very interesting Swiss jaunt.  First off, we were forced to wait in the hostel lobby from 11 to 4 to get into our rooms.  Neal went nutso stir crazy (which is normally my role, so I felt quite relieved) so he and Bethany went to this river or something.  Laura
 
Where the spring water flows like wine, and the women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano
Friday, May 25, 2007
That’s right, I am talking about a little place called Grindelwald.  Switzerland is absolutely amazing.  Here in Grindelwald there is natural, cold spring water coming out of fountains.  It is drinking water, and it is amazing.  My nalgene is constantly being refilled.  Luckily, our hostel also
 
He Went to Paris
Thursday, May 24, 2007
I am somewhere between Paris and Bern right now, and I will be switching trains a couple more times today before i make it to Grindelwald.  I am more or less ecstatic about experiencing the Swiss Alps.  I am very excited about making it into the mountains for a little bit of hiking.
For the
 
The Office Season Finale
Monday, May 21, 2007
Well my friends, is it just me or are Jim and Pam going out on a date?? IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!  I feel like this last episode was really, really good.  Karen is really annoying, and I hope she leaves the show totally.  Her character is pointless without being a Jim/Pam foil.
My favorite part:  
 
Blowin My Mind On a Whole New Level!
Monday, May 21, 2007
Today we went through Notre Dame, which totally blew my mind.  As a matter of fact my favorite phrase—“That blew my mind”—has been totally redefined by Notre Dame.  I couldn’t see it enough.  Furthermore, it is between our hostel and the best crepe place, so I see it frequently.  Every time we
 
Hostel la Vista, Baby
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Hello Readers!!! YIIIIIIIHHHHHHAAAAAAAAA!!!! (This was on the back of a bag of Doritos in Amsterdam that were called “Cool American” instead of “Cool Ranch.” It has become something funny for us.)  
 
Right now I am sitting on a bed in Paris beneath a cool dude named Gerric.  He is from Normandy
 
Ode to Neal/Generalities
Friday, May 18, 2007
I really need to tell everyone about our awesome team leader, Neal Ledbetter.
First off, I must say that today I saw the most beautiful flower stems I have ever seen in all my days. We went to the Keukenhoef Gardens (from this point forward, “The Keuk”), which Neal loves.  He especially loves to
 
Amsterdam First Thoughts
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Welcome back to Alexander EuroBlog07
 
So, here I am in Amsterdam. (It is named for a dam on the Amstel river, for those who care like me)
 
We have begun some fun games, for example the "look-alike" game, which is where two people must agree with your opinion on someone who looks like someone from
 
Captain’s Log...
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Captain’s Log, Sunday, May 13, 2007:  It is a beautiful, temperate evening in Boaz, AL.  I am on the eve of a great journey.... I am just joking, but don’t be surprised if a few more of these blogs start off with “Captain’s Log.”  You have just entered
 
Alexander EuroBlog07  “Blowin’ up on the
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mat’sBlogZone
 
Check back here for more blogs and stories from the trip!
 
 
 
Mat Is...
Mat is listening to:  Sufjan Stevens,
Modest Mouse, Jimmy Buffett, Dave Matthews Band, Amos Lee, Ray Lamontagne
Mat is reading: “The Civil War” by Bruce Catton
“Goldsworthy Trilogy” by Graeme Goldsworthy
“Commentary on Romans” by Martin Luther
“Selected Poems” by John Donne
1 & 2 Peter
Favorite food so far:  Sahtay (Indonesian peanut sauce you can get on chicken, beef, and fries in Holland), Stroopwaffels, Crepes, GERMAN FOOD!!!, Rosti (Swiss hashbrowns),
Favorite quote so far:  “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”  -Ernest Hemingway
Favorite place so far:  Standing between Notre Dame and Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore, over the Seine, watching the sunset; Normandy; Wittenberg!!!; Grindelwald
 
 
 
About Mat...
Name:  Mat Alexander
Gender: Male
Age:  21 years old
Birthday:  November 6th
Hometown: Boaz, AL
School: University of Mobile
Major:  Theology
Occupation:  Student
 
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