Oh what fun...Irene threw me to a crazy and fun situation

Hurricane Irene was coming. It cancelled my group flight that was supposed to be Sunday night the 28th. Then, they actually moved our flight UP to saturday night but that was soon after cancelled as well. So I had all Saturday and Sunday in a New York City that was EMPTY. Luckily, I got to escape. I went with a Natchez-native Sarah Gray Miller and her husband, Tony, to their upstate Athens, NY home. We also went with their dog sitter, Curry, and his friend Kaitlin, as well as two dogs. We were STUFFED into Tony's Jeep Cherokee and we drove through the beautiful upstate New York region arriving Saturday afternoon. This picture was right after we arrived. I was le tired.

Little did we know, we went to the most rainy place of the whole storm. It rained 13 inches where we were. The Hudson River where we were flooded many businesses and warehouses along the river. There wasn't any heavy wind. We didn't even know it had rained that much. We took a stroll around the nice downtown area and saw the effects.

Where we stayed, all was normal. Well. Sort of. The decorations and nicknacks were unbelievable. It was like the antique roadshow had made a home. So many things to look at. It was crazy.
And we cooked. Well, Curry and Sarah Gray were the real cooks. It was so good. Every meal.

And there's more to say but I have to go! I'm writing this on the plan as I'm leaving. Irene has really started this adventure off. Alright. Gotta fly!

Leaving Lafayette and NYC pre-Irene

Dustin being awesome.

This is Timmy. He's the man. He helped me shop for new clothes.

Welcome to New York

New York Yankees game was a GRANDSLAM x3! Rain and all.

Great summer. Spain adventures to come!

Summer 2011 is over. Such a good one. I think my favorite part was The Beach. Bringing Becca and all the time with family was so great. I love our family. Other highlights for me were definitely going to Young Life Work Week and YL Camp with Lafayette college-aged friends to serve and to lead our high-school friends to Christ. It was especially fun to have Mom and Dad there at camp (...winning the crazy leader minute to win it game the night you got there, Dad; remember?). Crazy the place the Lord brings us. Back at Baylor for summer school it was nice to hang out with lots of those friends. I'm surely making lots of long-lasting relationships and it's really fun to know it as it's happening and be able to say to that friend "we're gonna be friends forever and we will keep in touch!" and know it because we know enough about each other that we both really want to and love each other that much. 

And as I am about to leave for Spain, I really do have lots of nervousness. Becca and I had a rough tear-filled week. It's a long time (3 months, 3 weeks) without each other and even though we've done the long-distance thing for 2 years now, we still don't know what this time will look like. It's just unknown. It's up in the air. But we remind ourselves it's only temporary. All of this life is. And we must focus on where we are and enjoy that now because we can miss it. Also, we have too much to be thankful for to be worried or doubtful. We know that God's plan for us is going to be GREAT no matter where we are. So we hold on to that promise. I think we finished off with our good-byes today excited for the things to come. She starts back up school at MC on Wednesday.

And Spain here I come. But not just yet. I still have to pack! Hahaha. And Wednesday I'm going to New York City with Mom and Dad to visit until my flight leaves from there next Sunday night (the 28th). So many adventures and unknowns ahead. I am driven with a purpose to go. Here are some vague goals off the top of my head: 

1) Learn Spanish. Be fluent.

2) Share faith-matter and life well with those I'm living/traveling/friends with. Live authentically as I am. Being bold and risking as I am led in relationships. I am aware of the faith backgroud in Spain. I want to fight to find a community. I can't wait to dive in and learn and struggle.

3) I want to go see Mr. Mike, Becca's dad, who is working in Germany until Oct. 23.

4) SHARE MY EXPERIENCES WITH ALL OF YOU! I want to be where I am but I will hopefully weekly give you something to look at and probably lots to read (but I realize the pictures are what people really like and will look at) as I experience Madrid and travel plenty. And skype calls and such occasionally too. 

5) Learn tons (inevitably!) and do well in school. 

I have so much to be excited about but would still appreciate your prayers for all this and your correspondence on facebook or anyway you can. My contact information will be there... I get free incoming calls:) I'll also post it here eventually.

Love you all,

Andrew 

P.S.-  If you would like a post-card from somewhere, please do tell me (and your address, even if I already have it). I would love to send you one.  

Emilia was telling me how to say I love you between parents and kids, husband and wife,  and between friends

Crazy Girl ;)

This is Timmy. He's the man. 

Becca, Dustin, me, and Bihm (Nick)

Refreshing and lazy two weeks home hanging with these friends

Studying hard for 3 tests these next 3 days...here's some pictures