Blessings on Blessings (Gabby Visser)

I remember the first day we arrived in York as if it was yesterday. I remember how quickly the first week went by, and thinking to myself that soon, things will slow down. I feared this, though, because I thought as time slowed down, I would begin to miss home, and things would start to get tough. Everyone warned us about the first two weeks, and how homesick we would be. I wasn’t ready for that; I dreaded those feelings.

Another week went by, and while I undoubtedly missed my home, family, and friends, I realized I was doing just fine. I felt an odd sense of peace that I did not expect to have these first few weeks, and I felt blessed by this.

Now it has been nearly a month (what?!) and I am happily overwhelmed by all the experiences I have had. I had pretty high expectations for this trip, and they have already been exceeded. I constantly find myself in a state of awe. It is clear that God is working in my life here in York.

First of all, I am blessed by the whole group of Calvin students. I could not imagine a better group of people to have by my side during this new and exciting time. I have noticed that every one of us has unique and wonderful characteristics that somehow work well all together. I’ve gotten to know people that I otherwise would have never had the chance to get to know, and I am feeling extremely blessed by these relationships. Second, I have been blown away by all of our weekend excursions. First was Liverpool. I knew only a few Beatles songs before the trip, and I knew absolutely nothing about their story. After learning about them through the Beatles Story, I had a new and huge appreciation for the band and their work. The opportunity to walk the streets of a city that produced such talent was an experience like no other.

Our second excursion was to Durham. I absolutely loved Durham. Beautiful brick buildings lined the winding cobblestone streets, and a river ran along the town. Before the trip, we had been reading and learning about the Venerable Bede, a saint who lived during the late 5th century and early 6th century. He is known as a great historian and wrote much about the history of the English Church. Durham Cathedral is his current resting place, and our group had the honor to visit his tomb. Both the cathedral and Durham Castle were incredibly beautiful, and you really can’t beat being on Harry Potter filming grounds (Durham Cathedral cloister served as part of Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Philospher’s Stone). My favorite part of Durham, though, was exploring the streets of the darling city. There was just something about the ambiance of the city that immediately captured my heart.

Thirdly we visited Lindisfarne. Otherwise known as the Holy Island, Lindisfarne is an island rich in history, as it was a huge center of Celtic Christianity with recorded history dating all the way back to the 6th century. Lindisfarne is also a unique type of island. It is accessible by foot or vehicle during low tide, but the sandy causeway is covered up during high tide. For some reason, I did not have very high expectations for Lindisfarne before we visited. But as soon as I stepped off the bus, I was absolutely blown away (both figuratively and literally… it was quite windy!). The more I explored the island, the more I loved it. I felt as though I was living in a storybook; everything was so picturesque, and with the knowledge of the island’s expansive Christian history, I felt that God’s presence was strong. I was in complete awe.

Recently I heard a sermon from my church in Grand Rapids that talked about the book of Hosea, and how God’s love is so strong the He even pursues the unfaithful. Then, a few days ago, I received a letter from a friend back home. She mentioned that she had been reading Hosea and shared the same message with me. When God wants to get a message across, he sure knows how to do it.

The last time I was with my parents before I left for England, my dad prayed for me. He prayed specifically that I would grow closer to God during my time abroad. I remember thinking I had no doubt that God would be with me, but I wondered, “how will I grow closer to Him during this time?”

And now I know. With every breathtaking experience, I have felt God’s presence in a stronger, more intimate way. I have experienced blessings on blessings, and I feel God pursuing me in a new way. I constantly praise Him for the opportunities He is providing to me, and I thank Him for all the people he has placed by my side.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Philippians 4:4-6