Archive for November 4th, 2009

I love Amsterdam. I guess there’s no secret about that. My love affair with this city began in 1983 when I spent a week here during a Billy Graham event. I’ve been coming back almost every year since. I have lost track of how many people I’ve brought here and could tell story after story of lives touched by the times we have shared.

Memphis Hotel - Elvis is NOT in the building

Memphis Hotel – Elvis is NOT in the building

I caught the ICE train at the Frankfurt airport this morning Donna and Reba were already on board, having left Munich very early. By 1:30 this afternoon we pulling into Amsterdam Central Station. We took the tram to our hotel and discovered a lot of changes!

For well over a decade I have been bringing groups to this hotel and some of the staff have become good friends in the process. Last year while we were here the hotel changed ownership and big changes were in the air. As is inevitable, changes in personnel occurred, but some old friends are still here and it was great to see them, talk with them and even spend some time with them. They are moving things around on the first floor and I think it is going to look very nice. We will be the first to eat in the new breakfast room tomorrow, and we will be the first to use the new conference room on Saturday when the group arrives.

Reba has been here twice and Donna spent a couple of days here briefly many years ago. So, after we settled in a bit and I caught up with friends, I took them on a walking tour of the city core. We didn’t even mind too much that it was raining a bit and we got wet – this IS Amsterdam in the Fall. Then, I took them to one of my favorite little restaurants here for a fabulous Italian dinner.

Most of all I am excited to share this beautiful city with the group of 16 arriving Friday morning. There is so much history, art, culture, and lessons to learn about the kingdom God is building. I an hardly wait. Tomorrow we will be busy getting things ready for the group. I’ll let you now how it goes.

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