Hamburg Diaries: English Language, art, and some! (Part two)

First off, there is no excuse for not telling this story before now. I’ve had a crazy couple of weeks, and by now you should know I am in Abuja, Nigeria. Went to Lagos for a bit (that’s the story about the singing pilot), and I’ve got at least one trip there more before I leave.

For now though, let’s backtrack to the middle of February and attempt to pick up from where I stopped in this first one. So I was to lead a session on ‘Political campaigning and reporting: Quick click no engagement’, and on the panel were amazing people drawn from different yet relevant fields, ‘grandfathers in the industry’ if you like. Was such a privilege!

I can’t get over the official at Immigration calling someone on the phone to ‘verify/confirm’ my visa which I got in England but let’s just call that incredible and move on.

I got into Hamburg, and not only did I immediately regret not learning a word of German before I set out, it amuses me that I asked the Immigration official “what’s the name of this airport please”? He smiled and said, “Hamburg Airport”, and I imagined what I would have said/the look I would have had on my face if someone had asked me that silly question. SMH at you FGS, what else could it have been called? Lagos Airport?

Anyway, got a taxi to my lodgings, Superbude St Georg, a hostel type, bed and breakfast set up. Really lovely! And the art in the lounge was amazing! Dang!

By the way, the cabbie from the airport ride was/is a crook. The fare came to €23.20 and I gave him €50.  He asked if I wanted a receipt, I said yes and so he wrote one for €25 and gave me €25 change. When I complained that the meter read something lower he said something about me claiming it back anyway and drove off. Crook.

Back to St Georg, I slept, Skyped my folks and loved ones to let them know I got in ok, and then it was time to explore!

My room was on the fifth floor, and I immediately purposed in my heart that I would use the stairs the entire time I was there to keep my #Fitfam business going. And I did!

First off I needed to find a sim, and I was particularly interested in something with a data plan because I wanted to be able to use BBM, check my mails on the go, and Instagram too (he he he).

After walking about for a bit, I ended up in a relatively large shopping mall called Reål, housing things like Mc Donalds (and other eateries), a laundromat, a recycling center for bottles (really cool stuff), Tmobile (and co), a department store, those kinds of things.

Let’s do a few pictures here shall we?

I liked the odd shapes of these perfume bottles… I actually arranged them like this to take this picture!

Take away pack… lol…

Too many people smoking!!! Sheesh!!! Look at that hand dropping a stub even as I was taking that photo!

Ah ha!! This is the SIM I settled for…

Alcohol for the man dem! SMH… This one still has the barley inside sef…

Recycling machine for bottles – really cool. Someone explained to me but I’m not sure if I understood them well. Apparently, you get some money according to the amount of recycling you do. It’s not a whole lot, but it’s something.

 

I bought a sausage roll, vanilla pudding (yum), fruits, and some water for my room, and soon as I saw that the chocolates were cheaper (and it wasn’t just about the exchange rate), I got some too. Got out of the supermarket and it occurred to me that I wasn’t sure of the way home!

Then I saw the Siemens and IBM buildings (became very important landmarks for me), and I found my way home!

The evening, and the morning, the first day!

 

 

 

House, hotel, or ceremony; how do you approach His house?

Two weeks ago I was in a service at Hillsongs, Dominion Theatre and the Pastor was talking about our attitude to the house of God and how it determines the way we behave in and outside it.

He started by saying that “Jesus came as He did, so we can come as we are”. He explained that by today’s standards, Jesus entrance was controversial. Agreed? So His mother ‘immaculately conceived’ Him, and just when we thought this holy seed would be born in the best hospital, with the best doctors around at the time, he had to go get born in a manger! On hay! The King of Kings, ruler of the entire universe, born where donkeys sleep?

But it was for a purpose. Being born under those circumstances means that regardless of where your life is at the moment, His door is open, wide open, and you can come just as you are. Hallelujah!

Ok, back to the house. When you go to a hotel (and I love sleeping in hotels, the more luxurious the better), you can afford to throw the used towels about, not make your bed, leave plates in the room or by the door, pretty much do as you please. Right?

That’s because you know that soon as you go out and come back, the place would have been returned to pristine condition, ready for you to wreck again.

When you’re a guest at a ceremony (wedding, christening, graduation, whatever) you come dressed nicely expecting to be served. The most some of us expect to do is walk to the buffet table and help ourselves to the food. We may bring a gift (or not) but again, we have no responsibility whatsoever. Right?

When you’re at your home though, you cook. You clean, you mow the lawn, and you tend the garden. You run errands for your parents/guardians; and if you’ve got siblings you cater to them as well. In return your mother doesn’t hang you out on the clothesline! Lol! Seriously though, in return you partake of the ‘blessings of the house’. You have a family you love who love you back, a place to sleep, your needs taken care of, etc. You accept them, you have emotional, spiritual, and financial support when you need it, the works!

Same thing with the house of God. If we approach it like were attending a ceremony, or laying over at a hotel, we won’t fully partake of the blessings God has people who have made camp in. Remember Psalm 91:1. It says he that “dwelleth”, not visiteth, droppeth in, or stoppeth by  for a bit under the shadow of the Almighty (ignore the spellings, focus on the message *smile*).

Bottom line my darling people, get involved! Go all in! How can you serve? How can you add to the service? What team in the throne of God will be blessed by your gift?

Think about it, and enjoy the end of a super productive week!

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