Another Planet

That's what the south coast of Iceland looks like, at least the part we saw today.

The guy at the TV station is at their other studio somewhere out of town, and won't be back until Friday. Marias, the brother in Christ we met yesterday, met this man when he and some other American missionaries put In Search of the Lord's Way on that station a few years ago. He knows where the other studio is and is trying to arrange to take us there to meet him. That will be good in several ways: going ahead and getting the ball rolling on the TV program; spending time with a relatively new brother in Christ, encouraging him and learning from him about the people here; and being shown around by a local.

We took advantage of our sudden change (lack) of plans by driving southeast from Keflavik. We first went past more of the former NATO base than we had seen, and then almost immediately entered countryside which, aside from the ocean, looked like it belonged on the Moon or Mars. We didn't know the exact term, but we found "volcanic desert" to be at least descriptive as well as a tiny bit technical. Everywhere you look is either a mountain or a field of volcanic rock. The rocks seemed to get more and more jagged as we went, until the driving snow covered up the ones we could still see... We marveled both at the stark beauty of the environment and the sheer determination and toughness of human beings (and the few other living things as well) who have managed to make a life for themselves up here at the end of the world. We stopped at a little church building standing right by the ocean and took several pictures. William offered me the $10 bill in his pocket to go out and wade in the water. As tempted as I was with his offer of 1,290 kr., I declined, and made the counter-offer that if he would wade in the water, he could have that same $10 bill.

A few have asked for pictures. I will post these as soon as I am able. I'm at the guesthouse's computer now and have no internet access otherwise. If I can get online with my own computer somewhere I will post pictures. Otherwise, we'll all just have to wait for The Week in Pictures at the end. Thanks for reading and commenting. Keep us and our families in your prayers.