After ending our third night with heavy snowfall, we woke up to high winds and even heavier snow. With all of the roads blocked off and completely buried underneath the mountains of snow, we were stuck inside our hotel (Fosshotel Núpar). Though the sun was shining for most of the day, many people woke up to dark rooms with snow completely covering their windows. After breakfast, many of the students felt restless and even a bit claustrophobic. To bring up our spirits, Mr. Ottman and Dr. Mosher staged a Worship Sharing circle for all of us to reflect on our journey so far in a public meeting space within the hotel. We sat in silence for a few moments and then shared about what we’ve learned so far on the trip, trepidations we had prior to our trip, and anything else we’ve enjoyed thus far. After about an hour of reflecting and sharing, we all dispersed and hung out in smaller groups. Though we were all stressed out about being stuck in our hotel, our group leaders made the experience a fun one!
After a few amazing hours of group bonding and spontaneous fun in the hotel, we finally got the chance to get on the road and continue to explore the beautiful island! After a short scenic drive, we stopped in front of a broken bridge with an amazing view of the tallest mountain of Iceland. Our group enjoyed climbing on the metal structure, taking cool pictures, sliding down, and even hanging off of it! We then got on the bus very anxiously awaiting our next destination: a glacier! After a 10-minute hike up and around the rocky terrain, we came upon the beautiful snowy landscape of the giant blue glaciers in the valley of the mountains. Taking in this beautiful landscape deserved a brief Meeting for Worship in appreciation of the breathtaking scenery. The group sat on the ground silently appreciating this beautiful natural creation of the world.
By Eva and Neyli