Last Days

I made it home safely! I know, I've been home a week, but we went on a family vacation and I've had some Internet problems.
I want to do another post to sort of wrap up my experience in Hungary (if it can be wrapped up...I truly believe that this summer has changed me), but for now I just want to post some pictures of my last week in Hungary.

Sightseeing on the last day

Ildi, Janos, and Lilla (Beni was visiting friends)

Stephanie, Lilla, and I

At the castle in Visegrad

I couldn't resist putting up this picture of my boss. :) The adult team had a moose award and this moose that we carried around everywhere. We took pictures of everyone with the moose, and this great photo is of Endre, my boss for the summer.

I can't believe I've already been home a week! To those of you in Diosd reading this, I love you and miss you so much! You are constantly in my prayers. 

Trivial Enjoyments

Top Ten Trivial Things I am Looking Forward to at Home:

(Note: I can honestly say that I haven't missed any of these things until I started thinking about them)
1. ICE. Let me leave it at that. I didn't miss ice, but then Stephanie mentioned crushed ice from Sonic or Milo's, and suddenly my mouth has watered at just the thought of it. When I get home, I just want a huge cup of crushed ice or else the ice from the ice maker at my house. Ahhh. So wonderful.
2. Chik-fil-a. Yum. Does any more need to be said?
3. My bed. I loved my bed at the Kazar's, and for the most part I had no problems with the couch bed at my small house. The Romantika bed does the trick when I'm exhausted, but I can't honestly say it is the msot comfortable. So I am really looking forward to crawling into my OWN bed! And sleeping in my American-style sheets and blanket! I actually like the way they make their beds here, but I won't mind my lovely bedding at home!
4. Radio. There are so many songs I don't think I've heard! I'm looking forward to learning them and singing along with the radio. Which brings me to my next point...
5. Driving! I am so excited to drive! I drove once while I was here on Janos' and Ildi's stick shift but that was super-focused! I'm excited to just drive and sing to the radio and enjoy it!
6. English Grocery Store. Not that I really want to go to the grocery store, but I am looking forward to signs and information that I need being in English! Not to mention shopping cart races with Daddy!
7. Sweet Tea. Oh my. Love it. I can sort of taste it right now (that sounds weird and gross, I know), and man...As the Hungarians would say, "Fenom!"
8. Italian and Mexican food. Yes, probably weird, but I'd love a good piping hot plate of pasta with garlic and butter and yummy Italian, or else an endless bowl of hot chips with spicy salsa and a cheese quesadilla.
9. The Library. Actually, I did use the library at ICSB on Wednesdays here, but I am looking forward to squeezing in a few library runs while I'm home!
10. Summer days. Not that it isn't summer here, but I am looking forward to some typical summer-time things, like heat and humidity and cooking out and lots of ice.

Praise Him

God is good.

God is faithful and He is perfect and He is good.

I cannot believe that today is my last day here in Hungary. Last night was hard - it was sad to tell people goodbye. It was hard to be asked, "Will we see you next year?" and not be able to answer. I want to say yes with all my heart, but I don't know God's plan for me. And it wasn't bad to be asked that question, but it hurt my heart. I could only hug and cry and hug again. Saying goodbye to youth group girls (come who came by just to tell me goodbye - I really am thankful for that and I wish I could have spent more time with them. That meant so much) was very difficult, but at the same time I am confident that God has His hand over them, that He is working in them, and that He is in control. I feel that way with everyone, but it is very sad to say goodbye, even if I know I will see some of my friends again.

The English camp was great. God continually works miracles, and He brings people in. The stories of people who attended would blow your mind. I am so thankful that I serve the Lord! I'm so thankful for the work of Paulus, I'm so thankful that I got to work with them and see them in action.

It was very hard to say goodbye tonight to the Paulus staff. They are my family here - I can't really explain it except with that word, "family". It was really hard. I have a lot of thoughts to process, and I will post again, but for now I just want to thank God that I am here, even as my heart breaks to leave. I am thankful that my heart breaks to leave because it means that He moved. I know I am in His will, and I know that He has the future in His hands. I can only praise Him and give Him glory for what He has done.

Later I'm going to post a list of trivial things that I am looking forward to at home. Remembering these things actually helps me. It reminds me of what I have at home (besides family and friends, of course) to look forward to. I am happy to be going home. I just wish I didn't have to leave!

Quick Thanks

Only one more day of English camp. I can't believe how this week has flown by! I will post pictures later, but I just wanted to thank you for your encouragement and prayers! I've had a number of people praying for me and many others sending me encouraging messages to finish strong. Your prayers are very felt, because I have had so much more energy and excitement in these past two days. Thank you for your love and support! Your prayers and encouragement mean a lot more than you will ever know. And God is faithful to answer your prayers always, and this time He answered with a "Yes!" So thank you.

I'll post again later with pictures and more details about the week. Love to you all!

MBCC Team Two

I don't think I even mentioned that the adult team made it! I have been so busy with the church retreat and English camp. An update is definitely due!

I picked them up from the airport (Endre drove of course)

After the adult team got here, we headed to Nova for the church retreat. It was such a good weekend! I loved spending time with families from the church, hanging out with the kids and youth, and getting to know the adult team. I really loved the weekend, and Ronnie Stevens, the speaker, was wonderful. He is from Atlanta and is the pastor at the international church in Budapest. It was a wonderful message that was very timely, and I got to talk with him for a little while. We actually knew some of the same people (he knew Daddy's pastor from Atlanta, and his kids may have gone to school with my cousins in Memphis), so it was neat to talk with him.

Ildi and I did something together for the talent show

It was bittersweet time as well, because it was my last full weekend in Hungary, and it was the last time I will see a lot of those families (at least this summer). But I'm trying not to think about that.

With the Ancsan family! I love them!

English camp has been going really well! The first day was interesting, but we survived, and so far day two has gone really well! I love our kids class, and the adult class is great as well. I also love working with the adult team - they are so funny. I've found some fellow J Biebs- and Celine Dion-loving friends. :)

The girls on the trip

Please pray for the English camp. Pray that these people will be interesting in Paulus even more, that their curiosity would grow about why we are here and our faith. Please also pray for me, specifically. I am tired. I only have a few days left, and I want to give it my all. Please pray for energy and an "extra dose of the Spirit" (Frannie shared that Mary Leslie's mom prayed that for the VBS helpers, and so we prayed for that all during Converse).

The entire team at Citadella

Stronger

The day after the relaxing river cruise, we had an evaluation about Converse. That was good, but the best part came afterwards when we ate langos! I love langos, and I think the rest of the Americans did too! We had a restful afternoon (including a much needed nap), and that night we headed to the Citadella.

I love the Citadella. There is a fantastic view of the city, not to mention I have many memories there from the past years that I have been here. We had so much fun being silly and taking pictures and just having fun. I just wanted to share some pictures. Even now the youth team is flying home, and the adult team is probably on their way!

Beautiful View

Another View

With my first ever adopted bro, Tim!

Ahh!

My Hungarian Roomies!

Sightseeing

I have been sightseeing with the Roswell team already this summer, and I went again with the youth teams. Both times before I left, I kind of asked myself, "Why am I doing this? I've been to all these places twice/three times before, and I already have pictures of it all." But then as I stood in Heroes Square and later climbed to castle district, looking out over the city, I just realized again how truly beautiful Budapest is. I love this city a lot. It is stunning.

Hungarian Youth Group at Heroes Square

American Team at Heroes Square

Beautiful Budapest

After doing the usual tour on Saturday (market, Heroes Square, castle district), we returned to the same restuarant we ate at last year. It was just as delicious this year and it was really fun to be there with the Americans, the Paulus staff, and some members of the Hungarian youth group.

With Beni and Lilla after dinner

On Sunday, we went to church (yay! I missed it last week when I was at Balaton), and that afternoon Ildi and Janos took us to the minaret. Oh boy. I didn't go up this time, but the rest of the team did and I think they enjoyed it. Honestly, I think they were actually a little let down. When we drove up, they all said, "Wait, this is it? Seriously?" It was very funny.

The Minaret

After the minaret, the Kiss family graciously invited us to their home for gulyas and palocsinta. It was DELICIOUS. It was so great to be back "home". We had such a good time, and Ildi and Janos were as kind and welcoming and generous as they always are. They made us feel right at home.
Soon it was time to head downtown to the river cruise! I think this was the most relaxing thing I've done since I've been in Hungary! It was so peaceful to just ride along, look at the lights, and talk with Esther. I loved it. I'm already looking forward to going with the team next week! :)

Parliament

Converse Day Five

Converse Day Five was a wonderful end to the week. I actually think it was the best day. The team was very unified, they were comfortable with the system, and things just went well. It was fun to have year three of Hungarian Idol and to see the kids getting so involved. I thought it was a great day, although sad to say goodbye to these kids (at least for another year).

Overall, I thought the week went very well! I'm pleased with how Converse turned out. It was different from years before in many ways, but I'm proud of both youth groups and how they adapted to each other. They did a great job.

Now on to a few (hopefully) relaxing days with the youth group and then on Wednesday the adult team arrives!

Converse Day Three (and some of Four)

Converse Day Three went just as well as the first two! English camp went very smoothly, praise the Lord, and we had a lot of fun! The afternoon was a full 2.5 hours of matball and dodgeball. It was really fun to see the kids and leaders enjoying themselves and having fun. After the sports portion of the day, we had American Culture Night with videogames set up. There was Just Dance, Mario Kart, and another game that I didn't know what it was. There were also some games like Set and Bohnanza (also known as "the bob game," my personal favorite game that I've learned here in Hungary). We had so much fun!

Converse Day Four was going really when. We prepared for the Hungarian Idol tomorrow. One team member isn't feeling well and is running a fever, so I actually am at the hotel with her while she naps and recovers. When she wakes up, we'll check her temp again and hopefully be able to head back to camp!

Please pray for health, for energy and joy, and for boldness to share Jesus' name! Today is a big day, with the emphasis on making a decision to follow Jesus. Please pray for these last two days of camp. We are confident that the work that Jesus is beginning here will not stop!

Converse: Day Two

Converse Day Two went just as well as yesterday!

Thankfully, it was a shorter day. We were all a little tired today, so it was nice to have camp end at 4:30. But I thought that English camp went well, and then the afternoon staff hunt was fun too. I love spending time with my Hungarian friends, and being able to serve with them in Converse has been wonderful.

Now we're all crashing (well, at least I am!) in order to be ready for tomorrow! I can't believe that the week is almost halfway over. In some ways, I can feel my time here flying through my fingers.

Please be praying for Converse, for our team, and that I will cherish every last minute here as well as give it my all.

Converse: Day One

Happy Fourth of July (my favorite holiday)! The first day of Converse is officially over!

 I have much to catch up on, beginning with Balaton. We went with the youth group to their retreat at Lake Balaton. I had so much fun! I loved spending more time with my Hungarian friends and spending time with my American friends as well. It is sort of weird, because I'm not fully one nor the other (some of the Hungarian girls have told me I'm actually Hungarian), but other than some weirdness and not knowing how to handle a few things, everything was great. We spent some time at the lake, and we ate wonderful food, and we spent lots of fun time together. I roomed with Kriszti, Alexa's mom, who I love a lot. It was fun to spend a little more time with her.

Anyway, on Sunday we headed back to Diosd, and we prepared the Paulus House for Converse! We got up bright and early this morning to head to Paulus to start the day. As the kids came in, it was so great to see familiar faces and new ones as well! It was a great first day. All of the team did a great job. I am really proud of them. I'm excited to see what the week holds!

*I had pictures to add, but the internet is being slow, so I will add them later.

Turtles

The youth team made it! Interestingly enough, they were stranded for a day in Minnesota because their flight to New York was cancelled. The reason the flight was cancelled was because there were turtles on the plane's runway. But the turtles didn't stop them for long, and now they are here!

Its so funny to be with American teenagers after spending time with Hungarian ones. Going to the Campona (the mall) tonight with them was so funny. They walked across the street not on the crosswalk, they talked loudly, and they were dressed so differently! I didn't even realize how my perspective has changed just being here for a month. But I love being with them, and I'm so excited for what is ahead with the youth retreat and later Converse!

To follow along with their adventures, read their blog posts here.