God is a Mighty Teacher

What are the things I learned from being in Hungary?

God taught me the importance of His will and His glory. He taught me to want His will more than I want anything else in life. He taught me to want His plan and His glory more than I want my own dreams or desires. There are times when this gets clouded in my mind, but in my heart, I know it is true.

God taught me to love wholeheartedly. Even though it hurts to be gone, I'm so thankful for my friends and family in Diosd. I love them so much, and I know that is because He loves me.

God taught me about prayer. I've struggled with prayer since becoming a Christian, but this summer God really taught me what it means. He taught me that when my desire is first and foremost His will, I can pray for anything. I can ask for birds to be silenced, and He will do it to bring Himself glory and honor. I can ask to have a conversation with someone, and the answer may seem to be no, but God knew His will and He designed the conversation to occur in HIS timing, not mine. I can pray claiming His promises to me because those are His will for me - I can claim the promise of the fruit of His Spirit in me, I can claim the promise of wisdom in all things, the list goes on.

God taught me about living with an eternal perspective. To many people, my working with Paulus was a waste. It didn't get me any further in a career path, it didn't add something spectacular to my resume. But the things God led me to do in Diosd were not about me, they were about Him and furthering His kingdom. I want to live with my heart set on Heaven, and to me that means I want to live sharing the Good News of Jesus and His love for us. I want everyone to know the Truth, because the Truth saves us and sets us free. God taught me that while the things we do here will not be recognized, they may be looked down on, or they may be seemingly meaningless, He values those acts of obedience, no matter how small. Things like washing dishes or mopping floors or smiling at someone or saying something difficult that you know must be said, those things honor the Lord and bring Him glory. And I want to live like that!

God taught me that I can give up my home of America if He calls me to it. Sure, there were things that, when I thought about them, I missed (like ice). But in my day-to-day living, there was nothing that was too big a sacrifice. As Sara told me, in two months its easy to say that, its the sixth month mark where it gets hard. But God showed me that when He calls you somewhere, He leads you and prepares you and provides for you and makes it happen. As my daddy told me, when we know God's plan for us but we choose something else, something easier or something that makes more sense to the world, that is when we are the most unhappy.

God taught me that He loves people. I knew that before, but seeing His love expressed through the Paulus staff and the Paulus fellowship, I was blown away. Experiencing His love for them that He placed on my heart blew me away.  Experience His love for me through the love these people showed me blew me away. My heart broke to leave, it truly did. But I also left thankful and full of love.

God taught me many things through the Paulus staff. Andras and Sara, Janos and Ildi, Endre and Viki, Zoli and Edit, Sanyesz and Esy. They demonstrate such love and servanthood and determination to carry Jesus' name. Sara poured so much wisdom into me while I was there. Andras encouraged me every time I spoke with him. Janos and Ildi were my family and showed me what it means to truly have a servant's heart. Endre and Viki showed me love and support. Zoli and Edit taught me about caring for people no matter what, loving them and being concerned about them because Jesus loves them first. Sanyesz and Esy showed me what it means to love youth, to cherish them and feel proud of them and encourage them and even push them. I learned so much from working with this group of people.