Budapest - What To Do With A Tuesday Morning

Last night, around midnight, the party was still going.... There were still about 5 of us eating pie and laughing.  Liz, an American who is doing a Stint (a 2 year program) with Campus Crusade, looked at me and said, "what are you doing tomorrow morning?"  I said "nothing" and before I knew it, I was signed up to work at a homeless kitchen in Budapest.

Turns out - it was hard to get up this morning, but it was worth it.   It was Liz (the front in the pict) and Judit (You-dit), a freshman at the university who is a new believer, and myself.  We helped prepare and serve Sour Cabbage and Meatball type things.  We worked about 3 hours and served about 100 homeless men and women.  

The kitchen is with Golgota, which is Calvary Chapel, in Budapest.  I think they have about 4 of the kitchens around the city so we also helped pack up other meals to take to a few other sites and then we helped prep stuff for tomorrow lunch.  It was a great way to spend Tuesday morning and, on top of that, I got to know Judit a little better.

I'll do a little catch up now as I've finished cleaning up from yesterday and I have a few hours until I go to the Campus staff Bible Study....

SATURDAY - wasn't able to get on-line so couldn't update....

Saturday was the "Tour Day" for the BHHP group.  Unfortunately, they usually always do the same basic tour every year and, after 5 years, I was a little tapped out on the House of Terror so I passed on it and decided to get a head start on my Thanksgiving day shopping.  Because Leslie had been three times as well, she opted not to go on the House of Terror tour and so she came shopping with me.  It was fun and nice to have company!  We went to the market-market where all the real Budapest people go.  Its this big hall in Allee, a mall kind of place - its packed with fruit and veg kiosks and poultry places.  Its where I picked my turkey(s) up.  In Hungary, they don't eat turkey a lot, especially not whole ones, so you have to special order them.  Jodi orderd mine for me a few weeks ago.  She asked for a 19 lb turkey.  I even had to put money down on it at the beginning of the week.  When I got there on Saturday, they handed me a 9 lb turkey and said that was as big as they had.... Augh.... SO, I ended up buying two 9 lb. turkeys and hoping for the best.... Hence came the "loaves and fishes" prayer.

 After we shopped and dropped things at Jodi's, I met up with Andi from last year.  Leslie came with as well and we all sat at McDonalds and talked for a little over an hour.  Andi is a sweetie and I'll be sad if she goes to Germany for university next year as she's planning to.

 Leslie and I the took the tram down to Andrassy and met up with our group to do a city bus tour.  Once on the bus, I had to snap a pict on Andrassy as we went past the apartment that mom, Melissa and I stayed in over Christmas vacation.  Those were good memories then :)

After the city bus tour - which didn't really stop so everyone just zoomed around the city with headphones on, trying to snap pictures as the bus whizzed past - we came back to the hotel and were included in one of the sessions for the educators' symposium.  They wanted us in this session as its the one where Gabor and Dave both tell their stories .  I've never really heard Gabor's before so it was really touching.

This was Gabor as a boy - isn't he adorable?!  His story was so sad -- basically, his mom got pregnant and his dad tried to get her to have an abortion and she wouldn't so, when he came to the hospital to see them he told his mom "why did you have such an ugly baby?" -- and from there it all went downhill.  His dad was extremely abusive, physically and mentally to Gabor.  When he was 7 or 8, his dad broke his leg so he was in the hospital for quite a while.  It was around that time that his parents decided to divorce.  So, the judge awarded full custody to the dad.  Crazy.... A lot more abuse happened and the mom kept on fighting to get Gabor - apparently the courts here never reconsider their decision - but she finally got them to reconsider and the judge talked to Gabor and he ended up seeing that Gabor was actually terrified of the dad and he ended up giving custody to the mom.

When Gabor was around college age, he heard about Christ.  Long and short, he ended up accepting Christ personally.  It took a while because he had had such a hard life he couldn't believe that GOd would actually care and love Gabor personally - he just wasn't used to it.  Almost right after he accepted Christ, he had a complete heart change and his fear and hatred of his father changed to the need to forgive him so he tried to meet with his father - he finally did, he forgave his father and his father basically had nothing but scorn for him.  Gabor's peace was that he had a heavenly Father that loved him more than his father ever would or could love him.  It was such an awesome story and I look at Gabor now and his family and am just amazed at what God has done in and through him.    He is just completely immersed in Christ.  I know that when he first became a believer he had this amazing passion that led him to actually be arrested once or twice for sharing his faith (during communism) and he still has the same passion years later.

The second story was Dave's story which was basically his abuse of drugs during high school and of his earthly and his heavenly father's forgiveness.

After both stories were shared, they presented a really simple message of the gospel and told people that they too could have that peace and the love of God simply by asking.  They then handed out response cards basically like we give at university that asks for contact info and if they are interested in hearing more about the gospel.

Here's the amazing thing - out of about 200 teachers,

• 44 said that they wanted to talk more 
• 4 indicated that they wanted to make a decision
• 1 actually made a decision to follow Christ

This picture below is a picture of the woman who accepted Christ (in the blue plaid shirt).  She's been restless in her soul for a long time.  Her mother was abusive to her and now,  she finds that she's having to care for her mother.  So everyday, she struggles and is bitter and is hurt more and when she heard Gabor's story, it clicked that she could actually move past the past but she knew she couldn't do it on her own accord as there was so much hurt.  She accepted Christ while Gabor was talking about knowing Christ and she said she felt immediate peace but she still doesn't know how to move forward.  They talked to her about living in the spirit and connecting with an area church and reading her Bible so God could speak to her.  She left that evening feeling complete peace and a new life.  It was so exciting to hear that story.

 What a contrast - after what Gabor had in his life, this is Gabor and his youngest son Gagu who is totally adorable!

 This is the Gresz (Grace) family.  Rahel, Gagu, Renato, Gabor and Edina.  What a great family!

SUNDAY

 SWEET POTATOS!

This is what they're called in Budapest -- Adash-bur-yonia...  I have to remember that for last year as I roam all around the market and then end up having to go to the big Spahr supermarket for them.

The morning had me and another gentleman (whose wife actually came last year) being toted off to church by two new Hungarian staff members, Adi (Adam) and Keshun (Keshone).  They are both newly graduated university students as of a year or two ago and have just finished raising support (they're each single) and coming to Budapest to work.  They took us to Golgota (Calvary Chapel - this is about my 3rd or 4th time there) and then we went out to lunch at a great Hungarian place near Andrassy.  I had my favorite - chicken paprika! :)

After they dropped us off back at the hotel, I decided to finish my shopping and transport all my belongings to Jodi's apartment before I had to be back for the end of the week "banquet".

 I brought along my little roller duffle so I could tote everything back to Jodi's apartment which is about 3 blocks from the Spahr store.  The water was the hardest thing to carry.

 Gabor drove me and Philip and Todd (from Memphis) to the restaurant.  Of course, we were with Gabor so we had a blast!

This is with Michelle (from Atlanta - she came with Leslie, the repeat BHHPer) and Rebecca from CA who had left behind her two little boys and husband and was celebrating her 24th birthday in Budapest on Friday.  The three of us hung out more towards the end of the week and I found my new BHHP friends in them.  We had a blast together and even took Rebecca out on the evening of her birthday - we were out until the restaurant closed at midnight :)

MONDAY - THANKSGIVING!

 I started baking pies around 8 a.m. and finished them up around 11.  The small size of the oven prohibited me from doing more than one pie at a time so I it took a little longer than it would have at home.  Unfortunately, as well, one of the apples was up a little too high and the sugar on the top ended up burning.  I figured everything underneath should be good though....

 My angel, Flora, came over to help me all day.  That was my biggest panic was doing it alone.  Flora was an extra pair of hands and kept me company all day.

 The kitchen counters didn't permit everything plus the turkeys....

 I never make sweet potatos at home but its a regular here as they just don't really eat them in Hungary.

 This did get pretty messy but it worked.... this is the time where I wish I could have packed a brother or brother in law to cut the stupid turkey - I have NO clue what I'm doing....

 There are 13 of us in the picture, but 2 or 3 others came a little later so we had about 16 total.

The girl at the far left of the picture, but Zsu, is Zsu's cousin from America.  She actually was born in Transylvania which was Hungary but now is Romania.  She left when she was about 2 and grew up in New York.  She's now back in Hungary studying at the university here to go into medicine and then she'll go back to the states to practice and to specialize.  She was really sweet and was so happy to be invited as she hasn't been home in a few years and hasn't been able to really celebrate American holidays.

We had a great time and I was able to talk a little about what I wanted.  However, people were going and coming all night so it was really hard to continue things and it wound up a little disconjointed.  But I believe I shared what God would have me share and I was happy that everyone came and stayed and just enjoyed things.  I love seeing and hearing them together at this time every year.  They all just love Thanksgiving and I'm glad that I'm able to bring it to Hungary :)

Tomorrow, I'm having Hajni and her boyfriend, David, and Flora and her boyfriend, Atti, over for lunch.  Pray for our time together.  I think I'm doing Thanksgiving leftovers :)  

Budapest - Loaves And Fishes

I have a lot to catch up on from BHHP, but I really don't have time right now as I'm getting ready for our Budapest Thanksgiving.

Flora is on her way over to help and give me moral support.  I still have to finish the pies and arrange things for party atmosphere and then this afternoon I start in the prep for the potatos and the edesburgonya (sweet potatos that Hungarians know NOTHING about...) and all the rest.

Its seeming like I'm having 17 - 20 girls tonight - I'm not even sure and I'm a little concerned about food levels as I tend to overprepare because I'm so frightened of underpreparing.

My friend Leslie who has come on the BHHP trip in years past, was actually on the trip again this year so, instead of the regular tour stuff, she came with me on Saturday to do some shopping.  I was expressing my "not enough food" fear to her and she looked at me and said in this calm voice, "pray loaves and fishes"....  She's right - if this thing is all God's then He'll take care of it.

I'm a little jumpy about what I want to say about Darlene and the gospel..... "pray loaves and fishes"

I'm a little nervous that I won't have enough or the right little party treats to send everyone away with.... "pray loaves and fishes"

I'm not quite sure how things will turn out as I don't always do these sweet potatos and pie recipes... "pray loaves and fishes"

I know that GOD will take care of what He has care for.  Pray that I'll "pray loaves and fishes" with confidence and that I will see God provide.  Pray that the girls would see "loaves and fishes" and that just our being together tonight will help the see a little more of God and who He is through us.

Budapest - Friday - The Symposium

Another beautiful morning that started out with an exquisite sunrise.... All pink and orange and making you feel warm and ready to start a new day.  Unfortunately, it didn't last for long as the wind kicked up as soon as we got to our high school (it was the high school that we had been at with Zach two days previous) and not long after, the rain started to pelt down.  We stayed at the school until 2:15 p.m. teaching English classes, having some great conversations and encouraging the teens to come to that evening FEK Improv meeting.  

A few funny wall-art moments at the school:

After classes, the American portion of our team trekked over to the Covered Market in the rain so I could introduce them to the wonderful world of strudel (you may remember this fantastical world that was discovered by Mark and Jayne Putman last year - along with the chocolate covered Vitamin Roll....)  Brian from TX has had a hard time finding things that he liked to eat so I was hoping to strike gold for him at the covered market.  Unfortunately because it was a rainy afternoon, the market was absolutely packed and so we had to wade through a see of people to even get to the food kiosks.

 We finally managed to push our way down to the Langos and palachinta booth.... I got my favorite sour cream and cheese Langos and Brian opted for a nutella palachinta (crepe)...

We went back to the hotel and had about an hour before the evenings events.  Brian and Philip went to the high school FEK event with another group of BHHP volunteers.  I opted to stay behind so I could witness my first Symposium since they started doing it in the fall.  Unfortunately, I know this year has been the lowest number in attendance.  Only a little over 200 teachers signed up.  Apparently there were some changes with the government so now, these credits are required, but the government won't pay for them and the teachers' salaries were dropped so they struggle with money.  

To explain the FEK symposium.... Its a cirriculum that Gabor Gresz (Hungarian) and Dave Robinson (American but a missionary in Hungary for many years and for the time that this curriculum was originally written) wrote when the newly liberated Hungarian director of education came to them after the fall of communism and asked them to help meet the needs in a society growing with problem teens who were beginning to use drug and have sex and were at risk of diseases and overall affecting the society and its future.

Dave and Gabor in turn told him that they would love to help and could do so, however, they would have to include that the only true answer to all the problems in society was in Christ.  They could teach abstinance and how drugs can ruin your life, they could give ways to help improve your life, but the only real answer and way would be through the gospel. 

They were told that those in the government that they were working with didn't believe what they believed, but they definitely saw something working with the youth they were involved with so they should definitely include whatever they needed to.

Years later, the program is still going and growing and has affected many many lives.  

If you want to learn more about this amazing ministry that I love taking part in and seeing grow, check out the website http://www.covenantchapel.com/resources/publications/outrageous-promise/ and take a few seconds to order the book "The Outrageous Promise".  Its the easiest read ever and you'll fly through it because you're sitting on the edge of your seat.  Its a story and its a blessing and its outrageous!

The educators started coming in around 4:30 p.m. to register for the weekend symposium.

Friend and funny-man, Gabor Gresz, better known to us as Gigi

 (to quote him "its because of my initials")

It was so neat to see a wide variety of educators at the symposium.  Men and women, young and old, there was even a nun there.  They were all sitting with literally rapt attention.  Most of them, this was the first time they'd been involved with FEK or to the symposium.

FEK is an abbreviation for a Hungarian word that would make no sense if I put it here, so I won't.  I will tell you in English it means, "Youth At The Threshold of Life".   Youth are between adolescence and adulthood and who are beginning to discover who they are and what they want their life to be - an extremely important and influential time.

These are all the countries listed that have discovered and have asked FEK to translate their program for them to use.  These countries are all following with educators symposiums and teaching in the classroom.

And here are two clips from the symposium this evening.  Its with Dave Robinson speaking and Gabor translating so you'll be able to understand and hear some Hungarian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br4pnX6ebJs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08_Udc2tEr8

Please continue to pray for the symposium and for the educators who have come - the symposium runs until early Sunday afternoon.  Pray for Dave and Gabor as they continue their presentations.

Also, please pray for me as I meet with Andi (my high school friend who I met on the banks of the Danube last year).  We're meeting for lunch and then she's going to join me and the team on a city tour.  I'm praying that she enjoys meeting everyone and that we have a good conversation.

Budapest - Thursday

This is the lovely view that unfolded before me when I unfolded my eyes this morning......
Because our air conditioning does not apparently work and the room gets stifling at night, we usually sleep with the window wide open and theres a lovely breeze.  On top of that, you lie in bed and you can see the sun just popping up in the horizon and you can hear the bells chiming (if you wake up late enough) and hear people out walking in the park.  It really a great way to start the day.

This morning, we were headed to yet another different high school and so we had to go a little farther away.  We had to take a tram and a bus and a train and found ourselves passing the beautiful Hungarian Parliament on the Danube -- love that building.... remind me sometime to tell you a really funny little joke that Jodi told me about the Parliament building...

Anyways - we wound up on the outskirts of the city in this fabulous high school.  It was just a really nice building and really nice people and a nice overall day.  We had a fun time in the classrooms and the students warmed right up to us.

 These pictures are of Philip - this really big friendly giant of a guy who is from Mississippi - works in Memphis (I know this because I hear this 6 and 7 times a day in our intros to the class :)).

 Here's Big Philip and the giant chess set that doesn't actually look too giant compared to him! :)

 Philip started the week off pretty timid and nervous, but he's warmed right up to the students and was the bellle of the ball today.  He made these great dunks and the students were just all cheering him on.  He had just a blast playing with them.

While he was over playing basket ball, I was just standing around trying to see if I could click in with any student conversations.  There was one kid that came out of the school and jumped on another kids' back and started singing in English "here I am - rock you like a hurricane" with a really great voice.  I went over and asked him if he sang in a band and in perfect "American" English he responded "no" with a few other comments.  I was so impressed by his American accent that I started talking to him and the other kid who was standing with him.  Turns out, the one boy had done a student exchange program in the states for a year.  We discussed his experience and all, living in Virginia, and he continued to talk about the family he had lived with who were Mormon.  We ended up having a good, but brief conversation about God as, he told me that the Mormons were trying to make him believe what they believed and he didn't think he even believed in God.  I talked about how everyone has a god that they believe in and not everyone can be right and no one can "make" you believe their views.  I wanted him to know that that was why we were here to, not talk about our God, but to show students how our God has changed our lives.  His name is "Frank" and he and the other boy who were talking to me had said that they have English classes with us tomorrow.  I know that there will be another group with us that will be there tomorrow instead of our group.  Please pray that they would have an opportunity to talk to Frank more and that he would come to the FEK event on Friday evening.

 This is the group that we've been in all week - its Brian from Texas, Zena is from Moldova, Timi is Hungarian and is on staff with FEK, Shelley has just come from the states to be on staff at FEK for a year, me and Philip from Mississippi.  Its fun working with the same people all week and getting to know them so well.  We just have a fun time together.

This was out group with our "sponsor" teacher from the school we worked at today.  She's actually a Christian and was so excited to have us there with them.  It was a great experience!

Tonight, we have a "cultural event" which I believe is a concert at St Stephens Basilica (if you read my weekly story on StoriesFromASnapshot, the Basilica is on there).  It should be a fun relaxing time.

Please pray for our last day in high schools tomorrow and pray for the high school FEK event tomorrow night.  Also, the Teachers Symposium starts tomorrow night and I think I'm going to request to go to that as I really want to see how things work.  I missed the first year when my dad passed so I'm looking forward to being "in the loop" now.  Pray for all the teachers that will be assembling for that as well.

Budapest-Wednesday

Today was another day with our team in high school.  It was a different "public" high school today - this one is supposed to be the best high school in Budapest.

Its actually kind of neat now because I've been here enough that I know the "program" and how to do things so I'm seeing that they ask me to take a bigger part in things and thats kind of exciting to me - I enjoy that challenge.  Its always fun to go through trivia and things with the students and then to break off in the small groups and ask them questions and what their thoughts are.

We did a total of 5 classrooms today and we're back in classrooms again on Thursday and Friday.  We always introduce the Speak Out camp in the summer and their FEK meetings on Friday evening (this week is a special "improv" event which is hilarious) and then we'll usually announce a meeting place that day so if they want to continue to talk with us they can come down and meet us.  Its always a great opportunity to ask more questions and present our faith.

I separated from my group a little early and went down to meet with Hajni and Zsu again for lunch.  We had a great conversation and its nice not feeling like I have to say goodbye yet because I still have more time.  They ended up taking me to one of their favorite restaurants and I couldn't help myself - had to snap a picture and tell them that the place is named after my dog :)

In the evening, we met back at the AfriCafe for the weekly university meeting.

Here's the amazing thing to me.... My first year in 2007 I remember our weekly meeting, we probably had about 40 - 50 students at it -- and that was even with the whole event advertised and that if they came and filled out some info, they could win an IPod shuffle.  The next year, we did the shuffle and there were probably about 70 - 80 people.  Time progresses and each year it grows and now, they don't even raffle off the shuffle and tonight they had 220 university students who came to the event.  As usual, the gospel is always presented and the students seem to always come back. Whether they believe or not, they see a group of people who really care about them and they love that.  And I think thats an amazing God thing!

I invited a few other girls for Thanksgiving tonight and I'm starting to panic a little.... I have to organize myself on Saturday and Sunday so I can figure whats going on and be ready to go on Monday.  I also still need to prepare what I'm going to say about Darlene and I need to be praying a bit more about that.

Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support and encouragement as it means a lot - nothing will happen without God's hand!  Thank you!

One last picture of Vaci Utca -- I love that street!  I know its the "tourist" area and all, but its just so pleasant and pretty there!  You just stroll and enjoy!

Budapest - Off To A Great Start!

Today was my first full day in Budapest.  It was actually nice coming in and hanging out with Jodi last night and then going to bed and getting up and just starting into the project.  I usually have all the training and all so it was nice to be able to miss it this year and just jump right into things.

I have three people on my team and we joined up with another 3 person team (most all of the team members are American, but one of the women is from Moldova, I'll elaborate on that later) and we went to one of the newer high schools which is a Lutheran high school.  We did 12 classes between our two teams so that meant we did 6 classes each.  It really depends on the level of the English what we do with the class, whether we do discussion times completely or do games before, we had a few classes that we excelled English and were 12th year so we had almost a 30 minute discussion time with them.  I think thats when my brain started to shut down a little.  I had gone to bed around midnight last night and then got up around 7 this morning so, it was just not having slept at all in the past day.  Conversation started being a little labored after about the 3rd class.  You just kind of pray and keep on going though and I did fine.

One of the classes, Brian, a guy from Texas, had questions thrown at him about his "religion" and then when he explained that his faith wasn't his "religion", it provided a whole time of conversation which he was extremely excited about.  Its always pretty cool when God throws those opportunities in your lap and then gives you the words to say to keep them asking questions.

Every class was thoroughly briefed about FEK which is the student organization that Campus Crusade has with the high school.  They're also introduced to Speak Out summer camp and encouraged to come. Its the time we identify who we are and why we're here and then give them opportunities to find out more AND practice their English!  They love it and we love it!

So - the woman that I mentioned from Moldova is part of a group of Campus Crusade missionaries from several different countries.  The ministry here in Budapest is such an amazing and effective one that tons of area countries and countries that have been under communism are seeing the results and are reaching out to FEK to learn more.  There is a group from Moldova, Slovakia and I believe Croatia who are with Campus Crusade but here seeing how the FEK ministry works so they better can understand and implement it into their work.  I think thats an amazing testimony to the creative genius and boldness that He gave Gabor Gresz and Dave Robinson when they started this ministry back in the early days after the fall of communism.  I was telling Edina, Gabor's wife, that she should be proud of Gabor, not really for what he's done, but for how God has used his creativity and boldness to effectively form a program that reaches out to so many and really yields fruit that continues to grow.  It is totally God, but I know that Gabor has this huge heart for the ministry here and he really allows himself to be used in creative ways.  It just is really an amazing ministry!

I met up with two of my girls this afternoon, Hajni and Zsu, and we had coffee and then walked down to  "my pulyka guy", as I like to call him, to put a downpayment down on the turkey that I've ordered for THANKSGIVING on OCTOBER 10th!  FYI - practice your Hungarian, "pulyka" is "turkey" in Hungarian.  The girls are all so excited and I'm nervous still :(  But I know God will pull it off for me.

This evening, we had a special dorm event that turned out kind of small as there was another dorm event going on on some of the floors.  We did have a good time though.

We started off breaking into teams and then doing a city scavenger hunt where they had to find things and then take pictures.  It was a great way to get to know some of the students and have some fun....

After the scavenger hunt we came back for a concert from the FEK band and then they did a drama that was pretty good - apparently its on YouTube or something.  After the drama which was kind of a pantomime thing about how money and alcohol and looks and all will not satisfy you and will, in fact, lead you the opposite way but only God can make you content and happy in who you are, without anything else.  After the drama, one of the FEK student leaders did a little talk on what the drama meant.

We then, thankfully, got to go back early enough that we were at the hotel before 9 pm.  Unbelievable as that doesn't usually happen!

Pray for tomorrow as we go back to high schools for classes.  Pray for the big University event tomorrow night at the AfriCafe (its their weekly student outreach meeting).  And also pray for me as I meet up with Hajni and Zsu again tomorrow for lunch.  I'm still trying to get in touch with Andi and I'm thinking about taking the bus out to Debrecen next week so I can meet up with Ildi who was not able to come back to Budapest this semester.

I close with a lovely rendering of my "map" of the United States that we use when we give our high school intro about where we're from.  This was the 6th class, every class, the map just declined until it became this unrecognizable blob of white board destruction.  Enjoy a laugh :)

Budapest Begins - 2011

Today started out - well - yesterday....

I left Chicago on Sunday afternoon and I arrived in good old Frankfurt au Main around 9:40, strolled to my new gate and got a cafe latte and croissant and then hopped on my quick 1 hour flight from Frankfurt to Budapest.

Its all so familiar to me now that its a cake walk once I get on board and settled on that United flight from home to Frankfurt.  I know the drill.... settle, dinner, movie, sleep, wake up, breakfast, get off the plane.  Time actually passes pretty quickly.

And then comes the excitement when I board that flight to Budapest.  I start thinking about everyone and the week and my heart starts racing and so, by the time we land, I all but jump out of the plane.

Things went very smoothly once I got to Budapest - this was actually the first time in my 6 trips that someone actually stopped me with my massive mound of bags to ask if I had any "liquor, cigarettes or narcotics" to declare.  He even rifled through my clothes suitcase - glad he didn't open the bag with all the green beans and macaroni and cheese and peanut butter.  He probably would have thought I was opening a grocery store or something.

I got through, got a minivan shuttle within about 10 minutes (Oh - and ALL my bags showed up at the same time this year! :)  No big blue this year, though - I went with little black because I didn't need as much room with all my heavy stuff!).

Since the week had already begun due to my late arrival, everyone was kind of congregating in the lobby and I gave Gabor a great fright when I snuck up behind him as he stood at the check in desk.  Edina, his wife, was there as well and we hugged and chatted for about 10 minutes or so before he shooed me upstairs to settle in.

What a pleasant change this is this year - our hotel for the first time since the project started, is in an amazing location in the center of Budapest, not far from tram 49 which takes me directly to Corvinus University.  Theres a pleasant green park across the street with a little path and a short run down one of the busy streets takes you directly to the Danube and another great running park.  In case you couldn't tell, I plan on running at least once or twice this year during the project!

I unpacked and then was able to meet up with Jodi for dinner and we had a good long chat about life and such.

On the flight over, I was contemplating Darlene's death and her life and all and I decided that this year, for Thanksgiving, I'm going to tell the story of Darlene as my thanks.  We always go around and give what we're thankful for and I think I'm tremendously thankful for the life and testimony of Darlene and I know she would be so pleased if her death would be used as a light and an encouragment.  Please pray as I prepare some picts and what I want to say.  Thanksgiving is October 10th.

I believe that Zsu possibly Hajni and I will be meeting for afternoon coffee tomorrow so we can catch up.  I know they keep on saying how they're so excited to see me.... I also can't wait to see these wonderful girls who have become friends of mine over these past 4 years.  Please pray for our conversation as we start our catch up tomorrow.

I leave at 7:50 in the morning to go to a local high school to help teach English classes.  Part of this is encouraging students to come and meet at the Burger King down the street from the hotel so we can continue conversations and invite them to the high school event on Friday night.

Please also pray for the dorm events that we'll be having at 4 different dorms tomorrow night.  I'm at a new dorm so I'm looking forward to maybe meeting some new students.

I'm closing with two picts from the our hotel window looking out over Budapest....

Please pray for us as we reach out to Hungarian students this week in friendship and love.

By the way.... I posted my weekly story if you're interested....

http://storiesfromasnapshot.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/steps/