Safe and Sound

I'm here in Hungary safe and sound! It was an uneventful flight to London except for plunging to the earth at rapid pace.. just kidding.

They did lose my luggage..well one box but its okay, it only has clothes, books and purses but we all know how much I love my bags!!

Thanks for praying!!

Falling Into Place

I am very excited to leave tomorrow morning! Its been a good time with my family here in Washington DC. These past two'ish weeks have been very busy and good. I've been able to say good-bye to many people and to my hometown.

I've received two very important documents in the mail in the last week which has been a-w-esome!! I first had my passport overnighted to me thanks to my Congressman-the Honorable Virgil Goode Jr. - he expedited that to me! It was so exciting to get that in the mail so that now I can travel!! :-)

Also, I've been waiting for my diploma to become available from Liberty University but they told me that it was going to be 12-18 weeks. I got an email from Registrar on Monday and they told me they were going to send my diploma to me!! I immediately called and asked for it to be overnight ed to me! So its in my hands and here's a picture of these important documents!!

I've never doubted if I'm supposed to go to Hungary but if I ever did this picture sure does prove that my God is faithful and I am doing what he wants me to do right now! How reassuring is that!

This will be my last post till I am in Budapest! I fly on Friday 6/29 at 10pm and I will land in my new home on Saturday 6/30 at 535pm! Pray for safety!!

Till Budapest......

New Camera and My Best Friend

Today I spent the day with my best friend... Sami. It was soo fun just talking, catching up, eating Bodo's, Quizzno's with Nate, seeing Justin, going to the Crossroad's store (on 29S that Sami's always wanted to go to) and just spending time with each other.

Best friends do not come on a whim.. I think they are God's gift to make life easier on earth. Well at least my BFF is. She's my sounding board, accountability partner, laughing partner and spiritual friend. Its going to be hard to say good-bye in the morning but I know that I will see her soon.

Now you ask..this new camera?? I got a new Canon Rebel xti from my wonderful Dad. Its amazing and it's like having a piece of heaven in my hand that I can capture fun things on.. So the pictures from here on out will most likely be on my beautiful new camera!!

Hanging out with Jonny

This past Sunday I spent most of the day with my great friend Jonny. We went to his "Base 1" where he grew up. We went to Clifton, VA which is a tiny town right outside of Centreville. We went for a hike for about an hour on the Bull Run River and we just talked about life. Then we randomly met some of Jonny's friends at the park. Then we went to the Reservoir where we saw some wildlife. After we left we went to the park he used to go to when he was a little kid (0-11) and play football with his dad and brother and swing on the swings. He commented on how there were so many memories at each place of his childhood. I enjoyed taking the day in and spending time with Jonny and listening to memories and the nostalgic feelings that he experienced.



While we were swinging he asked me a question. "In what stage of life childhood, adolescence, college, or adulthood do you find your identity in?"



My response.."Can I be super spiritual?? I daily try to find my identity in Christ. There is nothing else that is constant. I also said that I have found out more about myself in my adulthood thus far than any other times. In the past three years of ministering, living, healing, and being restored I have drawn closer to the Lord. I have seen that I cannot try to find my identity in anything other than the Lord."



Jonny's response...thanks for saying that.



I guess sometimes I should be more bold in being "spiritual"

Saying Goodbye..

My time at MTI is over. I'm back in DC spending time with my little sister.

The goodbyes that we said to one another at MTI were a process of about 48 hours. We took time to say good bye to our small groups.. we sat there eating candy and laughing because we were all too tired of crying. Then as a whole we said goodbye. We were handed a piece of paper with a name on it where he had to write a blessing for that person. I was lucky and got my friend Susanna who is going to K-stan. Then we went to that person and told them goodbye with a blessing. Then we went around the room for about 2.5 hrs. to say goodbye to one another.

Earlier that day we stood up and told about what we were doing in each of our respective countries. I spoke on Hungary and what I will be doing there. Then people came up and laid hands on me and surrounded me and Brad Hunter prayed for my ministry in Budapest. It was awesome. I loved being surrounded by many who knew me well.

Some of those at MTI.. I may never see again..well not until Heaven. It is sad because I will follow these people for many years through the Internet or through phone calls but I don't know if I'll ever see them again. We went through many emotional days and experiences together that brought us close together in such a small amount of time.


Some of those at MTI...I can't wait to see in Europe and spend time in each other's ministry. To be able to see first hand what God is doing in and through them since leaving MTI.

2 of my favorites..Annette(Ukraine) and Amanda(Kenya)

Whitney (New Zealand) who shares my love of good clothes!

Thank you all to those who helped me in getting to MTI, who prayed for me while I was there, who called, who encouraged and who have supported me financially in my missions venture. THANK YOU!

Karilyn and Claire (Ukraine)

Loss

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3:8

These past few days we have been discussing this word loss. The question that we heard over and over was "What is it that you are losing or what loss have you experienced since deciding to move overseas as a missionary." I have been playing this verse over and over in my head..(see above) ... I count everything a loss.

Have you ever experienced loss? Did you ever move somewhere and lost your identity? Did you ever experience a friendship that suddenly turned sour and you were lost? These are kind of the emotions that I've been feeling. I currently, do not have keys on my key ring that give me a sense of security, accomplishment, or simply home. Yes, I will get these again in Budapest but right now.. Well, I have my room key here and that is all. When you move .. overseas.. you lose things. Relationships get harder to keep up with, you lose watching your friends in every day situations, you lose quality time with family, you lose hearing your national anthem played. Sounds kinda silly huh. (those were just a few)

As I've been thinking about moving to Budapest, emotions swell in me that are a huge mixture but the underlying emotion has been excitement. It is not the emotions of loss or crying or sadness or being scared. It is excitement because this is what I've waited for in the past few years. Its my dream. Yes, I am sad to leave my family, friends, and identity in America. I've shed many tears. I know that the good-bye's will not be easy. But.. I know Christ. I know him even more through these times. He is becoming bigger everyday because I am realizing that I NEED Him. He's not just there for convenience but for sustenance, companionship, understanding and love. At the end of the day, I gain Christ if I have lived it for him.

Some more Pictures..I should be sleeping

Lifting weights

1st place: Suz 2nd place: Amanda

3rd place: Joanna

My Growth Group:

Amanda (Kenya), Me, front: Amy (New Zealand), Lori (Japan),

Karen (Dominican Republic, Stacey (Austria)

Kristina and I at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs

Its been awhile....

Its been awhile since I have posted. It was a good weekend. I tried to post on Saturday but that was unsuccessful so I didn't do it again. Well, on Saturday I got to sleep in a bit and do laundry..yada yada and then we went to the Olympic Training Center for the US Team. This is the one that is in Colorado Springs. It was really fun and I will put some pics up! I went with my friends Amanda (Kenya), Susanna (Kazakhstan) and Kristina (Romania). It was a lot of fun cheering and watching these events of the men's gymnastics qualifiers.

On Sunday, I didn't go to Church but I enjoyed yet another day of relaxing and hanging out with the families around here. We had an awesome Talent/Show your country Night on Sunday night and I hosted a coffee shop since I'm not very clever :-) It was a hit and the coffee was all gone. My friend Susanna and I did that. The skits were so fun and we got to see one another's powerpoints and it was a true blessing.

Today, we started a bit on how to learn a language.. seeing as this is my major I skipped out on about 15 minutes of it to run to Starbucks..I needed it. We also debated and talked today about some interesting issues.. soooo interesting that I zoned for most of it. Although the thing that hit me the most was, yes there are some issues in life and theology that I might roll my eyes to but in order to serve My Lord adequately I must not be completely oblivious to. I will be interacting with some incredibly intelligent people who will want to know answers.. will I know them all now? NO WAY but I want to prepare myself but for right now, the only way I know is to be in Scripture!! I told our leader after the sessions today (we talked about time management issues, bribes, giving and not giving all cross cultural issues) that I really didn't care to expend sooo much time thinking over these issues and I will deal with them as the come. I told him that I have no expectations of what I might encounter. He liked that. Pray for he and his wife, they are to have a baby here any day so he is tired and he is getting ill.

I'm feeling a cold arising too so pray that it comes and I get over it so I'm not dealing with it when I move in 17 days!!

Thanks for reading again!!

Less than 3 weeks...

Today, I realized that I have only less than three weeks till I leave my motherland.. USA. What am I feeling.. excited, nostalgic, nervousness, faithful, wonder, and definatley unknown feelings. This morning has been very relaxed for me here in Colorado. I didn't set my alarm and got up at 9am. Nice. I walked to the kitchen and got a cup of coffee and a doughnut..yum. I spent some time talking with friends about the drought, global warming, ministry, and the area here. Then I excused myself to do some much needed laundry.

As I've been in my room occasionally looking out the window, enjoying the morning breeze I've been thinking of the the bridge that I am on. I've moved from my settled phase in America and I no longer have a home, car, a dresser of clothes, pots and pans..just my suitcases of items..so I'm in this Unsettling phase..I've just started to cross the bridge and I'm looking around and I'm thinking that if I ever turned around to go back to the settled land nothing would ever be the same.. I would live somewhere else, I'd have a different job, new friends so I press on.. I press into Jesus during this time because he is really my only constant. Soon, I will be in the middle of the bridge where it will be chaotic and I will be in a whole new Country, learning a new language, eating new foods, trying to wrestle 3 boys when they want to play..yikes.. It excites me. It makes me sit in awe of God and wonder..what will he do during these transition times? He is my constant rock..Who will he bring into my life that will minister to me and who I can minister to??
Well, my laundry is done..i have to go get it.. funny because it feels so normal to get laundry on a Saturday morning..so settling..but this Friday, my time here at MTI will be over and its visit, live and go go go till the 29th...YAY!



Dad is in Europe already check out his blog...



Peace.

Self Worth

Self Worth is a question that every woman in America not to mention the world asks themselves every day. What am I worth? To who am I worthy? Do I measure up? Scary because without Christ I do not think I would find peace in any of these answers.

Today, we endured a stressful simulation where we were divided into two groups. We had to huddle in a cardboard box, dry wall "building" where we were hiding from rebels who were out to kill anyone especially missionaries. We had to decided who to evacuate and eventually who was executed. I volunteered myself to be killed. I thought well, I'm single, I do not have a husband, children where as many others did. Right then and there.. I made my self not worth anything. It doesn't matter if I have a husband or kids in God's eyes. He looks at me and says that I am his beloved no matter what size I am, who I belong to, where I've been, what I've done, where I'm going, what grades I've gotten, what hurtful words I've said. Nothing diminishes who I am in Christ except for me not BELIEVING that I am worth everything in HIM.

So tonight, I sit in my room after a emotional day .. with peace. The peace that only comes from Christ and his grace. I am thankful for my community here who have surrounded me and told me that I'm worth fighting for, that I'm worth holding on to, that I'm beautiful. That they want to take me out to dinner and ice cream to love on me because I am worth it. (thank you jeff and mary)

I am even more excited to go teach now. I'm excited to be able to pour into the teenage girls lives and show them they have worth. They are worth everything in the world to God! I am up for the task!

So the question tonight is:
What or who is your self worth in??

Silence

Today's focus was on Silence, Sabbath and Soul Care. Did you know that the word busyness in Chinese means heart-annihilation. ouch.. One of the questions that was said was "When was the last time your purposely made time for silence.. silence with the Lord?" I had to think and it had been quite a while.. Immediately I realized that I needed to make this discipline of silence and keeping a sabbath a priority in my life.

So I challenge you to ask yourself.. "When was the last time you were unplugged from your cell, pda, laptop, tv, friends, books, work, life and just practiced being silent?"

Pictures...

This is Kristina and I when we walked to get Ice cream. Its a 2 mile walk!
Stacey Hunter and I..the angle is a little off cuz a 6 year old took it but she's AMAZING! I want to be just like her when I'm a mom!

This is a snowy part of Pike's Peak

Abigail and I on top of Pike's Peak!

The First Weekend

The weekend spent here has been wonderful!! I have enjoyed spending lots of time with the Hunters and also time relaxing! The biggest event was going to Pikes Peak a huge mountain that is 14,100 feet or so. I don't remember the elevation exactly. Well, we drove up to the top of the mountain and took some pics and looked all around. It was 32 degrees F and it was way cold and snowy. Kinda funny for June huh. It was a beautiful drive with snow drifts and the mountains which are all dirt and rocks at the top! I had a lot of fun getting to the know the Hunters even more! Then we went and got pizza at a little mom and pop place called Marilyn's and that was in Manitou Springs. The kids needed to burn off some energy (ages 8,6,3) so we went to the park and had some fun!

Today, I went to Church at a really neat church kinda like Liberty's Campus church. Very laid back and in a movie theater. Great music and message and of course Sunday dinner at Cracker Barrel..yum. Although, the sweet tea was a bit of a let down...

So I hadn't walked for 2 days and well these days i'm avg. 3 miles per day on the trails out here so Kristina and I decided to fill my backpack with books and such and walk to the Starbucks. Its about an hours walk and it only started to rain at the end. We got to drink yummy drinks (two were free) then we decided well its 5pm and it takes an hour to get back so we had to double time it to make it back for dinner (which is served from 530-600). We made it but we did have to wait for a train to cross the tracks .. with 5 min to spare!

I'm looking forward to this week of classes and free time. Please keep me in your prayers as I am studying and breaking things down about my life and who I am! Thanks for reading too! :-)

My first week in CO

My first week at MTI is over. Its been kind of a whirlwind week. If you do not know what I'm doing.. I'm in missionary boot camp. I'm learning about these topics: spiritual, personal, lifestyle, interpersonal, cultural, endurance and enjoyment. Its been really good so far and I have learned so much.

My day starts when I decided to stop hitting the snooze button or like this morning wake up suddenly at 8:00 when breakfast had already been served for 15 min. No worries, I got there in time to grab a yogurt cup and a bagel and a major cup of coffee. Don't worry Dad I've started my everyday yogurt eating contest. I mingle, eat, and play with kids.

Then its time for either our first session or small group. Today's focus was on Conflict... Conflict is what brings missionaries home. Good thing I'm a teacher huh :) I wish that was true but I'm learning a lot and here is what I've learned.. If I'm going to grow in how I handle conflict, I need to be humble and not prideful.

Here is a great quote that I learned today, "What you know about yourself you can change. What you do not know about yourself controls you." I've been processing this all day and I'm still unsure how much I know about myself. So, I've been praying that God will open my eyes afresh to things I need to know about myself.

We have morning session till lunch then we have afternoon session. Then its time for dinner and my evening walk with Kristina. Its been pretty amazing being here. Tomorrow I'm take the "COG" up Pike's Peak ( a mountain that has snow on the top) with the Hunters and I'm really looking forward to it!!

So that is what I'm learning, doing, living and breathing right now. If you are praying, pray for my heart and mind and the iceberg that is being surfaced and God and I are getting closer!

My Pictures in Colorado

Here is a link to all of my pictures in Colorado thus far!! Enjoy!!
http://liberty.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2089572&l=8b43f&id=55702898