Happy Birthday to Me!

There are many things to be thankful each year, and this year I am thankful that my birthday was fairly calm. I went to church, had gyros, one of my favorite fast foods here, and hung out with friends. Later that afternoon we went to my friend Andi´s house where my friends were waiting for me and we had a surprise party for me.We watched handball, had indian food and then saw a movie. It was a beautiful day and we hung out on the balcony and enjoying each others company
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Only in Hungary

School is always a very interesting day. Sometimes frustrating, insane, mundane, annoying, surprising, and many other descriptions that I will save you from. Each day I learn something new, most of those I never wanted to know and someday I just leave amazed. The Wednesday before Easter, I was having my lesson on Easter. I had prepared a lesson about the different ways that it is celebrated around the world, and then would share about how I celebrate this holiday and why. I went to my first class and why I was talking, one of the students pulled out an unopened bottle of alcohol and passed it to another. shockingly my first thought wasn't i can't believe that you brought that, but at least it isn't open. As I turned my attention back to the rest of the class i saw a guy playing with his lighter.

After I left that class, I walked to my second class of the day pass the usual couple making out and then past the guys playing poker and betting cigarettes. To this all I could do was shake my head and say only in Hungary, since student are given their own smoking room and having lighters and cigarettes is a normal part of life here.

When I arrived to my next class, I opened up the book that we are reading (the Lion, the witch and the wardrobe), and we began reading that day's portion of the book. We read about how Aslan gave his life in place of Edmond. The was ridiculed, shaved and killed. After the story, we talked about why he would do this and when i asked if anyone knew why we celebrated Easter, I had no response and told them the answer was found in the story as a picture of Christ as Aslan, and all of us as Edmond. This truly was the highlight of that day.

Brightside: is that it there are not really any rules of conduct for students, then teachers have a great deal of freedom as well, and I was able to at least mention Christ in I think all of my classes.

Vday coming... whose feelin the love?

Sadly not our neighbors. See as nice as the new place is, it comes with these very heavy and LOUD chairs. Every time we move them it apparently vibrates and echoes throughout the building. We are about to put the things on the bottom of the chairs that keeps them from scratching the floor, and hopefully muffle some of the sound, past that, we might be looking for new chairs.

In other news, students are beginning their new semester next week. We have a band coming from greenwood arkansas and i am booking different venues for them. They are preforming the sounds of the 70's and you can see their demo on youtube: green wood demo hungary. The miller's daughter came for a visit after finishing her short term service in Africa and Stacia's twin sister is on her way in February for a visit as well. As it may not seem like too much is different here, things are flying by so quickly and some days i marvel at all that can be done without anything seemily getting done.

One other thing that i am especially thankful for is that our weekly biblestudy that has been over the women of the bible, is about to transition and one of the ladies here is going to take it over. it will still be held in my home, but she will be facilitating it. What a blessing. It is amazing to watch God work and draw others in service for him.

Another New Year

Many people know the saying that somethings never change, it is strange that this saying could be said of some areas of my life and yet almost a mockery of others. Like all people, there are things in my life this year that did not exist last year and vice versa. Things that are new since this time last year: I am a teaching in a high school, i have a roommate, i got bangs and I am defiantly leaving Hungary in the summer. Only one of those things is really exciting for me. See for me one of the things that never changes is the fact that my life is contentiously changing. It seems like I am always faced with the question of where and what do i do next. Goodbye is something that i don't seem to ever get over and i practice way to often.

What is Constant? The Lord's love and will never changes. He is as sure today as He was yesterday and forever. I still work with students, love my city and friends and know that when I do leave in the summer i will return to a family and friends who love me and support me. Other things that are going on so far this semester: we are continuing doing a weekly coffee house, ladies bible study, and soon the weekly outreach will began again after finals.

Thanks for all your support and encouragement from last year and for the upcoming year as well.

introducing a new coffee house

Starting in mid October, my organization began a coffee house outreach. Every Thursday night from 8-10, we meet at the Zsuzsanna (Susan) guesthouse. We rent a room there and invite people from the community, university students and those we teach at the high school. We have different activities, games and contests. The first couple of things were a pianist, and game night. Next for Halloween we had a fear factor evening followed my win lose or draw and twister. This week we had an evening with the doctor, where a MD from the US came to answer medical questions that people might have.

The count down

School children are not the only ones who are counting down for Christmas this year. Next week is American Thanksgiving, and I will be in school talking about what I would be doing in the US. Don't feel too bad for me though, because later that day I will be flying to Jolly Ole England to spend the holiday with a family that used to live here in Hungary. They moved to England when our office moved there in August.

For Christmas, Lord willing, I will not be spending in a classroom, but at home with my family in Locust Grove! Hence the countdown. Sadly for the students here, they only have a one week break from classes before they return to school for the stress of the end of the semester. The semester ends here about mid January. On the bright side, students get to put their new year's resolutions of studying harder into practice right away.

I'm not sure what I expected from this school year, but i trust that this is the place that the Lord has me and i will be content in that, count down or not. As in all things, teaching in general and especially in a culture and language not your own, i have learned and observed a few things:
-Children are the same everywhere, boys are still trying to prove something, and girls still have terrible taste in boys.
-Some students care about their studies, others care only about turning 18 and being able to leave. Everyone strives for acceptance and nobody wants to be the outcast.

Some days are hard, some I enjoy, but mostly I try to remember (some days it is very hard to do so) that I don't represent myself, but Him who sent me. I'm don't know how or if i will ever be able to see it, but I trust that his light will shine in this spiritually dark place.

í have my days.

People often ask me how do i like teaching. usually i answer i have my days. some of my classes are good and i actually get to teach something. the others well... lets just say that i call them evil for a reason. Often i have this voice in my head that says that there are not bad students just ineffective teachers, this however i have never embraced wholeheartedly and still do not, because i can introduce them to a few. i am not saying that i am a great teacher or that i could not be more effective, i know that i could. Iám just saying.... there are bad students. But as in all things, there are good students as well. I have good classes with students that really want to learn. does this make it all worth the headache?... i will let you know.