Hello!
There is so much to update on! Spring has definitely moved in. The sun is shining, the weather is beautiful and march is already almost over. Its hard to believe.

Ministries are actually changing a lot at the moment. We have just launched an english group in a village about an hour away. We don't have many members at this time. There are about 4 faithful comers, but we are just about to have our third meeting so there is still time for it to grow. I get to work with the beginners, and i have discovered that i really enjoy teaching english (at least the basics). Most of the time i think i have no business teaching anyone english, but beginners i can do. As of a few days ago the 4 Senses Theater will no longer be meeting. There have been many conflicts this year, and the scheduling has just become too difficult to proceed. We really don't have the man power to do the english or hungarian theaters, so for now the club is on hold. I do ask for prayer for the direction of the group though. It's an excellent way to reach students, so we don't think this is the end of the theater all together. As for our team, we are trying to brainstorm ways to be on the campus, because as of right now we have nothing official going on there. So again, prayer for wisdom and for us to be attentive to God's will.

The church plant in Tiszafured is going really really well. We moved locations about 2 or 3 weeks ago, so we are no longer at the culture house. We are currently renting a space that sits on top of a pub, and it literally called 'the beer house'. Irony. It is so amazing though, because not once did we have random walk ins at the culture house, but now that we are in the beer house we have had maybe 5 or 6 people join us for music or the Bible study. The lady we rent the space from is very enthusiastic about the church. She has taken it upon herself to advertise the church in the local paper and begin plans for a more permanent sign on the building. She is not a believer, so her excitement about the church is so encouraging! So please keep Jude and her potential growth in your prayers!

Tomorrow Seth and I will go to Budapest to meet his mom. She is flying in to take us on our "S.alt architectural/educational" exploration around Europe. We will get to see Spain and a few cities in Italy. I am so so excited! I have been so blessed to get the chance to experience all the culture and history around me.

The Lord is teaching me so much. Through personal quiet times and bible studies i have begun to realize again just how much freedom and excitement there is in following the Lord. His vast love for me and his people is astounding, and it is so evident how undeserving i am. It's a long journey of learning how to love God and his people with the love he has for us.

I'd like to say thank you again to everyone that made this trip a possibility for me. I thank the Lord for your willingness to give, and for presenting me with the opportunity to be here.
God Bless!

"But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in face you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11


All my wonderful friends and i on my birthday.

Debrecen at Christmas time


Boldog Karacsonyt



Little Friend Celebration




The day we got ALL of our boxes from the states
Nothing makes us happier than boxes from home :) thanks fam!


Hello Again!
I apologize for yet another gap in my updating. Christmas is fast approaching, and i am about to begin my first two weeks off. Ministry opportunities have been pretty awesome here. Our church in Tiszafured is growing at times. We have about two more (almost!) regulars which is very exciting! We launched the "4 Senses" theater on campus a few weeks ago. Our first week was so successful; we had atleast 3 or 4 kids wanting to come back the following week to experience the second theater. Sadly that following week we had a mix up with the person we get the room from, and they rented out our space, so we didnt get to have the theater. We lost some contact with the students, but we are hoping to get a hold of them again. We begin the theater again in January. This is something that requires lots and lots of prayer. We have the theater every Tuesday evening, and we begin with passing out flyers in hopes that they will attend the event that night. This is also a big time for prayer as we walk around the campus and talk to students. We are yet to have people join our Sunday morning house church. We are still praying for God's will. One of my favorite parts of the week, coffee house, is also on break. Our last coffee house was basically a huge christmas party, and it was so much fun. We got to decorate gingerbread men and sing silent night in many different languages. We also had a tree to decorate by stringing popcorn and hanging ornaments. We still have new and old faces showing up so that is definitely one of the most exciting things to experience. I get the chance to talk to people from all over the world, form all kindso of backgrounds. It was the beginning to look like i might start meeting with a couple of girls who are not believers, but due to their schedules and lack of communication it looks like it wont be happening any time soon. I'd prefer not to include names, but I'd like to request prayer for these two girls.

God has really blessed me with some exciting opportunities coming up. In a few days the team and i will visit Vienna and the Christmas market there. I'm ecstatic. Vienna is one of the places on my list I'd realllly love to see before leaving the area. The thing i am most excited about is that two days after Christmas i will be picking up one of my best friends at the Budapest airport. She gets to spend about seven or eight days with me, and i cannot wait to get to see her. I have been counting down her arrival for a couple of months now.

I am in awe of just how fast time is flying here. Praise the Lord my homesickness has subsided for the most part. Of course i wish i could be with my family during this time, but it is so encouraging knowing God has me here at this time, in this place according to his good and perfect will.

I pray you all have a Merry Christmas and remember the reason we are celebrating.

Hello!

Man the time is passing so so so fast! I cant believe this week is Thanksgiving! And i have already had one of four thanksgiving celebrations! Last saturday some friends and i got to go to an orphanage and be a part of their thanksgiving feast and celebration. The kids were so sweet, the food was amazing, the company was great and so is our Father!

In the last few weeks i have had such amazing opportunities! I got to visit a potter and make a small pot on a wheel. I was able to go hiking in the hilly side of Hungary and witness the most beautiful fall colors and sights. At our weekly coffee house meetings we have had so many new comers, and that is exciting in and of itself! That is probably my favorite part of the week! God is drawing people from all over the world, and guiding such interesting conversation. Last week we had a "Got Talent" night and it was so much fun. People got up and sang, told stories played instruments... it is so cool!

God is really opening some doors for our team here in some sourounding villages.. I cant wait to watch his will play out and see what comes of this. I can probably provide more detail later on. Please pray for our Sunday morning "simple" church as well as our small church in Tiszafured!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers

The Team!

(view of Budapest! So beautiful!)

Hello!



Im sorry it has taken me forever to update. Things are going great here. Monday night volleyball this week was a blast, and last night we had a productive meeting for the 4 Senses Theater. Tonight is the first concert in Nadudvar for Doc's Friends (The blue grass group). This is the last of our group of volunteer bands. After this group i suppose i will have a new schedule for during the day. I know we are going to definintely do more prayer walking, which i am excited about. The prayer walking time is fantastic. I had never really done much of it in the states, but its amazing how much time you can spend with our Savior when you are just walking around. There is so much to pray for.



I am experiencing quite a bit of homesickness. I miss my family, my church family and my friends. It is kindof cool to realize what is really important to you. Sure i miss Chick-fil-a and Chipotle but sometimes i wake up on Sunday and just wish i could walk into HGBC. God is truly supplying me with the strength i need.



Last friday in Tisafured (spelling?) at our new Church I was asked to give my testimony and Gary would translate. I have ALWAYS hated speaking infront of people, and had only formally shared my testimony a few times. But God gave me this massive peace about it, and i was able to speak completely uninhibited. This also includes playing guitar infront of people. I used to shake and sweat but God has brought me so far. The things that got the best of me at home dont effect me at all. Praise the Lord.



Two weeks ago i got to see Budapest for the first time with the Rochester band. It is so beautiful! I could spend days there. Ill try to post some pictures of the sights!







I am excited for whats to come! And what God can use me for!







Please keep praying for strength!



Thank you!

Hello everyone! I made this a while ago thinking id use it more but theres just not enough time to keep up with everything! Its officially been a month since i have been here and things are going great! Spent a week in romania... had a volunteer band come for a week, followed them around for concerts in different cities... moved into my apartment! God is so good! I feel so blessed to be here. Heres some pictures to cover the basics, more are on my facebook but heres a little over view. Thank you for your support!

Ill try to keep updating


Here you can see pre&post communism..yikes.

ROMANIA!

After arriving, and going to my first romanian church service

Romania had the most beautiful sky

One of the planes i rode in at camp, so fun

romanian sunset

new friendss

Me and roomie at coffee house!

Me and all the friends after a concert

The university in debrecen

Fried bread with cheese... in the markets!

Favorite place in debrecen, carpe diem tea house

Some more friends and volunteers

Well scratch that, the official date is August 23! We actually have the tickets now. And God is so so good. Without Mr.Bryants generosity with him miles, I would have been set back $4,000 dollars on just a ticket there and back! Which is about half what i raised. So big thanks to Mr.Bryant and the good Lord. Now Im working on getting things ill need next year, and making lists. Tis all for now :)

Today the decision has been made for a day to leave! August 25! This is so weird.