While I didn't get to spend a long time with family this summer, the time with them was priceless!!! Thank you for loving me!!!
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Family blessings
While I didn't get to spend a long time with family this summer, the time with them was priceless!!! Thank you for loving me!!!
Back in Hungary
Coming back to Hungary after a 3 month sabbatical has had its ups and downs.
Things I forgot about: smells....seems they are more marked here than in the U.S. Drivers: they are extremely aggressive, wow! Roads: full of "obstacles"...you cannot doze off for long because you'll surely be awakened by a pothole. People walking on the streets, or rather sidewalks....just seeing people outside is fantastic!!!!! GREAT food!!! How difficult it is for people to make ends meet here...and that only grows increasingly difficult.
Things I remembered and am thankful for: people who, when we get together, want to talk for longer than a quick 10 minutes. Dear friends! Hungarian honesty!!! My wonderful neighbor and friends who took care of my cats for 3 months!!! Amazingly, LANGUAGE!!! It's coming back very quickly! Last but not least: my cats, Toby and Simon, who were only angry for a few hours that I'd left them for 3 months.
Things I miss in the States: friends and family. Understanding everyone when they speak, almost perfectly, except in the deep South, where concentration is a must!
I'm so blessed.
Things I forgot about: smells....seems they are more marked here than in the U.S. Drivers: they are extremely aggressive, wow! Roads: full of "obstacles"...you cannot doze off for long because you'll surely be awakened by a pothole. People walking on the streets, or rather sidewalks....just seeing people outside is fantastic!!!!! GREAT food!!! How difficult it is for people to make ends meet here...and that only grows increasingly difficult.
Things I remembered and am thankful for: people who, when we get together, want to talk for longer than a quick 10 minutes. Dear friends! Hungarian honesty!!! My wonderful neighbor and friends who took care of my cats for 3 months!!! Amazingly, LANGUAGE!!! It's coming back very quickly! Last but not least: my cats, Toby and Simon, who were only angry for a few hours that I'd left them for 3 months.
Things I miss in the States: friends and family. Understanding everyone when they speak, almost perfectly, except in the deep South, where concentration is a must!
I'm so blessed.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Teaching in Szeged
I teach conversational English to 9-12 graders at a bilingual high school. Each year, I typically have between 190-220 students because I meet with most of them only once a week. Yet, I do get to teach most of my groups for 4 years, and thus can develop fairly strong relationships with many of my students. After 4 years, there is a definite sadness as they graduate, but the reward is seeing their English develop, for most of them, to a level of fluency which will serve them their entire lives! This is a picture of one of my classes of seniors!
God on the Island of Singleness
As I was sitting at home, on my island of singleness (see two posts below) last night, reading a good book, God said to me, "When you worship me, I can minister to your spirit!" So, I put my book down, picked up my borrowed guitar, and began to worship. As I worshipped, all the "island" feelings of loneliness began to melt away into His amazing presence! It was balm to my spirit as I lifted Him up and He gave me His perspective.
Lesson learned: take the lies to the cross of Christ immediately, repent, and turn and worship the King!!!
Lesson learned: take the lies to the cross of Christ immediately, repent, and turn and worship the King!!!
Sunday, August 20, 2006
More about Szeged
A great deal of my time in Szeged is spent teaching English at Deak Ferenc bilingual high school. I teach conversational English, and work on a faculty which includes, among many others, about 17 English teachers. For the past 16 years, we've had our annual English Department Christmas Party, held typically at the native teacher's flat...that would be mine! We all bring a dish to share and play some games, maybe sing some carols and play a gift exchange game! Everyone looks forward to it every December, and this past year, we had about 30 people in my flat, because we also include teachers who used to teach at Deak! Some come in from Budapest, where they now live, 2 hours away! This is a precious time of relationship building with my colleagues!
The Island of Singleness
Only some of you will be able to relate to what I'm writing about, but I sense the need to "get it out there" so that those of you who may not be able to relate, will at least have a taste of this place where some of us find ourselves from time to time.
I call this place "the island of singleness". When you think of an island, a number of things probably come to mind. Beautiful sandy beaches, trails leading up to fruit-laden trees, the gentle pounding of the surf on the sand, sunshine, peacefulness, endless blue sky, coves and inlets perfect for swimming or snorkeling...indeed, these are typical island images.
Now, for a minute, imagine yourself on that island. Are you alone? For many, you would answer, "No, of course not! I'm there with friends or family or a significant other."
Well, just imagine being on that island totally alone. Again, some of you are saying, "That would be FANTASTIC! I would LOVE that! I would WELCOME that!"
But what if you spent a good deal of your time alone on that island, and that island was within ear shot and eye shot of other similar islands, where there were others, not alone, on their islands. They are laughing, enjoying each others' company, sometimes arguing, but then making up, doing things together and basically in community.
And there you are, on your island, alone. It was fun the first time; lots of reading, lots of playing in the surf, sleeping on the beach, eating all you want with no one to have to share the last coconut with. But then, you find that almost weekly, you are "relegated" to this island, always within earshot and eyeshot of the other islands. And then it's not once a week, but numerous days during the week. You hear the others talk about going to their islands and all the fun they are going to have...and you know you are heading to yours. Oh, you invite others to your island, but they already have their islands and their plans for their island time.
It's a powerful picture, which, as I've said, not many can begin to relate to, but I share it with you to encourage you to pray for those you know who are single, who may sometimes find themselves on the Island of Singleness when they would much rather be on the island of family, or the island of friends, or even sharing their island with family or friends.
"And the Lord God saw that it was not good for (a person) to be alone."
I call this place "the island of singleness". When you think of an island, a number of things probably come to mind. Beautiful sandy beaches, trails leading up to fruit-laden trees, the gentle pounding of the surf on the sand, sunshine, peacefulness, endless blue sky, coves and inlets perfect for swimming or snorkeling...indeed, these are typical island images.
Now, for a minute, imagine yourself on that island. Are you alone? For many, you would answer, "No, of course not! I'm there with friends or family or a significant other."
Well, just imagine being on that island totally alone. Again, some of you are saying, "That would be FANTASTIC! I would LOVE that! I would WELCOME that!"
But what if you spent a good deal of your time alone on that island, and that island was within ear shot and eye shot of other similar islands, where there were others, not alone, on their islands. They are laughing, enjoying each others' company, sometimes arguing, but then making up, doing things together and basically in community.
And there you are, on your island, alone. It was fun the first time; lots of reading, lots of playing in the surf, sleeping on the beach, eating all you want with no one to have to share the last coconut with. But then, you find that almost weekly, you are "relegated" to this island, always within earshot and eyeshot of the other islands. And then it's not once a week, but numerous days during the week. You hear the others talk about going to their islands and all the fun they are going to have...and you know you are heading to yours. Oh, you invite others to your island, but they already have their islands and their plans for their island time.
It's a powerful picture, which, as I've said, not many can begin to relate to, but I share it with you to encourage you to pray for those you know who are single, who may sometimes find themselves on the Island of Singleness when they would much rather be on the island of family, or the island of friends, or even sharing their island with family or friends.
"And the Lord God saw that it was not good for (a person) to be alone."
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Ministry in Hungary
Some have asked to see more pictures of happenings in Hungary, so for the next few blogs, I'll include pictures of some of the ministry that God is doing in Hungary. This first picture includes 3 of my closest friends with whom we've been meeting for Bible study for 6 years. The baby, Tamas, is Anita's miracle baby, whom God healed in the womb!
End of Sabbatical
The old addage, time flies when you're having fun is so true. One week and counting before I head back to my home in Hungary. What a wonderful, challenging, growth-filled sabbatical time this has been for me in the States. I wouldn't trade one second of it because I know that God has been at work and I am thankful for that fact and reality!
A part of me is really looking forward to returning to my adopted country; a part of me is really NOT looking forward to saying "see you laters" here. The tension of living in the here and now, with eyes focused on Jesus, knowing that all we are, do, say, think, and feel is for His glory.
If I've learned nothing else this summer (which of course I've learned tons), I've learned that my heavenly Daddy ADORES me; I never really KNEW that in the depths of my heart. Only HE can show us that...and it is not a journey from the head to the heart, it's a journey from the heart to the head, the direction that only God can go. If my heart is changed by Him, my mind can come into alignment with my heart. This is a radical new lesson I've learned this summer for which I'm eternally thankful to my Daddy in Heaven for teaching me.
So, while I will be saying very tearful "see you laters" to precious people in the U.S., I'll be saying joyful "hello agains" to precious people in Hungary! And someday we won't have to say goodbye ever.
A part of me is really looking forward to returning to my adopted country; a part of me is really NOT looking forward to saying "see you laters" here. The tension of living in the here and now, with eyes focused on Jesus, knowing that all we are, do, say, think, and feel is for His glory.
If I've learned nothing else this summer (which of course I've learned tons), I've learned that my heavenly Daddy ADORES me; I never really KNEW that in the depths of my heart. Only HE can show us that...and it is not a journey from the head to the heart, it's a journey from the heart to the head, the direction that only God can go. If my heart is changed by Him, my mind can come into alignment with my heart. This is a radical new lesson I've learned this summer for which I'm eternally thankful to my Daddy in Heaven for teaching me.
So, while I will be saying very tearful "see you laters" to precious people in the U.S., I'll be saying joyful "hello agains" to precious people in Hungary! And someday we won't have to say goodbye ever.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know, just as I also am known." (I Cor. 13:12)
I got the above picture blown up to hang on my wall in Hungary upon my return there at the end of this month. I asked the woman at Wal-Mart if she could tell which was the real "mountain" and which was the reflection....she looked at it for about 30 seconds, when a colleague approached and said after about 3 seconds, "that's the reflection!"
30 seconds verses 3 seconds. I so want to reflect the likeness of Jesus Christ that it takes no more than 3 seconds for people to see Jesus in and through me. Why? Because I have tasted deeply of the love and passion of God for me, and I long with everything within me for others to know that same passion and love that He longs to pour into their hearts. There is nothing more precious, and as He continues to refine me in His fire, He will pull me out when I am a perfect reflection of Himself...and then I will see Him face to face!
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