The cry of the heart...

"Father, I'm willing to be willing."

Student questions

I have 3 new classes of students this year. One is an 11th grade "advanced level" group. Every new group of students eventually come around to asking the question: "So what brought you to Hungary?" This question usually comes later in the semester, after they've gotten to know me a bit. Today, however, a young lady in this 11g class raised her hand and asked....it was only our second lesson together.

I actually prefer when this question comes later, after we've established a trusting relationship with one another. So I quickly prayed and sensed I was to give her the "short" answer, rather than the longer one.

Short answers...just enough to answer and to peak their interest to know more.

There was someone who did this really well...and people flocked to him...and he was able to speak and declare Truth. Sometimes his answers were short, sometimes long. He knew how to answer because He listened to His Father.

I want to be a listener to my Father, so I can answer my students' questions the way He wants me to...short or long.

Thought for comments

Here's a quote from a Kevin Prosch song:

"The mercy you don't give....Is the mercy you don't get."

Thoughts?

Miracle boys

I love this picture! On the left is Tamas Lauko, and on the right is Denes Lauko! Both of these little boys were miraculously healed by God. Tamas had water on the brain in the womb and God intervened and removed every bit of it before his birth! Denes, suffered from "floppy baby syndrome", where the muscles don't work properly and one cannot even hold one's head up, and certainly cannot push oneself up like he is doing in this picture! His mom and dad, Anita and Zoli, brought him to one of our ICF meetings on Friday nights and we prayed for him. Two hours later, he was already showing signs of being healed by God. He returned to the lead doctor a week after that who declared him "perfectly healthy!"

We serve a good and gracious God! Pray for this family as the Lord has great things in store for them as a family and these boys, for sure!

Finished first week

Thankfully, the Lord has blessed me, once again, with teaching on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. So, I just finished my first week of teaching for my 20th year of teaching!

Opening ceremonies

No pictures...sorry....we had opening ceremonies today at school. It's a "formal" affair with students dressed up in black and white, and teachers as well. They "welcomed" the "new" American teacher...a Fulbright teacher who is here for a year...interestingly, no mention of the three other American teachers who have been here for 3 and 8 years respectively...hm, interesting. The Hungarian national hymn was played then the "extended" version of the American national anthem. After the formal opening, students went off with their advisors and those of us who are not advisors were free to "do whatever". Teaching starts tomorrow! I've been blessed again with teaching Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays so I can spend Thursdays and Fridays focusing on Friday at 7 - International Christian Fellowship. It's going to be a good and very interesting year, I'm sure!

Back in Hungary

Miraculously, bags are unpacked already! I'm back home in Hungary after 26 hours of travel on FREEZING COLD airplanes. You know it is cold when nearly everyone on the plane is putting on coats, hats and huddling under blankets...not sure why it has to be THAT cold on the plane.

My last day in the U.S., which was also my travel day, I was blessed to be able to meet 3 friends in Atlanta during my 7 hour layover. We enjoyed lunch together and catching up "in person" on what's happening! Bless you dear ones for being God's gifts to me!

School begins tomorrow....nothing like hitting the ground running! It's good to be back, to see my boys, and I'm looking forward to all God has in store for this next year!

Only in America.....

In Kansas City, I'm staying in a guest house and the other day, I decided instead of driving to the International House of Prayer, I would don my IPOD, backpack and walk...seeing as I'm european...hee hee hee. It is an easy 25 min. walk, no problem.

As I was walking home, a man stopped in his car and yelled out to me, "Do you need a ride someplace?" I smiled and replied, "No, thanks, I love walking!" He was clearly taken aback a bit. You certainly don't see many people walking places here, even short distances like mine from the house to the prayer room! Interesting......

Orphan Justice Ministry

How amazing does this sound? Rescuing kids from all over the globe out of the sex trafficking industry and adopting them as well as other "unadoptable" kids, bringing them into a home in a community where worship, prayer and training in the Bible is the "heartbeat" of life.

IHOP and my friend Michael

I'm spending two weeks in Kansas City at the International House of Prayer. http://www.ihop.org/

I "snuck" a couple of pictures of the main prayer room, which is an amazing place to go, sit, stand, worship, pray, or read and just soak in the Lord's presence with worship music being played 24/7.

I've also spent some days with a dear and precious "new" friend, Michael. He's a biker for Jesus and yes, I got to ride on the back of his motorcycle a number of times!

5 more days before heading back to Hungary...planning to relish every moment!

Food

As I was driving in Charlottesville, I saw this sign. For some reason it struck me as odd, then humorous, then quite powerful.

This sign does not tell you what KIND of food; nor does it tell you exactly WHERE to find it...it's to the right somewhere.

So many are searching for food, some for physical, and ALL for spiritual food, whether they realize it or not. Even believers need their daily bread...food from heaven...do we know where to get it? And when we do, do we ignore the sign and our hunger? Or do we make that turn and seek that we may find the true food from heaven?

August 20th in Hungary...I'm not there....

August 20th is a national holiday in Hungary. It is St. Steven's day. Steven was the first Christian king in Hungary.

As I write this, I am sitting in the Justice Prayer Room at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. (www.ihop.org) I cannot help but think as I sit here and a team of 10 young people lead us in intimate prayer and worship and pray for God's justice and mercy, that the words Steven penned to his son, Imre, are appropriate even today! (By the way, I "borrowed" these from MJ's blog...thanks MJ!)

St Istvan was the first Christian King of Hungary and here is his advice for his son Imre:

''My beloved son, delight of my heart, hope of your posterity, I pray, I command, that at every time and in everything, strengthened by your devotion to me, you may show favor not only to relations and kin, or to the most eminent, be they leaders or rich men or neighbors or fellow countrymen, but also to foreigners and to all who come to you. By fulfilling your duty in this way you will reach the highest state of happiness. Be merciful to all who are suffering violence, keeping always in your heart the example of the Lord who said, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice." Be patient with everyone, not only with the powerful, but also with the weak.

''Finally be strong lest prosperity lift you up too much or adversity cast you down. Be humble in this life, that God may raise you up in the next. Be truly moderate and do not punish or condemn anyone immoderately. Be gentle so that you may never oppose justice. Be honorable so that you may never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be chaste so that you may avoid all the foulness of lust like the pangs of death.''

''All these virtues I have noted above make up the royal crown, and without them no one is fit to rule here on earth or attain to the heavenly kingdom.''--(Excerpt from Saint Stephen's admonitions to his son Imre.)

This is excellent advise for our current governments,too!

The Father's Heart

They had communion...the Lord's supper...at Trinity on Sunday. I love watching the people go forward to receive the bread and the cup. The picture above captured my heart because it is such a picture of our Heavenly Father's heart, as well as how WE should rest in His arms.

As I spend time at IHOP in Kansas City...not the house of pancakes...my prayer is that I too rest in my DADDY'S arms like this little one!

All smiles!

Arden and Diane after church at Trinity in Charlottesville!

I've known Diane Gilliam for years...and she has been praying for me for years! We also prayed for her and her family last year when her grandson, Jude, was struggling for life after having fallen into a pool. Two days ago was the anniversary of Jude falling into the pool. After a year, much has been healed, but there is more healing to come! There's nothing like friends who've stuck by through the years! Thank you Lord!

Former student now an Olympic gold medalist

You know how parents sometimes live their dreams through their kids? Well, sometimes teachers live their dreams through their students. When I was a kid, I always wanted to go to the Olympics.

I taught a wonderful young lady named Lindsay Shoop at The Covenant School years ago...she was in my 9th grade English class. Now she is a GOLD MEDALIST in the 2008 Olympics on the U.S. Women's 8 Rowing Team!!! Congratulations Lindsay! I am very proud of you! For those interested, click the link below and see the gallery of pictures of the medals ceremony. In the 4th picture, Lindsay is on the far left, dark hair, kissing her gold medal!


http://www.nbcolympics.com/rowing/photos/galleryid=226756.html

The Call in Washington, DC

Just a small taste of the crowds at "The Call".

Luis and Jill Cataldo, vital workers for the ministry of "The Call", and more importantly, dear friends!

Looking out over the crowds from our special seating!

Lynn and me...enjoying the day!

Yep, that's Jill Austin and Stacey Campbell...I got to say hello to Jill!

Thousands of people gathered on the Mall in Washington, DC today for "The Call"...a solemn assembly to fast and pray for the nation and for nations of the world! I met up with George and Lynn Ainsworth, dear friends, and we made our way toward the stage, looking for friends Jill and Luis Cataldo. I realized very early on it would take a miracle to find them...as we approached the stage, the Lord whispered: "Look to the right"...I did, and my eyes immediately saw Jill Cataldo! We were blessed to be invited to sit in the section with ministers and speakers. It was a wonderful day with amazing worship, prayer and repentance for our nation.

Good friends

Ashley Hall...we met at UVA in 1993 when she was an undergrad and I was an intern with Fraternity/Sorority Christian Fellowship!

Barb Armacost and Cynnie Westmoreland...friends since the mid 90s.

Kathy Puerner, another mid-90's friend!

Heather Gildea....former colleague!

Lynn Ainsworth, fellow missionary and friend!

These are some of the good friends who have been a blessing to me this trip to the U.S.

Wedding pictures...finally

Klari and Franci after the civil ceremony!

Klari and her father, entering the church!

The sun streams were amazing!

Klari, my precious friend and former student, happily married!

A kiss at the reception!

I finally found some time to download pictures. Here are a few from Klari and Franci's wedding a week ago!

Cleaning out

Eight years ago, when I moved to Hungary, I put a LOT of belongings in storage in a friend's brother's basement. Today, I went there and filled a car FULL of what I will call "unnecessary" items...those things that can be easily replaced...pots, pans, glasses, pillows, sheets, towels, etc. It felt GREAT to take these things to the Salvation Army and make a donation of good things for someone who really needs them!

Some may ask why I'm doing this. Simplicity. Weeding out things I really don't need and getting down to the core of personal belongings! I still have quite a few boxes...books, journals, pictures...but it felt good to clean out and trim down.

God often wants to clean out the stuff in our lives that we may "think" we need, but we really don't...when we finally let go, there is such a relief and weight that is lifted off.

For those keeping up with my U.S. trip via my blog, tonight, I'm going to a Bible study group meeting of some folks from Christ Community Church here in Charlottesville. Looking forward to reconnecting with this small group who welcomed me last summer and have been praying for me and Hungary this past year!

I have a breakfast meeting, lunch meeting and dinner meeting on Friday...whew. Saturday, I'm heading to Washington, DC for "The Call" www.thecall.com to join thousands of others in fasting and praying for our nation!

Busy but great times!

Grace and friendships

I've had an "interesting" year this past year...very challenging in many ways, primarily relationally. However, God has used it all and continues to do so.

This trip to the U.S. has been a HUGE lesson in seeing God's healing balm of grace through friendships. Not only did a good friend in Hungary volunteer to take me to the airport, but friends in Northern VA pretty much worked their entire schedule around me when flights were delayed and cancelled, and went out of their way to pick me up, feed me, etc. Then, I've got friends putting me up for a week, others working around super busy schedules to make time to see me, and friends with kids volunteering to travel HOURS to come see me, just to get a couple of hours with me! I'm humbled and floored by the love all of these friends are pouring out, the sacrificial time they are giving, and that they WANT to see me and spend time with me.

THIS is God's amazing grace in friendship...His amazing love....His amazing hand in allowing me to see that these friends are here for me through thick and thin and will drop everything. I've not always been the greatest friend TO these people; I've made mistakes, and I've had to be forgiven much. But God, in His Grace, has poured love and grace in THEIR hearts to love, accept and forgive me and they have shown much love and grace toward me!

Bless ALL of these dear ones who radiate God's healing grace!!!