SERBIA

Ákos packing...haha

        This past weekend I went on a missions' trip to SERBIA!! SingTeam–Timi, Andris, Noémi, Ákos, Samu, Kevin, Melissa, Anita, and myself–made our way down to Senta, Serbia on Wednesday afternoon. However, we didn't arrive until late Wednesday night. What should have taken three or four hours took about nine. What happened?!! Well the border was packed because it was a Hungarian holiday; we stopped quite a bit; and spent probably an hour trying to find the Vika's house. Man, that was quite an adventure. But great fellowship, no doubt!
        So Wednesday we unpacked, ate, and slept. Ate breakfast early, had devotionals, packed the van and went to the daycare in town. Nobody expected it to be a daycare for the mentally disabled but that's what it was! And it was so much fun. Andris and Noémi started games and music and then all the kids were put into three groups. German Melissa, Anita Papp, and I were together with the lowest level. Melissa spoke about how Jesus "took us under His wings" and saved us from the fire. Cool chicken illustration, I must say. After the lesson I started playing basketball with all the boys. I think I played for an hour and only got the ball in the basket two times. Mal! The rest of Thursday was dedicated to lunch, fellowship, games, and a drive to Novi Sad. This city is so beautiful! I really want to go back.

Timi, Victoria, Kevin <3 <3

        Friday was the same schedule with the kids at the daycare except that I taught about Noah and the ark. I linked it to the fact that Jesus saved us as well even though we are undeserving. We are either in the boat or not. Open air ministry followed after lunch and fellowship. The rest of Friday evening was more fellowship, food, and a movie that I totally fell asleep to.
Saturday was our work day! The girls started working on sanding the fence while the men started working on a storage area for all the Vika's summer camp equipment. I think I still have red paint dust in my ears! Not really.
         While the Hungarian speakers and Serbian speakers had a Bible study time in the living room in the evening, which was not translated into English, us "internationals" went for a walk and search for dinner. Melissa, Kevin, and I picked up some Turkish delight, Schweppes, and chocolate. Not really sounding like dinner? No. But we did end up walking next to the river for 15 minutes until we got to the Roda Center where we went to a big Tesco type place where yogurt was purchased! Now that's dinner ;)
Sunday morning was a late morning, thankfully. After lunch, though, we packed up the van with SingTeam equipment and made our way to Kikinda where the oldest Vika son lives and goes to school. We performed and did a pantomime. Samu spoke from Hebrews 4:14-15 which speaks of the fact that Jesus is the high priest we can approach. Jesus is one that sympathizes with us in that He went through everything we go through. He was tempted in the same ways. It was really awesome because Samu spoke in English and Darko Vika translated it into Serbian! So awesome(:

my cutiepies!

        After our presentation as SingTeam we packed and ate and made our way back to the Vika's home, about an hour away. By 10 or so, we were on our way back to Tóalmás. By 1:30 am we were here. The Lord is ever faithful and wonderful! The trip was rocky and there were a lot of problems but I am certainly growing and increasing in my desire to be more like Jesus. Digging deep into His Word is the best thing to do. Ministry is pretty close there after ;)
That was a whole lot to write but I really want to convey how grateful I am for what the Lord is doing. He is working and alive!

"14 Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help."

Hebrews 4:14-16

"Rejoice in the Lord Always!"

Sziasztok!!
The Lord has blessed me with another amazing week full of His Word and His unfailing grace. What a God I have! This past week we studied the book of Philippians!! What a treasure that book is. Paul writes to the church in Philippi with immense joy. The words "joy/rejoice" appear twelve times in this book of 104 verses. Through everything that Paul went through there was joy in his life because he was furthering the gospel! What a conviction to me while I am here at WOLH. It really taught me that although I may not have everything I want or the resources to do whatever I want, there is still a command to be joyful! The fact that Jesus Christ my Savior came and laid His life down so that I may have eternal life is reason enough to be joyful!

Angela Baby!!

The teacher of Philippians was Pastor Ed Hart from Upstate New York. As Pastor Ed has been on sabbatical since November, he brought along with him a young pastor, Matthew. Ed Hart taught joy the whole week–from the first hour to the last–and it was absolutely evident in his life. This wasn't just something that he taught, but was clearly something he lived. After the first hour of having him on Monday morning, I talked with him during the break and invited him to my dorm on Wednesday night for devotionals because usually the guys only get the guest teachers but I really wanted to have this one over(:

Our frozen over lake and rivers(:

Tuesday night I was invited over to my dear Nancy Hocking's home for dinner and dessert with two fellow students–Daniel Stephan and David Graef. Pastor Ed Hart and Pastor Matthew Something joined as well for marvelous chicken soup, cornbread and coconut cake dessert stuff. Seriously delicious! I'm so blessed!
It was really a great night getting to talk to the teacher and hear about his ministry back in the States. His little church in the Adirondack Mountain area has a huge (three times the size of WOLH's campus!!) property where they house, feed, clothe and disciple many individuals. This place seriously sounds awesome. They really are doing a great work for the Lord. It really got everyone excited to see how the Lord is using that church. People from all over come to this property and stay for however long the Lord wants them there. Ed Hart has many stories about people that have completely turned their lives around according to what the Bible says. The "philosophy" there on the property is one based on the Bible. There is no problem big enough that searching and digging into the Bible, calling on the Lord, and the gospel cannot fix or mend. And that's just how they present it! Their way of fundraising to pay and keep up the property? Well...prayer! Seriously. They have never once asked for money, sent out letters, advertised that money was needed to purchase the property back in like...2004. They prayed, prayed, and then prayed some more. Yep! The power of prayer is great(:

Ákos showed me how to zoom in and out of my
computer screen!! Revolutionary.

So as you can see, I have been oh so encouraged by Ed Hart and the ministry there in the Adirondack Mountains. And I haven't even talked about the devotional we had in my dorm on Wednesday night!! It was great–testimony of Pastor Ed Hart, ice cream cake, and a wonderful prayer time all together.
Also, I think I am going to ace this Philippians test. He went over every single question in class and I knew every single answer. Of course, I don't mind studying for it, either ;)

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."

Philippians 1:9-11

It's Winter Alright!

Friendzies

Wow! January flew by!
Here at the Bible Institute we started the year off with two weeks of Matthew. So applicable and fresh! It was so awesome to learn more about this book that I have taken for granted so much.
The amazing love and compassion of Jesus Christ is so beautifully authored by Matthew, one of Jesus' disciples. The book is heart-wrenching and powerful from beginning to end and is still teaching me, even two weeks after studying it, that it's about the heart and not the show that is often put on by so many.

Master Wood Gatherer ;)

After those two weeks and two very good exams in Matthew, we studied Church History! So. Much, Information. To. Remember. This was a very difficult class that we just finished this past Thursday afternoon. Of course, it was absolutely interesting and totally awesome to hear about so many people that gave their lives for the work of our Savior. All those people are in the line of heroes for history. It made me think, "What am I doing that's so big for Christ?! Am I willing to die for Jesus and what I believe?!"

Our Beautiful Castle and Lake

Just for Funzies

This past weekend was the winter camp. It started Friday night with NO snow. It ended this Sunday afternoon with a beautiful white landscape! I've walked on the frozen lake and rivers so many times these past few days and just marveled at what a beautiful thing snow is. It snowed literally all day long Saturday. I had the awesome idea of making a campfire in the abandoned castle (remember when I talked about going there way back in November?!) so after lunch on Saturday a group of students and myself made our way over to the castle, gathering wood on the way. I must say-it was a wonderful idea! It was freezing and snowing, of course, but absolutely fun! David Johns and Kevin Cox made a fire in one of the basement rooms as all the girls watched and added little twigs to the fire. We warmed up and chatted for a long while and then headed off to take a look at the snowy, abandoned castle. We played tag as well :D
Each First year student here has to do a thing called Chapter Titles. It's where one reads every chapter in the Bible and writes a 3-10 word title. I began reading Nahum-well, the whole book took only 20 minutes-and it is so awesome!! I urge you to read it for yourself some time soon!
Lord bless you all and hope you're having a warmer winter than I am!!

The Lord is good,

A stronghold in the day of trouble, 

And He knows those who take refuge in Him. 

Nahum 1:7

WINTER OR SPRING?!!

Snow days with Noémie!! <3 <3 <3 

Wow. This break has been oh so wonderful. After coming back from Vienna I moved into the assistant dean of women's house with a coupe of other girls. Yana Osipenko opened her home to Stephanie, from the midwest, Noémie, from Quebec, and myself! Noémie and I were inseparable. When it snowed a few nights in a row, right away we got all dressed up and went to play in it. Our host, Yana, had twisted her ankle stepping off a bus coming from Budapest the first weekend of break so she was put on bed rest. She successfully tore all ligaments in her left ankle! Parabéns!

Esther de Visser and I on a canon in Veere

The 22nd of December I left for the Netherlands! It was so lush and green. No snow in Amsterdam. I hardly needed a jacket that first day I was there. The weather only got better and better. I spent one night in Amsterdam and then went on Friday morning to Middelburg. It is about two and a half hours away from Amsterdam by train. I met Esther de Visser, a good friend of my family, in Leiden, about 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam. What a great young lady she is! She is full of the Lord all the time and such a great example of love, dedication, and Godly living day to day. I was totally and absolutely blessed to stay in the De Visser home. They are all so hospitable and kind. I really loved being in their home! Esther and Isaak took me to Veere where I said that I'm going to retire because it's so beautiful! Mariah joined us three on our trip to Brugge, Belgium a few days later.
I came back to Toálmás on Thursday the 27th. I was so happy to be home and see that Yana was walking again! Since coming home it's been just her and I in her house hanging out, inviting people over, and having a jolly good time! Yesterday, Friday, January (already?!!!!) 6th, was spent with Dezső, Yana, and Attila. We drove into Budapest and shopped, shopped, shopped. What a blessing it is to have older and wiser people around. At about 11:00 p.m. Yana's roommate flew in from Brazil.

Myself, Yana, and Katie spending
New Year's Ever together <3

So I'm back here on campus sitting by the lake that at this time should apparently be frozen wearing a tank top and leggings listening to Attila explain the game of disc golf to some Hungarian visitors. As I look up from my seat I see a yellow castle before me. This is home. There's no other place I'd rather be at this moment. I am so thankful that the Lord has given this opportunity to me. I'm overwhelmed with the amount of love and joy and generosity that encompasses me. I'm ready to dive into this year head first. I'm excited for what God has for me and where He wants me to be!!

VACATION!!

My father so nicely reminded me of my lack of writing! So here I go!!

Vienna!!

So far I have finished the first quarter, started the second, gone to Vienna for a weekend, and started my holiday break! For this break, because I am not going home to California, I am staying at the assistant dean of women's home about a five minute walk from campus. I am really having a great time there. We watch movies, make food, walk to the castle for internet and just really enjoy each other's company. Although I cannot be home for the break, I still feel very much at home where I am  at. I have a bed to sleep in. I have a kitchen to clean. I have a regular-sized bathroom to shower in. I'm certainly a happy camper these days.

Last Thursday I went into Budapest with one of the girls from Quebec, Noemie, into Budapest to meet with my cousin Doctor Caleb Roberts(: Noemie and I took the 11:24 bus and then the metro to Kossuth. From there we took the tram to Sofitel Hotel right on the Danube River. It was a gloomy, rainy, wet, cold day. We met up with Cousin Caleb and his friend Jener (from San Fran!!!) and walked across the Danube to a cable car that took us up to some museum/castle/historical place. (I don't really know what it was because well, I don't speak Hungarian.) Up on the big hill looking East was the Danube down below and the Parliament building and, of course, Caleb and Jener's beautiful hotel. It was a great day talking to Caleb about everything under the sun, or as we saw it, under the clouds. We went back across the Danube eventually and walked to the Christmas market and had some hot drinks while listening to Michael Buble. (Who would have thought that Hungarians liked that guy?!!) It was such a marvelous day for me! Just walking and talking and seeing part of my family made me oh so happy!


Plans for this week: get over this annoying cold thing. But that might be difficult since I'm so obsessed with even the little bit of snow that fell last night!!!!

Thursday morning I take a flight at like 7:00 into Amsterdam!! That should be pretty cool. I'll actually keep it updated, I think.

I miss my family. I am so grateful to God that He has given my sister, Mary, and her husband, Victor, a healthy baby girl. What a blessing. Wish I could see little Beatrice Grace!

raking leaves, a campfire, and thanksgiving

"I know that everything God does will remain forever; 

there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it." 

Ecclesiastes 3:14

another great 9 days have passed since i've written. 

what have i done since then?! hmm...

this past friday morning was a morning full of practice with Sing Team. friday afternoon was filled with leaf raking!! the whole campus, including staff, were required to rake leaves either in the morning or the afternoon. my time was bitter cold. thank God for the Parrishes that gave me gloves about a month ago for the bitter cold. 

Sing Team made the half hour trip to Pánd saturday after lunch to put on a concert for one of the churches there. the mayor introduced us and we sang. Andrís Tóth gave his testimony during the set. i realized while he was talking (because I couldn't understand three words in a row) that someone had to give the good news of Jesus Christ to those that are lost. i was so uncomfortable during this ministry because of the setting and because of the distractions going on in the crowd. i was so preoccupied with how i felt instead of remembering about how these people need the Word and salvation. from now on i don't care how i feel but will remember that it's the difference between life and death for some people. 

sunday morning i filled in at sunday school for felipe at danube international church and then went shopping with a couple of girls at the Arena mall. monday was regular school with a new professor teaching 1 & 2 Thesselonians. i also practiced with two separate groups on two separate songs for a special thanksgiving chapel that took place on tuesday. i sang a song about blessings. it was fun, fun, fun! and then i sang backup to a song about...more blessings and praise to a faithful, wonderful God. 

immediately after this special chapel the whole campus (including students, teachers, teachers' families, and maintenance workers) all had a great meal together in the castle. what a precious time of fellowship to be had there! 

it's thanksgiving this coming thursday. i'm so thankful for my family. increasingly so for my parents. i see how wonderful they are even from way far away. i am so grateful for what they have done for me and for the marvelous example they have shown to me throughout the years. the love that comes out of them for everyone is so overwhelming and pure. i am thankful for the hard work my parents put in so that i may be over here. i am thankful that they have never given up once on any of the eight kids. i am thankful for them in so many ways it's insane. serio.

twin castles, Penn State football, and Szolnok

whoa wow whoa.
this past week has been craziness. i'm reading like there's no tomorrow and all that good school stuff. it's great!! yesterday, Sunday, i went with the Sing Team to Szolnok about an hour and a half away from home. the founder of the baptist church that we sang and attended is american! in fact, he has family and connections back in California <3

part of Sing Team <3

sing team packed up the van and left home at about 7 in the morning. Alex Konya, the director of WOL, drove us as he was going to be the guest speaker for the baptist church's thanksgiving sunday. we got to the church and started unpacking. as i walked inside i was surprised to see how tiny the room was. along the back wall was a long table. the middle of the room had three tables parallel to one another but perpendicular to the long table. all tables were set up with plates, utensils, napkins, cups and drinks. it was so clean and neat and wonderful! the front of the room had a little podium and a little area for the Sing Team. we made do and set up with  joyful hearts. as the time neared for us to start women came in with plates of food. one of the woman, Eva, came in with a huge sheet cake!

And I watched Penn State with Nate Street
before going to Bela and Ildiko Dobos's home

Lelkipasztor Dan Peters presents a first-time visitor
with a brand new Bible!

Anywayyys! this day was all about thanksgiving to the Lord for what He is in our lives and for what He has done. three people gave their testimonies in the first service. i didn't understand, of course. but there were 14 unsaved people there that clearly heard the gospel. the gospel was stated through each testimony and again by the preacher and Alex Konya. directly after the first service was meal time!!!!! yummy it was. and there was plenty of dessert to last even through the second service.
as i sang our Sing Team songs, i looked up into the crowd a few times and noticed a couple of the women wiping their cheeks. i have no idea what i was singing about but it truly touched them. right before we left, after the second meeting and a time of fellowship with everyone, i said goodbye to the women working in the kitchen. one of them gave me a hug and had Pam Konya translate that i should come serve in Szolnok again very very soon or else she was just going to have to come to WOL and be with me there. It was an absolutely amazing day. the people are so hospitable. the food was absolutely scrumptious. and singing for them was an absolute honor.

Oh! and I went to a ruined castle about 10 minutes away
with Nate Street