Merry Christmas!!!

Nov-Dec 2005 Update


Kellemes Karácsonyt
Boldog újesztendöt!


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
These last two months have been riddled with fun, excitement, exhaustion, and God’s marvelous provision and blessings. I am overwhelmed at all the Lord has done, and how things I never dreamed possible have become a part of my daily life. Let me take you on a ride through all the notable events, and reflect with me on God’s goodness.

No sooner did I return from a wild road trip through Slovenia and Croatia, but four days later I received some wonderful visitors! My parents came stopping by on their way through Europe to enter into my life and see and meet all the people I know and interact with. They entered my classrooms and “taught” a little about Washington D.C., and our family, but most of all they shared themselves, and my students haven’t been the same since. They seemed excited and honored that I would bring a part of my personal life to share with them, and since then these classes have been more willing to participate and open up into discussions and conversations about themselves, and Hungarian life versus American life. I also took my parents to Budapest, where I received more visitors! Two girls from Prague came to visit, and spent time with us and a lot of my Hungary team came out and was able to visit with them and with us as well. We had such a blessed time; it was very difficult to let them go. I spent the next few weeks agonizing over whether or not I should remain in Hungary for another year, or go back and attend graduate school and be with my family and friends. On this subject I’ll return later.
Soon it came time for another break and some pumpkin pie! Our team took a trip to Slovakia to spend time together in fellowship and worship, and of course, eating turkey! I can’t even describe how wonderful it was to be all together, share our hardships, our blessings, to be reminded of our purpose, to encourage one another, and best of all, to praise God and thank Him for it all! The retreat lifted my spirits and gave me more motivation to teach and work on relationships in the classroom.
On December 9th, I witnessed my first szalagavató. This is the event all high schoolers have been waiting for, the chance to be pinned with the ribbon announcing their seniority to the rest of the world, and strut their stuff dancing on stage. Two girls who attend Calvery Chapel in Vác are 12s (or seniors) at my school, and so nearly our entire church was invited to this event. It surpassed all my expectations. The dancing was beautiful and funny, the girls were all lovely, and it seemed to be one of the best nights of their lives. I had a chance to socialize with the other teachers and see them in a relaxed setting, and I feel more of an acceptance from them as an equal colleague.
This past weekend I took a trip to Vienna with Dani and Eliz to visit the Hoefflers again and see the Christmas markets (see pic on top of the newsletter). Browsing through the snow and the booths, sampling hot sausages and malt wine and punch, I was struck at how awesome that I was able to have this experience, to live in Europe and be dazzled by the Lord and his marvelous acts in so many beautiful places, and in this moment, standing and looking up at the snow, God revealed Himself to me in a powerful way, in which I hope I never forget.

Christmas in Hungary
Many of you may be wondering how Hungarians celebrate Christmas, and how I’ll be spending my first Christmas away from home. Well, unlike popular belief that Christmas is celebrated all over the world, and Santa Claus comes to visit and brings presents to every child on Christmas Eve, many countries have many different customs and traditions and present givers. For example, in Austria, Kris Kringle is not a jolly man in a red suit, but a little blond angel who sheds her blond curls on every Christmas tree she visits. Does anyone wonder why she isn’t bald? In Serbia, one of the wise men’s camels brings the presents. In Finland, Santa rides a goat named Uko. In the Czech Republic and here in Hungary, Santa visits on December 6th, leaving little chocolates in their shoes for the good boys and girls, and rocks for the bad children. His helpers aren’t elves, but little creatures that look like devils. Christmas is celebrated on the 24th, not the 25th. Families traditionally put up their tree on Christmas Eve and decorate it together as a family, then eat a big dinner that must include fish soup. After dinner the children run upstairs so that Jesus can magically come through the window and make the presents appear under the tree. He’s not just Jesus, but “little” Jesus, the baby. This is particularly humorous in the Czech Republic, which is an extremely atheist country, but which has no problems with “Merry Christmas” or Jesus putting their presents under the tree. Hungary is mainly Roman Catholic, and so Jesus is as common as eating chocolate from Santa Claus, and just as revered. I will be spending Christmas Eve in Budapest with the few other teachers sticking around for the holidays. We’ll have a small gift exchange of socks with a few goodies inside, feast, and watch movies. In the morning, we’re making waffles! After church, I’ll head back to Vác to celebrate with the Americans here, who still stick to celebrating on Christmas Day. We’ll have a dinner and gift exchange, play some games, and fellowship as Americans and a Christian family, of which I’m happy to be a part.
Christmas Reflections
It is no secret that I have been in some turmoil over what God’s plans are for me in the next year. In some instances I have worried myself sick trying to make peace with one way or the other. Should I stay here and continue in this ministry, or come home and attend graduate school? At first it seems so simple, so appealing to return and be comfortable again and around all those people I miss and love, and receive a masters and further my education. However, the more I see little hurdles overcome (braving the post office, recognizing new Hungarian words and picking up conversation, a silent teacher begins to smile at me, a student tries harder and gets the A, I become closer to my church fellowship and hear the words, “Jo, what will we do without you next year?”) I go home and cry and pray again for wisdom to make the right choice. As advent began and Christmas approaches, I studied the life of Mary, and it was in her I found the right reaction to life’s difficult choices. Mary was told she would become pregnant, and her child would be the Son of the Most High, and He would be a great King whose kingdom would never end. Mary responded asking how it would be possible. The angel tells her, “Nothing is impossible with God!” She believed, and said she would willingly do God’s will: “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” She said she was God’s servant, His slave. Whatever He asked of her or required of her she would not just obey, but do it willingly with joy and gladness. She said she believed God was able to do the impossible, no questions asked, and let God work miracles in her life. I asked myself if I have the kind of heart that prompts such a statement as Mary’s when God surprises me and asks me to do something, and I had to say no. I was becoming obsessed with all kinds of fears. Mary could have said, “Wait! What about Joseph? Will he still marry me? What about my family and friends? What will they all think of me?” But instead, she ran to Elizabeth and praised God. In her song Mary felt herself blessed above all women, and humbled that God would choose her. She believed the Lord and worshiped Him for noticing her and choosing a poor young girl. She said the Lord had mercy on her.
I feel humbled by Mary’s fearless reaction and crazy obedience. I can forget that God will give me all the strength I need to face any trial, and that letting God work in my life, no matter where I am, is truly cause for joy, not fear. It means trusting God completely that He will do great things in my life. No matter what sacrifices have to be made, and there will be many, the Lord’s will is best, and that is cause for joyful obedience. After this realization, I surrendered it all. The choice is not mine, but the Lord’s. I cannot make the decision on my own. Putting myself completely in the Lord’s hands, I have come to a peaceful understanding that He is not finished with my work and time in Hungary. He needs me to relinquish graduate school and being near to family and friends for the time being, and continue to seek His will and minister to those I meet here. In this decision I have a peace, and I eagerly await the ways in which God will use me. I ask for your prayers in this matter, for your support (I will need prayer and finances for another year), and your blessings. I am blessed already by your emails, your notes and letters, and to be in prayer for you as well. I know in times when I haven’t the strength, it is the support from my team at home that makes up for me when I haven’t the time or energy. You are a necessary and crucial part of my ministry, and I can’t continue without you. Pray for your involvement in partnering with me for another term.

Isaiah 55:9-11 : “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”


MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas!!!

It's my last day teaching before Christmas, and I woke up to six inches of snow and still falling. One cultural difference I'll never get used to is the fact that, staring out my window at that blanket of snow, I still have to get dressed and get ready to walk through the blizzard to school. Okay, if it were truly a blizzard maybe they would close the schools, but nothing short of it. What perks does being a teacher have if not snow days?? At least they don't have school year-round. I still get summers off. As I was walking through the winter wonderland, I got to thinking of other cultural differences I'll never get used to. I believe it was my friends Julie and Dave who wanted to know all the weirdest and queerest differences, so I'll attempt to make a short list off the top of my head today.
1. Tomorrow, to celebrate Christmas, our school is going to church together. We'll go to the local yellow Catholic church, that every town has, but no one attends except on Christmas.
2. Nobody hugs, everybody kisses. I'm still not very comfortable with it, even on the cheek, and I miss hugs!!!
3. Outdoor shoes, indoor shoes
4. Closets for bathroom stalls, and "lookout tower" toilets. You don't want me to explain, but let's just say it doesn't smell pretty.
5. Pingvin Szucrázda, literally translated: Penguin Coffee and Sweets shop. I don't know what Penguins and coffee have to do with each other, but the coffee and sweets shops are my favorite things EVER!!! I go there every day.
6. Manual transmissions. Even the buses, which equals some wild rides when you have to stand.
7. Fellow teachers who waited 3 months to start talking to me in English, hiding the fact they knew English all this time, but I guess it takes three months for them to accept me as a real teacher.
8. The popularity of poppyseeds, paprika, and sour craut
9. When leaving a room, "Szia, Hello!" Hello? I'm leaving!
10. Chasing down the waiters to pay. You could sit there all night if you didn't ask for a check.
11. Namedays, like a birthday. Every day is a name, and when the calendar falls on your nameday, you celebrate and get presents. In other words, you have to have a name on the calendar, or you miss out. Everyone has the same names! Originality? Creativity? Forget it! Bruce Willis would have a hard time naming his children. He'd probably still call one of his kids Poppyseed if he lived here.
12. Traditional holiday celebrations: visiting the graveyard on Halloween instead of houses for candy, fish soup for Christmas, "little Jesus" brings the presents, not Santa Claus.
Those are just a few of the things that will always feel a little crazy. Another is the shuffling of the teachers instead of the kids, and the everso "optional bell." Guess I'll go to class now

Szent Múkolás

Santa Claus came yesterday. In Hungary, Santa Claus does not come on Christmas Eve to fill your stockings. Nope, he comes December 6th to fill your stockings. He brings candy and sweets and little goodies. Then, on Christmas, JESUS comes and brings you the big toys. That's right, Jesus comes to your house. Does He ride a sleigh? Does He come down the chimney? I don't know. But there are two different days to get presents from two pretty important people, so you don't get them confused like you do in America. So yesterday Santa Claus came into the teacher's room with a tray of candy, and everyone started singing a song, and then Santa's helpers (no, not elves), two girls dressed up like devils, gave us the treats. I stood there in confusion and intrigue, and then dove in and ate. There's not much else you can do in such a situation. Another exciting Christmas tradition around here are the Christmas markets. There are vendors who set up little wooden booths in the city squares and sell trinkets, sausages, and hot wine. We even have a little market in the tiny square in Vác, although there isn't any food, and the things they sell look like thrift store purchases, which could be fun to check out. I'm going to Budapest next week to revel in their Christmas market, and then to Vienna which apparantley has the "best of the best." In short, if you are expecting Christmas presents from me, wait till January, because these markets are going to be my prize shopping malls. As you open your presents Christmas morning, just think, "the best is yet to come."
What will I be doing for Christmas, you ask? I will be staying here in Hungary, for Christmas Eve and Day I'll be going to Danielle's flat in Budapest, to have a small gift exchange and a meal. There are very few of us who are staying here for Christmas, so we will celebrate together. After that, a few teachers are going on a road trip, and I will be delighted to do absolutely nothing. I will probably hop around Vác to different homes and spend time with people doing absolutely nothing. Maybe talking, maybe some eating, maybe a movie or two. It will be so wonderful. I'm ready for a little break.
I'm getting psyched up for the szálagávató. This is a dance/party for the seniors who get these ribbons, perform a little dance for family and friends, then a waltz, then they get to stay and dance, and the teachers get their own room with food and dancing (hahaha), and then a lot of them go to discos (clubs) and stay out all night. Another teacher called it "the best night of their lives." Wow! And I get to witness it. It will be cool because Elize is inviting our whole church (practically) to the event, so there will be so many people there, I think it'll be a blast.
I'm really hungry. Why is lunch so far away? What a long day.

TEAM

Hungaria/Slovakia team 2005-06

Late Pics and Thanksgiving!

Look who came to visit me!Yeah, this was a while ago, but I'm just now posting some pics. Laura and Sarah came all the way from Prague, but my parents win by coming all the way from America!


I introduced my parents to this awesome coffee shop and some Hungarian sweets.

Recently we had a Thanksgiving to remember.

Check out these turkeys! An 18 kilo and a 12 kilo. That's the weight of a small child.

And then all the pies....oh, how I love food!
Thanksgiving was refreshing and sweet, a blissful time away with friends to spend time in fellowship, and give thanks for the joys and the hardships of being away from family but being united together in purpose and service. We recited this prayer that Matt thinks is by Stanley Hauerwas: "The beauty of a green leaf turning red, the brightness of a stranger's face, the joy of a cat at play, the sheer wonder coming from the generosity of friends--for all this and so much more we give you thanks, we praise you, gifting God. Help us remember, however, that you have made us, through Jesus Christ, your thanksgiving sacrifice for a world that refuses to acknowledge its giftedness. Let us rush again and again to your feast of the new age, where you provide the space and time for us to enjoy being your joy."
Amen.

Unusual Occurences

I had a funny dream last night. I dreamed that it snowed, and a lot of people (other teachers from Budapest, random people from Camp Allegheny) came walking into my flat in their pajamas and robes to listen to the radio for school closings. They all seemed to live in my building, and only our radio was in English for them to understand. Sadly, the radio wasn't working. I woke up from this dream to Sarah Jane running into our bedroom. "Joanna! It snowed!" "What? I just dreamed that!" I exclaim. "Maybe they'll close school!" True enough, I woke up to a shade of white this morning, our first snow. Sadly, school closings are more of a dream here, a figment of times long gone.
This weekend I did more unordinary things:
1) I went to a formal "ball" at Budapest college
2) I ate cavier
I'll just say number 1 as opposed to number 2 gave me endless flashbacks of parties and proms and the Macarena, while at the same time being nothing like any of those times or places. Number 2 was salty and tasted like fish. Should I just leave it at that? Due to time, I think I will.
Happy Thanksgiving to all! May you eat turkey until you burst. I'm going to try Thanksgiving in Slovakia this year, but let there be pie! And it will be so.

Joanna needs...

Copying Danielle and Neal, it's pretty fun to type "joanna needs" into google and see what comes up. Go ahead, try it. This is apparantly what I need:
1. My Joanna needs tuning. (most popular response from a song)
2. Joanna needs a break. (Yes! Thanksgiving!)
3. Joanna needs to go to see her loan manager at her bank. (Yikes!)
4. Joanna needs money. (How do they know these things?)
5. Joanna needs to find herself. (Where did I go? I'm lost...)
6. Joanna needs more practice in argument. (Any takers? I'm game.)
7. Joanna needs YOUR help with outfits!!!!! (wow, am I that badly dressed?)
8. Joanna needs you to get in touch with her. (Yep, send me some love in email form)
9. Joanna needs a cool head and a steady trigger finger. (First I need a gun and some fringe...)
10. Joanna needs a hero. ("I can be your hero, baby!" I'll take R Kelly)
11. Which handhelds would best meet Joanna's needs? (I don't know. Christmas is coming up. That's a good question to think about.)

I woke up with the sun today!

In my efforts to find joy, I went to Budapest yesterday just to see Danielle. We had American tea, Vanilla Caramel, and sat in her little loft that she's decorated like a tea room. We talked and prayed for hours. Very refreshing. Today, in my efforts to find joy waking up before the sun, I got up at 6am like usual and washed my face and brushed my teeth. Then, instead of making coffee and breakfast, I skipped it and went back to bed until 6:55. That's right, I woke up with the sun!!! I got dressed in five minutes and was out the door, slightly hungrier, but happier. I've been shopping a lot this week, not something I enjoy usually, but Barb comes with me everyday, on a quest for shoes that are my size and not pointed. I've come to realize I'm a mutant in Europe. Nobody has feet as small as me. There are plenty of people as short as I am, but they all must have big feet. There is no size smaller than a 36, and I think I must be a 35 here, so I'm screwed. I have to buy little kids shoes I think. Not only that, but all the shoes are pointed like witches or elf shoes. I'm not comfortable with that. It's fine if everyone else wants to wear them, but not for me. I'm going to stick with the shoes I have. No more shopping for Jo. It seems I'll be wearing teacher shoes to a formal ball, it's the best I can do.

Getting Back into the Swing of Things...

My parents were here this weekend. It was amazing to see them. And now I am sad. But why should I be sad? And I covet your prayers. The Bible says not to covet, but what about prayers? That seems like a good thing to covet.
I am comforted by the fact not just that God loves me, has a plan for me, and all these trials are small compared to the glory in store for us, but maybe even more amazing is that if I don't give up on God, God never gives up on ME. That's nothing short of remarkable. Even though He is overflowing with wisdom and love and joy and every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, I lose my focus, forget what the goal is I'm striving for, and get discouraged. Instead of being so thankful for parents that love me so much that they will travel across oceans and pay wild airline prices to see me for only 3 days, who are believers and support what I do and pray for my service for the Lord and His blessings for my life, I get angry that I can't be near them and talk to them every day and soak up their spiritual wisdom and maturity and love for me. These things that I never appreciated all that much when I was with them. My heart feels broken to receive so much from them in such a short time and then say goodbye, and keep going on and teaching like they were never here. How can I say Thank You to the Lord when I miss them so much already? But God heals broken hearts and gives us strength when we didn't know we had it, and those moments are more precious than all the time with my parents in the world, and how can I be so rude to God by not being thankful for the many blessings I have here, like friends and our church and the obvious ways God uses me at school when I don't think I'm doing anything at all? My heart is so torn between two places, for all the people who mean a lot to me, that only God can fill in all the gaps and give me what I need, and that's quite a treasure. Hard times equal even more glory and joy, the ever confusing paradox that is God. Suffering marries joy, God's death gives birth to eternal life and salvation. So I praise the Lord for loving me so much to give me a broken heart that only He can heal. And I praise Him for what I have but not close by, and for what is nearby now but maybe not forever, for showing me what is NOT so I know fully what IS, the I AM, the ALL IN ALL.
So those are my rambling thoughts if you wish to pray more specifically, and I wanted to thank my parents for everything once again, since they'll be reading this. I'll never grow tired of thanking you, since there seem to always be things to thank you for, and to thank God for you, and all that jazz. The End :)

Jo

Whirlwind Tour

I recently just got back from fall break, which was a whirlwind tour through Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia. It was so fast, I've drawn you a little picture of our route. My own pictures are not set up yet, so just observe the little maps for now.


This is part of Day 1. We travelled down Lake Balaton, took a ferry across the lake, and entered Slovenia.


Still in Day 1, we ended in Ljubljana, the capital that night at 2am, wandered looking for a hotel till 4am.
Day 2: wandered around city, went up to Bled. This is a beautiful small city with a little castle overlooking a gorgeous lake, and a little island with a church in the middle of the lake. Camped out around the lake. Day 3: explored castle, took gondolas out to island, drove to Treiste in Italy, ate Italian pizza

Day 4: explored Treiste, beautiful harbor town in Italy. Went to a castle on the coast, white castle with palm trees and elaborate gardens. Fell in love with Italy, then said goodbye.




Day 5: Entered Croatia. Decided to skip right to Reijke. Slept there.
Day 6: Looked at Reijke a little, then drove all the way to Split.
Day 7: Looked around Split for a few hours, then drove all the way to Dubrovnik. Arrived late at night, and explored the castle, ate some dinner, then drove through the night back to Split, and then up to a national park outside of Zagreb. Found camping at 4am.
Day 8: Woke up 4 hours later and hiked through national park. Saw beautiful waterfalls. Drove to Zagreb and went to sleep.
Day 9: Walked around Zagreb and relaxed a little, drove all the way back to Vác.

I drove more than I slept, but I saw 5 countries in 9 days, and who can say that? I fell in love with Italy, saw the gorgeous coast of Croatia, and now I'm back to teaching.
A newsletter for October is in the works. Have no fear.

Student papers

For your enjoyment, here are some awesome quotes from student papers and quizzes:

Quiz on food:
Where do Americans eat?

A lot of people eat fast food in the street or Chinese restaurant, or ate brown when they however ˝the best cool˝ take some from them. Huh??

How is this different from Hungary?

The Hungarian people try to care they health and they the breakfast is always cold, the lunch is always hot, because in Hungaryan this is the 2 important eat time, the first is the breakfast, and the 3rd eatting is the dinner...sometimes we eat hot or cold things.

Hungarian people don't eat lot of fast food. Fast food makes your fat Americans are the fattest people in the world. Ouch!


What do Hungarians eat?

Hungarian people usually eat more cornflakes than the Americans. I'm sure they do!

goulash soup, meat, smashing potato! Yeah baby, yeah! Funny part is, it's true! That's about it! And those potatos are a smash!

A quiz on family. I kid you not. This is what it said:

I have got a sister. She has got medium legs, red hair and brown eyes. She is for sale. I'm not sure if she works in sales or she really hates her sister.

Made up travel advertisement for travel unit:

5 day in a cottage in breast of the Alpen countryside. I think she meant ˝heart,˝ not breast. The Austrian villages, slip tea in a café, and experience the peace of country life. Mmmm..slipping tea!

And my personal favorite from my American student:
Canada EH??
Come to Canda! Come and...Pan for gold in the Yukon! Snowboard at Whistler! See a hockey game in Alberta! Go cow tipping in the plains! Search for Sasquatch in the NW territories! Hunt moose in the Canadian Rockies! Enjoy maple syrup with bears in Ban Forest! Fish for the one that got away in the Bering Strait! Hail the Queen in Ontario! Canada, come for a while, stay for life! :) Only an American could make of Canada so well.

The best part was the responses. I had them vote on their favorite place to go and why. A Hungarian wrote:

I want to go to Canda because I haven't seen sasquatch yet. I want to hunt for moose and then eat it or I would take it to Hungary and I'd keep the moose like my pet. I'm going to hang that one on the fridge.

Vienna

This weekend I spent two days in the lovely city of Vienna. I didn't go as a tourist, oh no, I did that 5 years ago. I went to see some very special friends I hadn't seen in years, the Hoefflers!!! You see, the summer before my senior year of high school I went on a missions trip to Vienna. I worked with Stefan and Judit and Open Air Campaigners, a group that does street evangelism. We were there for two weeks before going on to France, but I remember the trip a great deal as a very important time in my life, my first trip to Europe (which grew to be very contagious), and the time I knew God was calling me to missions. I thought about going back right after high school and working for OAC, but decided to go to college instead. So much has happened in five years, and I had the opportunity to share with them the struggles and the blessings, to meet their two kids (they were only engaged to be married 5 years ago), and see Stefan and his team doing street evangelism, which is still his ministry today. So much has changed, and so much remains the same.
Life thought #5,253: The days are long, but the years are short.
There is already tentative plans to return in December to see a Viennese Christmas market, a supposedly beautiful and romantic event.

Eger

Fall is quickly sweeping into winter. Without warning, the mornings have turned bitter cold, while each day is beautiful and crisp with falling leaves and breezes. I've learned how to turn the heat on in my flat, but unfortunately, my winter coat is still in the mail. I'm learning to layer my sweaters in the meantime. Of course, I am having trouble loading pictures onto my computer, on a day when I have so many to show you. I am at a friend's house, and they have very intelligent anti-spy-ware, which of course makes my pictures evil virus carriers that cannot be downloaded. I'll have to wait on the pictures, and see what I can do. Meanwhile, you'll have to use your imagination.
I've been asked a lot recently if I've done a lot of travelling around Hungary, and the answer is always, "No, just Vác and Budapest." That's not very exciting. So yesterday I went to a little village called Eger, which has a castle and a basilicum, and a lyceum (I think I spelled that very wrong, but it means library). Typically, after being in England for a while and travelling around the United Kingdom, I came to the assumption that once you've seen a few castles you've seen them all. Ok, this is till true, but yet this one was slightly different than any others I've seen, making it all worth the trip. Exploring the top of a castle always brings about great views, and this day was cloudy and foggy, and not good picture taking weather on top of a castle. I made the climb anyway, and took some rotten pictures, but as I was walking around, the sun came out, and the clouds parted. For a few brief minutes, the light shone on the still slightly hazy town, and I went back and retook every picture in this incredible new lighting. As I walked along the wall, on top of a hill there shone in this fog three castles on a hill. I never expected to see three crosses on top of a castle in Hungary, and it shocked and delighted me. Even in a tiny Hungarian village, Christ is Lord of all. It was a beautiful sight.
After the castle we went to the library. I wasn't excited about paying to see this little library, but when I entered, again, my jaw dropped. If you know me well, you know that I love the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. If you've humored me and watched this movie, you know when the Beast takes Belle into the library with her eyes closed, pulls back the curtain, and she looks up at walls and walls ofbooks stretching to the ceiling? Well when I walked into the room, there were golden books reaching up higher and higher, and as my gaze followed them, I saw the colorful painted ceiling mimicking the Cistene chapel.
This town is also in the middle of some incredible wine fields. Ifyou weren't aware, Hungarian wine is some of the best in the world. The town of Eger has a valley with wine caves where there are restaurants and wine tastings. I sampled some of the finest wine I've ever tasted.
Over all, the day was fabulous, for the sights and the wine, the meals and the conversations. I was reminded of how amazing it is to be living here, not just travelling and seeing the sights, but actually being a part of this country for a little while. It was pointed out to me that of everyone on the team, I'm supposedly the odd man out. This may be true in the sense that I don't have a best friend on our team, or even anyone I feel compelled to turn to. This doesn't bother me in the least. I have such wonderful best friends at home to email and write and talk to, why do I need new ones? They may not be here with me, but right now I need to be on my own, be independent, and experience the incredible closeness of my Father, and turn to Him for all my needs and venting and strength. There is something absolutely incredible about having none of your usual comforts (winter coat, a real salary, comfort food, that best friend to hug and talk to) and yet having everything. I haven't felt this completely in the center of God's will except on those summers I got away from college and spent as a camp counseler with my inner city kids. The most incredible thing about Messiah college was not the learning and books, oh no, but the high school youth group I helped out with and the kids I ministered with. It was where I felt completely fulfilled because I had purpose. Here I have this purpose and satisfaction, and I'll gladly give up everything to live my life with this perfect peace and contentment and closeness to my Savior. All else is rubbish, as Paul says, and I can understand him more than I ever could before when I did finally throw off all encumbrances and embrace the calling I received from God. Someone at church today in Vác told me I was awfully brave, and I'm tired of people calling me brave. Coming here wasn't "bravery." It was obedience, and I'm not brave, I'm completely blessed.
As for University of Maryland and graduate school, I've been given till the 1st of the year to make my decision, and I intend to use all that time before I make a decision. The goal is to stay where I am until God calls me elsewhere. If that's one year, two, or five, I don't know. I can always reapply if need be, but I will wait and see what the Lord has for me, and continue to adore and love and serve these students of mine as long as I'm called to do it. Speaking of which, I have two of them that want to go on a bike ride or a walk on this lovely Sunday afternoon by the Danube, and that sounds perfectly lovely. I got a few pics of Eger up on webshots. Check those out. I close with some words by Jennifer Knapp.
When I'm weak
I'm broken
I'm poor
Lord but I am Yours

Do you plan to enroll?

Joy Jones is getting pretty testy over there in University of Maryland Enrollment. I deferred my acceptance for a year, and she keeps sending emails to the wrong account, which I finally checked today. Do I plan to enroll for June 2006? Do I plan to enroll? Do I plan to enroll? How can I make that decision right now? I just got to Hungary. Just one year here, then back to Maryland to get my masters in education? They want to know so they can request a possible masters certification cohert, teaching while I study education for a little more dough. Nice thought. Do I plan to enroll? I guess I'll say yes, I mean, that was the plan, one year in Hungary. Will I regret that decision? Things are just getting started here. A year doesn't seem like much, but who knows what can happen in a year? I plan to enroll. Have to keep telling myself that. But maybe I want to stay. I have to decide. I don't want to yet. Too early. What do I do?

Cryptic Thoughts

I hope I don't make anyone too mad, but due to the fact that the Internet broke at school and I have to go to the Internet café in order to get online, and that costs money, and I still haven't gotten a salary, suffice it to say that the story from last time is going to be summed up succintly and unclimactically for all the wait I've put you through. A homeless man walked into English club and in translation, Jackie presented the gospel to him. It should be expected coming from the pastor's wife in the church in Vác, but somehow I was unprepared for this direct approach. He asked for money, she gave him what he really needed, a changed life, but he didn't take the invitation, he took the train ticket offered and left. I brought my one English student to English club, who is Catholic, and I was more worried about her reaction than the homeless man, because she's my one English speaking friend. Let's just say I had a good talk with her, and with Jackie, and with God about what I'm doing here, about ministry, about sitting down with someone and sharing the gospel, and why it frightens me. I'm excited to spread the love of Christ, but what does that mean? For some reason, my mind rebels against calling the gospel a formula, and telling people they're sinners, even though it's obvious we all are and I'm the best of them. I want people to know this love that God gives, and I struggled with this sin and judgement thing. But Jackie and I talked for a long time the next day about why this is important, and I need to spend some time reflecting on this pretty heavy material I've been given, and think more about what I'm doing here besides playing games with students about family and travel and smiling a lot, and hearing them say "Good morning" in English to me in passing. So I passed out the flyers this week for English club. I think a lot of kids will come. This Friday, they'll come to a real English club if no homeless men walk in, and then have a chance to stay for the high school youth group and talk about God. If this happens, what is my part in this? I didn't start English club, but I can bring the students. Easily. It puts more responsibility on me, heavier than being a good teacher. I didn't come here only to be a teacher, or I wouldn't have come with a missions organization. I came to love people, but I think God requires more than that of me. Love is sacrifice, being uncomfortable, risking much to give the best to others and not self. Hmmm...this is over because I'm already uncomfortable for putting this much online and written so poorly and cryptically even to myself, because I can't really think right now.

English Club

I had an incredibly emotional and spiritual weekend, and I feel the need to talk about it here, but I'm not sure I have all the right words at the moment, being that I have 5 minutes before I have to catch my train to Budapest. How can I sum it up quickly and meaningfully? Well, I can't, so bear with me.
My church here in Vác has an English conversation club on Fridays, and the pastor and his wife have asked me to help out with it. Of course I said yes, because first of all, I can finally talk to my students outside of school in real conversations, and secondly, bringing them to church gives them an opportunity to stay after English club for the high school youth group and actually hear about God, which is another thing hard for me to do in school. It seems the perfect way for me to combine teaching and ministry, since the church doesn't have that much connection with high school students, and I see 176 per week.
Anyway, this week I just came to watch, and I only told my American student, Barb, about it and she came with me. There were only two other students there, one of which goes to my school, and while we were sitting and chatting in English, a homeless man comes in begging for money.
And this is where I leave you in suspense, because my time is up and I have to catch a train, but I will write part II tomorrow, so stay tuned for an incredible story.

Medley of Prague

(Songs listened to and from Prague)

And I have to speculate
That God Himself did make us into corresponding shapes
Like puzzle pieces from the clay
And true, it may seem like a stretch
But it’s thoughts like this that catch my troubled head
When you’re away when I am missing you to death

This city’s made us crazy and we must get out
Let’s go away for a while, you and I
To a strange and distant land
Where they speak no word of truth
But we don’t understand anyway
Holiday far away let’s go today
In a heartbeat, heartbeat, heartbeat

And all the roads we have to walk are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I’d like to say to you
But I don’t know how

I have run; I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
Only to be with you
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

They will see us waving from such great heights
“Come down now,” they’ll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
“Come down now,” but we’ll stay

How would this be if I was alone tonight?
Maybe then, everything would turn out right

I was in love with the place
In my mind, in my mind
I made a lot of mistakes
In my mind, in my mind
If I was crying in the van with my friend
It was for freedom from myself and from the land
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes

Today was gonna be the day
But they’ll never throw it back to you
By now you should’ve somehow
Realized what you’re not to do
And all the roads that led you there were winding
And all the lights that lead you there are blinding
There are many things that I’d like to say to you
But I don’t know how
Because maybe
You’re gonna be the one that saves me…

You broke the bonds and you loosed the chains
Carried the cross of my shame
You know I believe it
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

You left me on the shelf
And now there’s no one to rely on
But if it’s all the same to you
Here’s what I’m gonna do
This could be the last train…

This city’s made us crazy and we must get out
“This is not goodbye,” she said
“It’s just time for me to rest my head”
There’s only so much I can do for you
After all the things you’ve put me through
This city’s made us crazy and we must get out

Heartbeat, heartbeat
Let’s go today, let’s go away, just let’s go away in a heartbeat

You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our minds set
All things know, all things know
You had to find it
All things go, all things go

For I’m bound to ride that northern railroad
Perhaps I’ll die upon this train
Will I ever see you again?
I’ll see you on the other side

Everything will be alright
For now, Goodbye
Friend, Goodbye

Songs from:
Keane “See You Again,” Will Hoge “It’s a Shame,” Weezer “Holiday,” The Postal Service “Such Great Heights,” Maroon 5 “Must Get Out,” Travis “Last Train,” U2 “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” Oasis “Wonderwall,” The Soggy Bottom Boys “I am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” Seyfun Stephens “All Things Go,” and Dave Matthews Band “Spoon”

Jon, me, Amy, Courtney, Kassidee, Laura, Ben, Zac, Brady, Mike

I need YOU!

I'm just going to throw out a few things that I lack here in the land of Hungary, that if anyone is feeling generous enough to send out a care package, this is what it might include:
Instant Oatmeal/Cream of Wheat
Ramen noodles
Actually, ANYTHING that you just add water to make
peanut butter
American candy
Calendars with pretty pictures to decorate the flat
Pictures, postcards, magazines with American pictures, or American films or actors and actresses
If you're feeling especially generous, DVDs are always appreciated, since we don't get English television and everything closes at 5pm. Movies or TV shows.

Also, I would really like to start a pen pal program. If anyone would like to be a part of this ministry in another way and would like to write letters to some of my students, please email me and let me know. You can adopt a student or two to pray for and write very simple letters to about your family and America and what you do for fun. I think it would be very helpful and fun for my students, and for you too!

We are switching buildings today. We've been temporarily having school in this one building while another one was being renovated, and they finally got the furniture so it's move-in day! That means it's really crazy and I haven't really taught a lesson because I can't find my classes or there isn't time for anything. But that's fun Hungarian life.

Vác

I am feeling better after a week of hacking and weezing, and the Lord blessed me with a sick day on Friday, allowing me to lay low and recuperate this week. I spent my time sleeping and lesson planning to make this next week more enjoyable, but today I went around and took some pictures of Vác finally. I felt funny doing this at first, since no one takes pictures of where they live, but Sunday afternoons are good times because everything is closed and no one is around. It is a grey day, so the pictures aren't up to my usual standards, but it gives you an idea of what the town looks like.

This is a pic of one of the main streets in town:










This is a picture of the D.O.M., which is a large church right next to my school.









Unfortunately, I'm having trouble downloading other pictures right now. Troubling.
To see more pics, please check out the link ALL PICTURES. Browze my town. This isn't even all of what I wanted to take, but what time permitted me. It's a very cute place I think.

The Baths

It quite suddenly got very rainy and cold. Last week I swear I was pouring sweat everyday on the bus ride home, now I'm wearing heavy sweaters, and it feels like winter. The drastic change in weather seems to be making everybody sick. I'm still blowing my nose like there's no tomorrow while I'm trying to teach a class. Pleasantly enough, I think I'm starting to get the hang of this whole thing. Today I am actually teaching a different lesson to each of my four classes. That means I finally have a plan, and know where each class is and what they need to be taught. Hallelujah! After school I'm going to Budapest to relax in the baths. I feel the Hungarians got something right when they made huge heated bathtubs out of the natural hot springs and decided sitting in them would be a good leisure activity. I'm not going to argue.
It's really hard to believe I've been here for nearly a month. The time has really flown. So much has happened and I've had so little time to process it all. Eventually everything will slow down, but I hope I never lose sight of taking time to appreciate and love all that I'm able to experience and to see. For a minute yesterday I thought back on my time in college and almost for a teensiest second, missed it. I just wanted to sit in a class and not have to be the one to teach it. I never thought that sitting in a class would be "the good life" until I learned how strenous it is to plan so many lessons and then stand up there and engage a class in them. But yesterday I had the chance to have coffee and a pastry with my American student and chat, and so it's a start in getting to know my students, even if it is the only native English speaking one, but it's definitely a start. This job definitely gives me satisfaction more than being a student ever did, and knowing I am exactly where God wants me to be is not a feeling I would change for the world.
Here's some advice to all my readers: Stay warm and cozy, wherever you are today. Take a bath, reflect, thank God for where you are.

Fruit Spaghetti?

I just thought I would throw out there that I just went to a restaurant where I ordered what I thought to be Fruit Spaghetti. It was called speghetti fruite di mare, and had another deceiving description of gymölcleves (I spelled that wrong) which is the word used for fruit soup. So here I am thinking I'm going to try something new, and when I get my spaghetti, I found it looking back at me. These little squids with legs and tentacles and arms were practically crawling around in my spaghetti if they hadn't already been cooked and lathered in tomato sauce. I felt obligated to eat a bit of it, but I admit I picked around the squid, especially when Kim got really excited and picked one up by its leg and started talking to it. I lost my appetite.
Oh, Kim is a lovely ESI teacher in Gödöllo that visited for the weekend. Her and Sarah Jane and I were going to go canoeing today, but we were unfortunately rained out. Sad. It will have to be rescheduled. Instead, we had a delightful movie squid spaghetti kind of day. We also went out to a movie last night, Palindromes, and just in case you are A) American, B) Christian, C) Pro-life, D) sympathetic to the handicapped, or E) against child pornography or molestation, there is a strong chance you will be deeply offended by this movie and should avoid it. It was the only English movie playing, and I'll never make that mistake of just walking in without knowing what I'm watching ever again. Probably in the top three worst movies I've ever seen. If you are a fellow ESI teacher and still feel like watching it, be prepared to look down and avoid eye contact with anyone after the movie who might have noticed you are American. You will be ashamed of your country for making this film.
And believe it or not, it was a lovely weekend. The first one I've spent just hanging out in Vác and taking it easy, and it was very relaxing. I needed the time off. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what to teach my students, and it's coming along on a trial and error basis. It can be frustrating, but I love it when I'm walking down the hallway and a kid will make a big deal out of saying ˝Good Morning Teacher!˝ just to impress me. It's very cute. There is an American student, actually, who is spending a year abroad as an exchange student. She's very cool, and doesn't speak Hungarian either, but communicates in German or English to the bilingual students. I will probably start hanging out with her, and I think she'll be a good way to start hanging out with more of my students too. It's also just nice to talk English with someone at my school at a normal pace.
Aight, peace out.

Hungary Team!

HUNGARY/SLOVAKIA TEAM 2005-06

Look! I have a picture of the new Hungary/Slovakia team!
On the top row we have our beautiful country director Danielle, Kim, Sarah Jane (my wonderful teammate), ME, Karen and Mel (Slovaks). Second row is Tracy, Laura, Sam, Shantra, Erin, and Lori. On the bottom are Steve and Lydia Herrman and their cute kids Hanna, Marcus, and Blanka. Lydia is from Hungary and gave us great lessons on the language at training.

Ok, a few key faces are missing, like Jon and Brady and Erick and Skye and Janelle, but I promise I will get some pictures of them soon. I have no idea why Matt isn't in this picture, but C'est la vie. Look back at a previous entry for a scary picture of Jon and Brady (sorry guys, I'll get a better one), and I stole this from Sam's page:

This is just a super picture of Sam and Erick. I also stole this not so flattering picture of myself with Sam because Sam is just such a cool guy with great hair and makes stupendous food.

So those are a few introductions. I love my team.

Budapest Wine Festival

Well, this week has been almost a blur. Teaching is getting better, but I've been so busy this week that I've become terrible at updating this blog thing. This last weekend I had a retreat with everyone, and I didn't get to take a picture of everyone on the team like I wanted, so maybe at Thanksgiving. We did go to the wine festival in Budapest which was on Castle Hill, looking out over the river. Drinking wine and watching the sunset over the river was truly breathtaking.

The sun goes down and the lights come on in Budapest.

Here are a few of my team members at the wine festival:

The girls are Laura, Lori, and Shantra. They're teachers in Bratislave, Slovakia. Behind them are Jon, Erick, and Matt, fellow Hungary teachers in Budapest.

Stay tuned for more. Kinda slow right now, or extremely busy. Same difference.

Welcome to Hungary!

Due to the incredible slowness of this computer in downloading images, I am going to give you a whirwind tour of events, people, places, and the most lifechanging 2 and a half weeks of my life. To begin:
Welcome to Budapest! I have spent my time learning the ins and the outs of this beautiful city. Castle Hill, Hero Square (above), cathedrals and outdoor cafés await you. There is so much to see, I'm glad I have a year to explore every street corner and monument and shop.

Also in Budapest are many of the other wonderful ESI teachers in Hungary. I have been spending time in cafés, restaurants, and in front of the Game Cube getting to know all of them, and I have enjoyed these two weekends to get to know my team better. This coming weekend we will have a retreat and I will post pictures of our whole team. Until then:
Meet Brady and Jon. Scary, huh? There you go Brady, I updated my blog.

Aside from my time in Budapest, I spent a weekend in Bratislava. Acquiring my passport before I left was a wild ride through public transportation. I consider that the moment I knew I could handle anything Hungary threw at me. Once there, we spent time with the teachers in Slovakia and toured the city, which is also beautiful. If only I didn't have to teach! Bratislava cityscape

As for that lovely subject of teaching, school has begun with a vengeance. On Monday I started my first day of classes, without being told ahead of time when, who, or what I was teaching. I showed up early and was gestured to in Hungarian how to read the schedule. Finally, an English teacher explained it to me, took me to my first class, and said, ˝OK, now they are yours.˝ I had four lessons that day, and I learned more than the kids about how the Hungarian school system works. Every day I learn something new, and each day I just do the same lessons with each class: introductions and rules, then an assessment. How can I give you an idea of what this was like? Close your eyes and try to imagine you are me:

You walk into a classroom where obnoxious teenagers not only laugh and talk and are disruptive, but they jabber in a language you don't understand. When you tell them to be quiet, they look at you funny and pretend they don't understand, then say something else and the whole class laughs, probably at you. You walk into another classroom only to have another teacher walk in and usher you out. There isn't enough classroom space. She gestures and jabbers, and you assume you have to take your class somewhere, but you can't understand where. You end up having classes in hallways, outside, and the cafeteria until the school figures out its room schedule. You try to group the classes by levels so you can teach new lessons, but every day they change the schedule, and you end up teaching a class you weren't expecting to. At lunch, you sit with other teachers who all can't talk to you. The English teachers won't even speak English at lunch. You are the only native English speaker, so you end up eating lunch alone.

Before you feel sorry for me, it is now Friday and I have finally gotten a grasp on this thing. The schedule is much more stable, as are the rooms, and these quirky and obnoxious kids are somehow already endearing. Teenagers are the same all over the world, and I love them. I have made a tentative long-term schedule, and another teacher gave me a sample English language test that they must pass to enter university. The topics on the test are the topics I should teach, so I finally know what I'm striving for with these kids, and can plan accordingly. It's amazing how in America I would have to go through so much more training to teach, in a system and culture I would already be familiar with. Here I am less trained and put to work in a public high school where I have no idea what is going on and it is hard to find someone who can explain things to me. These challenges are already drawing me ever closer to my God, who I know has put me here for a reason. He knows what I'm doing here, and everything is for Him.

I will try not to let so much time pass before my next entry, but until next time:

Sziasztok! Hallo!

Jo

I'm Alive!

I just want to apologize for my lateness in updating this. As it is, I don't have much time to compose anything or explain all that I've been up to. So instead, I'll give you my thoughts for the day, and give you a few pictures to look at. See the link ALL PICTURES for, well, all my pictures, or go here: http://community.webshots.com/user/wannasquanto/
I'm having technical difficulties figuring out how to get this thing to acknowledge my pictures.
I don't even have time for thoughts, I have to go teach a class. Now you know the busyness that is my life. Relish in the pictures. They have bad captions. Imagine some new ones. Guess what they all mean.

SZIA!!

There is a week left of training, and all I can say is that it has been one wild ride. They warned us at the beginning that everything we’ve ever struggled with, and even things we never thought would be a problem, would appear when we got overseas. Now is supposed to be the time to prepare ourselves for those things. I haven’t gotten overseas yet, but I see already issues that I believed were dead and buried come rising up to the surface, and all the things I struggled with in the last year completely disappear. It has already grown and stretched me in ways I never imagined, throwing me back to my knees over and over. All of these people you see are friends that have become very dear to me here, and have also shown me the parts of myself that are still in progress. The theme God has impressed on me for this year is from John Piper: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” It seems a funny thing because there won’t be a point in the year where I’ll ever be able to say, “Aha! I reached my goal! I am RIGHT NOW most satisfied in God. I’ve DONE IT!” I don’t think after a year has gone by that I will reach that conclusion either, but I do trust that this year will bring me significantly closer to understanding just what that phrase means, and the ways in which to live it. I know it because of how much I’ve already failed at it in the last 4 weeks, but in order to survive this next year it will need to become my all-consuming pursuit. Pray for me in a week as I get off the plane and take a train to Vac, just me and Sarah Jane, and all I once counted on for security vanishes. Things like knowing how to buy groceries, take the train to Budapest, and even preparing for that first day of classes and teaching in a school system they expect me to understand. I don’t even know when I’ll be able to write again, because I don’t know how long it will take me to figure out how to get an internet connection in our flat. But know that God is taking care of me. He is going to show me how to have complete joy and satisfaction in Him, and He is gracefully fine-tuning me to become more than I was before. Pray for all these people in the pictures who are about to be thrown into similar situations throughout Hungary and the Czech Republic. My prayers and blessings are with all of you.

In Him,

Jo

On a Mission

This is me, Jo. I look like I'm on a mission, because, consequently, I am. I am on my way to Hungary for a year, to teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Why is this a mission? In part because I aim to share Christ's love while teaching, and in part because I hope to fulfill a mission inwardly as well. I hope this year with its excitement and its challenges radically changes me too. Who knows? Maybe by reading my blogs, this year will change you. Think about that.

I'm currently training in Pasadena, CA. We've been here for 3 weeks, with 2 more to go. We study TEFL, as well as team building, preparing ourselves for culture shock, and on the weekends we like to relax and have a little fun. The preparation is also pretty exciting. It's interesting to spend every waking hour with the same people every single day; for weeks to feel like months; and to know temptations, coping skills, and convictions of others before you know their fav food or middle name, and they can say the same of you. It makes bonding come faster, and also it has made the experience comfortable. I'm now safe to say I have family teaching English throughout Central Europe: in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, and I'm excited about that.

I'll be going to a small town called Vac (pronounced Vatz). This is a little switch-up from where I was supposed to go: Budapest. It's only a half-hour to an hour away from Budapest, depending on the train you take, but now I get the full experience of Hungary. I will live in a town with only 4 or 5 other English speakers (besides my teammate), and fully know the culture and dwell in it. Scary, yet satisfying to me.

Last night I slept on the roof of our dorm. We're staying at William Carey University in dorms. I will leave you with this picture of Pasadena from the roof of William Carey, and tell you the experience was mind-boggling. I've been camping, but I felt like I was right in the stars last night. God is blessing me already.