Two Weeks In!

This past week we had All Staff Orientation (ASO).  It was great to meet lots of other returning teachers. We had lots of meetings but afternoons were free to work in our rooms.  I cannot say enough good things about my school! Our leadership is awesome, and all of the teachers I have gotten to know so far are just amazing people.

On Thursday, they catered a nice lunch for everyone, and we were introduced to some of our school’s board members.  They also had several students and parents of the school speak to the faculty and staff.  It was really encouraging to hear what ICSB means to them.  God is truly at work in this school, the families we serve and the surrounding communities.  I truly feel called to serve at this school and I am so excited to begin the year with students!  

On Saturday, my roommate and I got up early for a moving sale in the area.  We found some shelves for the bathrooms at our house, and I found a bookshelf for my room (all for extremely reasonable prices)!  It is such a blessing to cross things off my list and feel like I am truly settling in here. 

On Saturday afternoon a group of friends and I headed downtown to a wine festival near the St. Stephen’s Basilica.  It was so fun!  We sampled some wines and then I had a burger and fries for dinner.  It was so yummy!  Then later my friend Zoe and I decided to get rose gelato for dessert. 

On Sunday I slept in and IT. WAS. GLORIOUS.  This next week is about to be crazy busy and I felt like I needed to rest as much as I could this weekend! I had not had a “sleep-in” day since my first day here when I was jet-lagged. I woke up late and took a long walk around my new neighborhood.  It was nice to listen to a podcast and music, and just take in the sights.

Later in the day, my roommate Ashleigh and I headed out for my first Tesco experience!  It is a superstore, with a good selection of groceries and much more!  We also went to the Campona mall and I was able to get a few cute things to put on my new bookshelf. 

I have spent today putting the finishing touches on my classroom in prepartion for Open House (which is like Meet the Teacher).  I am SO excited to really begin the work of why I came here – to teach God’s precious ones in this community.  Please pray this week for me to have ENERGY for all of the tasks on my ever-growing to do list. :) Here are some pictures of my classroom today! 

Additional prayer requests:

*** For my sleep habits and appetite to continue to normalize here.  I’m still in the adjustment phase!

*** For the wi-fi set-up at our house!  It has been slow in coming but we are holding onto hope that this week will be the week!  It will make our lives so much easier to be able to do personal and work stuff on our laptops from home! :) 

*** For a bicycle in my near future!  I hope to get one soon and be able to ride it to work!

I love you all so much!  I greatly appreciate your love and prayers!   

My First Week in Hungary

Whew!  What a whirlwind week it’s been getting settled here in Hungary.  I cannot thank you all enough for your texts, emails, messages and comments.  

If you have said even one single prayer for me – THANK YOU.  I have felt the strength of your prayers very strongly.  I know some of you have said many, many prayers for me, too.  The word “overwhelmed” could very easily have summed up this entire week, but God’s strength and sovereignty has given me peace and calm.  

I thought a fun way to do this blog post would be answering some FAQs about what life is like here so far!  I included a few pictures too.  Both my house, bedroom and classroom are in various stages of disarray right now but I promise I will take more pictures soon and post them soon!

Where are you living?

ICSB is outside of the city of Budapest, in a little town called Diosd. I am sharing a house with two other missionaries, one of whom is in the states until the end of the month.  The walk to school is about 25 minutes, but I am hoping to get a bicycle to ride to school when the weather permits.  In this community, many missionaries and teachers live near by and have been willing to give us rides too! 

Desk in my room - total mess! 

Bed in my room 

My house from the front! 

I have a long list of things to buy for my bedroom but I went to IKEA earlier this week and was completely overwhelmed!  I took pictures and need to think about what I want to spend money on.  I need to get a dresser and a wardrobe/armoire (no closet...), bedding and SO much more!  For now I have decided my bedroom is live-able and getting my classroom in shape has taken priority! 

What are you eating?

Within the first week, I have eaten dinner with three different missionary families in the community! Everyone is so hospitable!  At several homes I was able to watch some of the Olympics, which was a real treat! :) 

I also had two friends go with me to the grocery store for the first time.  It went well!  I was surprised at how familiar it felt. The aisles were grouped similarly and I felt like I could find what I was looking for.  My wonderful TeachBeyond member care coordinator had dropped off a bag of food at my house so I didn’t have too many things I needed to buy – what a blessing! 

My first purchase at the store, Interspar

  

My roommate and I made spaghetti and salad for dinner one night! I still need to get a good picture of she and I together! 

 

My friend Zoe and I went out for ice cream after school one day after school (I got chocolate of course)! 

What have you been doing?

All of this week was NSO (New Staff Orientation) at ICSB. The school is K-12 so we have a director, principals for elementary/middle/high school, a curriculum development specialist and a school-wide chaplain.  They led the NSO and did a wonderful job providing us with information and helping us transition into our new roles at the school.  We had morning devotions, sessions on Hungarian culture, language, the school’s safety/emergency protocols, curriculum and instruction, Biblical integration and grade level specific information.

All of next week is ASO (All Staff Orientation). Looking forward to meeting lots of other people that serve at ICSB!

Thankfully with both NSO and ASO we have time to work in our classrooms during the afternoon. I have been arranging furniture, going through cabinets, studying curriculum and handbooks, and just learning the ropes on the Elementary floor.

  

My classroom overlooks our school playground and the busy street that runs through town! 

Little file cabinet near my desk - the rest of my room is too big of a mess for pictures!

View from a balcony at school! 

Church near my school 

What are the people at school like?

The leadership team at ICSB is amazing!  Everyone has been so warmly welcoming. All of the other teachers and staff are awesome too.  They all understand what it feels like to do this – leave everything you know behind to serve God in an unfamiliar culture!  I ask a million questions a day and everyone is so helpful. I am incredibly thankful and excited to serve at ICSB.  It really is a special place.  I cannot WAIT to meet my students (a week from Monday)! :) They are the whole reason I am here!  

What is the weather like?

It’s been sunny every day except on Wednesday it poured rain. It is cooler in the mornings and evenings but warms up to the mid-80s during the day.  To a native Texan, it is not that hot but the catch is that most places do not have air conditioning.  So you open windows and turn on fans all the time!  I am looking forward to it cooling off, hopefully soon!  I have heard the autumn season here is really beautiful! 

How are you feeling about all this?

Pretty good.  I know in my heart that God has called me to this place.  My week of NSO has helped to affirm this calling and remind me that I am not just here to serve God, but to know Him deeper and in a new way.  He has blessed me thus far and I have so much to be grateful for.

On my first day here, I was reading Colossians 3:1-2 and “set your heart on things above, not on earthly things” really struck me.  It is the earthly things here in Hungary that feel SO different and that I am adjusting to.  I have thought about that verse a few times this week and reminded myself to focus on things above!  It is hard sometimes...and by sometimes, I mean every single day.  

My fellow teachers will understand the challenges of being in a new school and classroom, and learning new curriculum.  My to-do list is growing exponentially, with just about a week and a half left until students arrive.   I know it will all get done, it always does!  But if I could sleep at school to maximize my time in the classroom, I would! 

As far as homesickness, right now I am missing my people very much!  I think about my family and friends constantly and do subtraction in my head to figure out what time it is in their time zone!  Last night I was sad talking to my dad on the phone.  Something about his familiar voice just made me fall apart!  It is weird being somewhere where you don't really have a long history with anyone.  Whenever I get a text or email that someone is thinking of me, my heart soars because God uses them to encourage me!  So please keep it up and don’t be afraid to reach out! :) I want to hear what is going on back at home and be able to pray for you too. 

Thanks again for all the support and prayers!  I love y’all so much!

SaveSave

IAH -->CDG

Note: This is a bit much but I am trying to write down all the little details that I would probably forget otherwise! :)   Also I don't have any pictures so this is not that exciting of a post!  But thanks for reading (or skimming, haha)! 

My last few days in Texas were an emotional roller coaster! I cried all the tears and had all the crying headaches and gave all the hugs and prayed prayers for my mission, my family and my future school family at ICSB!

 

On Thursday I exercised at the YMCA and then went out for breakfast tacos with my sister and her family. They were so delicious! 

Back at home I opened up all my luggage and did a final run through of my packing list! All throughout the day, I had phone calls, visits and sweet last minute gifts from friends and family. My dad had to work that day so it was nice having people keep me company all day!  

 On Thursday evening my family went out for Italian at one of our favorite Kingwood restaurants, J. Christopher's. It was a wonderful last dinner to enjoy at home! 

That night I got 8 hours of sleep which was such an answer to prayer! I had not slept well the night before. 

On Friday morning, I: 

1. Wrote some cards 

2. Ate a final mug of Blue Bell ice cream (Mint Chocolate Chip)  

3. Cried on the couch with my dad  

4. Spent time with my sister and her kids  

5. Straightened up my bedroom

6. Cried with my sister 

7. Texted and emailed with a bunch of people  

8. Fought the final Battle of the Luggage Weight with my trusty assistant, my dad! (okay to be honest, my dad did most of the heavy lifting!)  

9. Felt thankful that my fundraising was compete in June and that I am able to start the school year at ICSB!  

 Later on my dad and I picked up my sister to come with us to the airport. I said goodbye to her husband, my nieces and nephew, and cried a lot. Then we were off! 

We made it to terminal D and got my luggage dropped off pretty quickly! Then it was time for the final hugs and tears and I-love-yous! IT. WAS. SO. HARD. 

 I made it through security (again, pretty quickly - so grateful!) and then sat down to put away my laptop and put my shoes back on. I felt God's presence with me and thought of Psalm 91 and angels surrounding me! I suddenly thought of all the people who were lifting me up in prayer today. I want you all to know - I felt strengthened by your prayers and your love! I can't explain it but I just felt emboldened with confidence and peace. Thank you so much!

 I got to my gate with an hour to spare so I texted, emailed, ate chocolate and listened to the "In the Heights" soundtrack (current obsession)! 

 When I boarded the plane I realized my seat was not the best. It was in the middle of a row of four, at the front of a new section so...no personal screen to watch movies, no USB to charge my phone, and no seat in front of me to put my backpack under. I would have to store it overhead & get it out each time I needed something. Not the end of the world, but not the best set-up for 8+ hours in the air!  

 I was texting my sister and she said "Can you change seats or is it full?" I'm so glad she said that because it really hadn't occurred to me that I could ask for a new seat. I never want to bother flight attendants or be one of those people making annoying demands! The flight was crowded but I could tell the plane wasn't full. A flight attendant nearby was trying to help a couple with a baby find a way to sit all together. I told her I would love nothing more than to change seats & help that family. As it happened, she ended up moving me to a completely different section closer to the front of the plane! I had an entire row of four seats to myself! I thanked her profusely and sent my sister a text with all the praise hand emojis!!!

The same flight attendant even came by to check on me after we took off to make sure I was good.  

Within an hour I was relaxed, sipping ginger ale and looking forward to dinner! On long flights I like to do "dinner and a movie" and start something new right as it is served - just for fun! (Maybe everyone does this?) I decided on Finding Nemo because I hadn't watched it in a few years. It still makes me laugh out loud! 

When the movie was over, it was time to *attempt* sleep by:  Listening to the entire Audrey Assad album "Inheritance".......Listening to Audrey Assad song "I See You" on repeat.......Turning on the Disney movie The Princess & the Frog........Reading a new book (The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult).  Reading finally made me tired and I did sleep for about an hour which was better than nothing!  

 My new favorite flight attendant of all time, Priscilla, checked on me throughout the flight. We talked about Disney movies and her 2 year old daughter. She asked about where I was headed and was very interested to hear about ICSB! She was just the sweetest. If I can find a way to write a positive review about her on the AirFrance website, I will! (Note to my dad: I know you will not be surprised by any part of this story!) :) 

When I landed here in Paris, I turned on my phone to find 32 texts and it made me so happy! I feel so loved and so cared for by my people!  The security checkpoint here in Paris took nearly an hour - screening of carry-on luggage was fast but the line for border patrol was ridiculously long.  There were 10 booths and only 3 of them were open.  Lovely!  People in line were furious because they were missing their connecting flights. :(  

It's morning here so I feel like I should be eating breakfast but Houston time is 3:45am??!  And I basically took a nap instead of having a regular night's sleep.  Oh well!  I will try to post again soon once I land in Budapest! Thank you again for all the love, support and prayers! 

My Heart is Steadfast

Yesterday evening my dad and I went on a walk to the lake. The heat index was 109.  What in the world?   I took a few pics to capture the moment - I know I will not see temperatures like this in Budapest! 

I'm honestly excited about some cooler weather in my future but I am not sure how this native Texan is going to deal with a real winter!?!?!  

Later on, I cried to my dad on the couch and just let myself be sad about leaving home and heading out to the unknown. I have never obeyed God like this before. There is so much blind trust behind this leap of faith and it is stretching me in new ways.  It hurts. 

I got teary-eyed but did not truly cry at either of my farewell parties. I just couldn't process each goodbye as it came, and I felt like there was so much going on! I knew it would hit me later on, and yesterday it did - full force. 

I told my dad I wish I was one of those people that didn't get all emotional about things.  He said then I wouldn't be myself, and I would be less than who I was meant to be.  I have never been that tough, stoic person.  I am moved to tears by written words, movies,  and (not even kidding) tv commercials! 

 Sometimes I wonder why God called someone like me to do something like this. I have never been a very adventurous soul.  I love traveling but I would never describe myself as having wanderlust.  I have never found it natural to leave home.  But from the time I was a teenager, I felt God pushing me to new experiences and places, like going to summer camp (which was a big deal for a homebody like me) and studying abroad in college.  

And now, this! 

One of my favorite songs is "My Heart is Steadfast" by Ellie Holcomb. This song is based on Psalm 108: 1 - 6.  I wish I could have found it on YouTube to share here but you can preview it on iTunes if you want to hear some of it!  

 I have listened to it ALOT lately to remind myself of God's presence and His sovereignty when I am feeling uncertain or anxious.  I love the word steadfast. The dictionary defines it as "not changing, firmly fixed in place." It is hard to explain how my heart can feel the ALL emotions of leaving home, and yet feel steadfast in my decision.  

My heart is steadfast, O God

I’ll sing praises up to Thee the among the nations

I’ll give thanks to Thee O Lord among the peoples

I’ll sing praises up to Thee in my soul

For Thy lovingkindness is great above the heavens

Thy truth it reaches to the skies

Be exalted O God above the heavens

And Thy glory over all the earth

That those who love may be delivered

Save with Thy right hand and answer me

Just wanted to share about how I am feeling with all of this.  Thank you to everyone who is encouraging me along this path!  I am so grateful. 

SaveSave