Nagy Mama & Much More!!

"Everyone has a unique role to fill in the world and is important in some respect. Everyone, including and perhaps especially you, is indispensable." - Nathaniel Hathorne

S.M.I.L.E - Sending. Many. Illuminous. Laughs. Everywhere.

While traveling into Budapest bright and early on Sunday mornings to Sunday School, we always tend to stop at McDonald's to get a hot cup of coffee! Three weeks ago as we walked through the door, I noticed an elderly lady working there. I gave her a smile and a wave and went along my business. As we grabbed a sit, this same lady passed by and I gave her a smile once again, and she ended up coming up to me! She gave me a HUG! =0 Wow this was a shock for me... since in Hungarian culture, people are not fond of giving hugs to strangers. As she was speaking with me, I grabbed a couple of words, but she definitely thought I was Hungarian. She was very sweet and was calling me like one of her grandchildren. She told us to call her "Nagy Mama" which means grandma in Hungarian. Before leaving I gave her a track that had the gospel in it. This last week a couple of us missed the train and to get out of the rain we waited in the same McDonald's. Nagy Mama was there and she was so happy! She talked with me about her family, life, and she gave us chocolates and balloons! We decided to make Nagy Mama a Valentines Day card and give it to her the next week! She absolutely loved it and hopefully we made an impact in her life! I just thought this was a cool story and wanted to share it with you. ** Just a smile can make someones day, sharing the love of the father in you can be something so simple. And well worth giving out! So take the time to give a cheerful smile to someone everyday! (ACTIONS speak louder than WORDS)**
Well well, I have had a pretty busy couple of weeks! Last week there was a conference held here for the "Winter Camp." There was alot of youth from the summer camps! I was asked to share at one of the seminars. I shared the difference of American culture in dating and the Hungarian culture. The conference was about Love. and how precious our heart is to the Lord. We need to rely on the Love of the Father because He will be the only one to satisfy us completely!
The Lord has been teaching me alot the past couple weeks! One of them is "Taking responsibility for my own Actions and reactions." Let me share this story with you. Monday our religions class went to Budapest together to see the Jewish Synagogue! Which is the second largest in the World! It was really amazing to see. We were there most of the day and came back late. Mondays are the days where I can rest and get all the homework that I need done. When we came back I was feeling sick, and not wanting to do my work. I even found out I had to lead girls devo's that night in my room! I had no time! My attitude was not the best, yet I still proceeded to make something of the devos. We are going through a book together called "Lies that Women believe" and yup surly as I opened the book this topic came up like a bullet. It hit me like a rock! so many times I blame my attitude on people or things. I can act this way because I don't "feel good" or this "person" is giving me a bad attitude and so I can be this way. BUT NO!! that is such a wrong Idea! It is a CHOICE! We can choose the way we are going to act. This is something that we all struggle with. It's hard sometimes to have a good attitude when everything around you seems to crash. But the beauty is that we can ask for help, and God will strengthen us. In the moment we feel discouraged we can have hope that God will help us if we just call on Him! And we always have the ability to choose our actions!
Another lesson to be learned...
God see it all. He sees our sin. He sees our wounds and the ways we have mishandled our hearts. He sees our lack of trust in him and our longing to trust him more. He is well-acquainted with our fallen nature. And amid all our messiness God says to us. "you are lovely. Do not hide your face from me. Come to me. I love you. Let me heal you." There is hope. Whether or not you feel it. It is there as surely as the sunrise. There is hope. There is healing. There is Life. For you. For me. For all of us. To have a life that Jesus invites us into and wants us to have requires something of us every single day and in many moments throughout each day. We have to choose him. Return our hearts to Him. We have to answer His invitation.
-- So... REST is good. and my body definitely needed it. I caught the flew this week and was put away from others in my own room so others don't get sick. I spent all Friday in this room. I had lots of time to think, to pray, and to read. I spent alot of time talking with the Lord and renewing my heart. I read a book called "Your Captivating Heart" by Stasi Eldredge. It's very encouraging and motivating.
PRAYERS!! ~
* Thank you so much for your prayers for my ministry! Sunday school has been going alot better the past two weeks! We had some trouble with one of the children as some of you know. We think there may be some problems at his home, but things are getting better now! Please keep praying for me as I teach them God's word! I will give you a couple names to pray for. Gary, Zach, and Sammi.
* Pray for Nagy Mama! and that I will have more opportunities to share God's love with others.
* Pray for God to heal me and others to feel better as the flu is going around.
* Pray that I will give my all in my classes and learn alot!!
* That i will be an encourager and an influence to the girls in my room and people on campus. =) =)
Last note...
Remember ladies... Jesus is our Prince. He rides along on his white horse and wants to rescue us and swept us off our feet. He loves us with all He has. He gives us many comforts like Sunrises, the sound of the oceans waves, the sweet kiss of the breeze against your cheeks. He Loves you, and he thinks that you are WORTH it. You are desirable, and perfectly made. He thinks you are beautiful and wants you to know it!!
"My Lover spoke and said to me,
'Arise, my darling,
My beautiful one, and come with me!"

The Lord is inviting you, you have the invitation... all you have to say is YES.