{ My Merry Christmas }

This past month has brought so many joyful surprises and inexplicable blessings. In case you didn't know, my lovely Travis Scott Wallace asked me to marry him on December 14th ( and I said yes!!). And I have been able to meet my future family and have been able to spend time with them. All I can say is that I am a very,very blessed woman!


The Wallaces read the Christmas Story and take communion before opening presents, ( they open presents on Christmas Eve), and having this time together as I am slowly initiated into this family was rather special. I couldn't help the wells of emotion come up to my eyes, there was a warmth here that I have  never truly felt anywhere  else but within my own family.


This year, God has shown me that He has a perfect and wonderful plan. He has special blueprints that He has written up for my life. And this past year has only been a taste, and every day I get more excited to see what else He has in store as I step into this stage of life.


So, dear readers, as we enter this new year, I encourage you to remind yourself about all of the things that God has done for this in this past year and all that He has shown you. And be reminded about why God sent His Son as a baby to be born in a dirty stable to lowly parents to live a belittled life.


 "For unto us a Child is born,
      Unto us a Son is given;
      And the government will be upon His shoulder.
      And His name will be called
      Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
       ⁷ Of the increase of His government and peace
      There will beno end,
      Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
      To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
      From that time forward, even forever.
      The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."


- Isaiah 9:6-7




-Autumn 




PS- Proposal story coming soon!!!

{ The Day I Said Yes }

Where does this story begin? There are many places where I could start, but I think I will start this story the day that I met Travis. It was June 17th of this summer, that morning was a normal morning besides the fact that I had woken up late and had to hurry out  the door. I had volunteered myself to work breakfast because I got up early anyways, and the dining room girls could use a break. I set out breakfast and waited behind the counter for my fellow SOSers to come and get their cornflakes and acidic fruit yogurt.
The windowless downstairs dining room began to fill up and then he walked in, and I figured that this was the guy that everyone had been talking about for the past four months. And little did I know what events were about to unfold.

Now, I don't really like begin alone and even in a room full of people I feel lonely if I don't have a companion close by, but as Travis and a friend Abbe got their cereal, I jokingly complained about being alone. And to my surprise, Travis (literally) ran behind the stainless counter and sat next to me. Within moments, we were laughing about his trip from Croatia to Hungary. From that moment I could see that we would be good friends, and Travis on the other hands had different ideas. He says now that it was the closest thing to love at first sight. From that day forward is history, as our relationship developed rapidly from friendship to a loving relationship, I could plainly see what God was doing, and His hand was artistically writing out our love story.

Now fast forward to December 13th.

Travis's mom, Terry had told me that she had bought these Arizona Broadway Theater tickets for a dinner show, and that she had told Travis's that she couldn't buy them, and I was to surprise Travis with them.  I had kept this secret for nearly two weeks, and I was ready to let it go So I gave Travis the tickets, and he acted surprised and told me how excited he was.  I felt so proud of myself that I had kept a secret from Travis , and he told me how impressed he was. So I was feeling pretty good about myself.

So, so the next day ( December 14th) I got all dressed up in my new favorite dress, I put on high heels and pinned my hair, excited for this show. It was the musical of Miracle on 34th Street, which is a favorite of mine! We ordered dinner and spent two hours enjoying food and joking about the random, every conversation ended with my sides hurting from laughing. Pretty normal for us
At intermission Travis told me that his parents wanted to meet us for dinner after the show. After the show we started driving towards Flagstaff which is about an hour or more away. I was a little confused and I wondered why we were going to so far, but it didn't bother me because the drive was beautiful and Travis is easily the most fun person to hang out with. The drive took us on top of those awesome table top mountains and we passed a rest stop sign that said " Sunset Point". The conversation that followed.
Travis- Sunset point...hmm... I've never been there before, I heard it's really amazing
Autumn- Oh really?
Travis- Really, and how about we stop? It' sunset and we have time before we have to meet my parents..
Autumn- Okay!


So we pull into the parking lot, and Travis jumped out of the car and got ahead by a few years before I had time to put on my coat and I couldn't exactly figure out why he was rushing but I hurried along and caught up. I was walking in the direction of the sunset, and he said " Let's go down this way" I followed but I was pretty sure that the sunset was that way, but it didn't bother me! We walked down a little path and we stepped on top of this sun dial type looking thing, and I turned my eyes to the sunset before me. In the corner of my eye, I noticed Travis fidgeting with something to the side and then he turned around and as he got down on one knee he said that this whole thing was not a coincidence, and for the first time ever he told me that he loved me and then asked me to marry him.

And of course I said yes! I slipped the 'true love waits' ring off of my left and placed it on my right and he slipped my beautiful ring onto my left hand. I couldn't believe it! I was SO surprised! Travis turned me to look behind us and there his parents were with an ipad and a camera recording the whole thing!!!

How perfect!!!


So, this story is only a chapter in the story that God is writing for both of our lives!

Our next step includes getting married in June, and serving in Calvary Chapel Budapest in the English children's ministry and whatever other ministries need tending! Travis and I along with our families are very excited about our upcoming nuptials!

Here are the purposal pictures

{Ten Months and Seven Days Ago)

It has been  ten months and seven days since my arrival in Europe. Ten months and seven days since I left my little apartment above the  maintenance shop in Twin Peaks. Ten months and seven days ago a scared and nervous little girl showed up to bible college with a suitcase and a backpack. I remember driving up to the school for first time, and knowing that God was going to do a lot in my life and heart, and from the very moment that I stepped out of the blue van I was going to be in Hungary for a very long time. I shoved the thought away into the back of my mind as I tried to settle into my new life.

Well, God did do some intense and crazy things in my life, things that I didn't understand at the time, things that I hated, and things that shook my entire being. But, as I began to accept these changes as a part of the work that God wanted to do in me, I felt peace ripple throughout my soul. I began to accept the fact that God was always going to do things that I didn't like or understand at the time, but I have learned that God's timing is perfect and mine is not. I learned that I am not as gracious as I thought I was, espcially when put into a position of leadership. I feel as if I have grown immensely these past ten months, and I have fallen in love with Jesus, which is exactly why I came to bible college. Putting aside the trying times that I have encountered these past ten months, I would not have traded them for the love that I have gained for my Father. I get excited as I think about the next ten months of my life will bring, many new seasons and stages to be sure. I encourage you,dearest reader, to be encouraged of all of the things that God has done in your life and to get excited about the things that He WILL do!


Well, more to come from the other side of the globe!




-Autumn

An Unusual Thanksgiving Day

Growing up, thanksgivings began at five o clock in the morning and didn't end until midnight. Days before hand I would be in the kitchen with my mom preparing food for the day of the feast. My siblings and I would take charge of cleaning the house and finding "autumn-ish" decorations and adorning the room. I treasure these Thanksgivings, because it was from these days how I learned for to prepare and serve 50 people a delicious Thanksgiving meal. However, this year, my 20th Thanksgiving, I learned a slightly different lesson. I started my day as usual, five am but instead I spent an hour in the word, and drinking coffee with Travis. I ate breakfast,and went to my Acts class. After lunch dishes, I began to to finish up homework because I was going to Split,Croatia for a weekend outreach. I packed my bags and finished up the last bits of homework that I had, I realized that it was Thanksgiving day and I had not even seen oven. It felt odd to me, not to bake and I began to feel a bit homesick. I began to reminiscence about the days of my girlhood and the way the house smelt and how all of seemingly decided to wear sweaters, regardless if we were going out that day. I shook my head and set my mind to the tasks of the afternoon. I helped Travis pack the car, and along with all of the luggage, we crammed milk,corn flakes, muesli,milk,coffee and chips into the vehicle. At four thirty Travis,four other girls and myself squeezed ourselves into the car and drove away. And it wasn't until 6:30 that night that I partook of my   "Thanksgiving Meal". It was a cherry corny bar and a few chips. I could almost feel the tears well up in my eyes as I thought of the food my family would be eating at this point, I missed the fellowship that my family shares and the seemingly never ending night of laughter. These were memories that had made up my life, but now that I am an adult, I will be making new memories and new traditions. My thanksgivings may not be in a home with all of my family, but they may be spent with people that I love and  visiting a beautiful city. The rest of my Thanksgiving was spent on the road talking to Travis about our  trip back to his Arizonian home and traveling that we will be doing. I am truly a blessed person, in my 20 years of life, I have lived in four different countries and have visited 18, and I am able to attend a bible teaching bible college . I am surrounded by people who love me dearly and who pray for me on a daily basis. God is blessing me daily with so much I can hardly take it  in.

So I encouraged my sweet friend,that no matter what you did for this Thanksgiving, next Thanksgiving or a Thanksgiving ten years from now, God gave His Son for you so that you have the option of living eternally with Him. And that is something that no amount of Thanksgiving could express my thankfulness.

-Autumn 

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift"!"
-2 Corinthians 9:15

As long as I can be with you...it's a lovely day.

Travis made me this darling dress, studly vest, and precious hairpiece out the fabric from his apartment when he lived in Split,Croatia. Isn't he cool??

The photos were taken by our good friend, Beth Hyer. Beth has an amazing point of view, is a master with lighting, and she knows exactly what she wants. She is my friend on facebook, so you should check out her other work.

He's got skill

The detail of the back is all Travis! He is very avant gardewhen it comes to dresses, and don't you just love my hairpiece?

Genuine laughter - fifty percent of our interations

The other fifty percent of our interactions

I think we are very cute :)

The weather is fright'ning
The thunder and lightning
Seem to be having their way
But as far as i'm concerned, it's a lovely day
The turn in the weather
Will keep us together
So i can honestly say
That as far as i'm concerned, it's a lovely day
And everything's o.k.

Isn't this a lovely day
To be caught in the rain?
You were going on your way
Now you've got to remain

Just as you were going, leaving me all at sea
The clouds broke, they broke and oh!
What a break for me

I can see the sun up high
Tho' we're caught in the storm
I can see where you and i
Could be cozy and warm

Let the rain pitter patter
But it really doesn't matter
If the skies are gray
Long as i can be with you it's a lovely day

20.

November 18th 2004. This was a my very first day as a teenager, I woke up and stared at the ceiling for a minute, trying to force my eyes and mind to wake up. Then the thought jolted through my body " You are a teenager today." I could hardly believe it, I had waited a seemingly long time for this day and I wasn't exactly sure what to do with it now that it had actually arrived. But I clearly remembered promising myself that I would be the best teenager ever. I promised that I would never cause my parent grief, or disappoint God, and I would be an example to my siblings. Well... let's just say I was not the best teenager ever. I know for a fact that I upset my parents at some point on numerous occasions,I fought and bickered with my siblings, and I know my heart was not as sold out for God as it should have been. So, I know I wasn't the best teenager ever, but I know that my 20s will be better than my teen years. I have been falling in love with Jesus more and more, and I can see that the desires of my heart become more and more of the desires of Jesus. Now, on November 18th 2011, I find myself in shock that I am 20 years old. And I realized that I cannot go back but I can only move forward in the plans that have been laid before me, long before I was even a twinkle in my parent's eyes. To being 20. ~Autumn ~Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. -Proverbs 3:5

Coffee.

If any of you have been following my life, you will know that up until last summer I never,ever drank coffee as apart of my daily routine. When I did drink coffee, I drank it with unspeakable nastiness ( also known as cream and sugar ) or I would get a drink at Starbucks and I would drink it while typing away an essay or enjoying the company of a friend. This is rather odd considering everyone in my family drinks coffee at least once a day, perhaps two times depending on everyone's mood. This summer, my dear friend Travis offered me some beautiful black gold from his french press. I tried to put sugar and milk in it, and I am pretty sure I offended him ,nearly damaging his opinion of me forever. So I decided to try it black... and well, I was pleasantly surprised` to find that I really,really liked it. And now, it is September 30th 2011, and I have drank a cup of unadulterated coffee nearly everyday. Now, it is not just the actual coffee that brings insane amounts of sunshine to my day, but more of who is drinking a cup right along with me. We may be reading our bibles or replying to emails, or we actually may be talking , the conversation will add something special to the already incredible cup of goodness. So, no matter how you take your coffee, I encourage you to enjoy a cup of Christian Crack.

{ Reminded }

Today was one of the most lovely Saturday afternoons of my entire summer. I was out by the pool nearly all afternoon enjoying the sunshine and the nearly cool breeze and the swirling leaves. I closed my eyes and I had flashbacks of the entire summer, I couldn't help but smile when I thought of everything that has transpired and what a blessed girl I am. Think about it, I grew up in Europe and now at 19 years old I am living in a Castle in the Hungarian countryside. By the time of my 21st Christmas I will have achieved my associates degree in Theology. I am surrounded by sweet friends, young and old who love me and encourage me to fall more in love with Him.

The summer is nearly over and the semester will begin in nine days! This last month of August I dreamed of the fall semester and now that it is just about to begin, I know that I will miss the busyness of the week and the lazy, homework-free weekends. But to everything there is a season and I know that I am ready for the next chapter.

So my friends, I encourage you today to enjoy the last few days of summer. And I also encourage you to reflect and examine yourselves and be reminded of everything that the Lord has done in your life this summer. And prepare your hearts and minds for the new season of autumn---I mean fall :)

-Autie

"I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. I know that whatever God does,It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past."
~ Ecclesiastes 3:12-15

{A Week Without Social Networking}

So, as many of you know that I am the average 21st girl when it comes to socializing online. I use facebook,I tweet,and I blog. I use these resources more than I should, but I present the excuse that I live overseas and far away from my family. But I am not here to tell you why I use social networking, but instead I want to tell you why I went without it for a whole week.

Last Sunday ( the 14th of August),Travis challenged that I could not last one week without Facebook,twitter, or updating my blog. I accepted this challenge and responded that the week would be a snap and I would triumphantly cross the line into the next Sunday. The week without social networking was easy, honestly I only missed it when there was nothing else to do. And then it hit me, Facebook is a time filler. I use it just to fill up time...but when I "fill" up time with Facebook, it's actually wasting time I could be filling with something else.

With no social networking this week, it felt like I did more with my time. I actually cleaned my space, Travis cut my hair ( He had NEVER cut a girl's hair before, but he did an excellent job ),and I cut his hair ( again, I have never cut hair before in my life) I laid out by the pool,watched some kids,made chocolate-chip buttermilk pancakes for friends. Sure, these may be small and insignificant things. But these are the things that enrich life and make it a little sweeter, a little more precious and interesting than if we wouldn't have done them.

So,my dear friend, I encourage you when you are finished reading my blog that you get up and do something. It doesn't have to be an outside activity...but bake a cake, finish that book that's collected dust by laying on your night stand and see the adventures that the non-cyber world holds for you.

-Autumn

"Dost thou love life? Than do not squander time, it's the stuff that life is made of!" -Benjamin Franklin

{ Why I Blog --- From a slightly discouraged blogger}

Recently, I have been sitting at this little stump that most of you know as "writer's block" for several weeks now...writing feels like a chore and I have almost zero feedback. So, I am a little frustrated with myself at the fact that I am inconsistent with my writing. So, I have decided to go back to the basics and share with you some of my heart about writing and why I blog,hoping to inspire myself once again.

From a very young age, I have always loved writing stories and journaling. But it was my freshman year of high school that my love for writing was discovered. Mrs. T taught a creative writing class for a group of 20 Kurdish high school students. I didn't only learn about writing, but writing an excellent and unique story. My foundation of writing was laid here, and for that I am eternally grateful-- Thank you Mrs. T!

After that year of school, I was almost "on my own" if you will. Most of my papers were graded by a teacher I had never met and I never received much feedback, so I began to pour my heart out in my journals. Of course, I would have never,ever let anyone read those. So obviously I was not getting any feedback from that form of writing.
So, I then began to write letters to my best friend Pauli...serious,serious letters...we're talking ten pages type of letters. Pauli would write back with 10 to 12 pages of letters. Finally some of the feedback that I had been craving!

So,it was the summer before my Junior year of high school I got up the nerve to start blogging. Actually, my very first blog was with my best friend, Pauli. We wrote about our summer together in 2008. You can read it here- http://autumnandpauli.blogspot.com/

There are a lot of pretty hysterical posts, a good and intriguing read.

After that summer, I didn't blog until 2010, and ever since then I have been semi-consistently blogging. I find it very important to blog about my time in Hungary at bible college. It is my heart to share about my experiences,my life, and the things that God is teaching me.

When I write, I write for myself but I keep my readers in mind. My readers are primarily my family and friends, so I write exactly how I would talk to you. However, I get a little discouraged when there are no comments or feedback, of which I have not had since June. But I have realized in the past several days, that I write to the world, not only my world. Who knows who stumbles across my blog on a daily basis. This in itself gives me hope that my blogs are not flying out onto the oblivion of the internet.

So, dear reader, whoever you are, please continue to read, and although you may never comment. It is enough for me to know that I have readers who anonymously enjoy my thoughts.

With a newly inspired heart,

Autie

{Childhood Dreams Face Reality }

My childhood dreams differed from the normal American child. Partly because I grew up as a missionary kid on the foreign mission field and partly because I found everything else predictable. Most of my friends used to dream that they would one day, grow up, graduate high school, go to some prestigious university, and do something incredible with their lives, like becoming a doctor. Some dreamed of becoming a big named movie star and they would prance their way into fame and fortune.I on the other hand did not have such notions. From a very young age, I knew that I would grow up, graduate high school, and go to bible college, and my M199 would to work in the coffee shop. That was my ultimate goal. Honestly, that is all I really wanted to do.

Well, here I am , 19 years old and I am working in the Cappuccino Bar. I make lattes,white coffees,dirty chai. I serve cheese cake,warm up brownies, and according to our AVFL group, I make the best sundaes.

This may sound very glamorous and fun to you, but let me tell you. It is not all that it seems. Allow me to explain, you begin your shift with a clean SOS polo, a neatly pleated skirt, a dark and perfect apron. But you make one coffee, and some of the steamed milk splashes on your apron. Then you run over to the ice cream to make a sundae, and somehow some of the chocolate syrup drips all over your fingers. So you must wipe it all off on your apron. You make a frappuccino,and you spill the leftovers all over the counter and your apron. Needless to say, you are covered in coffee,syrup and whipped cream.

I am not complaining, I love the Capp Bar. I love the feeling you get after you serve someone their morning latte, or when you give someone a warmed brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a squirt of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel.

Yes, yes... it's the good life.

-Autumn

"For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves."

Luke 22:27

{The Journey of my TOMS}

This journey begins at Victoria Gardens in late January of this year. It was a pleasant California evening, just at dusk. I slipped off my black flats and put on the new,tight,navy blue classics. They fit my feet perfectly, the wrap styled shoes condensed my feet into utter cuteness. My feet felt the comfortable insoles and security of the new shoes. I felt confidant,secure and ready to travel the world. It was from that moment that I knew that my toms would take me far into the depths of the world ( well, Europe).

A week or so later, I left the mountains and traveled to the big,dirty city of LA and almost begrudgingly stepped on to a plane that would take me to the land that was to be my new home. I had too comfortable with the American lifestyle, I fell into things that I had promised myself years earlier that I would never fall into. But I traveled out of that stage and moved on into the new chapter of my life.

I arrived in the little village of Vajta in dead of night, it was cold outside. But my trusty Toms kept my feet warm as I stepped out of the van and into the cold outside, and up the steps of the Castle. There were new faces around me, faces of potential friends. After unpacking my belongings I had discovered that I had forgotten my flip flops in the midst of the crazy packing spree. So, it was decided that I was going to be wearing my toms and on occasion, my black flats. But what are flat soled black flats to the wonderful comfort of TOMS?

During the five months I have been here, my Toms have traveled to the small bakery down the road, to the city of Budapest, the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, to my childhood country, Romania and then right back to Vajta.

Now, during these travels my poor shoes have acquired several enormous holes.But only on my right foot, I could stick my big toe and my pinkie toe out and wave at people. People told me I looked like an orphan child,or they would just pity me and my lack of decent shoes. But just recently, my friend Travis, who is an excellent tailor and designer patched them for me. And now, I no longer look like a poor,deprived missionary kid, but a responsible,individual who wears decent shoes.

There are many verses in the bible that have to do with feet and shoes. But my favorite is the one from Deuteronomy. God did not let the clothes or the shoes of the Isrealites wear out, and they were wandering for 40 years...obviously, a little different than 4 months.

We shall see where they shall continue to take me.

-Autie


"And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet"
- Deuteronomy 29:5
Before



After

{Housesitting Happenings}

This week has been a slightly awkward week, for more reasons than just one. To begin with, the AVFLers as wells as all of the interns and my friend that I co-dorm steward with are gone in Slovenia camping and in Vienna,Austria for an outreach. Which adds up to thirty people that have left the castle, which makes this place rather desolate. There was no conference this week which means awkward amounts of work and random jobs for everyone. And because there were no conferences, several of the families left for the week, which takes away from the normal population. All of this to say, it has been a quiet week which basically means a starvation diet for my extroverted needs. But I have been house sitting for the Fosters and their lab, Lola has been my most devoted companion. My first night here, she snuggled with me on the couch and I do enjoy seeing her sweet dog smile when I get home from a long day of laundry,housekeeping and coffee shop training. Now that I have honestly stated the positive of dog sitting Lola, I am compelled to share with you a little "run-in" she and I had yesterday evening.

So, I have been making pasta like crazy this whole week, and yesterday I made some extra for my friend, Abbe, who was coming over later in the evening.So I placed the three helpings of pasta in a plastic container and ( disclaimer) because I am not used to having a dog around, I left it out and forget to put it away before I left for Koinania. Now, when I arrived home to serve my guest, I couldn't find the container anywhere! Until, I found it completely empty, and licked cleaned. I knew that I couldn't be mad at the dog, because it was in fact, partly my fault.But I knew that I was the boss, I decided that some sort of punishment was expected. So proceeded to show the quality canine the empty plastic case... and then... she peed all over of the floor. I couldn't help but laugh, so shooed the dog into a small,closed room and cleaned up the pee.

There you have it folks... the tale of my house sitting adventure.

Until next time!

-Autie

{Forgiven and Loved}

My whole life I have been taught about God's grace and the importance of accepting it. But there is something about when you realize that you will never,ever be able to let something go until you have fully accepted God's grace for you life. There are easy things we can ask God for forgiveness, but there are the hard things that we are so ashamed of, and feel bad evening considering asking for the grace that His blood offers. But God wants to set us free, He wants to take the chains away, and He wants us to bask in the beauty of this grace.

Christ is the perfect lover, He is constantly pursuing me and wants me to enjoy the gifts He so freely offers. Once I have accepted His grace, I can fully enjoy the goodness He has in store for my life.

" In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace -Ephesians 1:7

Visiting Pécs { That's Page}

So, I've done a little more traveling in the week, and if you know anything about me, you know that I love traveling. Even if it is just for a day and to a city only a few hours away. On Monday, I took a bus {all by myself!} to the city of Pécs {pronounced page, not pecs}, a good group of my dearest friends are there for a month on a missions trip, so I guess you could say I visited missionaries, which I absolutely adore doing!

I was picked up from the bus depo and my adventure in Pécs began! They first took me to get ice cream from this wonderful little ice cream parlor, I got one scoop of cherry mania{ although I should have gotten more...way more} and then we walked to this small park where the team had been street evangelizing several times a week. They shared their testimonies about the things that God had done through and for them since their arrival. I then shared the things that have been going on in my life,heart and mind. After a few moments of silence, Callie started us off in a word of prayer. You know those sweet times of conversations with the Lord that you have when you are in a group of close knit believers? You have absolute faith that God is their and you are in this complete harmony. Yeah, it was one of those times.
After our hour or so in the park, they showed me the Basilica, the tower, Romeo( who was rather an very ugly looking statue), the square. And of course we ate gyros.We walked a little longer and they showed me the wall of locks. Yes, old fashioned locks. This wall has hundreds of locks with initials of friends and lovers, they then snap the lock on to the chain link fence and toss away the key to "seal" their love. It was rather romantic and my romantic inclined heart was in a little bit of a swoon.

We stopped for a while at the boy's apartment and jammed on the guitar a little and then took the bus to the girl's apartment and made banana pancakes. Abbe shared some of her music, which of course, I cried to. Selah snuggled with me and made me laugh. The whole group saw me off at the train and I began my journey back home to Vajta. Once again, I encourage you to travel around Hungary and enjoy the simple yet beautiful country sides and cities. I think you will enjoy the treat!

Mmm, God is good.

-Autie

Ps. Enjoy the pictures!

{ The village girl visits the big city }

I grew up in the city of Bucuresti, so I am familiar with the sights,smells, and the hustle you will find in any city. But Budapest is one of the architecturally beautiful cities I have ever visited. Sure, you have the citadel,the walking street, the bridges that link Buda to Pest. But I adore the little unknown side streets that are lined with buildings that have been standing for over four of five generations. If you look up you see intricate and beautiful people carved in the stone, with their hands raise above their heads as if to support the building and the people dwelling inside. And then, of course the food satisfies my mature taste buds... Vapianos, what more can I say?

But after a two hour train ride from Budapest to Vajta, I welcome the simple and real beauty of the countryside. Wild red poppies heavily peppering the fields that flank the roads, and the new wheat crops that stand tall on the road close to home. And then you see the sunset that drapes you in the glory of it's sunshine.

And then I realize that after the glitz and the glamour of the big city. I love Vajta.

-Autie

{ Down in my Heart}

Some of you remember that Sunday School song that goes like this

I've got the peace that passes understandind down in my heart
Down in my heart
Down in my heart
Down in my heart
I've got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart.
Down in my heart
Down in my heart to stay
And I'm so happy
So very happy
I've got the love of Jesus in my heart
And I'm so happy
So very happy
I've got the love of Jesus in my heart

Recently, this song has been popping up in my heart now and again. It's interesting to think about these songs that I sung as a kid, I hardly knew what they meant, but now that I am older, the meanings of these songs possess the depth of the childlike faith . This past semester I had every worldly reason not to feel peace. And because I feel the peace that passes understanding, I know it is from God and not by my own human abilities.

Mmm... I've got the Love of Jesus in my heart.




photo by Clemens H.

My very ninja skilled Austrian friend!

{ Semester Ends, Summer Begins}

Hello Friends,

So as many of you know, I am not returning home( Home as in land of my birth)for the summer. But I am remaining here in Vajta for the summer to serve at numerous amounts of conferences. I have bittersweet feelings about my first semester of Bible College being over, it was such an intense semester and God really stretched me and taught me a whole lot of lessons. God told me that I would be broken this semester, and oh boy, He sure was not kidding. To be honest, I was a little scared because I know there were a lot of things that I needed to be broken from, but I also knew that as long as I allow myself to be built up in the Lord, being broken is not scary at all.

Recently, there has been a situation in my life that has caused me to cling to Jesus more than ever. In the last few months, I have come to know Jesus way more than I have ever known Him. The more you know about Christ, the more you desire to be closer to Him. Your devotional times are sweet and satisfying, but you close your bible with wanting more. After you quietly whisper 'amen', you don't want to stop praying, because you feel that you are ending an intimate conversation with your dearest of friends. Sure, I know that we are to pray and intercede constantly, but it's a little different than when you get to spend a good,long time just talking to Jesus.

I am ready to make this transition into summer, I know there will be a lot of stretching moments,but like my mom says " What doesn't kill you , will make you stronger." I am excited and I am ready.

-autie

{ They Call me Mom}

I remember the very first time I ever made spaghetti for my family, it was a momentous and proud occasion. I was only 11 years old but I remember the pride I felt when I served my family that delicious sauce over the al dente noodles with the precious Parmesan cheese from America. And now, nine years later the feeling of joy hasn't dwindled but increased. Ever since my grandma's passing almost a month ago, I have dealt with the normal emotions that death of a loved one brings. Sadness,loss,confusion and sometimes anger. But I have found that when I make food for other people, it makes me feel much,much better. Even the sound of a homemade meal at bible college gets people excited, and that brings a smile to my face. So today, I decided that scalloped potatoes and apple crisp. How can one go wrong with potatoes,cheese,butter? And then washing it down with apples and sugar? You can't. So I spent the better part of the morning fixing this meal in the big industrial kitchen, and I have found that cooking in a big stainless kitchen is not relaxing, but I practiced my delegation skills. Mom, you'd be proud!

So after several hours of peeling,stirring,whipping,mixing,baking,sprinkling, two other girls and five very Hungary boys sat out on the lawn and ate a delicious meal ( if I do say so myself ) And if they are all honest, they enjoyed it thoroughly enjoyed it and I believe I will be cooking again soon.-Autie

{Home Again}

It's a quiet Saturday afternoon at the castle, many are going home for Easter and others are napping in the emptiness of the rooms. I am sitting the coffee shop with friends eating oreos with peanut butter, top ramen, and sipping mint tea. Although I thrive on noise and people, I am enjoying the quiet and the peace.

Nine days ago I left the castle back to my childhood home of Romania, and I returned last night. The eight days were filled with adventures,blessings, and lots {lots} of children's ministry. We visited an orphanage,an abandoned baby hospital,a foster family,a gypsy village and four days of doing children's ministry for a leadership conference.

I was most definitely blessed and I had to step out of my comfort zone. But I have found that when you take that step you open up your heart to the incredible things that God has for you. But above all of the things that God spoke to me about there was one lesson in particular that He wanted me to learn.

His Overflowing Provision

During outreach the whole team was unexpectedly thrown an extra 80 dollars a person. WOW! Sure, I knew that God could do anything . But because I am a worrier and a doubter, my faith was not up to par.
But because God has a sense of humor and because He has good,good things for me. He provided abundantly.
A part of my team and myself was walking in the small town near our hotel, and then out of nowhere we found 400 leu on the ground. Somehow we managed to get passed the shock and gather up the money. 400 leu is 360 in American Dollars.

Wow God.

The hotel cut the extra cost to forty dollars, so we used that paid to pay our hotel expenses. So that extra money left money for the gas home,dinner that night, money for our trip to Budapest, and a little bit of spending money. And we will get money back from the original outreach cost.
After hearing this from our leader, we got down on our knees and thanked God. I was laughing during my prayer because I was so amazed at God and how even when we doubt, he enjoys proving us wrong.

I grew up a Calvary missionary kid, money was not flowing endlessly from our bank account. But God always provided, this was of course awesome, but God made himself real to me in this way. Who could ask for a better outreach?

Praise God

~ Autie

"...If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it."
~Malachi 3:10

{ Here I Go}

So,

This week's post will be a little short as I am sick and am up past my bedtime. It is a stressful week, there was a make-up class, extra M199 servant hood hours,Chuck tapes due early, and a huge Apologetics paper that is due by curfew tomorrow. It is the weeks like these that I must fully rely on the Lord and know that He is my strength.

I simply could not imagine my life without Christ. It is impossible for me to imagine this, no Christ to lean on everyday. From where would I receive my strength? Don't get me wrong, I have awesome and incredible friends and family, but Christ is the only one who is able to get me through the day. So friends, I encourage you to be sustained by Christ and only Christ.

Friday Morning, I will be leaving for my 10-day outreach for Oradea, Romania! I am obviously very,very excited to return to " ze old country", and I am excited to see old friends and basically family. But I am more excited about the things that I know God has for me there and the lessons he is ready to teach. I hope and pray that my heart is soft to receive them. Please pray as my team and I will be making a six hour drive down to Oradea. I will be documenting my trip and will share about my experiences.

So...Here I Go... I am ready Lord... Sustain me... Fill Me... Break Me... and Use Me According to Your Will.

-Autie

{ The Week of Farewells}

It's a blustery night in my town of Vajta,Hungary and it's 30 minutes until curfew, so the castle is falling asleep and resting for another day.

Two of my schoolmates are leaving, one is my roommate, the other my next-door-neighbor-who-became-my-roommate. I know both of these girls are sensitive to God's voice and will for their lives, and I know that they are following God's calling. As a believer, you can hardly be sad about these things because you know it's God's desire. But on the other hand, you will miss the sweet fellowship and the oneness you shared while you were together.

This weekend, my grandma Suzy who has been battling lung cancer since November passed away. I wasn't sure what to think when I heard the news, I felt anger,sadness,disbelief,shock, but those emotions were quickly overcome with peace.
I almost don't know what to feel yet, I think it is because I am so very far away from the drama and finality of it all. But emotions will come, they will come when I least expect it, and I know, that without a doubt that they will hit hard.
I am going to miss my grandma. I am going to miss her laugh, the large lung capacity when she got silly. I will miss the fact that she was a silly grandma in general and always ready to have fun.
I will miss you Grandma, and you are in my heart as I write this .

As these next few months will be filled with emotions, ups and the downs. Bear with me,keep me in prayer, and ask that I will write with wisdom and exhortation.

Much love,

Autie

{ Remembering The People}

This weekend was our "long weekend" at school, everyone had plans. Some would go to the city to explore and taste some of Hungary we do not get to enjoy.. Some would go home and spend their weekends resting with family. . Some would stay behind and enjoy the quiet castle that is usually bustling with activity. And some would go on an adventure of a lifetime to Krakow,Poland.

So, on Thursday Afternoon, March 31st 2011. 11 people set off for Krakow, Poland. Eight Americans, One Austrian, One Fin, One Indian. We knew that God would use this Spring Break to revel His provision for us! At every turn there was some kind of block, but we just stopped and prayed. And God wanted made a way for us, and I have come to know a little more of the God that I call Father.

We stayed in a Communist-style hostel ( no kidding) and went to Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau. The whole idea of a concentration camp is sickening, and the fact that I visited a place where millions of people were ruthlessly murdered is horrific. I haven't been able to process it all, but I can say this. The crimes committed in that place are unbelievable.

But even in the desolation of that place, there is hope. There is God. Looking from the inside out, you can see His faithfulness.
Israel is still a nation, they are still His chosen People.

Let us not forget to remember the memory of the human beings that suffered. Let us not forget the history of those who died innocently.

"Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it?"
~ George Santayana

-autie

{ Friday Night }

Hello World,

So this week went by incredibly fast, but now I am throughly enjoying my weekend!The weekend started at a great start last night after dinner. A small group of friends was orgnized by one of the Missonary Kids/Pastor's Kids, to play an epic game of 'sardines' in the entire castle! I must have run at least 3 miles around the castle, up and down stairs, in and out of doors, and climbing under and over. After two hours of running around like mad people, I collasped into bed. And slept until five minutes before breakfast.

I love college!

~autie

{Broken}

It has been a physically,emotionally, and mentally exhausting week. But more importantly, it has been a spiritually refreshing week.

Speaker's Week was incredible and as expected God spent the entire week molding my heart and confirming places that were uneasy in my heart. This entire semester, I have felt God's calling for my life is for me to be broken. Brokenness does not necessary mean that someone in my life will die or another tragic events will happen to be me. No, brokenness means that I need to come before God, and be completely honest with Him. So, because I have been called to be broken I have been called to be humble. But I heard all of this before Thursday night, God was preparing my heat for Thursday night,and I experience God's compassion for me.
So,as some of you know, my unsaved paternal grandma was diagnosised with lung cancer in November. On Thursday night, I received an email from my mom saying that the cancer had spread to her heart and the doctors have given her six months.
"Wow, Autumn"

In that moment, I was broken, I began to cry and my friend, Callie, basically carried me from the classroom to the hallway, where we prayed. After we finished praying, I went to the ladies room to clean myself up, and there I met my roommate Nastya. And again, I was prayer for. After that, I went to the chapel, and oddly enough it was Koinania and they were having an afterglow so there were a lot of pastors praying for people. So, for the third time in ten minutes I received prayer! After Koinania had ended, I talked with a Pastor and his wife for a wife minutes, they gave me some advice and they both laid hands on me and I received prayer.

I felt at peace , not because I was being prayed over but because from that instant when I read the email from my mom, I had a peace that passes all understanding. This, in it self is God's love and grace for me.

That next morning at breakfast, I woke up in a weepy state, but because I had breakfast that morning I had to clean my face and paste on a smile. But during that whole time,I wanted to scream and throw plates. I was not and am not angry at God, no, I know that He is in control. I was angry at sin, I was angry at sin for causing cancer, and I was angry that my grandma possess a hard heart towards God. So, emotionally I had calmed down by the time that the first session had started. And the message? God's grace and love through suffering. No, I am not kidding. The verse that Pastor Frank began with was 1 Peter 5:10

And the God of all grace, who called you unto His eternal glory in Christ, after ye has suffered a little while, shall himself be made perfect, establish and strengthen you.

God is going to use a little sand paper and put me through a little pain, but His glory will perfect me. Am I ready and willing to be humbled before Him? Am I willing to be broken in honesty and in truth? Do I believe that He has a plan not only for my grandma's life, but also for mine?
With God's strength and power, I say Yes.

-Autie

{ Other Happenings & Friends}

So

this semester at school we only have fifty people attending ( this includes the Missions Training Program ). So by the second week, you know everyone and they all know you. Now, I know about 95 % of everyone's name, however many are confusing me with a fellow student named 'Adam'. With a Hungarian accent, my name does sound like Adam if you are not paying attention but today during an annoucement the translator told the student body that Adam along with Abbe was starting a prayer group. Honestly, I feel worse for Adam because he is being confused for a girl. Althought being confused for someone else's boyfriend is a little embarrasing.
So I am tempted to write my name, phonetically on a shirt so there won't be any more confusion .

Well,as I have said that my school is pretty small, so there is only one girls hallway. And the best part is about this arrangment is that you can take a five second walk and you can see one of your friends if your roommates aren't around. It's a very cute neighborhood. So, I thought I would introduce you to some of my neighbors.

{Callie}
Callie is one of the sweetest people that I know, she is usually soft-spoken but there are times ( Espcially in the Rotunda)where she will sing and waltz around. Callie is exceptionally good at braiding hair, I am pretty sure that she will braid at least three girl's hair before she fixes her own. I don't know many girls who would do that! Callie is also a fan of Anne of Green Gables, just as I am which is so lovely because we can quote the book and the movie and act all dramtic together. It makes college rather romantic. I love this sweet Girl

{Abbe}

Abbe & I have this special connection because she was the very first person I met when I came into Hungary. So, she was my very first friend coming into Hungary. Abbe has an incredible voice and I usually sit by her during devos just so I can hear her sing and listen to the incredible harmonize notes.
I am inspired by Abbe's love for Hungarian and her desire to be here in Hungary. As she is pursuing a career in music, she is leaving behind possiblities. However, God will bless her life, her careers and whatever she endevors to do because of her obdeience for God.

{Tiffany}

Tiffany was also there at the airport when I arrived, so we also have a special connection. Tiffany is the friendliest person I know, within seconds of knowing her I feel as if I am her closet friend. She is extremely outgoing,funny, and possesses a heart of prayer. She recently went on a weekend trip to Serbia for an outreach, and I honestly missed her while she was away.Tiffany visits my dorm room serveral times a day, so I get the joy of her cracking my back and laughing so hard I might pee my pants.


There are many,many more girls here that I going to school with and I am looking forward to him becoming my sisters.

Love,

Autie

{ Love }

{Love}

What is love to you? Where did you learn about love? Do you give love easily? I know that I do, well not romantic love, that takes a while for you to deserve ( the and man that has my love(love) is well- deserving). But what about the Philia Love? Have you truly have this type of love for someone? The kindred spirit/ bosom friend kind of love. For those of you who know me well, I love nearly everyone...but I may not feel that incredible closeness with you. Which is okay, we will get there one day, I promise.
You know who are you :)

Now, for one of the greatest types of love . Agape.
This is love of God... not the love for God, but the love that God has for us. Some say that love is a fancy or a feeling, but neither is true. Love is an action, and the ultimate actions of love is God sacrificing His Son for us. Therefore, God is a definition of Love.
We shouldn’t only be thankful for Christ's death, but the fact that God is the definition of Love because who else could hold the title?
I know not one.

~Autie

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:8

{Roommates}

Hey everybody ,

Because I have been a college kid for little over a week now, I thought I would write a blog about my roommates. I have one of the best rooms here this semester, not only how the room is set up but the people that fill it.

{Jemma}

Jemma is my intern/dorm steward, she is a blonde beauty from Australia. She is one of the enthusiastic people that I know, she plans game night for my college and makes our dorm meetings really fun ( that and she makes the best brownies I have ever had). Right before the semester started, Jemma had acquired a black eye from falling on ice at an Intern Retreat. But I have seen very few black eyes in my life, I wasn't sure what it was, so I had assumed she only put purple eyeshadow one eye. Haha... how embarrassed I was to find out it was from a fall. I am very blessed to have Jemma as my dorm steward, and I am excited to get to know her this semester.

{Lila}

Lila is my Hungarian roommmate, who is the sweetest person you have ever met. Every night before lights out, Lila will lead us in a short five minute bed time prayer. Which is such a blessing because I have found that I have such a more peaceful sleep. And although she is a sweet type, you will be suprised to find that she is the funniest person, one moment she can be quiet, and then BAM she'll crack a joke that will have all of us rolling. There is a special place in my heart for Lila.

{Maddy}

Maddy is the most forgiving one in my room because he head is RIGHT beside the door,so therefore if anyone slams it in the morning, she will be the first to wake up. I apologize if I slam the door without knowning it, I hate waking people up in the morning. Maddy, like me, has man waiting at home for her, so we are going to be eachothers Valentines for the day. Maddy is in her fourth semester of bible college, and will be graduating this spring. She has a huge heart for the Mormons, I am so excited to see where this calling will take her.

{Nastya}

Nastya is one of the most beautiful people I have ever seen. She is from Russia and possess those strong features that I find extrodionarily beautiful; the high cheekbones, the deep eyes, and the perfect skin.It's not only her beauty that makes Nastya, Nastya. It's her personality that brings out the best in me, she's the person to tell you what no one else will. She is like a refinery, it she brings out the things that I don't like about myself that I don't think anyone else notices. But she does.
I know that I will be a better person for just being her roommate.

{Kim}

Kim is my bunk-buddy, I sleep right above her, so I consider myself blessed that she is a heavy sleeper! Kim is from the state of Georgia, but both of her parents are from South Africa. I was excited to find out that Kim was from the south because I love hearing the accent, and although her accent is ever so slight, I still can hear the southern girl that is inside. She helps herself to my Nutella at breakfast and is extremely commited to her homework.
Both of these things I love.


Well, those are my roommates and I am sure there will be more stories in the coming months.

Much Love,
Autie

{ First Day of College}

Dear World,

Today was my first day of college.

Four words

I.am.so.blessed.

Love,

autumn

{ College Kid }

Hello World,

Ok,so I am offically a bible college student. I am settled in my dorm, I really like my roommates, I got my servanthood for this semester. So I would definitively that everything is awesome and God has some awesome blessings in store for me :)
So, I am insanely stoked for my classes ( which start in the morning!) Whoo!
Class Scheduale

Monday : Devos,Revelations,Romans
Tuesday : Devos, Gospel of John, Apologetics
Wednesday: Same as Monday
Thursday: Devos, Gospel of John, Revelation.
Friday: Evangelism & Discipleship.

Although I have been here a few short days, I already know that God has great blessings in store for me .

God Bless You,

~autie


Here is a picture of the front gate