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