3 Weeks... 3 Countries... and 5 keys

A little over three weeks in Budapest and Dennis has already been to Russia and the Czech Republic. I guess it's not an understatement to say that we hit the ground running. Both trips - one by plane, the other by train (I joined him on the trip to Czech) - were effective in building relationships with the M's and the nationals. Good progress was made in sorting through strategic issues with next step follow-up. Continue to pray for generous wisdom as Dennis gives leadership to the Europe fields.

On the home front... we left the states with an empty key ring, but gained 5 keys upon our arrival just to enter our flat. Welcome to our home...


Enter through the front gate...


then through the big green doors...down the outside corridor, around the corner to the green glass doors that lead to an enclosed atrium sort of feel...

up the stairs...

to the door at the top of the steps...



to the doors that enter our flat.

Dennis and I have a system worked out. He unlocks a door and while he is locking it, I go to the next door to unlock and while I'm locking that one, he goes to the next one to unlock... and so on and so forth.

Next time I'll give you a tour of our new home.

Grace in the Journey...

As I sit at my computer this morning overlooking the gray winter skies that have been covering Budapest like a blanket for most of the ten days that we have called this our home, I am overwhelmed - not by a new culture - but by God's grace that has flowed in this transition.

Looking back God's hand has been evident in arranging some very important things that have made our move less challenging.

• It was this past August as we got off the Munich to Budapest train that we first met Jerry and Jan Coleman. Earlier in the summer on one of our West MI church visits, Watermark staffer, Steve Thompson passed on his father's name who had been involved extensively in the past with the Free Methodist mission work... his father gave us the Coleman's information... we made contact and after a less-than-48-hour-visit to Budapest we had made new friends. (Jerry fills the same role as Dennis as Europe Area Director for the FM Church. The irony of this story is that the Coleman's share the same wedding anniversary as us, down to the year and time!)
  

• On this same visit, we met Julia, a lovely Hungarian lady who works in the FM mission office. Knowing our brief visit was solely to seek out future housing possibilities, Julia arranged for us to meet Maria who had a 2 bedroom flat available for rent. The first and only flat we checked out was perfect. We couldn't ask for a better landlord, which they say is just as or more important than the rental cost. The location is convenient for public transportation and nearby shops.
  

• The past 6 months of raising up prayer/financial partnerships has been incredible. Watching God provide through so many of you has been both humbling and encouraging. He is faithful! Every time I check out our personal GP links and scroll through all our partners, I am so blessed and at times moved to tears for God's goodness.
  

• Isaiah 40:18-31 - These verses have been my comfort and strength over the past couple months. There were times when Dennis and I were weary with the journey of getting here, but Isaiah's words reminded me time after time that our God never grows weary. And so, when I would lay my head on my pillow - sometimes in the early morning hours - I had peace knowing that God was at work even while I slept.

• It was two weeks ago today that we were once again met by Jerry and Jan as we walked out of the Budapest airport. Their graciousness and kindness over the past two weeks has been invaluable during this transition. Invitations for dinner, shopping with us so that we knew what we were buying, translating when we communicated with clerks, pointing out favorite stores, bakeries, and restaurants, figuring out public transportation... all necessary to our new life. Such a blessing!
  

• Peace and contentment. Since the day we boarded the plane I have felt such an incredible peace that I am exactly where the Lord wants me to be. Farm girl to small town girl to living in a city of 2.5 million is a huge shift of lifestyle - one that I would have never foreseen back in the day - but one that I am embracing and loving. I do love the adventure!
  

Our new home - we live on the second story from
balcony to the right.

Main street just off our street.

Fruit/vegetable stand right around the corner.

The largest Catholic church in Budapest -
a familiar scene on my walks.

Last, but not least, my first coffee shop visit,
what use to be the old bus station.

A couple hours of journaling on Saturday at the
Tranzit did my soul good!

Have you never heard or understood?
Don't you know that the Lord
is the Everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth?
He never grows faint or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

Thankful for grace in the journey... thankful for those who have lifted us in prayer. They have carried us more than you could know.

At Home in Budapest...

I know, I know... it's been well over a week and several of you have mentioned you keep checking my blog for an update. Well, Budapest beat the "bust" and after a week+ we have settled quite quickly in our new flat and surroundings. It is a bit mind boggling to think about the reality of that in a new city, with a new language, not to mention 3 days of meetings with Dennis' leadership team in the middle of it all.

I even managed to make 3 apple pies for an evening with our leadership team in our new flat. We love this city, our flat, and the people we have met! More to come on God's grace in this journey and transition.


Dennis left for Russia this morning, so I'm on my own for the next 6 days... I'm wondering if my confidence is delusional. Perhaps it is God's grace :). I hope to find a coffee shop this afternoon and catch up on some much needed journaling. After some crazy weeks this girl needs some time to muse! I'll take some pictures along the way to share with you... until next time.