February 2017

Hi everybody!

Recently, I was asked if I could design a wall covering for the Chapel at GGIS. One of my hobbies is woodworking and I do a lot of stuff with pallets in the US so the idea was to make a pallet wall behind the stage. I asked my friend, Tim, to help me think it all through and to build it with me, the whole project took about 25 hours between drive time to get the wood, staining, then prepping the wall and putting everything up.

Here is a picture of the before:

and here is after:

Previously, I had built the stage, pulpit and the cross that you see on the new wall with my friend, Pasha, who moved back to America last year. It was a fun project and great to reminisce about what we’ve been doing at the school. As Tim and I were leaving the building after finishing, we started thinking about the chapel itself and how much use it gets. It’s home to two churches (including my Korean church) and is also used for both the elementary and high school chapels (assemblies) every week. I wonder how many individual people have been in that room. I wonder how many of them have gotten saved in that room. It’s interesting to think about.

I had the opportunity to actually speak in the high school chapel last Friday. This was actually the first time I have ever done a chapel in my four years at GGIS. I talked about how we have to make a conscious choice to love people. If someone hurts me I can choose to love them, not because they deserve it, but because I can give it. I didn’t deserve love and God loved me, therefore, I can love people with that same love. It was interesting because yesterday, at the Korean church I attend, the Pastor spoke about the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6. If you look through those verses, you see that the prayer starts with being fed by the Word of God and knowing the Word allows to forgive. Then, living in the Word is what sustains us through temptations. The Word is also what allows me to love people. When I have the Word in my life, when it’s my daily bread, I am able to live right, to live clean. I don’t get distracted by other “food” that I am offered (politics, anger, money, relationships, pride, etc.) because I have something better and which produces an effect, not just on me but on those around me. I can love because of the Word in my life. I need to think with

God’s Word continually.
Thank you all for your continued prayer!

January 2017

I was able to go New York to see my family for Christmas and New Year's this year. I just got back to Budapest on Thursday afternoon. It was great to see everyone and be with the family for two weeks. It felt strange because it's the first time I've been able to do that since moving to Hungary (four years ago this week).

I had asked the Korean youth group if they needed anything from America before I went, they proceeded to send me a list of, well, mostly candy, that they wanted. I'm sure all of their parents will be so happy with me!

Things at GGIS leading up to the break were really exciting, we had a Christmas party and then a day of ice skating with the high schoolers. This was a really great time to connect with them on a level that most teachers don't usually get to. I've come to realize in my time here that it's so vital to build relationships with students based on your life and character rather than just having a teacher/student relationship. Our real purpose here is to minister Christ and I pray that the kids get to see that along with all of the teaching and professional interaction we have with them.

Our vice principle, Mr. Doug Janssen, sent out an email a few weeks ago with a quote from Martin Luther, which said: "If I had to give up preaching and my other duties, there is no office I would rather have than that of schoolteacher. For I know that next to the ministry it is the most useful, greatest, and best; and I am not sure which of the two is to be preferred. For it is hard to make old dogs docile and old rogues pious, yet that is what the ministry works at, in great part, in vain; but young trees, though some may break in the process, are more easily bent and trained. Therefore, let it be considered one of the highest virtues on earth faithfully to train the children of others, which duty but few parents attend to themselves." I printed this quote out and stuck it to the podium in my classroom so I have to look at it every day. Isn't that amazing? I found myself thinking the same old thoughts again while I was in the US- does what I am doing in Budapest really matter? Am I actually making a difference? Am I really a missionary? I think, like Nehemiah (6:3) building the wall around Jerusalem said, "I am doing a great work! I will not come down! The work will not stop!" Nehemiah had to send a message to the people who were oppressing him, but when my own mind tries to get me to throw in the towel, I can talk right back to it. I won't give up! I am doing a great work! I will not stop! It may take years, lifetimes, or even generations to see the full result of what has happened here in Budapest these past four years, but it is a great work!

You are doing a great work as well! Never forget this. We can become so discouraged in our ministry at times but there is no reason to be. Build yourself up in whatever God has you doing. Don't let the little thoughts creep in and try to get you to come down from the wall.

I am so edified by you who read these little letters. Thank you for the emails and feedback you give me. You'll never know how much those few words mean to me.

Thank you for all of your continued prayers! Happy New Year!

December 2016

Well! My friends’, Tim and Myriah’s, adoption is official!
She is the cutest and happiest baby I have ever met. She laughs and claps all the time! (when I’m around).
Tim and Myriah told me that according to Hungarian law, on her birth certificate they are listed as the birth parents and blood relatives. How interesting! Isn’t that just like us as Christians? We are adopted as children of God and we are the blood relatives of Christ. What an amazing thought! The love this little girl receives is so incredible. The love we receive is so incredible. I’m amazed to witness this answer to prayer.
I think often times we don’t necessarily think about answers to prayer. Last Saturday I played soccer for the first time in about two years. I was sore for the next four days, but by the fifth day I had completely forgotten I was sore. This can be like us in prayer. I can pray for something so much and desire something so much, but when that prayer is answered, do I still remember what God has done for me? I hope that I will always remember the prayers that I prayed for the Sochurek family and their adoption so that I always remember the answer that God provided.
I have recently been feeling rather nostalgic and thinking a lot about my time in Bible College and when I first moved here. I can’t believe how much my life has changed. I have a whole new set of friendships and relationships with people I had never known before. I have a new found love teenagers that I never thought would happen. I am also planning a trip to go to Korea in April (please pray for that!) when I never thought I would ever go to Asia in my life. God has opened such great doors for me here, and it’s not because of anything I did. I remember kneeling by my bed in my apartment in Essex, Maryland in the summer of 2011 and praying for God to show me His will for my life. When I look back and think about the answers to prayer that He has provided me since them I am overwhelmed, just like when I think of His more recent answers to my prayers.
I haven’t really told you anything that happened in the past month, but I think that’s ok. I did go iceskating with the Korean youth group.

A Lesson

In fall 2007, my family and I moved to Massachusetts. In January 2008, I went to Ghana, West Africa for a couple months, and when I returned, I found that my neighbor had bought a little Bulldog puppy. From that moment on, I have always wanted on for my own.
A little over two weeks ago, I bought a French Bulldog Puppy. Saturday, I gave him to a nice family who had another dog. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever done.
I didn't pray about this decision before I made it. I wanted the dog, and I got it. I named him Mookie after my favorite baseball player. We played together, ate together, slept in my bed at night. He was great! I realized very quickly though that he was consuming all of my time. All I could think about at school was "I wonder how Mookie is alone?" or, "I hope when I run home on my lunch break there isn't a mess". I was stressed out.
One of my coworkers asked me last week if I wanted to go to Korea for a short trip with him this spring. This is another one of my dreams, and one I know I feel God leading me to follow. With that in my mind, I had to make the decision to give up Mookie.
When my plan for my life and God's plan for my life butt heads, one will win out. I have learned that my way never leads anywhere. I get what I want but without a plan for the future. This is how it was with Mookie. I got what I always wanted, but there was no plan for him. It wasn't fair that I was stressed and ignoring my ministry. It wasn't fair that he was home alone all day.
I WANT TO GO TO KOREA. I posted Mookie on a Facebook group and later that day he was gone. I am not ashamed to say I shed a tear or two, but I know that God has a great purpose for my life than taking care of a dog for the next ten years. I need to focus on my students, the youth group, missions. That's why I'm here. God has a plan and it's longevity of vision is greater than mine.

November 2016

Hello again from Budapest!

It seems this month has just flown by. We had a much needed fall break at GGIS, there was a Korean festival and youth group event that I led, and we had an amazing harvest party at school.

School started at the end of August and we hadn’t really had a break until last week. Let me tell you, it was much needed! You don’t realize how tired you are until you have a chance to rest, and then it’s like, “wow, what just happened?”

The Saturday before the break I went with the youth group from the Korean Church of Budapest, where I have been ministering as a youth leader, to an escape room. An escape room is one of the coolest things ever. You are locked in a room, which usually leads to other rooms and have to find clues and keys to get yourself out. This is usually done in teams of a few people at a time. We split up into two teams-boys against girls and the one who escaped the quickest won with the losers buying them ice cream. We all had such a great time working together and getting to know each other all a little better.

Right now the way the service on Sundays goes is that I sit in the message (with translation) and then the teens separate after and talk about the message. I am there to kind of facilitate this talking time and also just be a friend to them. It’s really a great privilege and I have really enjoyed my time so far. I think we are really starting to click.

The following Saturday, at another international school in Budapest, all of the Korean community got together and had a sports day. I was invited to attend and am so glad I went. It was great seeing so many people from so many different churches, schools, jobs all coming together and enjoying each other.

Every year GGIS puts on a harvest party where we invite families and friends to come to school, dress up, play games, dance, and eat lots of candy. I look forward to this event every year, it’s an incredible opportunity to connect with students’ parents in a nonacademic fashion. After the festivities, we have started a new tradition-watching a movie on our sports field with the high schoolers. This is the event that really makes the whole night worth it. Last year we watched God’s Not Dead (actually a surprisingly good Christian film) and we had such a great response that this year, we watched God’s Not Dead 2 which just came out. After the movie I got up in front of the students and spoke a little bit. One girl accepted Christ as her Savior! Praise God!

My friends, Tim and Myriah, were able to adopt their baby! Her name is Agnes. Maybe next month I will be able to send a picture!

October 2016

School is in full swing. I have finally gotten in a rhythm as far as my schedule and preparation for classes go. It’s really been an amazing year. I kind of dreaded coming back this year, actually. There were going to be so many changes, so many new staff members, so many new things I had to learn. This has been the best start to a school year I have had since I moved here. God is so fully and evidently working in what we are doing here, I am constantly catching myself not being stressed out. Toward the end of the school year last year, it seemed like I was too stressed out to even think about anyone beside myself. All summer I felt like a zombie, I didn’t know what God was going to do with me. I had basically already made plans for this to be my last year in Budapest. Oh me of little faith! What a terrible place to be!

I had this thought just a minute ago that since moving here in 2013, I have really turned my attention outward. It seems like without fully realizing it, I am purposely doing more and more for other people. What joy I find in doing this! I just finished baking cookies for my students to have at a Bible study after school tomorrow. I had the biggest smile on my face as I made them. I just prepared for my Bible classes next week and was totally blown away by the messages God was giving me- I give grace as an outward expression of the inward grace I have received from God. Holy cow, I am going to teach on something next week that I am just realizing has actually been happening in my own life for years! Incredible.

The new staff members are amazing team members, so encouraging. The changes in the school have consistently provided new and more expedient ways to do things, ultimately creating more time for me to minister to my students which is my whole mission!

Pastor Schaller, my Pastor, was here in Budapest for ten days. Last night at church he spoke about families. We are in God’s family and we have brothers and sisters in Him. We have a name and we have a place. God has given us so much. I feel so free. It is such a privilege to be a part of His family and to be able to fellowship in grace.

I was speaking to my friend, Tim (if you remember, he and his wife are adopting a baby), and expressing how free I am feeling this year. I wholeheartedly believe this will be the best year in GGIS history.

Thank you so much for praying for me and supporting me here. Your prayers are definitely felt (but still needed!) The Korean church has been great, we are currently planning some events with the teens on Saturdays. The Bible study at school on Fridays has been incredible, we are averaging 20+ kids a week who stay after a long week to hear a message and have fun.

Please continue to pray for all of the things I mentioned above. I want to see the entire high school coming to Bible study on Friday nights. I want to see the Korean youth group grow exponentially. I believe God can do it and that He will do it. Please continue to pray for my friends Tim and Myriah and their ongoing adoption, it looks like the search for a child will soon be coming to an end.

Most of all, pray for people who don’t know Christ to come to the knowledge of Him. This is a crazy time in our history and there are so many things that can stress us out and weigh us down. God has such an amazing plan for the lives of my students, their families, the staff here, and for you. Don’t forget it!

September 2016

Hello everyone! I have been back in Budapest for about three weeks after a great summer in America. It was so good to see all of you, to spend time with my family and friends, and to be able to go to the conference in Baltimore.

I was kind of nervous to return and start a new school year. There have been some big changes, including a new principal, new classes for me to teach, and also new responsibilities. So far everything has gone great! I was really praying this summer for peace, and ease in the transition, and God has worked mightily in it. It’s so funny when you expect one thing to happen and God does something so much greater.

On Sundays, I have been working with the Korean Church of Budapest’s teen ministry. I had visited them before and spoken a couple times, but just before the summer they had asked me to be their full-time youth leader. It is really amazing. I love the Korean kids I have gotten to know in GGIS, and then by extension their families, so now to be able to minister to other Korean teens regularly… Wow, what a blessing. This weekend the church had its end of the summer conference so we will be having a full special service today with the youth group, we will have music, prayer, a message, and then games. I can’t wait.

Also this weekend, GGIS had its annual High School Retreat. This is a time when we take all the high schoolers out into the country side for three days. We play sports, have crafts, sing, dance, have bonfires and s’mores, and of course, we have some amazing messages. I was privileged to be able to speak to the whole high school the first night we were at the camp. I spoke about Jacob going to meet his brother Esau and wrestling with God. God touched Jacob and Jacob was never the same. I said that God will speak to us this weekend and we will be changed, however, we can’t rebuild walls. Have you ever kicked an ant hill? (be honest) They immediately come out and start rebuilding it. In the same way, we can have an incredible experience with God, we can have the anointing of the Holy Spirit in a message, and yet as soon as we leave, we start building walls back up between us and God. I think it was a good message for the students to hear. So often at these retreats, I see that kids claim to have had an indelible, life changing time, only to forget the whole thing when Monday rolls around. But can’t that happen to all of us? I think it can. I didn’t just preach it for them but also for me. I have to constantly remind myself of what God is doing in my life. I can’t get overwhelmed by what I think will happen in the future, but I have to live right now, seeing what God is doing today. His mercy is new every morning.

I have also started teaching a Bible class in school called Theology of Grace. I am really excited about it, but please pray for it. I really want the students to understand the grace of God and thereby the love that God has for them in this class.

A few other things you can pray for are: the Korean Church youth group, the changes at GGIS and the continuous school improvement, for salvations among the student body, and also my friends Tim and Myriah who are waiting to adopt a baby. It could be any day between now and … who knows.

Thank you all for your continued prayer and support!