Well, I could say that week one has flown by so fast and I can't believe the trip is almost halfway finished, but to be honest it has just felt like a normal 168 hour week. However, it has been one of the most extraordinary weeks of my life.
I was hoping to experience the Lord in new ways on this trip, but I didn't expect Him to reveal Himself to me on our very first day. To my surprise, though, He did when I lost my passport. I was really distressed and frustrated with myself for losing such an important thing. I also felt like I was holding the rest of the team back when we were standing around the hotel lobby while Tom and Brad Mullet were making phone calls to the airport. To our relief, they had found it and said that they would try to hold it but the police might take it. At that point, it would be a nightmare trying to get it back.
So Brad and I hurriedly got in the car and booked it to the airport. It was a pretty long drive though, and there I was sitting alone with someone I had never talked to before. I needn't have worried about awkward silences, because by the time we got to the airport, Brad and I had talked about both of our lives and I had learned so much from his stories and experiences. As we were pulling into the parking lot he said, "Hey, I'm really glad you lost your passport." I agreed wholeheartedly.
To sum up a long story, the police had gotten to my passport by the time we had arrived. However, by some miracle, the lady Brad had spoken with on the phone was able to get it back. A horrible moment of irresponsibility on my part turned into a way of God showing His glory to me, and some wonderful time of fellowship with an older and wiser brother in Christ that I probably never would have had otherwise.
Another way that God has proved His goodness to me is through my team. In all honesty, I was a bit nervous coming on this trip. All these people knew each other so well and I felt like the awkward kid from the Barrington campus who used to be home schooled with half the team. However, through getting serenaded by violin-playing gypsies, a few delicious gelato-runs at night, a screaming drunk man on the tram, an early morning run through Budapest, laughing until we cry about calling binoculars "two-noculars," and many other adventures, I have gotten to know every single person on the team so well. They have all been so kind, accepting, encouraging and inspiring. Never in my life have I felt more a part of the true body of Christ. We are all working together with patience and understanding. Everyone is jumping in, volunteering, and taking turns when the situation calls for it. I just love all of them more than I ever thought I would. It's amazing to see how all of our different strengths, gifts, weaknesses, and personalities really balance each other out.
The last thing I want to tell you about is the most important thing: the English camp, of course! I was really anxious about how socializing with all these new kids would work out, especially since they can't speak English and we can't speak Hungarian. But we have formed friendships in what seems to be the blink of an eye. I can't even describe how warm, friendly and loving these kids are. I have become especially close with a few girls, and they are always putting their arms around me, hugging me and grabbing my hand. I have a lot in common with so many of the students and I just love being around them. Many of them can speak English better than I expected! And I'm picking up some Hungarian myself *cough* well... I can say about five words including the color blue, but only because it sounds just like the English word "cake."
One particular student has really been a light in Ben and my class. His name is Jakab. He was by far the most hilarious kid I met at the camp and he was very smart and easygoing. He was just all around a completely lovable kid and brought so much joy to our class. That's why when I found out he wasn't coming back to camp next week, I was so sad. I never even got a chance to share the Gospel with him, and it killed me knowing that I had missed that chance. The Lord really strongly put it on my heart to write him a letter. So I wrote him a four page letter explaining my testimony and sharing the truth of Jesus Christ with him. It was like the words weren't even mine. Well, they weren't. The Spirit was working through me. At the end of camp today when I said goodbye to him, I gave him the letter and told him to Facebook me if he had any questions. I have been and will continue to earnestly pray that the Lord would work in his heart. Saying goodbye to him left a pain in my heart that was just a miniscule taste of what I'm going to feel when we leave camp for good next week.
To wrap up, I want to ask you all to pray specific things for us. I have been studying Ephesians 1:15-23 and I think the things that Paul mentions are what we really need next week. Wisdom from the Spirit, revelation in the knowledge of Christ, enlightened eyes and hearts, hope of His calling, and truly knowing the riches and glory of our inheritance in Him and the immensity of His power. Please pray these things for our team, and that we would keep our sights focused on the Lord.
I'm loving Budapest.
Maggie
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