Around the Town

Here are just a few shots of some places around town. I am still trying to learn how to use my camera but hopefully this will give you a little sense of where I live. 

A beautiful fall day

When the sun is shining the there is a chill in the air it is absolutely beautiful. Over the past few weeks I have had the chance to go on prayer walks with a good friend and just praise God for all He had done and seek Him for all there is in the future. On one of our walks we took a picture of the beauty that God has created and I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy!

Getting to know my Roommates

Here is a funny pic of my two roommates. We all met last year at SpeakOut and are reunited this year for Stint. It should be a fun year of getting to know each other and sharing the many unique experiences along the way. Behind them is the elevator we can use to get up to our apartment. I am not sure when it was built but you can see completely up and down the shaft. Also after we go up we have to send it back down. We are not sure if there is anyway to actually call the elevator up to our floor, but thankfully taking the stairs down is a much easier way to go. 

The view from my window

This is the view from my room down to the street. It is not a main road so there is not too much traffic. My room has a little balcony that I can go out on so that should be fun. 

Settling In

Well I have arrived in Budapest and am now beginning the process of settling in to my new home for the next year. Yesterday is all of a blur thanks to the transatlantic flight but after sleeping for close to 14 or more hours I am working on getting unpacked and acquainted with my surroundings. I got a little tour from my roommate of the area around our apartment and how to get on the buses and trams and which ones to take. We also went to IKEA which I am so thankful for the ability to buy a few things to feel a little more settled. It is amazing what joy a lamp and a hamper can bring :). No more dirty clothes on the floor. I still am working on unpacking all my bags and finding out what I did bring over. Tomorrow might also bring with it the chance to go to the big grocery store.

Sitting in the Chicago Airport

Well I am sitting in the Chicago airport just waiting for my flight to board for Europe. It is crazy how you can compartmentalize your life and not really think about the next step until it is upon you. As I was flying I thought about how I sold my car, shut the door to my house and put stuff in storage. Basically all I have is what I can carry. I guess it is freeing, a little scary and very heavy. Yes I had to pay for a bag that weighed over 60 lbs. Really I am not sure what to expect. As I head into this next step I am just trusting the Lord and leaning on the direction He has given me. The only thing I know for sure is that moving is a lot of work. I cannot imagine where all that stuff came from. It kind of reminds me of how God removes stuff from our lives. Once the big stuff is gone you have to go through all the drawers and hidden places in closets and decide what is worth keeping, what needs to be given away and what needs to be thrown away. Then the cleaning can begin. The place then becomes ready for the next occupant. I can see where God does that in our lives as well. He gets in our hearts and challenges us to clean house (surrender all to him) for Him to come in and do the work of cleaning house so He can set up residence. It seems like throughout our lives there are times where He is getting ready to move in our lives and begins the process and then something happens and He really goes to town. I guess I hope my heart is less cluttered than my house and I am so amazed at how gracious God is to go into our lives and deal with all the junk and love us so immensely. Well I guess that is it for now. Hopefully there will be a good movie on the flight.