An Unforgettable UnAmerican Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for... Freedom.

Thanksgiving day I woke up at 6am to prepare to teach a class of 8th graders just over an hour later. When I was through with the class, fellow American missionaries, Larry, Melinda, Jeff, and Vivian, drove to my village to pick me up on their way out of town. We were headed to a place called Sopron, a famous ancient city on the border of Hungary and Austria.

After meeting up with the rest of Larry and Melinda's team (all part of the Western Hungary IMB team) we headed to our first stop. We started driving out of town and I remember being a little confused and asking where we were going. I was told we were headed to picnic park. At first I was even more confused. We hadn't packed a lunch! Then Melinda started explaining some of the history of that location and it began to make sense why we were going there.

Here was the place where, in August of 1989, over ten thousand people showed up for a picnic and a chance to temporarily step into freedom. The barrier, a barb-wire fence, was to be clipped for 3 hours time allowing the many thousands to merely taste freedom. You can read more here, but basically what happened is that some of them bolted and took the opportunity to escape. For reasons unbeknownst to even themselves, the guards didn't shoot or make an attempt to stop them. Though the fence was quickly reestablished, its said that this was the first of several events that led to the fall of the Berlin wall a couple months later.

To think that all started in Hungary! It was pretty sobering to read the story, see the barb wire, the guard tower, and physically walk across the border with not even a gate to stop me.

My mind wandered to the class I had taught just that morning. Exactly 21 years ago, it wouldn't have been possible. To openly speak of God in a public school is a privilege not long had in this little country. I wondered too if other nations could see this place if then they would heed the warning of history and avoid communistic like governments. Of course I was thinking of my country, America, where it isn't legal to talk about God in school or pray.

I've always felt far removed from the issues of communism. I'm an American-- freedom is like  my middle name. I'm not old enough to remember any of this in the news. I was literally in the womb when these desperate people made this dash across the border. But for the first time, there it was. Bondage, in my face, impossible to ignore. Its like for the first time I really tasted the taste of freedom, if that makes any sense. To realize what people went through and how hopeless they were as captives, made me realize more the gift I have of not only physical freedom but spiritual freedom in Christ. 

It was the most memorable Thanksgiving ever I think. It totally renewed my passion for being here doing what I'm doing and filled my heart to the brim with love for my Father who has allowed me to be here at a time like this. 

Then...

we went and ate Chinese buffet. WOW it was some of the best Chinese food I'd ever had! You could pick your own meat, veggies, and sauce and watch them grill it. So delish. 

Afterwards we went into downtown Sopron and had fun peeking into little shops, seeing the city center, and relaxing in a little tea shop.We walked down the street that the Jews had been confined to during the communistic era and it reinforced the feelings and emotions of earlier in the day at picnic park.

So many times when I go on these adventures various friends and family members come to mind as something I see reminds me of you. It always motivates me to blog it later, because I wish you could have been there to share that moment with me. So, I'm sorry this is so long, but I hope it was written in a fashion that you could feel like you were almost there. It would have been  an absolutely perfect day if my family could have been there.

Love to all.

Kaylene Elise

picture captions: (1)The group from Gyor (2)fire tower in downtown Sopron (3) the street the Jews were confined to

Salzburg, Austria

The most amazing place I've ever been. Which isn't saying much since I haven't been all that many places, but I'm pretty sure others would agree. Everyone, that is, except for Mozart.

My little Salzburg story goes something like this. I found out at rather the last minute that I had a whole week off from teaching school--being as it was fall break. At first I didn't think I had enough time to plan a trip. But that Sunday I got it into my head to look into it and see what it would take to make one happen. Because of some friends' recommendations and the location (Austria is a neighboring country) Salzburg is what came to mind.

Everyone (ie parents, the other missionaries here, etc, etc...) kept telling me I should try to find someone to go with me. And I did, I really did. But no one else's schedules coincided with mine! I wasn't going to let that stop me-- Teachers only have so many breaks you know! So with the help of several trusty friends I bought a train ticket, made a hotel reservation, and really thats all it took. Wednesday evening, myself and a big group of friends went to Budapest for a Hillsong London concert. That night I spent with my friend Reni, and I woke up early the next morning to catch my train to Salzburg.

The cool thing was, I didn't have to ever change trains to get there. It was a 5 hour train ride and pretty much a straight shot from my city.  I was counting my blessings, because I'm inexperienced when it comes to train travel. The train ride was super fantastic. I loved how fast the train went and yet still being able see the countryside. I loved watching the other passengers, trying to guess if they were Hungarian, German, or Austrian. I should have been dead on my feet from the night before and the lack of sleep, but I was WAY too excited.

So.. in case you've never met... let me introduce you to Salzburg. The home of Mozart. The home of the ever famous movie The Sound of Music. And last but not least and a surprise to me, the home of Red Bull. Yes, the energy drink.:)) Click here for a picture tour with captions telling the rest of the story.

Every Good and Perfect Gift

This week I...

...missed a bus.

...left my keys at home. twice.

...and made copies of the answer key instead of the worksheet.

In spite of these little annoyances, I felt I had more to be thankful for this Thanksgiving than ever before.

Though I couldn't be with my family, they support me being here and are excited for me to be serving the Lord here. Though I didn't eat turkey with all the fixings I did get stuffed to the absolute brim.

Details forthcoming most likely. But until then, here's my little post of praise to the God who brought me here, is providing for me, and has given me insurmountable peace and joy in every circumstance this week.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1 :17

Its the Little Things.

Monday I celebrated my 21st birthday.

I was in the best of spirits that morning. I had little to no expectations of a day usually filled with birthday tradition, and I was feeling so cheered, it seemed impossible it could get better anyway.

After my early morning class a student handed me a small gift bag with a package of chocolate sticking up out of it. Then I entered the teachers' room and was preparing to leave for a couple hours before my other classes. One of the other teachers came up to me and greeted me Hungarian style (a kiss on each cheek) and wished me a happy birthday in English. I'm such a communicating kind of person that the language barrier between my co-workers and I has been harder on me than I even realized. This simple gesture brought tears which had been a long time in coming I guess. I cried all the way home.

At one point on my walk home I reached into the little bag my student had given me. I pulled out the chocolate and noticed something else inside. I pulled out this little white mouse, and with tears already streaming down my face, I started to laugh at its cuteness.

Reni came on the afternoon bus. I skyped with my family and she patiently endured listening to the stories she'd already heard, as I boisterously got my family up to date on life.

Reni and I made lasagna, which was my little contribution to Katka's birthday (the day after mine!) When Katka got home from a long day of classes and work they called me down stairs. There was a beautiful setting at the table-- candles, a cake, roses, and chocolate. Katka's husband read Psalm 21. Those pesky tears started again. They sang "The Lord bless you, and keep you..." in Hungarian and prayed a prayer for me.

Emails, Facebook messages, texts--just a few other "small" ways that people let me know I was remembered on that day. Thanks so much to all of you. 

I'd say thats about the best birthday anyone could ask for. 3 birthday cakes, soooo much chocolate, and I am now in my room resting and recovering this weekend. =)

PS... Post to come about my trip to Salzburg Austria a couple weeks ago!