A chance to sit, a time to think

It's been awhile since I've sat and thought. Ever since late last month when I left with a team to travel to Hungary, I've been running, and running hard. Life seems to progress so slowly, yet fly by so fast. There is so much on my mind as I sit here; but there is not enough time in my busy (full) life to share it all. I think the most logical and interesting thing to share is my experiences in and with Hungary. So let's back it up to a few months before Hungary. I had just come out of the 'Year of Shaun' (see previous BLOGs) and was ready to experience life in a much fuller way than I had lived in the past. Before, I had passed up on so many opportunities, all for 'legitimate' reasons yet always feeling like I was missing out on something bigger. Although I filled my life with 'extremeness' and adventure, I was bored out of my mind. On the outside my life was anything but mundane--jumping out of airplanes, running face first down cliffs, pushing my body to the limits (and past the limits). But inside I was dying. And it took a huge disappointment in my life to make me realize that there was so much more...

So jumping ahead, because I had missed out on so much in the past, I was determined to go for it from then on-no matter how much money I didn't have or how much time wasn't available. An opportunity came to go to Colorado--I was in. If I had looked at the situation logically, I would have stayed home. December and January at work was painfully slow--but it didn't stop me. I think from then on I changed (if you haven't seen the Colorado video check it out on my Facebook or youtube under my name). I realized that life makes a whole lot more sense when you can get a bigger perspective on things and when you can experience more of God's creation. Long story less long, after Colorado I felt a strong desire to go on a missions trip out of the country. How? I had no idea. I still didn't have any money, there was nothing on the horizon, but the desire was there and it was strong. So amazingly enough the first time I heard about an opportunity to go to Hungary, I was in. I had no money, I was in school, but I was so in. It was like God planted a desire in my heart and let it sit there for a little while, and then He came to harvest that desire. It wasn't even a question in my heart; I wanted to go and if God provided a way, I was going.

The first hurdle was school. Although the trip took place on everyone elses' spring break, it was a week after mine. So I went around to all my teachers and one by one brought the idea up to them. I couldn't afford to suffer grade-wise since I was trying to get into nursing school. My chem teachers loved the idea and said they would work with me to make everything up. My sociology teacher said I would be fine. My nutrition teacher said no way--midterm was during that week, and she wouldn't let me make it up. So I kissed nutrition goodbye (probably why I still eat at Taco Bell and drink Rockstars!) Second hurdle was money--I had none. But I wouldn't let that get in my way. I had the deposit money so for $100 I secured myself a spot on the trip and committed to paying for a plane ticket. I knew that God would come through somehow, either with more work, donations, I didn't know how, but I knew. The first help came from a general donation to the trip; I got $250. Then a buddy, Matt Teres, called me and asked if I wanted to do some work for a lady in our church. I took up the offer and was paid an incredibly generous amount to do some moving for her. That earned me another few hundred which I tossed down on the trip. The last bit came in the day before the rest of the money was due, $650 from an anonymous donation. I was blown away! It was really amazing to see how God provided for me in so many different ways.

But, this is a BLOG about Hungary, so let's get on with it. (Unfortunately, like before, time is flying by fast right now and I just don't have enough of it. I'm juggling deciding which nursing school to go to, all the things I need to do, tests, work, friends, trying to learn all kinds of crazy languages...! What I'm trying to say is this story will be broken up into a few parts; and this part is finished.) Bonsoir, Buenas noches, Jó éjszakát, Good night :)

An adventure lived, A story to be told.

From across the world, A magnificence to behold.

For those beforehand whom I did not know,

Brought more to my life, and caused it to grow.

I stepped off these shores and God planted a seed.

So far away yet so close indeed.

And if Life to the Full was just a phrase,

My soul would not laugh, and my lips not give praise.