I left my job after 10 years, and that was a big step. Then, when leaving, it was my sister and best friend, my home church and all of my friends. God had a plan, for sure, as He always does !
I have to admit that my first three weeks in the Castle in Hungary were rough, even though I was in a beautiful Hungarian Castle = ). A strange feeling of not fitting in, sleeping in a dorm with 6 more girls of different ages and nationalities, but mostly younger than 20 and being a no one, with no responsibilities at all, was all hard for me. But God was starting to break me, and to deal with my heart one-on-one. My favorite classes during the first semester were Nehemiah and Romans. God used them both amazingly in my life to remind me of His free righteousness and abounding grace for me despite of who I am and to remind me of His call to serve Him and then need there was for His word and Spirit to rebuild the walls of my life, before He would send me anywhere. Needless to say, my missions class was the one that I always looked forward to. It was amazing to read and talk about so many missionaries that went out with so little but with a big faith in a big God, and how God used them amazingly, even using their failures and challenges in the field. I read the biography of Hudson Taylor, and through it God spoke to me a lot about a life of prayer and full dependance on Him for provision. Two lessons that I had to start to apply right away. I was part of the dinning room girls, and I truly enjoyed my servanthood area, and praised Jesus and laughed while cleaning tables, sweeping and mopping. In short I could say that my first semester was a time of breaking and rebuilding, while I was falling in love more and more with my Savior and His Word. I went on weekend outreach to Baja, Hungary and went on 10-day outreach to Slovenia, and in both trips God allowed us to see His glory touching hearts to receive Him while evangelizing in the streets !
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| First Day in Hungary. See the Castle behind me ! This is CCBCE ! |
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| Evangelizing HIgh Schoolers in a Park in Slovenia |
During the summer, God opened miraculously a door for me to go and serve for 6 weeks in Calvary Chapel Pomona Garden, a Hispanic Calvary in California. The experience was tailored made by God for me, for sure. The Pflucker family (pastoral family) was a huge blessing, and constant guidance and encouragement. I got to live with another CCBCE student, Beth, and we lived pretty intense moments and saw God's hand over our lives, breaking us, loving us and using us. The Church family there was incredible ! A true example of love, humility and service. I was truly blessed to come along side the leadership to teach to the beautiful women there, and to also plan and coordinate the Vacation Bible School. It was a test of faith and a stretch at times, but God showed Himself mighty and strong on our behalf and close to 80 kids came and got fed in the Word each day. A team of 35 volunteers made this possible and made it pleasing to God, and fun for the Kids. I learned so much about flexibility, grace, and God's provision. I can not describe how grateful I am with the Lord for the lessons and the opportunity He gave me to serve for a short time with Pastor Fausto and with Josie, and to learn a lot from them.
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| Serving Pink Lemonade during the Walk-a-thon, found raising for VBS ! |
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| Decorating the classrooms for the VBS Stations at church |
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| Teaching Station during VBS - The Fruit of the Spirit ! |
My second semester was quite different from the first one. I had been asked to become an intern but did not feel led in that direction for such a long time, however, I was open to serve and help in anything I could. I was a dorm steward and this was so so cool ! We were initially 10 and then 9 girls from different nationalities and with different personalities. God joined us with His love and allowed us to talk and spend wonderful time together in prayer and sharing what He was doing in our lives. My classes were also amazing, I loved Biblical Missions, and Biblical Theology specially, but God used them all for sure in my life. I had the opportunity to co-lead two weekend outreaches: one to Pecs, Hungary and one to Vienna, Austria. Both were divine appointments from God, to step out in faith and see His Spirit move and touch lives, even in a place as cold spiritually as Vienna. One of the most amazing experiences this semester was being a TA for Pam, the Missions Training Program Overseer. She's an amazing woman of God, who mentored me, inspired me, prayed with me and challenged me to follow hard after God's calling on my life to become a missionary. She was truly used in my life, and I praise God for that treasure !
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| These are my roommates - Retro Saturday Night |
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| Wkd Outreach, Evangelizing in Downtown Vienna - The blond girl got saved that day! |
I graduated on December 10, and just praised the Lord Jesus for His wonderful love and grace for me, to allow me to go on this journey, meet such wonderful people, know Him more and fall more in love with Him and then came back with the strong passion and desire to become a missionary for Him and His kingdom in Costa Rica. He clearly confirmed this place to me in repeated times and I know that that's where He wants me. I have many questions and not many answers as to what comes next, but I'm constantly reminded of the fact that He is leading, and that I am to walk by faith and not by sight.
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| By God's Grace, I graduated ! Mixed Feelings for Sure ! |
“But as for me, I
trust in You, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand”
Psalm 31:14-15a
