i have the awesome privilege of planning a summer project to serbia this summer. we are taking slovak students to a nearby country to take the gospel and train our students to move this ministry to a movement. this is me on the floor of my apartment writing out our day-by-day serbia schedule, this is what visual learners must do, we have no choice. please pray for our project, coming up june 16th-24th. more details coming.

–I wrote this in Word, when without a wireless signal, while still in Barcelona…

I’m in Barcelona and I think there are a few things that I would like to remember from this trip. Mainly, that I need to take time to reflect, time to just think, and be. The time that I’ve spent in Starbucks, or in Cuitadella park, or downstairs in the hostel have all brought deep thoughts – things that could not have happened if I didn’t take the time to just go, to get away. I wrote this in my journal just today,

I know Lord that a lot of this is about leaving. It’s about discovery and depth, truth and change, light and dark, it’s about patience, dependence, getting over myself. It’s about staying in an unfamiliar place until it becomes familiar. It’s about depth, about giving everything up so I can rediscover it all again. It’s about hiking to the top of a castle hill instead of taking the easy way. It’s about meeting people I never would have met if I had not taken this trip at this moment with these people. It’s less about old buildings and more about new friendships. I’m not sure I would have known much about theses things had I not just done it. Lord I am thankful for these things, the depth of life that exists beyond the commercialism, along the spiritual journey. I am discovering, exploring and I never want to stop. I don’t want to be content with this stuff of this world – or just become something because it’s easy, or there is money in the madness. I don’t want a nicer car, the biggest house, all of these things that don’t really matter. I just want somewhere to call home. Even this jail cell has provided a warm bed, new friendships and undiscovered thoughts.

I’ve journaled a lot since being inside this pocket of western culture. I’ve needed to think, to come away – to avoid the bombardment of things and just read – just think. I’ve been reading Proverbs and I’ve been amazed by their depth, like even a secularist can’t deny the wisdom inside of those 31 chapters.

In the midst of writing this I was finishing my last of the 4 Donald Miller books, Through Painted Deserts. All of this is flavored by his experience and thoughts of driving from Houston to Portland with his friend Paul.  It’s a good read, all of them are. Hard to pick a favorite, they’ve all landed with me at just the right time at different points in life.

if there were only one word that i could use to describe barcelona, spain - it would be sunny. it’s beautiful here, the beach, the mediteranean, the people. i’m writing quickly just so you can know that i made it here safely and to tell you how amazing the sun is. i haven’t seen the sun in about 4 months - as clear as i do here. there are full shadows on the ground from trees, and the sun is so bright at times i have to move to the shade to get a better picture. it makes sense to me now why people would worship the sun. i think i almost did today.

great news too, i found a restuarant tonight that serves pad thai, so it looks like for the 3rd easter in a row i will have that same dish. it’s a tradition in the making.

it’s amazing here, and i’m loving this vacation. i think tomorrow we’re going to the beach all day to soak in the rays and to enjoy a day of relaxation.

i’m looking forward to updating you more. i’ve already taken some amazing self portraits - ha, and some good landscape shots of scenery here. and, not to mention some great video. but, this info only comes as a teaser because i forgot my camera cord to transfer all of these amazing works of art.

this is the closest i’ve been to america in 7 months, and tonight we saw the columbus monument (where you, know, he sailed in 1492). tonight we looked out over the mediterranean and said hello to america. did you hear me?

(this was written in all lower case because i’m a fan of ee cummings, and i’m tired of pressing the shift key)

I have 100 days left in Slovakia, and really only 63 days left actually IN Slovakia due to my crazy travel schedule over the next few months. Let me give you the run down. Today marks the day before I leave for Spain (I’ll be there till the 26th), 10 days before I leave to go to Hungary for Story of the Soul training. Only 3 and a half more weeks on campus. In about 2 months I leave for Venice, Italy (for a week) then I’ll be back in Slovakia for 2 weeks in June, then we’re off to Serbia for our summer project for a week. Then on June 27th, I fly out. Back to America. I have some crazy emotions about all of this. I’ve learned to live here. I’ve learned how to buy groceries, where to shop, where not to shop, how to get around, how to ask what time it is, how to buy train tickets, how to wash clothes, and how to do ministry. I miss things in America, I miss my friends, my family, I miss my church, mexican restuarants on every corner, the beach, warmer weather, driving, and being able to dry my clothes the same day I wash them. But I’ve grown, I’ve changed, I won’t ever be the same. These lyrics from this Sarah Grove’s song seem to describe how I feel, and how I have felt since I arrived in Slovakia. Here they are:

I don’t want to leave here
I don’t want to stay
It feels like pinching to me either way
The places I long for the most
Are the places where I’ve been
They are calling after me like a long lost friend

It’s not about losing faith
It’s not about trust
It’s all about comfortable
When you move so much
The place I was wasn’t perfect
But I had found a way to live
It wasn’t milk or honey
But then neither is this

I’ve been painting pictures of Egypt
Leaving out what it lacked
The future seems so hard
And I want to go back
But the places that used to fit me
Cannot hold the things I”ve learned
And those roads closed off to me
While my back was turned

The past is so tangible
I know it by heart
Familiar things are never easy to discard
I was dying for some freedom
But now I hesitate to go
Caught between the promise
And the things I know

If it comes too quick
I may not recognize it
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?
If it comes too quick
I may not appreciate it
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?

Next time I write I’ll be in Spain, hopefully with updates and pictures. Pray for warm weather.

Also, Check out the Serbia promo: under serbia summer project it says, “come help change the world”

Here is the main conference room, where we heard three talks a day, from speakers like Roland Helsten, Erik Thoennes, Larry Thompson, Steve Douglas, as well as others who have served long term in Eastern Europe and Russia. but like any good conference there was time to hang by the lake and play on the swingsas well as spending time with friends serving all over the world! Here are some friends in Israel, Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia.

Upon returning to Budapest from Tihany, most of my team stayed the day and went shopping. While we were in Budapest I decided to buy a coffee table at Ikea. No big deal, right. Wrong. This is one of those things that you have to carry. And I don’t mean out of the store and put it in your trunk. No, I mean out of Ikea, to the Metro, on the Metro, to the train station, on the train, off the train, to the tram, on the tram, up five flights of stairs, and then it still needs to be assembled. But, in almost no time I had it assembled and ready to use as a functional coffee table. Last night we played phase 10 on it, and I’m sure much more to come.

I have two conferences in Hungary in the next two weeks. The first in Vajta (STINT midyear) and the second in Tihany (Area of Affairs). Although I don’t know exactly where those two cities are, I found out something much more important. It takes 7 hours and 51 minutes to go from “here to there”, according to google maps. I’m packing right now and this is what my room is looking like.

I went to Dara and Jeremy’s wedding and reception last night. We stayed till 4 in the morning! I’ll upload pictures and videos soon so you can see the festivities. It was a very culture-rich experience. I wish I could describe all of it to you. Maybe I’ll attempt that sometime soon.

Happy New Year! I hope you are doing well. It’s so hard for me to believe that I am halfway through my year here in Slovakia. I am really thankful for all that God has taught me over the course of these 5 months. Since mid-December we’ve been to 2 conferences (Slovakia Staff Conference and Winter Conference) and we head out on Monday for conference #3 (STINT midyear) and #4 (Area of Affairs) in Hungary! In this update I explain the conferences and all that God did at our recent winter conference. Thanks for your prayers and support. It humbles me as I think of your dedication to the gospel.

You can find the update here.

After 4 and a half months of filling out paper work, taking trips to random prisons in Vienna, having the police visit our language school and our apartment, we finally have the prized visa we’ve been waiting for. This video explains it all. Notice the background music, “Never Gone Get it” by Brick & Lace.

[vimeo 599137]

I’ve never been much for trying to understand all of this, but I will say that the value of the dollar and George Bush’s push to increase exports has greatly affected me as a missionary. Here is the current break down as of  today:

With the Euro to come into full effect in ‘09 here in Slovakia, no doubt it will be more expensive to live here, but also Slovakia will gain respect in the EU.

For most of you, I’m sure that it doesn’t affect your thinking, but please pray that the value of the dollar would increase, for missionaries (sent by the US) everywhere. And make sure this is an issue  you are informed on in the next presidential election.

America is not the only country in the world, there are many countries with economic and political power. Living in Europe at this time in history has really shown me a lot about ethnocentrism and the reality that most American’s don’t even think about other countries, or the reality that America does not rule the world.