"Are you done?"

Since arriving home on January 4th, several people have asked me the same question: "Are you done?". I suppose since I have made two trips to Hungary (six weeks on the spring and four months in the fall/winter), some people are confused as to whether or not I will return to Hungary for a third trip.

The short answer: The soonest I will return to Hungary will be after I graduate high school in 2013, if I return at all.

Looking at the Shoes on the
Danube Promenade which
honors Jews that were
murdered on the edge of
the river during WWII.

The long answer: No, I am not "done". I am not going to claim that I will never go back to Hungary for mission work. Although it's unlikely, it is not out of the question. Hungary needs the Gospel, just like any other nation. To say that I am "done" does not seem like a smart thing to say since only God knows where I will go to spread His Word during my life. It could very well be back in Hungary just like it could be in another European country, Asia, Africa, South America... who knows? Missionaries are needed all over this world so I don't want to answer this question with a "no".
However, for the time-being, I am going to focus on finishing my high school education and doing mission work in and around my city. The need for missionaries in my own home is great -- I don't need to go across the ocean to make a difference in someone's eternal salvation when people across the street need the same Message. Hungary is similar to America in that they are both modern places with indoor plumbing, automobiles, electricity, etc. The differences, however, include different languages, customs, history, culture, governments... need I go on? After spending almost half a year in Hungary, I realized just how effective a missionary I can be in America where I actually speak the language, know where things are, and have a large community of family and friends who are willing to help in my evangelistic endeavors. Sure, I can be effective in Hungary, but I know God can use me here in Texas and America just as much if not more because of my familiarity with the U.S.

The work Jesus gave us to do on this earth will only be finished when He returns. So until that day, I will continue to be a missionary. It just won't always be in Hungary.

Mary Kate

"Go and make disciples of all nations..." 
Matthew 28:19

I spent about one week in the Italian Alps for the Midwinter Rally... so beautiful! 

HoliDAY Time!

Happy Christmas and merry New Year to everyone! The Ridgeways and I had an eventful holiday season at the "Midwinter Rally" (which is actually more of a retreat for missionaries). There I met many missionaries who were quick to tell me their story and encourage me to come back to Europe as a missionary as soon as I could.

On December 10th at the BCL, I conducted a program called Girl's HoliDAY. The goal of this one-time program was simple: help young girls (ages 7-11) see how they can make the Christmas holiday fun and yet less commercial. Rusty Ridgeway and I started planning this event several weeks before the day and yet did not get invitations out until the Wednesday before the program. Because of the short notice, I thought we would be lucky to have half a dozen girls show up. The response was actually overwhelming and much more than I'd dared to hope... 17 girls came! We spent the majority of the five hours we had making Christmas cards and cookies, an ornament, and cutting out snowflakes to decorate the library with. We did take time to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas, however. After the half-hour film, I asked the girls some questions about when they feel hopeless (like Charlie Brown in the movie or Mary from the Bible) and where they go to for help (for example, Charlie Brown went to Lucy but Mary trusted in God). We spent some time talking about Linus' speech in the movie as well and thinking of ways we could make our own Christmas less commercial and more about Christ. Even though I had lots of questions prepared, I worried that I was boring some of the girls there. God proved to me, however, that when you talk about Him, people want to listen. By the end of our discussion, all of the girls had smiles on their faces and one girl even thanked me for the discussion.

(I will try to post pictures of this event when I get permission from all of the girl's parents to use photos of their kids... that's a lot of parent's to get permission from!)

Also, I couldn't help but add this picture of the kids from "The Lamb" group and me. Even though all three of the group's regular attendees already knew about God and the Bible, they all heard a clear presentation of the Gospel which I could tell answered some of their questions about Jesus and the Bible.

I leave Hungary in just a day and a half! Please pray for safe travels and beyond as I re-enter the U.S.A. With God's help, I will tell many people about the true life of a missionary and how they can pray for and help these messengers of Christ.

Mary Kate

Hungarian Lesson #3

My apologies for not blogging in several weeks! I am happy to report that Thanksgiving week came and went with no tears of homesickness. Christmas is just around the corner, however, and I would greatly appreciate your prayers. I am leaving Hungary the first week of January so prayers for safe travel are also welcome.

Ok, now for the lesson. Just in case you want to throw someone off, try saying yes and no in Hungarian instead of English. In Hungarian, yes is spelled 'igen' and pronounced ee-gen and no is spelled 'nem' and pronounced nim (like the book Nim's Island). Often on a bus or tram, a person will answer their phone and the side of the conversation I hear goes something like this: "Szia! Jo, jo, jo (good, good, good). Igen, igen. Nem. Igen. Nem. Ok, szia." And that's it. It's pretty hilarious! I often wonder what they are talking about... Sometimes we can be the same way though, can't we? We say yes and no in the same sentence or maybe we even say 'maybe' because we're so unsure. Paul says to the church in Corinth that a man might answer 'Yes, yes,' and 'No, no,' in the same breath because that's the world's way. In contrast, God's answer will always be 'yes' in Jesus Christ.

Igen in Him,

Mary Kate


"Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God's grace. For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both "Igen, igen" and "Nem, nem?"

But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Igen" and "Nem". For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us -- by me and Silas and Timothy -- was not "Igen" and "Nem," but in him it has always been "Igen." For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Igen" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

I call God as my witness -- and I stake my life on it -- that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm."

2 Corinthians 1:12-24 (with some words translated into Hungarian)

No Matter What

Since Thanksgiving is in just two days, I've decided to list a few of the 'things' that I have and most Hungarians do not that am thankful for.

• National pride. The United States is certainly not a perfect country, but I am still proud to be a citizen of the USA. Hungarians don't have the same sense of national pride that many Americans do. They don't sing their national anthem at every sporting event and they don't say their pledge of allegiance every morning at school. Americans do those things all the time and if someone chooses not to participate, they are often chastised and called "unpatriotic". Although I think a lot of Hungarian's are proud of the place they live, they are not proud of their government and all of their history.
• A "Don't give up, we can still do this!" attitude. Although not all Hungarians carry an attitude of defeat, many of them do because of the years of communism that they faced during the last century. Americans usually never give up even if there is literally no chance of success; Hungarians often stop trying if they think that they might fail. 
• Faith. Last, but defininately not least, I'm super thankful for the faith that I have in Jesus Christ. Without faith in Him, I know that I would feel purposeless in this life. With God, I know why I'm here and I know my mission. So many Hungarians do not have faith in God (church attendance is at about 20%); they don't have a purpose in life. This is why we need missionaries here in Hungary like the Ridgeways who can be here for many years, build relationships with Hungarians, and bring them to an understanding of the Gospel. It's not an easy task and in this country, it's usually not going to be a 20-minute conversion to Christ. It takes time and patience, but the results last an eternity. 

 

Playing a game during "The Lamb"



I will admit, it hasn't been easy to be away from home for three months. Some days I'm bursting with joy; other days I seriously miss my home. But God says to give thanks no matter what. Even during the bad days, I can always manage to thank God for the opportunity to come to Hungary, to learn life lessons, and to have my eyes opened to just how blessed I am. God has been stretching me, comforting me, and blessing me through this experience. Thanksgiving week serves as a great reminder of all that He has given and is giving to me each and every day.

One more note of thanks: I truly appreciate all of the support through emails, cards, facebook comments, phone calls, and prayers that I have recieved from friends and family ever since I embarked on my first trip to Hungary. Thank you for your support! It means a lot and brings me comfort on the good days and bad.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Mary Kate

"Give thanks in all circumstances,"
1 Thessalonians 5:18a

The Lamb & I am Second Updates



Reading to the kid's
out of "The Lamb"

 Two weeks ago my children's program began. We are reading through a book called "The Lamb" by John R. Cross which explains what the Bible is about and what the Gospel message is in a kid-friendly way. Attendance has been low (three kids each week, two of whom are part of the Ridgeway family). However, I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching the kids, seeing how much information about the Bible they retain through the questions provided in the book, and watching them have fun during the crafts and games. Beth told me that she would like to repeat the program once or twice a year so that children have an opportunity to bring their friends who need to hear about Jesus to the program. So even after I go home, I will leave behind a program for Beth and the BCL to continue which has the potential to bring many children to an understanding of the Gospel -- how cool is that?

I am a bit disappointed to say that my I am Second group for teenagers has not gone as well as I had hoped and prayed it would. I have had four meetings and only one of which has anyone attended. I believe the cause to low/no attendance has to do with my sphere of influence here in Hungary (which is quite limited). Virtually all of the teenagers I know here in Hungary are already Christians and are attending a Christian school and/or are involved in Bible studies and youth group already. One more Bible study is just not something they are interested in. Please pray that God will bring me teenagers who could truly benefit from this Bible study or that He will show me how I need to redirect my time and energy for my final two months here in Hungary. 

Thanks for the continued support and prayer!

Mary Kate

PS: The reading loft in the children's room has a ladder and railing on it now! It could still use some sanding and a paint job but there has been a lot of progress made on it thanks to Rusty and Beth's friend from college and his uncle who came for a week-long mission trip last month. The loft looks fantastic and the kids love it!

I love the BCL!

I love the Budapest Christian Library. Here's why...

- The BCL has a warm and inviting atmosphere which non-Christians are willing to visit in order to learn about God when they wouldn't normally visit a church.

My favorite job to do at the BCL?
Making coffee for the patrons!

- The BCL offers thousands of Christian materials that pastors and other missionaries are able to use in their ministries in a country where Christain resources are scarce.
- The BCL hosts small churches to help get them started. Having a place to meet is a blessing for these church plants!
- The BCL's collection offers thousands of books for Christians that aim to improve each person's walk with Jesus, give them more Bible knowledge, or just entertain them with appropriate, up-lifting fiction.
- The BCL teaches people about the Bible, even if they didn't come to the library for that purpose. For example, we had two people come in recently (a parent and child). The parent could not speak English but the child was learning English at school and could communicate in English quite well. They had come to the library to borrow books for the child to practice reading English. They also decided to borrow two DVDs in English... and guess which two DVDs they picked? Two cartoons that are from a Christian film company and have Bible lessons and verses all on the DVD. This family has been on my heart all week and I have been praying that they will learn about God and have a curiosity to learn more through those DVDs.

Riding public transportation.
Can you see the Parliament
building behind me?

The BCL is truly a unique and effective ministry that I am thankful to be involved in! Please continue to pray for the Budapest Christian Library and the Ridgeway family who runs the BCL. Even with all of the wonderful things going on here in Hungary and specifically at the library, God's work is constantly under attack. Support, both through prayers and financial gifts, will ensure growth of God's Kingdom through the Budapest Christian Library.

Thank you!

Mary Kate

Hello October!

Heroes' Square

I have been in Hungary for almost a month now and the time has gone by quickly. The Budapest Christian Library is looking better each day as the children’s room gets closer and closer to completion and the other rooms in the library are rearranged and worked on as well. I have had the pleasure of going to the library several times a week to aid in rearranging rooms as well as cleaning the library facility and making coffee for library patrons.

I'm happy that it is October as I start my first program at the library in just one week! This past summer, a family introduced me to a wonderful website called I am Second (iamsecond.com). I am Second, through free videos and guides, aims to teach others how to put God first in their lives. For the most part, the I am Second group I am starting at the library will consist of teens that are already Christians. I'm hoping that by the time I leave Hungary, these Christian teens will feel comfortable and able to start their own I am Second groups and invite their Christian as well as non-Christian friends to come participate in them once I leave Hungary. Through the group at the library, I'll be able to build a relationship with each person there as they see firsthand how an I am Second group works. I firmly believe that anyone can lead an I am Second group (the website gives you everything you need!) and I'm hoping the teens in my group will see that too. Please pray for a successful turn-out (we begin in one week: Saturday, October 8), for each of the individual teens that will be in the group, and that before I leave Hungary one or more of them will have a desire to start his or her own I am Second group.

Thanks for the continued support and prayer! Please feel free to email me or comment below with any questions you may have. 

Mary Kate

My Strength Comes from the Lord

Many people come to the library every week: library patrons, church bodies, and Bible study goers all visit the library each and every day to learn more about God. With God's help, I will add two programs to that list to bring in more visitors, help Christians grow, and, most importantly, help non-believers learn about the Gospel. (I had originally wanted to do three programs, but due to a few factors, that will probably change to two programs.) My children's story time program, geared toward kids ages 5-10, will begin mid-October. My Bible study program for high schoolers should begin in October as well.

Children's fiction books that needed
to be organized and shelved.

In the meantime, I have gone into the library several times to aid in finishing the children's room and organizing the library. Due to the fact that the library's storage room has been turned into a children's room, there is substantially less storage space available at the library now. Therefore, I worked for several hours this week organizing and cleaning the storage space that is still available. I also worked on organizing children's books and pricing/organizing used books that will be sold in a book sale sometime this fall.

This is the Children and Young Adult
non-fiction section that desperately
 needed organization. It's in order
now but will still need to be
rearranged to fit new books before
the children's room officially opens.

At the Ridgeway home, I have had the privilege of cooking three meals for the family this week. Due to my lack of experience in the kitchen, I brought mixes as well as simple recipes from America to aid my dinner-making ventures. Meals can be much harder to cook here as there are limited mixes, stove-top meals, frozen foods, etc. to choose from (not to mention the pre-made food available in Hungary is often tasteless). Thankfully, all three meals I cooked this week were yummy and aided in reliving stress and freeing time for Beth and Rusty.

God is definitely a constant source of strength for me in all my tasks this week (organizing the library, planning programs, cooking meals...). I admit that when I arrived in Hungary I wanted to hit the ground running and do a million things rather than spend time recovering from travel, jet lag, and a cold. By Saturday, I was so exhausted that I had to spend quite a bit of time resting on Sunday and Monday. As my second week here is almost over, I am thankful that God has renewed my energy, stamina, and strength so that I can effectively serve Him here.

I would greatly appreciate prayer for my up-coming programs (that kids and teens will come and be blessed by them). Please also pray for the finishing of the children's room. There are still several things that need to be done and the Ridgeways would like to finish the room as soon as possible.

Mary Kate

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."
-Psalm 28:7

Getting started...

I arrived in Hungary on Tuesday!

After hours of traveling, I reached the Ridgeway home in the middle of a busy week. There wasn't much time to sit down and catch up; but, arriving in the middle of things felt like I was exactly where I had left off in May.

On Wednesday, I watched Landon (now 3 years old) in the morning and early afternoon. We took a walk around the neighborhood and played in the sandbox. If I had let him, he probably would have stayed in that sandbox all day!

The tram I often take to the library. (The BCL
is located in the building behind the tram.)

Today I went to the library. I am thankful that there are more tasks for me to do at the library now than on my last trip; that also meant that I had a busy day, though. The third room in the library (the soon-to-be-completed children's room) looks much better than it did when I left Hungary in May. This past summer, a team of college students came for one month with the goal of turning the library's storage room into a children's room. They painted the walls, moved bookshelves and books into the room, purchased some new kid-friendly furniture, and even started making a loft. There are still tools, book shelves, and other odd things that need to be moved out of the room; the loft is not finished either (it needs some paint, a ladder, and railing). Today, Nikki (the library assistant) and I moved things out of the children's room, organized some of the books on the shelves, and assembled the new furniture. The room is not quite finished... but it's getting close! I also filled an empty bookshelf with used books and movies that the library plans to sell. On Saturday, I will organize (or at least begin to organize) the children's non-fiction section of the library -- that bookshelf is a mess!

My children's program will probably begin in October. I'm continuing to plan it and will hopefully get fliers out next week.

God has a lot going on at the library and I hope this post gives you an idea of some of the wonderful things to come. Thanks for the continued prayers and encouragement!

Mary Kate

Good, Better, Best

We've all had them. Those days where we focus on school/work, family, friends, and other extra activities. Those days that are so busy that when we finally find a second to catch our breath we have to ask, "Where has all the time gone?". Sometimes this is even the question we ask ourselves after several years of work or school. It's that moment where we stop and wonder what we've been doing with our lives. Time is a precious commodity -- how do we know if we are investing it wisely and according to God's will?

"Pay careful attention, then, to how you work -- not as unwise people but as wise -- making the most of the time, because the days are evil."

-Ephesians 5:15-16

The Blackaby brothers analyzed this verse in their book "Experiencing God Day-By-Day". The brothers say that "the temptation is to sacrifice what is best for what is good. The enemy knows that blatantly tempting you with evil will be obvious, so he will lure you with distractions, leaving you no time to carry out God's will. He will tempt you to so fill your schedule with good things that you have no time to carry out God's best," (p.239). 

I'm not going to lie and say that going to Hungary for four months is a huge sacrifice where I will be living in a hut and only get to converse with the people in my little "village". Of course the majority of my time will be spent doing mission work. But, I will have several opportunities to go to museums, shows, and sight-see during my semester abroad. Even so, I still struggled with the idea of spending four more months overseas after I had already spent six weeks there. I am in high school and should be preparing myself for college and the SAT exam. Wouldn't it be more logical to stay home and work on my academics? I only have two years left before college -- I should focus on school... right?

But then I realized that by doing so I would only be looking to do what is good for me -- what the world says I should be doing with my time in high school. Staying at home meant I would do little to grow God's Kingdom. It's not that I can't evangelize, volunteer and grow the Kingdom in the United States (quite the opposite!). But spending four months focusing on just that activity would make a much larger impact for God than staying home to focus 100% of my energy on school.

If you're having a hectic day/week/month/year where you're wondering where the time has gone, I would encourage you to seek God and ask Him to tell you what is best for you rather than continuing to do what is good for you. You don't have to pack up and head overseas but maybe there are some little changes that God has in mind in order for you to work toward His best for you. Reminds me of a little proverb I learned a few years ago -- "Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good gets better and your better gets best."

Mary Kate

Heading back to Hungary on Labor Day!

God has provided me with the opportunity to return to Budapest, Hungary this fall for four months! I will leave September 5th for a semester of working at the library and assisting the Ridgeway family in their work.

For the fall, I plan to coordinate several programs at the Budapest Christian Library.

1) Children's Story Time
A program for younger children. We will begin by reading "The Lamb" by John R. Cross and continue from there to learn more about God and the Bible through story telling. Crafts and/or games that help make the story "stick" with the children will also be included during the weekly meeting time.
2) "By This Name" study
This book (also by John R. Cross) gives a comprehensive outline of and purpose behind the Holy Bible in an easy-to-understand way. I'm hoping that other teenagers who want to take a deeper look at the Bible will join this group so that together we can better understand God and His master plan.
3) I am Second group
I am Second aims to bring people together to share their own stories, hear other people's stories, and read God's stories. Using these methods, the group will collectively spark conversation that will aid each member in learning how to make Jesus first in his or her life.

I look forward to seeing how God works through me to reach some of His beloved children. In addition to the above programs, I plan to also help the Ridgeway family on the home front in every way that I can. Please pray for me as I prepare to go back. Prayers are the best gift you can give me.

Mary Kate

"Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"
-John 8:12

Mary Kate... in Texas

As of last Tuesday night, I am back in Texas!

I feel so blessed to have lived in Hungary for six weeks and get a feel for the ministry that the Ridgeways have there. I have learned so much about God, Hungary, missions, and myself through this trip. I will forever be thankful for this experience.

As you may have guessed, missionaries have an extremely difficult job. After living with a missionary family for six weeks I was able to see this firsthand. I think that a lot of Christian homes and churches support overseas missionaries (which is great!). But when times get tough for a family, sometimes "extra expenses" are cut. Unfortunately, supporting missionaries can quite often be thrown in with the same list containing eating out and going to the movies and are therefore cut from a families list of expenses. I would encourage you to follow through on your commitment(s) to missionaries and support them for as long as they need the support. Missionaries make sacrifices all the time. As fellow brothers and sisters, we should help them out as much as we can. Missionary work has many other challenges as well: a different culture, sometimes a different language, different worldviews, different politics, different childhoods and life experiences, etc. Trying to connect with someone and sharing your faith with them is never easy but having grown up with such different backgrounds makes it all the more difficult. However, missionaries probably have the most rewarding job in the world. This is not an exaggeration. Through all of the hard times that the Ridgeway family has had these past two years, their faith has been stretched and strengthened in ways that we cannot possibly imagine. On one hand, I am happy that I have not undergone some of the stress that they have. On the other hand, I yearn for the depth of faith that they have and will have for the rest of their lives because of their work in Hungary. Thank you for praying for the Ridgeway family and the Budapest Christian Library and me! Please continue to support us in that way.

Now for the big question: am I going back to Budapest in the fall? Well, the Ridgeways said that they would welcome a second trip. Of course I want to go back (and probably will); but, this is all in God's hands. I will make preparations this summer to go back to Budapest in the fall but ultimately God is in charge of the outcome. If God does not want me to go back, I have no doubt in my mind that He will stop me.

Thank you, everyone, for the encouragement and prayers. Whether I return to Hungary or not, I feel blessed to have gone for six weeks to learn all that I have and grow closer to God in the process.

Mary Kate

PS: To keep up with what God has planned for me this year, subscribe to my blog on the left-side panel (under "Follow by Email"). Thanks!

You knew this post was coming...

...the post about food!

I have tried a couple of different Hungarian dishes as well as Hungarain versions of familiar food this past six weeks.

After church one week we went out for an ice cream cone. Hungarian ice cream is creamier and softer than in America (more like frozen yogurt) and is sweeter than in the U.S.

The ice cream shop...

Hungarian ice cream...

Landon eating some ice cream...

We also went to a Hungarian's house (a friend of the Ridgeway's) and she fed us some Hungarian food. We had some yummy appetizers (nothing like some goose fat on bread with a little paprika sprinkled on top) and a stew that consisted of potatoes and sausage. 

Kotchious Kolosh, a Hungarian pastry, is also super yummy! It's bread with Cinnamon, chocolate, nuts, or just sugar on it. 

Making Kolosh...

 The final product...

I've also experienced some European coffee. By that I mean that the size of the coffee is way smaller than in the states. A medium was maybe two ounces of coffee (vs. 16oz in the states). It's great coffee, by the way, just smaller. 

Jo Reggelt ("Good morning" in Hungarian) is a brand of breakfast food that is quite popular. Basically, you're eating cookies for breakfast -- what's not to like?

Also, lots and lots of Nutella! I know you can get that in the states but it's widely available here. What is less available, however, is penut butter. And the PB in Hungary is much more organic than in the states (less sugar, more peanuts). 

Overall, I have enjoyed the food here. Sure, there are some thing in the U.S. that I would hate to live without (icing, granola bars, chocolate chips, pop tarts, etc.)  but trying some Hungarian food this past six weeks has been lots of fun.

Mary Kate



Hungarian Lesson #2

I hope you've been using "Szia!" (from Lesson #1) as a greeting to some of your friends. I've been using it quite often here in Hungary. I also hope you are ready to learn another Hungarian phrase...

The next time you want to say "Thank you!" to someone, try saying it in Hungarian. Köszönöm is the Hungarian word for "Thank you". To learn the proper pronunciation, go to this site http://www.forvo.com/word/k%C3%B6sz%C3%B6n%C3%B6m/ and click on one of the play buttons.

All of the encouragement I have received these past five weeks has reminded me to thank God for all of the amazing people He has put in my life. I deeply appreciate all of the support that my family and friends have given me during this trip -- you guys are wonderful.

Köszönöm!

Mary Kate

Librarian by day, a little lost by night

Since my last post I have gone to work at the library two or three times. So far my jobs have consisted mostly of cataloging books and dusting shelves. As much as I love hanging out with the Ridgeway family, I also love being at the library and in the city.

To get to the library, I take a bus and a tram. On Tuesday, Rusty went with me to the library but left around lunch (I was going to stay until closing time). He told me the numbers of the tram and bus I needed to take to get back to the Ridgeway's house and I wrote them down. That evening I was going to take public transportation by myself for the first time. Somehow, I ended up writing down the wrong number and therefore got onto the wrong tram! About halfway through the route I had a hunch that I had taken the wrong tram. I went ahead and stayed on, though, hoping and praying that it was, indeed, the correct tram. At the end of the route, I couldn't recognize the place at all... I was lost. By myself. In a foreign country. I went up to the driver and as he got out of his little box I asked him for directions. I hoped the driver could somehow tell me where to go since my Hungarian is limited to about ten phrases. As it turns out, he spoke English, told me which bus to go onto next, and I made it home an hour and a half after leaving the library (almost twice as long as it should take me). But, I made it. While lost I just kept praying. I never panicked, just prayed. I will admit I got nervous, maybe even a bit scared, but I made it. And, my confidence was regained on Wednesday and Friday when I took public transportation by myself again and made it without any mistakes or delays. I thank God that I am safe -- He is in control!

On a happier note, I visited the Budapest Great Synagogue and St. Stephen's Basilica on Wednesday. Both were beautiful!

Inside St. Stephen's...

The top of St. Stephen's has an amazing view of the city...

Mary Kate

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." 

-Isaiah 41:10

Less computer, more God

Since arriving in Hungary two weeks ago, I have spent minimal time on the computer. At home, I normally spent the entire day doing school on the computer, checking emails on the computer, and all-around just wasting time on the computer. In Hungary, however, I have gone several days at a time without checking email or even opening my laptop... and the amazing thing? It's not that bad. Actually, I'm rather enjoying it. I have been able to spend more time with the kids, more time relaxing, and more time with God. My mind is not racing with information I just read on Facebook but rather I am focusing on what is right in front of me: an amazing opportunity to serve God, experience another country/culture, and get to know a wonderful family. Sure, I'm on the internet right now blogging about not being on the internet; after I post this, though, it could be two or three days before I even check my email again (versus two or three hours like at home). It is quite refreshing to stop feasting my eyes upon a computer screen but instead to focus on God.

Renewed in Him,

Mary Kate

"'Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.'"
-Isaiah 40:28- 31

Easter weekend in Budapest

On Friday, the Ridgeway's took me to the Castle District in Budapest. There are many beautiful buildings and lovely views of the city from there. It was fun and I took some great pictures.

As I said last week, the Ridgeway family currently attends Calvary Church in Budapest, Hungary (their website is http://www.golgotabudapest.hu/). During worship Nola and Weston performed on stage -- they did a great job!

Soon after church we loaded up the van and headed over to Hollókő which is a village about two hours outside of Budapest. There is an Easter festival every year in Hollókő which includes Hungarian folk dancing, Hungarian food, and lots of Hungarian Easter eggs. Hollókő also has a beautiful castle and a little Catholic church. It was a great way to spend Easter.

St. Matthew's Church in the Castle District... 

A view of the Hungarian Parliament building from the Castle District...

Fishermen's Bastion (in the Castle District)...

At the festival in Hollókő...

The Hollókő Castle...

We all enjoyed the beautiful view from the Hollókő Castle...

The Catholic church in Hollókő...

The kids were still on spring break yesterday but went back to school today. I watched Landon this morning; we did puzzles, dug in the sand box, and he rode his bike around the neighborhood while I walked alongside. 

Happy Easter, everyone! He has risen!

Mary Kate

"While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen,'"
-Luke 24:4-6a NASB

Margit Island

On Jacob's birthday, the Johnson family met us on Margit (Margaret) Island which is located on the Danube River. We enjoyed a picnic and then played, visited, and fed the ducks.

Madison and Nola put flowers in my hair...

Landon, Nola, and Madison watching the ducks...

 The kids also found a hedgehog in the Ridgeway's (empty) pool this week. They captured it for everyone to see and then set it free. In Hungary, a hedgehog sighting is supposed to mean good luck. Although some "good luck" would be nice, I think we are all continuing to ask the Lord for assistance.






The kids have been on Spring Break all week (they start back to school on Tuesday). Once the kids are back in school, I think I'll go to the library a little more to help out there. There are three rooms available for books and sitting/reading at the library. Only two are used right now, however, as the third room needs to be cleaned out. The Ridgeway's want to clean out the third room and turn it into an area where kids can read and play while their parents browse, read, and relax in the library. I think I'll be assisting with that project while I'm here. Other than the library, I will be at the house helping out with Landon. The Ridgeway's are a great family and I'm enjoying my time with them!

Mary Kate

Church in Hungary

The Ridgeway's go to Calvery Chapel Church in Budapest which is about 40 minutes from their house. The church meets in an old movie theatre. The sanctuary holds around 300 people and is full for all of the four services! The entire sermon was preached in English. After every sentence or two a translator would say the words in Hungarian.

I'll try to add pictures of church next week!

Mary Kate

My first few days in Hungary

I've had a bit of trouble getting connected to the internet here and it's pretty late in Hungary right now but here are a some pics of what I have been up to the past few days. I'll add more details soon!

Leaving San Antonio...

My room...

Little Landon...

Stylish Nola...

 Sporty Weston...

Joyful Jacob...

Jacob and Nola playing a game...

Having fun after dinner...

The Budapest Christian Library entrance...

The library...

Hero's Circle...

My first few days in Budapest consisted of getting to know the Ridgeway family, seeing the library, going to the Ridgeway's fellowship group, getting a quick tour of Budapest, riding the public transportation, going to church, trying a bit of Hungarian food, and playing with the kids.

This week the kids are on Spring Break and it is Jacob's 13th birthday!

Mary Kate