Not kicked out yet!

I'm clicking away on my laptop, nestled all cozy in my bed in BUDAPEST. Some days when I wake up I simply cannot believe it, that I'm here (or that they haven't kicked me out yet). Life has been great, busy, fun, exciting, tiresome (at times), sad (when I've gotten homesick), nonstop.. that last word kinda sums it all up... but it's a life I couldn't imagine trading. Really.

Teaching... I loved it the four years I taught in the states and when I stopped, there was an ache to do it again. And somehow, the plan leads me to the other side of the world, working alongside some of the most precious people that I have ever met.

Before I continue I have to tell you about my bulges. Before I left things were a bit nutso and I kinda put WW on the backburner. Everyone told me that when I went to Hungary I would lose weight just from all the walking. I didn't think it would happen to me but without changing my diet (except that I eat lots of Hungarian food), since my arrival August 10th, I've lost 11 pounds!! I'm thinking that after Thanksgiving I may start WW or eating less sugar/carbs... but we'll see. I'm happy with my body even though there are stick figures walking around everywhere. Somehow I keep my head together. :)

Seven fun facts:

• The Hungarian gov't gave me a two year visa! And it looks like I will return for the 2009-2010 school year!!
• I have 7 fifth graders... one who started as a beginner EAL (English as an Additional Language) learner. It's amazing to see her pick up English just by immersion.
• I've been able to visit Poland (Auschwitz), Ukraine and Austria...
  
• Rome may get a visit from me in December. Wanna come?
  
• Turned 30 in a foreign country!
  
• I have a Hungarian roommate - who speaks great English (and I beg her sometimes to speak more Hungarian).
  
• Polly is not too keen on the city but loves visits to Margit Island (there is a huge park area for her to run)
  

Pictures:

I try not to have too much fun.

Excited to be in the Ukraine.
Should not have been this excited to lay on the ground. Oh well.

My visit to the Vienna Church. Amazing people.

The girls that were at my 30th!

So.. in a nutshell I'm doing well. Thank you for the prayers that sent me here.. and thank you for the ones that keep me here. I love you all and pray that you are all happy and healthy in your lives.. God bless you and I hope to post more pictures soon (lord knows I've taken about 1,000 since I've been here).

Missions Minded - HUGE news

*Warning - the contents of this particular post may send some into shock.
Viewer discretion is advised.*

So, we, you and me, go back... over a year... Hundreds of posts. We've spent time together and I've given you a peek into my life.. my thoughts, my sad times, my joys, my desires. You've gotten to know me... my rants about PMS, my times of sadness when loved ones passed (3 this year!!), my incoherent posts because my girls that I host keep me up waay to late. And if you've been with me a while, you've been jealous when in March, I would leave for a week to spend my time in Budapest with the church, my friends, touring the city, basically having a blast-o-la.

One week ago tomorrow, I made the decision to go. Go? Yes, go. To Budapest... for a year (well, 10 months). I'm not going as a tourist this time. I'm going as a missionary, to be a part of the team, to serve in the church, do outreach throughout the city, minister to the poor and needy (most of Hungary is poor and needy), work with the youth. I've been asked "what will I do there? I will do there what I do here... be very involved and more than likely will be found ministering to the kids (ahem, teens). To help rent an apartment, I will teach Math probably to the junior high in their English speaking international school. I'm told that half of my monthly salary will cover a month's rent. I did the calculations and that means I'm pulling in about a grand a month. Trust me, this is not a career move. I have a nice home, great car, good paying job.. but I feel that Hungary is where I should be in a month's time. I'd call it a call and maybe it's crazy and I know how insane it all sounds because I have so much to do before I leave but to simply put it.. I walk and live by faith.

I asked one of my blogging friends if she thought it was okay that I post about this. I never did quite get an answer from her but because I've posted about everything from colon cleanses to co-workers who don't wipe the seat, I figured I could post this here also.

The director of the school (my new boss) said that it would be a good idea to raise some financial support before I go. Basically, you would be helping fly me (and Polly) over there and back (in a year). I HATE asking for money but I thought it couldn't hurt to put this out there. I put a Donate button at the top right of my page, if you want to donate.. if you can donate... the funds will go straight into my PayPal account. And of course, donations are tax-deductible. To be honest, I'm not sure what I need total but as a start, I think it would be awesome to raise 2 grand...

I know whenever I donate to cause, I want to know what it's going toward... Well, see below...

------> My airfare to and from Hungary
------> Polly's fare as excessive baggage
------> Starter items for apartment (I can't pack this stuff)
------> Whatever survival means living ten months in a foreign country
------> Occasional weekend missions trips to Berlin, Romania, Czech, etc.
------> Electricity in my apartment

Please go check out the school's and church's websites. And check out of my own church and take a look at the missions section. It's amazing that we're going into all the world!

The School
The Church
Home Church

If you can't support financially, maybe you can pray for me because that is just as important! I will post my list of needs and details in the right side also.. Maybe you will see something that you can help with? In advance.. thank you, thank you, thank you!!

ps. I made my 10 lbs lost mark!!

He called me the "s" word...

What?! Who!? Tell me!! Woah Nelly... not that "s" word..

The conversation went a little like this:

Random guy: Heeeeeeeeeeeeey, pretty lady. My name's Michael. What's your name?

Me: Tina.

RG: I'm from South Carolina. Where you from?

Me: Here.

RG: Ooooh, can you tell me some fun places that I should go, seeing how you're a native?

Me: (think to myself that I could already smell all of those "fun places" and smile politely)

RG: Don't you wanna hang out with me? Mmm, you're so fiiiiiiiiiine and so SCRUMPTIOUS. MMMMMMMMMM.

Me: No thanks. I have plans.

RG: No thanks?, he said amazed that he was being turned down. Oh, I see. You have a girls night out. You married, engaged? (all to which I shake my head). C'mooooooooooooooon. Man, you are sooo beautiful. I can't HANDLE it... Mmm, mmm, mmm... SCRUMPtious.

Me: Ok girls, time to go.

Toll to downtown Baltimore with my girls - $4
Eating an awesome dinner at the Cheesecake Factory - $79
Being called scrumptious twice in 5 minutes - Priceless

Life Update

I don't even know how to begin this.. I feel like I can't find the right words to say what I want to say.. . But I've been wanting to update you on my life so here goes...

There is a man that maybe if it weren't for the life he lived, the message he preached, the things he taught... I would be living a much different life. It was not an accident that I heard him speak one day. His words were very eloquent, he was well read. I felt sometimes that I needed always have a dictionary on hand. But he challenged me to think higher, live better, love beyond.. He had the kindest eyes. You knew he understood, he cared. This man was there for me during one of my darkest trials... he was my friend. He taught me how to be trust, how to forgive. With his life, he showed me that love really can conquer all. He was my Pastor for 10 years. And he passed from time into eternity Tuesday, June 3rd in the evening. He didn't just impact my life but thousands of others. I am sad but yet rejoice.. Because I believe what he preached about.. That this life is not the end.. and that his life continues. There will be a memorial to celebrate his life on Saturday.. It's been said that anywhere between 3500 and 5000 people will be there. If you are interested in reading about him, click this link.


We have death and then we have life.. I also have four exchanges students living with me. They just moved in last week and already they are a blast... full of energy. This time they are all from Russian and wee are having a good time together. I hope that this summer will be an amazing one. I am already getting less sleep. :) Ps. I am finally starting to notice a change in my body.. less pudgy around the stomach.


My weight has changed... for the better.. I broke out of the 178's and today saw the 177's.. 177.2 to be exact. One more pound until my "10 pounds lost" mark! Last week I gained..I think I was up to 182 or some crazy number like that but I think it was TOM weight because it fell off this week. Also, the temps for the last few days have been in the 100's so I am sweating my @$$ off... and am not very hungry except for salads and water. I've been moving more lately too! I started running last week, swam three time last week, and played volleyball for 2 hours yesterday. I'm a moving machine! :)

I'm sorry for having been quiet recently.. sometimes when life throws stuff at you, the capacity for other things gets smaller. Heck, I hadn't even checked my email in a week! If you really, really, really want to find me (like all my tried and true stalkers).. I'm on Facebook. Send me an email with your name/email address and I'll add you.

Hugs...