UWM Hungary Team

Well, here is the group shot of the UWM Hungary Team!!!! My new teammates - we definitely look a little different than the East Africa Team - but these are amazing people that love me - so I'm in good hands!

I've survived the first day of school at ICSB and there were no casualties!!!! I figure that that is success!

Actually, it was a good day of introduction and me feeling like I can actually teach middle schoolers - YEAH!!!!!

My new apartment is HUGE - I could fit 4 of my Sausalito apartments in it! My new wardrobe (courtesy all of the UWM families and ICSB teachers) is adequate to get me looking like a "proper" teacher. Actually, it is really funny because in the Congo - it was like pulling teeth to get me to wear a skirt or dress - and most of my new clothes that have been given to me are skirts!!!!! HILARIOUS!!!! As always, God has an amazing sense of humor and gets me to do things that I normally would not do on my own. However, my boss approves of my wardrobe and the fact that I didn't have to spend any money on it is blessing enough for me. Plus, it all fits my new slimmer figure - YEA CONGO DIET!!!!

The hard part now is keeping my slimmer figure!!!! Surrounded my dairy again, I've gone a little wild!!!! CHEESE - ICE CREAM - YOGURT - CHOCOLATE MILK - OH PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!! I will never take dairy for granted again!!! However, keeping it down to 3 servings a day has been a challenge!

In fact, reverse culture shock has hit me at every turn. WOW - how much I took for granted in the states - never again. The new theme of my life is gratitude and thankfulness! I have been so blessed my whole life - and never really appreciated it. I mean - yes - I had a good lesson on materialism when I was watching all of my earthly possessions burn up on the highway in Wyoming - but I knew that I could replace those things. Now, I'm facing the idea of what if I can't replace those things! I've decided that's ok! It is the people in my life that matter most! Nothing can replace them! I am now trying to cherish each moment with people and not worry about the distractions of things around me!

As most of you know, during my years of seminary, 8 people in my life moved on to eternity - that was really hard for me. For some of them, they lived full and rich lives. For others, their life was cut short. It is now, when people I love are separated from me and yet are still there - that I truly understand what it means to cherish them and not take them for granted.

It is so interesting how I think that I've learned a lesson, but then God brings me to a deeper level of understanding later on! I guess all of life's lessons are that way - that is why wisdom is especially prevalent in those who have lived longer on this earth - you can't help but learn amazing lessons. I'd like to think that because of all of my wild adventures I've learned a lot in my life for my meager 33 years on earth - however, I am humbled once again that there is so much more to learn!

I'm blown away - I'm undone - I'm on my face - saying I am not worthy (Wayne and Garth style!!!!)

Thank you all for loving me and for continuing to support me on this wild journey that I call life! I praise God for you all!

Your absolutely "un-normal" friend - April Aubrey Welch

Euro-Africa Conference - Part Three

The Congo Team's Last Night Together!

Love you guys!

The conference also brought with it some hard things as well.

As most of you know by now, while serving in the Congo, God brought an amazing man into my life who got down on one knee on July 22 and asked me to be his wife. Without hesitation and with the peace that passes all understanding, I said "yes." My fiancee, Angello Castero, is a Kenyan man who runs two of his own English Language Centers there in Beni. We met at the English Club that I helped with every Saturday and the SECA 20 church, where we both sang in the choir. Those of you who know me well, know that I did not go "looking for love" in the Congo. In fact, I had several conversations before I left for Africa about this exact subject. As always, I blew off the fact that this would happen to me, since my previous history of "no dating" always seemed to come true. Therefore, this all took me by surprise when I found that I was falling in love for the first time.

Unfortunately, this conflicted with my job there at UCBC. They were not comfortable with my having a relationship with someone from a different country. They asked me to go and settle this with his family in Kenya and my family in the states. Also, according to UWM's policy, I am not allowed to be in a relationship while serving with my sending agency. Once reaching the conference here in Budapest, we began meetings to discuss the terms of my contract and the consequences of my actions.

It was decided that I would remain here in Hungary and work with the International Christian School of Budapest (ICSB). I have been given the position of Middle School Science Teacher and have also been asked to help with a class to teach Hungarians English. I am excited about this new opportunity to use my gifts and talents in a different setting. The ICSB staff have welcomed me with open arms and have been helping me to get ready to jump into a new school year next week. It is a very supportive and loving environment and I know that I will be able to thrive here!

Therefore, the conference ended on a sad note. I would not be able to go home to Beni with Grant and Meredith. The picture above was our last night together here in Hungary and unfortunately the only picture I have of the three of us together! I already miss them dearly, but I know that they are continuing the amazing work they have started there in the Congo. Meredith has already started teaching at the women's center and Grant is excited about the Frisbee class he is going to get to teach over this "summer break" they have until October 1st. I love and miss everyone there in Beni and I pray for them daily. I know that it is not "if" I return some day, it is "when!"

Thank you all for sharing in my journey! Thank you all for the love and support you have shown me through the years! Please continue to pray for me as I transition into this new position and focus on my new job. Most importantly, I ask you to pray for Angello. The last consequence for my actions was that I am not allowed to have contact with him. He is now navigating the waters on his own right now. Please pray for God's love and abundant blessings to be showered down on him as he trods a path without me now.

As always, my life is full of adventure, twists and turns that no one could predict! As always, I am clinging to God who has lead me down this path faithfully! As always, my heart is full of joy over the amazing love that has been bestowed upon me and that I willingly bestow on others! As always, I know there is a reason that everything happens and I always come out stronger in the end! The verse I have clung to for years, and that will carry me through this season - most of you have heard me quote it a million times:

Jeremiah 29:11 - "I know the plans I have for," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future."

I have faith, hope, and love - but the greatest of these is love!

I LOVE YOU ALL - as always!

Love ya lots, April

Phil. 1:3

Euro-Africa Conference - Part Two

Our flight to Amsterdam was interesting in that I was exhausted and obviously emotional. Plus, I chose to watch the movie, "He's just not that into you," since I had read the book back in the states. All I could think was - "Well I never had this problem, there was never a doubt in my mind!" The funny thing was that I kept turning to Meredith to talk about it, but she was watching a different movie - so she didn't understand. I luckily was able to catch some sleep and was ready to face immigration into the EU when we hit the Netherlands! Of course, coming off the plane my first excitement was to see Starbucks!!!!!!!!!!!! Home Sweet Home!!!! Most of you know, that I gave up caffeine the week before I left the Congo - so that I would not have any more negative coping mechanisms to use! Well, luckily, I knew Starbucks has DECAF!!!!!! Unlike most other coffee shops in Europe! So, I was blissfully excited to mark all the boxes on the cup and have a Triple Decaf Iced Venti Non-fat No Whip White Mocha! I said to the girl - "yeah - I worked at Starbucks!"

We arrived in Hungary around noon and after some searching found my friend John Wilson who took us home to his amazing flat in downtown Budapest. After some cleaning up, Meredith, Grant and I went to the mall to catch a bite to eat. It was extremely weird walking into a mall! I really started having reverse culture shock moments, which are still continuing as I adjust back to "modern" society. Five stories of stores full of stuff that you don't necessarily "need" but "want." It was hard! I was excited though to have a fresh salad for lunch, since we didn't get lettuce in Congo! Meredith and I decided to just go back and chill at the apartment for a while and Grant decided to go explore Castle Hill.

The next day, we just got out and explored Budapest. We went to Hero's Square and Millennial park and had fun roaming around. We got a game of Frisbee in and I went shopping at the little open air market they had set up. I needed a purse, so Meredith wouldn't have to carry all my stuff around and I wanted to buy a necklace to replace the one I had around my neck. Plus, we got to eat some good ole park food, like Hamburgers!!!! We had fun dipping our feet in one of the fountains and exploring castles. Grant checked out the baths, since Hungary is famous for their spas. It was a good day learning the public transportation system and just hangin' out! Plus, lots of cool pictures!

Saturday was Grant's B-day as you saw in the previous video. So we walked to our new hotel on Margitsziget Island and checked out the park and all the other amazing things for us to explore on the island. After running into some friends from the Kenyan team, we decided to go back to the mall for lunch and then return to the flat to pick up our suitcases and move into the hotel. Of course, the first thing we did once we moved into the hotel was head for the swimming pool. I have to admit that it is interesting to wear a bathing suit that is four times to big now, but there was no way I was not getting into that pool! We finished off the day by celebrating Grant's birthday at a local pub and eating the famous Hungarian goulash.

Sunday started the conference and it was great to catch up with all of the rest of the East Africa Team in Kenya. Plus, to spend time with the Belgian Team that I was originally going to be part of - good to see old friends that I travelled with back in January of 2007! Of course, it was great to make new friends from the rest of Africa and Europe! The best part of the conference though was the main speaker, Brian Rice. He just really confirmed in me everything that I had already been learning in the Congo - practicing spiritual disciplines! It really made me reflect on prayer, meditation, silence, fasting, and simplicity. What were the things I truly gained by practicing these disciplines? Will I be able to maintain these disciplines now that I have returned to society with more distractions and temptations? How can I go even deeper?

He also talked about "The Shack," this is a book that played a key role in my life in the Congo! It not only helped me come face to face with my own past hurts, but I was able to use it to minister to others. I used it in class with my boys to discuss the idea of the trinity. I heard an interview by the author of the book when I was sick and on bed rest and it comforted me. God used "The Shack" powerfully in my life in the Congo. So, to me, the fact that Brian referenced it was confirmation of all the work that God had done in my life over the past 6 months. "The Shack" will forever be an Ebeneezer for me about the Congo!

To be continued . . .

Euro-Africa Conference - Part One

This is my favorite place in Beni - my tree at the park!

Well, I promised some details about the conference that brought me here to Hungary. . . So here they are!

Grant, Meredith and I left the Congo bright and early at 5am on Tuesday, July 28, 2009. Noe' Kasali came with a car to take us to the Ugandan Border. After giving away 3 suitcases of clothes, electronics, personal hygiene items, books, etc. - I still had four bags worth of stuff to take with me on the plane to Europe. On our way out of Beni, I gave my "I LOVE YOU" sign language symbol to the town I still call home and the place that I left my heart with all the people I love. Then, I broke into songs from the Ebeneezer Choir that Noe' had wrote. It was comforting to sing his songs with him in French. Noe' said that he would truly miss my talent and that I now know his songs better than him. We continued singing in Lingala, Swahili and English until our driver started asking questions about the fact that I could sing in four different languages and I was a mzungu. Grant proceeded to tell our story of how we came to the Congo.

Once we got to the border, Grant had an extensive conversation with a man in Swahili and I was really proud of him at how far he had progressed in the past 3 months. He was just excited that he understood him. We said goodbye to Noe' and switched cars and drivers and headed into Uganda. The first noticeable thing was that the roads were now paved!!! YEA - I will never take that for granted again! The second noticeable thing was the amount of people speaking English. When we went into the immigration office to get our visas we had an extensive conversation about our President Obama - which always happens in EVERY African country - but also the immigration officers asked Grant to pray over them. So he did - right there in the middle of the office - it was AWESOME! The drive was quiet because all of us were so tired - so we all took turns sleeping or listening to ipods or just watching the beautiful scenery pass us by.

We arrived in Entebbe mid-afternoon and after checking into our hotel, we decided to go check out Lake Victoria. We found our way down to the beach and then just spent some time wading in the water, taking pictures, and enjoying the sun, sounds, and smells of the beach! We had a lovely dinner at the hotel and then settled in for the night. The next day, we decided to go exploring and we went to the Botanical Gardens and then back to the beach. All in all it was a great day of hiking through town and then resting at the beach.

We flew out that night at 10:30pm to Amsterdam. It was hard getting on the plane to go to Hungary, knowing that I was leaving my beloved continent of Africa behind. I looked at Meredith as we boarded the plane and said, "I'm not going to cry because I am coming back, it's just a matter of when!" However, as we loaded on the plane, the tears couldn't help but come. I've left people behind me before in all my adventures, but I have never left my heart behind me. I just kept praying, "Daddy, You know my heart's desire - I trust You love me enough to give it back to me one day!" I still believe that to this very second!

To be continued. . .

Things I Learned in the Congo

Over the six months of living in the Congo, I learned some valuable lessons about myself. Along the way, I was making a list - today I decided to share the list with you! I hope that today you decide to start your own list. On days that it has been hard, I pull this out and remind myself of who I am now and how far I've come even in the past 6 months! Thanks for being my friend and going on this journey with me! The Adventures of April have only just begun, so HANG ON!

Things I have learned:

God does love me!

I am worthy!

I am strong!

I have spiritual power!

It is ok to need other people!

God answers prayer!

I am lovable!

I do receive knowledge!

All those people who picked on me were wrong!

I have authority!

I cannot let money control me!

I am beautiful!

I do hear from God!

Anyone is redeemable!

My gifts are from God!

Boundaries are ok!

I do receive prophecy!

I know what unconditional love looks like!

My dad does love me!

I can discern spirits!

I ravish the heart of God when I look at Him!

I am THAT girl!

Your Afro Conference!

As most of you know - I've been at the UWM Europe-Africa Conference in Budapest, Hungary. I will update you with more details about that later. But I wanted to share this great video of Grant on his 24th B-day! Happy Birthday Grant - I was glad to get to spend the day with you!!!