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 . . .