Imagine Me!

Music is the language of my soul! You can always tell what mood I'm in by what I'm listening to! My life verse is:

Zephaniah 3:17 (New International Version)

¹⁷ The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."

He rejoices over me with singing! It is how God speaks to me - through song! I get songs in my head for people - I will sing it over them all day long!

All my favorite memories in life involve singing - road trips in the car with kent and my dad singing at the top of our lungs with the windows rolled down, kent and I dancing in our mom's living room listening to 70's albums, sitting in my sissy's bedroom singing "strawberry fields forever", kent and I driving home from college belting out "scenes from an italian restaurant" in 3 part harmony with Billy Joel, worship practice with bob & barbie at SCF, the Ebeneezer choir concert in the congo, our multi-language worship for cultural heritage week here at ICSB, and my last sunday in the africa - my fiancee' singing to me how I am his angel!

I was blessed this month with a great half-birthday treat - tickets to a Kirk Franklin concert!!!! For those of you who don't know who Kirk Franklin is - I'm sorry - he blesses my heart so much with his truth and joy. When I listen to a kirk album - I laugh, cry and dance!!! That is exactly what happened at the concert! It was the exact thing I needed at this time in my life!

I'm enclosing the words to the song that touched my heart the most at the concert - I am praying that these words will touch you as well:

"Imagine Me"

magine me
Loving what I see when the mirror looks at me cause I
I imagine me
In a place of no insecurities
And I'm finally happy cause
I imagine me

Letting go of all of the ones who hurt me
Cause they never did deserve me
Can you imagine me?
Saying no to thoughts that try to control me
Remembering all you told me
Lord, can you imagine me?
Over what my mama said
And healed from what my daddy did
And I wanna live and not read that page again

[Chorus:]
Imagine me, being free, trusting you totally finally I can...
Imagine me
I admit it was hard to see
You being in love with someone like me
But finally I can...
Imagine me

Being strong
And not letting people break me down
You won't get that joy this time around
Can you imagine me?
In a world (in a world) where nobody has to live afraid
Because of your love fears gone away
Can you imagine me?

[Bridge:]
Letting go of my past
And glad I have another chance
And my heart will dance
'Cause I don't have to read that page again

[Chorus x2]

[Vamp:]

This song is dedicated to people like me

Those that struggle with insecurities

acceptance and even self-esteem

you never felt good enough,

you never felt pretty enough,

but imagine God whispering in your ear

letting you know that everything that has happened is now. . .

Gone, gone, it's gone, all gone

it's all gone, every sadness

Gone, gone, it's gone, all gone

every mistake, every failure, it's all gone

Gone, gone, it's gone, all gone

depression, gone, bad faith, it's gone

Gone, gone, it's gone, all gone

low self-esteem, hallelujah, it's gone, it's all gone

Gone, gone, it's gone, all gone

it's gone, all my scars, all my pain

Gone, gone, it's gone, all gone

it's in the past, it's yesterday, it's all gone, ahhh

Gone, gone, it's gone, all gone

gone, what your mother did, gone, what your father did, hallelujah

Gone, gone, it's gone, all gone

It's gone

Bosnia

This is the eternal flame that is lit downtown to remind people of all of those lost in the war.

This past weekend was a holiday here in Hungary celebrating the revolution against the Russians in the 1950's. So we had an extra day off of school. I chose to go visit some friends living in Sarajevo, the Duerods. Malcolm is teaching at the American University there and Corah is working with Roma children to try and create a preschool for them! It's really a blessing to see how they love on the people of this hurting country trying to recover from a war that ended not that long ago!

We had a great time just catching up and hanging out. It was the first time I had gotten to see their beautiful daughter, Tikvah Joy, since she was born over a year ago! We also got to go walking around downtown so I could see old town Sarajevo. They took me on a driving tour of the city as well where I got to see the site of the 1984 Winter Olympics and the many large cemeteries from the war. It was extremely interesting to see buildings full of bullet holes and right next to them brand new mirrored sky scrapers going up! The old and the new trying to co-exist!

One of the funniest things that happened was one day we were driving through town and this guy gets behind us and starts flashing his lights and honking his horn. We think that maybe we have a flat tire or something wrong with our car - so we get over in the next lane to let him pass so he can tell us what is wrong. He passes us and waves and smiles and then drives up to the car in the lane ahead of us to curse him out! I couldn't believe it!!! He just wanted to pass us to get closer to the guy in front of us and curse him out! WOW! I'm glad that was so urgent - we caught up to him again at another light and he smiled and waved like a thank you. I just had to laugh!

The 12 hour train ride there and back gave me some time to really process through all that has happened in the past 3 months. In fact, I had my own private car for the last 9 hours on the way there. I just spent the time singing, dancing, journaling & praying. I know that I was definitely entertaining the ticket guy that kept walking by - at one point he stopped outside my door and just danced with me!!! The whole thing just helped me to feel refreshed, focused, and loved. Because of course, Corah & Malcolm spoiled me rotten while I was there. It was just nice to see some beloved friends from California!

Spreading the Love!

Most people I know don't know what it is like to be homeless. I can honestly say that I do. More than once in my life, I have either had to live on people's couches or sleep at the office or hide out in my car. So when I walked onto the former Russian Army base that is the living area for several Hungarian families, I was taken back to those periods in my life. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words - and the one above I feel is worth a million. This mom and daughter were blissed out because we took their picture and gave them a picture frame to hang it up in their small apartment. How simple is it to spread the love?

Last weekend, the Middle School here at ICSB did service projects. The 6th graders walked around Diosd, our city, picking up trash. The 7th graders went to visit a mental health facility to throw a Harvest Festival. I was with the 8th graders at this homeless ministry out in the middle of the Hungarian Countryside.

We arrived on Friday to do some much needed yard work. There were tons of thorn bushes and trees that needed to be taken out of the back yard so that these adorable children could have a place to play that was safe. So we took on some war wounds and rounded up the trees and yard waste and made them home more ascetically pleasing! Then, we had a good ole fashioned bonfire complete with sausages on sticks to roast! We had a round of worship with guitar around the fire and then followed it up with a movie night of Ratatouille in Hungarian with English Subtitles. We traveled to a hostel for the night's devotions and rest.

Saturday morning we got up nice and early to return for breakfast with the residents. They proceeded to give the students a tour of the facilities, while us chaperons set up the craft time. We had brought picture frames for the kids to decorate with paint, feathers, stickers, glitter, etc. They had a blast making them beautiful and we had fun communicating cross-culturally! The families got all dressed up and we took and printed up their pictures so that they would have something to keep! We had a communal dinner where they expressed their gratitude and then we headed out to catch the train ride back to Budapest. The students were excited because we got to ride on a "Harry Potter" Train - it had compartments instead of rows of seats!

All in all, we were supposed to make a difference in those families lives. However, I know that it made a difference in mine. Once again I am reminded of the many things God has carried me through in my life and how grateful I am to be blessed even with something most people take for granted - a place to live!

Color Clash Calamity!

Color Clash Calamity was the theme for our Welcome Back to School Party in the Middle School. I volunteered to be one of the sponsors of middle school student council since I have all of those years of experience in school politics - hahahaha! Plus, you know how I don't ever pass up an opportunity to plan a party! So I made sure that I joined in the fun and dressed in my most clashing outfit! In fact, I was the only teacher that dressed up - that surprised me! But I had fun in my pig tails and crocs and I got some votes for best dressed!!!

We had fun playing a skit game, octopus tag & guessing games. Our prizes were some good old fashioned american food - oreos & doritos! The kids went crazy! We also surprised them with root bear floats for the snack time!

All in all everyone seemed to have a blast and the parents said we did a great job! Not to bad for a first time class sponsor!

Hungarian Cultural Heritage Days

So this weekend was the annual Hungarian Cultural Heritage Days! Which means I got to wander around the city for fun and visit some cool museums for free!!! You will have to check my link here under "Hungary pictures" and see some of the cool stuff!

The ethnographic museum was definitely the coolest - not only did I learn more about the Hungarian people but about some amazing art! Did you know that the Hungarian people originated close to China and from the designs in the fabric and early paintings it looks as though they may be of mixed Chinese and Russian decent - never would have guessed that in a million years! Also, the museum had an amazing display of Agnus Dei - Lamb of God - depicted in folk art of the Hungarian people. It was really cool to see all of the handicrafts that they used to depict their Catholic Heritage.

I'm still constantly working on developing my Hungarian speaking skills, but it's a lot harder than KiSwahili!!! Plus, I am working with kids that speak English on a daily basis and really only get to spend time out in the community on Sundays. So, I will only be able to teach you a few Hungarian words next time I see you - but I'll be able to have a conversation in Swahili! No worries - at least I am more cultured in the Hungarian Heritage now!

Slip 'N' Slide Whirlpool

You would think that after being a life guard for over a decade that I would have learned what is "proper etiquette in a pool! However, this is me we are talking about! I got in trouble at Kehina Thermal Pool by going into the middle of the vortex! I got the whistle blown at me - WOAHHHHH! Well, now I know where not to go! Then after that, another life guard came up to me and asked me to give the kids a chance to go down the water slide because I was "hogging" it! Yes, I was hogging the water slide - it was a really cool tube slide with flashing and twinkle lights inside - it reminded me of Magic Mountain at Disney - so I kept going down it! Plus, I had interesting fun with my bathing suit now that it is 4 times to large - HILARIOUS! What do you expect? It is me we are talking about!

Well, as you can tell I got to have some fun this week. The faculty and staff of ICSB went on their annual retreat - first of all to recover from the first 3 weeks of school and secondly to grow a little closer! We had a last minute change of retreat location - and let me tell you that everyone was more than happy at the change of accommodations! There were 7 swimming pools, natural hot springs, saunas and hot tubs! We were spoiled rotten. There was also a massage parlor and I took advantage of the pedicures to try and get my feet back in shape from all of the Congo sandal wearing! You wouldn't even recognize my toes - I was trying to explain to the lady who I think only spoke German and Hungarian that I used to have cute feet! She just smiled and nodded as she tried to shave all of the calluses off the bottom of my feet! But they are some gorgeous toes - pics are on their way!

Well, the best part of the weekend was the guest speaker, Ronnie Stephens from Danube International Church here in Budapest. I swear that God was talking to me through him about the story of Joseph and the picture of redemption ministry. I was in tears almost every session and knew that this was exactly the encouragement I needed to hear! I got to spend some quality time with my fellow teachers and staff and feel a lot more connected at the school. I really got some quality time sharing some of my Congo story and feel a little more "known." I don't know how we got to be blessed with this retreat - but as for me - it has made my month!

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