Vienna

Well, we just got back from a quick two-day trip to Vienna! It was beautiful, and thankfully, it wasn't too cold! (I am from southern CA....I need a break every now and then!) It is an amazing city! We went with two of our good friends here, Andy and Angela Slaughter.

One thing that I was worried about when we moved was if we were going to connect with anyone. Would we find people who we had things in common with? People we could build relationships with? Because of the close knit community that you fall into when you move to a school of fellow missionaries, we found that we were quickly welcomed into the lives of everyone here. We have experienced nothing short of immense graciousness and hospitality! And God has provided us with dear friends already. He knew what we needed when we came here, and he was ready for us, as he always is. So thank you God, for good friends, old and new! And thank you for the beautiful cities and country sides that you created that we are able to enjoy!!

Check our our Youtube site for videos from Vienna! (link is on left hand side)

A Little Reminder...

Hey Everybody!

I just wanted to share a quick story with all of you that really caught my attention and softened my heart even more for what we are doing here.

Last week after school Melissa was talking to a parent in the lobby while she waited for her son Luke, who is a first grader to come bounding out of his classroom, down the stairs and through the hallway to head home for the weekend. While they were talking Luke's mom shared a story with Mel about something that had happend at home the night before. As Luke and his parents were getting ready for dinner they all sat down and Luke's dad began to pray. Right as he was about to say Amen, Luke jumped in mid sentence with a prayer of his own. He prayed "Thank you God for Mr. Wilcox, he is the best P.E. teacher in the world." (He is a first grader so I'm also the only P.E. teacher he has ever had HAHA) When I heard this story later that day I was blown
away! It's always great to know about and a huge blessing to have people pray for you, but when it comes from a kid in first grade who finds it important enough to interupt dad to sqeeze in a thank you to God, it really makes you stop and think.

It's stories like this one that have been happening so regularly here in Hungary that it's really beginning to be clear that God placed us here for a specific reason. It really is an amazing experience to see the impact we can all make on peoples lives whether that be here in Hungary or back home in the states. I just want to thank all of you back home who are supporting us and making this possible! Each and every one of you are a blessings to the kids and families here, and I wish you could all come and see what it is you are doing in their lives, because once you see it, you will be hooked on Hungary!

We love and miss you all!

8th Grade Outreach Weekend

We spent this last weekend working at a temporary housing facility for families without homes. The facility was an old Soviet barracks/compound, which was really neat to see. The outreach was with our 19 8th graders and 6 of us teachers (Brandon and I included). We spent all day Friday doing yard work for them...clearing out the huge lawn of what we soon discovered were thorn trees. (Picture below!)

On Saturday, we did a kids' program for all the children at this home. Half of our group did sports (mainly football - or soccer, in American terms), and the other half of us did a craft. The craft we did was to have them decorate pictures frames. Angela, one of the teachers here, brought along her camera, laptop, and printer, and we took pictures of them to print out right there and put into their frames. We thought it would be a cool idea. Little did we know just how touching it would turn out to be. The people living in this facility have no homes, little clothing, only the food that is provided for them there, and very little earthly belongings. And for most of them, they have no pictures of themselves or their families and children. When they heard that we were taking pictures and giving them out right then, they all started showing up in their best clothes they owned. They were so proud to have their pictures taken! They started showing up with their families and asking for family pictures. Even the cooks, a couple of older ladies, asked if we could take their pictures. As Angela was uploading and printing out the pictures they were hovered around her anxiously. They were so thankful to have pictures of themselves and their families, probably some of the only ones they will ever have. Watching this, I was reminded again of how easy it is to take the little things for granted...something like a picture of yourself or your loved ones.

I think that most of us left there that weekend feeling humbled and grateful for such a wonderful experience.