Shoulder to Shoulder

I'm sitting in a milk bar right now called Tejivo, and I'm realizing that I really enjoy my life over here.

I've been back to work since the beginning of January and I can see that there is a noticeable shift in my function within the Synod Office. Perhaps it's less of a shift in the Synod and more a shift in me. My biggest task so far this year has been creating, along with others in the Ecumenical Office, a communication plan for the RCH's English website. Now, I know that this seems like a really basic task for any organization, but the difference, again, is me. This is the first year that I have a stake in the material that goes out to the world. My opinions are heard and considered. It's like we are finally seeing the potential of a project that has taken numerous months to launch and even more to hone. It's not always easy, and honestly it's been a bit daunting to see the scheduled writing assignments that will ultimately fall into my lap, but it's exhilarating too.

Another exciting thing about this year is that I'm finally participating with other branches of the RCH. Friday, I finally took the long anticipated trek out to the Refugee Ministry. Yet again, my tasks are kind of up in the air, but I know one thing. I will be working with inspiring people who run an incredible ministry. When I first got here, everything was unknown - future events on the horizon, present, but vague. Now, I am a part of it. I am more than an editor, I am a creator.

It's a strange thought to think about slipping into another life in a different country, but that's exactly what I've done. I am struck sometimes, because I feel that I've become too comfortable too soon; like I should be on the lookout for the inevitable crash that I've heard so many missionaries talk about. And honestly I do think it will come at some point, but I am lucky enough to say that I have a support system to fall back on when I do crack.

Sunday marked the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a worldwide call for community, and I don't think there has been another time in my life when I have seen the importance of walking together with our brothers and sisters in Christ so clearly. If it were not for this extended family in Hungary found through God, I would not feel this sense of calm - well, perhaps not calm, but more a state of preparedness.

I guess it is a self defense mechanism of sorts when you are separated from everything you know to latch onto the things that are blessedly the same. I find myself operating mostly within my head, following conversations through body language and gestures because I don't understand the words that surround me. And it is in these times that I see the mannerisms, expressions, routines, laughter and even faith that connect us in the most organic sense.

Together, we can create this wonderful and sometimes strange community of mismatched histories, languages, appearances and faiths. I can only hope that throughout this week, we are able see the hope that comes from putting differences aside and realizing that we are always stronger together.


Zephaniah 3:9
Then I will purify the lips of the peoples,
that all of them may call on the name of the Lord
and serve him shoulder to shoulder.

*Shout out to the St. Columba's Bible Study group for the verse!

My Year End Review...ish

Hello.

It's been awhile. I'm sorry there have not been any posts lately, but as everyone knows, the holidays are a busy time. I may have taken a brief hiatus, but fear not, I'm back to work now!

I celebrated my first truly white Christmas with some wonderful people in Budapest and several church services, including a Hungarian service. I am incredibly lucky that people were kind enough to open their homes and lives to me for my first Christmas away from home. I went out on the 24th and snapped a few photos of the city in the snow. It was pretty breathtaking.

 Szabadság hid (Liberty Bridge)

Szabadság szobor in the fog (Statue of Liberty)

After Christmas, my friend and I were able (with the incredibly generous help of our boss) to take a trip to Paris, where we rang in the new year! The city was absolutely stunning even if it was a little rainy. We rented an adorable flat on the north side of the city, outside of the city center, that became our home for the week. I cannot properly explain how comforting it was to have a place to come back to every night that we could call our own, not just a hotel or hostel.

The trip started out a little rough with a very long, complicated, exhausting story involving shuttle services, French information desks, night buses, dead birds, extremely upset passengers and one bizarre yet wonderful taxi ride. I'll spare you the gory details, but know that we arrived safely, even if it took a little work and several hours to get to our flat the first night.

The next morning though, everything changed. I can honestly say that we did not have any other problems the rest of the trip (aside from a few expected metro mix ups). We were surrounded by history and art that defined an entire country (and beyond). We were able to go to the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Rodin, the Panthéon, Versailles,  Notre Dame de Paris and the most beautiful churches I've ever seen. It was a surreal and humbling experience to be so close to things I had previously only imagined seeing in textbooks.

Tour de Eiffel

Mona Lisa

Venus de Milo

Notre Dame de Paris

The Seine

All aglow for New Year's

Aside from the sights, it was the people we spent our time with that made the trip special. We met with a few old friends who introduced us to the well kept local secrets of the city, delicious food and even better company. We were also able to strengthen new relationships, including a trip to the south part of the city for Sunday service with an old member of the Global Ministries team and the local congregation he now serves in Paris. The hospitality we met during our five short days was a blessing and we are truly appreciative for our warm welcome.

On the way to Notre Dame de Paris

Dinner date!

In Montmartre

I think it's incredibly telling that inevitably the first words you learn in any language are words of thanks. I've said "thank you" more times than I can count this year, and as I look forward to 2013 and a new year full of possibility and promise, all I can say is thank you. Thank you for the support, thank you for the faith, thank you for the prayers, thank you for the opportunity, thank you for all of the wonderful people in my life and thank you for all of the blessings I may overlook during the day to day.

It seems to me that if "thank you" were the only words we knew, we'd get along just fine.