Arts and Crafts

Every week we do two arts and crafts projects with the kids. The kids love anything to do with painting - finger painting, hand prints, water color... Here are a few projects we have done lately. 

"Things God Made" The kids went in the garden to find flower petals, leaves, etc and on the other pages they drew what He has made.

The firefighter handprint was a little more complicated and I did it with each child one-on-one. The other children worked on a self portrait as Agi wrote down what they wanted to be when they grow up. Our theme for the week was "Community Helpers"

One of the parents brought in some new fish!! We had a measly two fish and now we have fifteen. Each of the kids picked one fish out and named it. They were quite creative, ha! Two of the kids named them after their own name and the twins named their fishes, Crying and Don’t Cry. Other names include Heart and Rainbow. Agi and I named our fish, Nemo and Pumpkin. Here are their colorings of their fish hanging from the lights:

Side story:

We had PTA this week where the parents come in and are able to ask questions from 1600-1700. The small house and middle house parents were together for the same meeting on Tuesday and the big house meeting was on Thursday. Elindi and Fruzsi watched our kids while we sat in on our meeting and we watched their kids during ours. Many of the parents know a little bit of English so I am able to communicate with them at the end of the day but the meeting was in all Hungarian. I was kinda surprised at how much I was able to pick up on during the meeting. I picked up on hand gestures, names and a maybe 3 or 4 words, ha!

Prayer Gathering

This past Wednesday, I went to the Gibson's home for prayer with Danube International Church. It was a sweet time of Bible Study devotion. praise and prayer for each other and those around the world. The pastor, two of my Bible Study leaders from Tuesday night, the junior high intern, Gibson's, an elderly missionary couple from Scotland and a missionary couple from Kahazakstan all gathered together in one room.
This video was shared and I wanted to pass it along.

Celebrations

Here are a few pictures of happenings at Rainbow Hills...

B's Birthday Cake

 Birthday sign we hang up for each child when it is their birthday.

Z's birthday cake. They also brought treats for breakfast, afternoon snack and marzipan (almond) candies to go with the cake.

 The kids decorating a sign for Grandparent's Day.

The kids performed the "National Grandparents Day Song" (thanks to google and youtube), " I love you, You love me" and "You are My Sunshine" for their Grandparents. Each child gave their grandparent a poem with their handprint on it. Afterwards, we split into two groups for potato stamping and making chocolate covered pretzels with ground walnut. Then it was time to go in the garden for outside play time. 

After cutting the potatoes in half,
 we used cookie cutters to make shapes. 

Special Moment

This past Friday, L, came up to me as I had repeatedly been calling on the twins to come join our circle for circle time. Circle time is our instructional time in all english where we teach the alphabet, numbers, poems, songs and a topic depending on our theme for the week. L said in her sweet accent, "Natalie, I love you." In a moment of slight frustration, how she warmed my heart. She can tell when I am tired of repeating myself with some children and she will gently come give me a hug and then go right back to her seat.

Sometimes I feel like they have no idea if they understand what I am saying and tend to stare at me blankly when I speak. Oh how their smiles can make my day.

I love to delight in the simple things here are just a few that have made my day...
Gluten Free treats from my boss, a new friend from Bible Study, and at Bible Study every week.
Hungarian necklace and book cover from Agi.
Receiving a flower at a Greek restaurant on the river before leaving.
A run turning into a walk because I want to pick up all the walnuts.
Having a bag full of cracked walnuts in the pantry. (Cracking walnuts is a new hobby of mine)
Baking GF banana walnut muffins with my new friend Laura.
Vonage phone call with my Uncle Ralph
Going to Aldi. In general, I love going to the grocery store even if I don't need to get anything. I just love to look at everything.

What I am learning...
 Routine, consistent expectations, hand motions and praise are key to kids
that I have difficulty communicating with
Hungarian words. This language is difficult to say the least.
I really like the bus and tram because I can look out the window.
Free wifi at the Auchan mall and Maragret Island.

Just a few walnuts. Timea gave me the entire black bag of
nuts from her tree at home.  She is so thoughtful!

Flower from Greek Restaurant on the Danube

Aldi!

Note to Agi

Sweet Agi who I teach with was diagnosed with tonsillitis and was dearly missed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I sent her this note via fb to let her know the "middle house" (eight Hungarian four year olds and myself) was thinking about her. I hope you can get a good laugh out of this post. 

P.S. The capital letter represents a child's name. 

Agi, 

I have a few things to tell you so I made a list:

1. I think you are the best. 

2. I miss you. 

3. I want you to have plenty of time for adequate rest so don't hurry back too soon. 

4. D walked in and asked where you were first thing. Then he gave me a flower, I think he intended it to be for you so I am saving it for you. 

5. Z wanted to draw a map for you with Rainbow Hills as an X so you could find us.

6. B and C have been first to arrive both mornings

7. D was absent today. I called his mom and he didn't want to be here if you weren't. 

8. Z wanted to visit you after school today because she is a good girl. 

9. R scratched her hand this afternoon and needed a bandaid. 

10. I turned around and lost C, he was hiding under the table at breakfast. I used one of my few Hungarian phrases, "not funny."

11. I tried to tell a finger puppet story but it wasn't as good as yours. 

12. You didn't miss any good food except for Z's birthday cake, we saved you some!! 

13. L has been trying to teach me some Hungarian words. They were words for mom, dad and eagle. 

14. C wet his pants in circle time yesterday. 

15. I think you are the best!

16. I had a dream last night that Timea was gone (she helps prepare food, get breakfast, lunch and snack ready, translate for me, set the beds up for nap time and many other wonderful things) and there were two new Hungarian children that didn't speak any English. I think I am considering that dream a horrible nightmare.

17. D pushed B two times outside. Tears were shed. 

18. I have been cracking quite a few walnuts during free play outside.

19. I have no idea what M has been thinking lately. He has been washing his hands to much but he comes and leaves RH with a smile. 

20. B wants to bring new fish, her dad asked if it was okay.

21. L has been giving me many hugs when I need them :)

22. My arm has been wet from all the sweet kisses of B and C. 

23. Our Grandparent's Day song needs some serious work. I dreamed about it last night. 

24. Nap time is not the same without you. I miss your sweet company. 

25. You are loved dearly.

Natalie

Questions

How is culture shock?

Honestly, I haven't had a problem. I am still in the vacation stage, ready to discover all that is around me. I was given an article about the different stages of culture shock, read a book about Hungary and researched about this adventure that I am on to help mentally prepare myself for the world around me. I am really trying to keep an open mind and I desire to see everything through gospel centered lenses. No matter where we are in life, where we are, we all need love. 

Have I seen a lot in the city?

I am trying, it is a work in progress. There is SO much to do and see, it is impossible to do everything. There is caving, Challenge Land, market hall, museums, house of terror, national theatre, libraries, squares, castles and the list is growing....

Do I miss home?

More than anything, I want to experience this with my family and dear friends. I honestly feel like I am simply living life in a new city. I do not feel over 5600 miles away especially with technology these days. I am so blessed to be welcomed here with open arms of families and new friends that have taken care of and loved on me. 

Do I get bored in the evenings?

No. I will read, go walking or a jog, fix dinner, talk to family and friends or prepare for school (which is not time consuming). I have gone to nearby stores like IKEA, Decathalon, Auchan (grocery store similar to Walmart) or Bible study which is on Tuesday evening. I am also tutoring a fourth grader to practice English and help with studies twice a week. One night I spent the night with Fruzsi at her home in Budakesi, which was so fun! Fruzsi, her dad and I went on a run together that evening and ate her favorite pasta dish. She is a native Hungarian and graduated from college in the states last May just like me. 

Street in the neighborhood

Map of my neighborhood

Missing American Items?

Many items are still available here. I have seen peanut butter, corn tortillas, marshmallows, canned pumpkin, salsa, tortilla chips, Rice Krispies, Ben and Jerry's.... Yes, they are much more expensive so I will likely not buy them but they are here if I felt I couldn't live without it. 

Gluten Free?

I have been blessed with people who are very understanding, aware and accommodate for me. It is much different here because they are not required to write on labels if items are processed in the same facility as wheat. I am trying to read labels but is a little difficult with it being in Hungarian.  My coworker, Dia, knew of a gluten free store and she gave me a flyer about it. There were many options like pasta, pizza, rolls, loaves of bread, frozen items, cereal, bars, muffins, desserts... When I walked in I must have written on my forehead "not Hungarian" because a lady started speaking to me in English. I think I might have been in awe from the new store and I was quite glad to have found it. The lady was so sweet and showed me her favorite items and baked goods. Turns out she has been GF for 2 and a half months and lives in my neighborhood. She was So sweet and glad to have met me. We quickly exchanged emails. She helped me to communicate with the store owners. I am thankful to try "Hungarian style" breads and danishes that are GF. Prices of GF items are naturally more expensive but reasonable. A loaf of bread is about $3 and in America they are $5 and up, pasta is around $3 - $4 for a package (which will last me quite awhile). 

There is also a "bio" store in walking distance to me that has some GF items too like pasta, brownie mix, oats and various kinds of flour.

                           

What I've been listening to:

Sermons from the Village Church

Louie Giglio "How Great is Our God"

Current playlist includes Bryan and Katie Torwalt, Audrey Assad, Shane and Shane, Kari Job, Cory Asbury, Matthew and Lizi Bailey, Meredith Andrews

Weekend with the Ewings in Györ

Larry and Melinda Ewing, missionaries with the IMB invited for me to come to Györ for the weekend. We made connections in May through Larry's sister and our family friends the Carter's about meeting up together in Hungary. 

Through my coteacher Agi, she helped me figure out what buses I needed to take and directions for buying my first train ticket. I felt quite accomplished for finding my way, buying my ticket and getting on the right train. I met a teenage boy sitting next to me, Baloks, that helped translate when they used the loud speaker at stops and he was very interested in practicing English/learning what life is like in America. 

Larry was there to pick me up at the train station and then we headed to their Friday night Bible Study with about 30 high school students. The students were easy to talk to and it was so encouraging to see how they take a proactive role for Bible study - leading, planning, worship, activities, games, clean up, etc. 

On Saturday, we had "Ranchero scrambled eggs" with fruit for breakfast and went to Vivian's apartment for a meeting to discuss future plans for Friday Night Bible study. Vivian is also a missionary with the IMB and the Bible study is at her flat but she will be coming back to the States at the beginning of November. She has been serving in Hungary for 12 years! The Ewing's took me to lunch and we enjoyed vanilla latte's together from McCafe! They showed me around their beautiful town. I got to see the city square, court house, Jewish synagogue, old ruins, an art galley and more! We stopped in a tea room on our way back that we walked by that was new and they had never been to before. It was such a nice setting, comfortable chairs, peaceful surrounding and delicious drinks! I got a dark hot chocolate speciality drink and it was like pudding. It was so good! We came back to their house and rested after being on our feet all afternoon. We ate dinner together and they showed me summary videos of their ministry for the past three years. It was incredible to hear stories of how the Lord has opened doors and provided.

 Sunday morning was home church with about ten other people. We sang hymn and worship songs and then Agi (she has been apart of their ministry for awhile and translates too) taught from John 15. The Ewings, Vivian and I went to lunch at the mall and got to visit some more and then headed to the train station for my departure. It was such an encouraging weekend and such a blessing to be with them. Even though we just met this weekend, I felt like we were already friends. They took such great care of me and I am SO thankful!! 

Town Square

Jewish Synagogue 

Jewish Synagogue

Jewish Synagogue

Yummy Hot Chocolate

Things I have learned

Chirket (not correct Hungarian spelling but it's how I read it) means chicken

Decathlon is a great sports store. 

IKEA is about ten minutes away from me on the 140 bus. 

A walnut and cherry tree are in the garden (the backyard/playground). There are some raspberry bushes too!