The Weaver Summer Low- Down

Well, it is officially the last week of our break from language school, and I'm not sure I am ready to go back! There are still so many projects around the house I want to complete. Seems like there is never enough time in a day!

Starting this Monday, Paul and I will continue our intensive studies in Hungarian for three more weeks. After that, the Bible Institute will be in full gear, so language study will have to be slowed down big time. Actually, I am hoping we will be able to find an adequate tutor to help us during the week throughout the year. Learning Hungarian is my top priority right now. I don't feel like I can fully function or the Lord adequately unless I can communicate with the people! Don't get me wrong - I look at everyday as a gift from God, one that should be used to its fullest potential in that moment for the Kingdom, but I absolutely cannot wait until I can thrive in a Hungarian speaking society! I want to be able to go to the store and not be embarrassed, chat with my neighbors, and talk to my kids' doctors (when we have them, in like 20 years!).

Paul and I have decided to test out a new language school entirely for these last three weeks. This new class takes place in the oldest university in Budapest. It will consist of four, two-hour sessions, including grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, and speaking exercises. In the afternoons, the school will have "labs" consisting of either a guest speaker or a field trip. The guest speakers will give seminars on Hungarian culture, history, and society. The field trips will be to historical Hungarian sights, such as Parliament, Castle Hill, and various museums. Should be lots of fun! I am more than certain we will be two pooped puppies by the end of the three weeks, but hopefully we will be chatting away in Hungarian!

I have spent the break cleaning, sewing, relaxing, studying, and canning! To the left, there is a picture taken of our very first harvest from the garden! Since then, I have been out every other day, picking more green beans and tomatoes. The peppers are coming in slowly, but they look awesome! It is amazing how much one can find to do around the house when you really think about it. I took time to wash all the windows and shutters, inside and out. I cleaned the whole house, top to bottom, getting rid of dust on the upper pipes, cobwebs in the rafters, and organizing "junk drawers" that everyone has, I'm sure! I also found time to complete some much needed sewing projects and little around-the-house crafts.

Probably the neatest "chore" I completed over break was canning! Tomatoes were super cheap this past week, about 100-150 Forint/kg (around $.60/kg), so I took advantage! (those older ladies in the store can get awfully pushy when it comes to cheap produce. All I can say is it's a good thing I'm a Christian!) Not to mention, we have a nice crop of maters ourselves, growing in the back yard! I canned about 17 jars of crushed tomatoes, and I tried my very first stab at salsa as well. I've made fresh salsa before, but never tried simmering it and preserving for later use. I had no idea what kind of peppers to buy at the store to give the salsa a kick, so I settled on "eros paprika" peppers. Eros means strong in Hungarian, so I figured they were at least a little spicy. I charred them in the stove and removed the skins, seeds, and veins. Luckily they were just enough heat to give my tomatoes and fiesta flavor! It will be nice to have the salsa for last minute company.

I also made some homemade peach butter from a recipe that Karen James, my friend and fellow missionary, gave me. It turned out sooooo delicious! Really easy too - just some peaches and sugar in the crockpot. This canning thing is getting better and better!

Tonight we are house sitting in the Diosd house, where we lived during language school. The family who owns the house will be returning early next week, so I have to take some time in the next couple days and clean up our scum from there home. They were very kind to let us stay here, but I think they appreciated knowing that someone was looking after their home as well. Next week, when language school starts up again, Paul and I will move to a new house in Budafolk where a staff member with Word of Life's mother lives. Her mother is on vacation for the next four weeks, so the timing worked out perfectly! Praise the Lord!

My wonderful grandparents, on my dad's side, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last weekend. Wow! 60 years! You must really get to know someone after that length of time! They are such an inspiration to me. They were not Christians until after they got married. Life has definitely brought them some difficult times, but through it all, they have relied on the Lord for wisdom and strength. I hope that when Paul and I look back at our marriage in 60 years, we can be half the couple they are. I am so glad the family and their church friends were able to get together last weekend and celebrate a truly God-honoring, faithful, and selfless marriage. I love you Gramps and Grams!

Word of Life just wrapped up its last week of summer youth camp. There were seven weeks of camp, which included volleyball, basketball, baseball, soccer, and various languages. Paul and I had never been in Hungary for a summer to see what all goes on during the camping season. I have to say that it is amazing! It was awesome to see the staff playing different roles from that of the Bible School, and morphing into "camp mode." We attended a couple different meetings and activities at the camp this past week. I was so impressed! All the kids seemed to be having the time of their lives, while also learning about the Lord. This is what the ministry should look like!

Please pray for us during the rest of this last week before school, especially Paul. Not only is he the Academic Dean of the Bible school, but he has been placed as head over the internship program this year. He will be responsible for keeping around 15 interns on their toes, plus he is teaching a new class this Fall. This requires much study and organization, not to mention perseverance. On top of all this, he is expected to learn Hungarian, and be my husband! Please pray that my wonderful Paul does not burn out. He needs to be strong for me!