Missions Conference 2009!

Praise the Lord for the start of a great New Year in Hungary! Us Weaver folk are looking towards 2009 as an exciting 365 days, full of changes, challenges, and blessing. We are waiting in anticipation for the extraordinary things God has in store for our marriage, life, and ministry this coming year.

This past weekend was the annual missions conference here at Word of Life Hungary. Every year, one ministry is chosen from places all over the world. The entire weekend is then devoted to promoting the ministry, encouraging the leadership, and exciting people about missions! It is not uncommon to see many of our past graduates attend the weekend's festivities along with many other guests, who come to hear the Word and be encouraged. The missions conference is always such an exciting time.

This year, the ministry chosen was from our home country of Hungary! Menedek Alapitvany (Refuge Center) has been active since 1986 and is a ministry devoted to helping the poor, homeless, and needy (Menedek's choir is pictured above). They are a refuge center for those who have no other place to go. Mothers who have abusive husbands, chidren who are kicked out of their homes, and men who want to have victory over alcoholism; these are just a few of the amazing testimonies we heard this past weekend. Menedek has taken in hundreds of downtrotten Hungarians and has shown them the true love of Christ. By giving these people a roof over their heads and food to eat, Menedek has been able to share the Gospel with hundreds! So many have come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior through this wonderful ministry. It is so true when the Bible describes true religion in James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Over the weekend, we were challenged to not only encourage Menedek as a ministry, but to renew our own hearts in our walk with the Lord. Probably the most precious key I took away from the conference was the need for me have a heart that is sensitive to the Holy Spirit. As a Christian, I already have the Holy Spirit living inside of me, but how often do I actually listen to Him? How often do I just do my own thing and ignore the many people I pass everyday who need Jesus? Even to just say a word of encouragement to someone who needs a boost - this is what Jesus did. He spent his 33 years on earth living to save people, not to please himself. Boy, I have such a long ways to go.

At the end of the missions conference we all took a "Faith Promise" - promising to give a certain amount of money to Menedek by the end of the school year. The goal was set high, $10,000 to be exact. I was actually a little nervous that our group would be able to do it. Anticipating rose as our President read the final "Faith Promise" amount. Our little missions conference of no more than 150 people promised to give over $10,300 to Menedek! Praise the Lord!

Below is the link to Menedek Alapitvany if you are interestedin their ministry. I noticed they have an English option on the website :) http://www.menedekalapitvany.hu/index.php

Here's a couple pictures of my sweetie, Paul, teaching his seminar at the conference, entitled "Choosing a Mission Board." He challenged future missionaries to take a good look at a ministry before deciding to jump in. It is SO important to know a ministry's doctrinal statement, its leadership, and its main focus before anyone decides to commit to fulltime Christian work. He did a great job, of course!

Well, our dear friends and fearless leaders, Dave and Karen James, will be leaving Hungary for good next week, on February 2nd. They will be starting a new ministry back in the States, called Alliance for Biblical Integrity (for more information, check out my previous post or go to http://www.biblicalintegrity.org/). Our prayers are definately with them as they make this gigantic transition. They are most definately following God's will, but I am sure they are going to miss their friends and home in Hungary!

And here's some more big news...We are buying the James' home! This is SUCH a huge responsibility! It's like we're adults or something! Anyway... we won't actually be moving into the house until the first of June because another family who attends the Bible School needs a place to stay. So we will continue to rent our little Hungarian cottage, and move into our own real, genuine home in the summer. Life just keeps getting busier and busier, but God just keeps bringing the blessings! Stay tuned to future blogs for pictures and "before & afters."

And, for my closing paragraph, I need some advice... I try and I try to be a good little missionary, but the worldly side of me just can't seem to die. I have to admit that I am a faithful viewer of the Rachael Ray and Martha Stewart Living shows online. It is SO awesome! I can jump online anytime I want and watch clips of my favorite shows at the click of a button. It is definately my guilty pleasure ( how pathetic, huh). Anyway, this is my deal; Rachael Ray is having a contest called "So You Think You Can Cook?" Basically, I would need to enter a video, showing Rachael why I think I can cook and why she should have me on her show. Six people are then chosen, and we would all compete to be the last chef standing. I think I'd win a trip to Italy and some cooking supplies or something. My main reason for doing it is the glory, of course! We have an intern here this year whose specialty is video editing and I think we could do a really great job. I have a poll set up on the margin of my blog where you can let me know if you think this is a good idea or a waste of my time. Don't worry, I won't get my feelings hurt!

Thanks for reading and God bless!

A Year of Thanksgiving

Sziasztok, from the Promise Land! Translation: Hello, from Hungary! We are busy as ever here, doing the work of the ministry for the glory of God. Paul has been busy learning the tricks of the trade for his new position as Acting Director of the Bible Institute. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, here's an exerpt from a previous blog I wrote, but never published:

And now for the big news... starting in February, Paul Weaver, my wonderful husband, will become the acting Director of the Word of Life Hungary Bible Institute! As some of you may know, Dave James and his family will be moving back to the States in early February to begin a new ministry entitled Alliance for Biblical Inegrity. Long story short, Dave had a conversation with Jimmy DeYoung this past summer about the incredible need for churches around the country to clearly, accurately, and appropriately interpet God's word. Alliance for Biblical Integrity wants to have the most well-developed, dependable, intricate, and exhaustive website available that will help churches and Believers as they seek to accurately interpret God's Word. Eventually, Dave hopes to write some books on the subject, as well as have written programs for churches, and conferences.

Paul will be stepping into Dave's place as acting Director of the Bible Institute. They are tremendous shoes to fill, but I know that if anyone can do it, it's my dear husband! Paul has had mixed emotions about this huge transition. Of course, he is very excited and eager to get started, but he also feels incredibly humbled that God would choose him for this major role. He is nervous for the obstacles ahead, but is fully relying on the continuous grace and peace that God has given us in the past, and will continue to give us in the future.

Some of Paul's new responsibilities will include, scheduling guest lecturers to come teach at the Bible School, making the official school calendar, being the bad guy for major disciplinary circumstances, leading Bible Institute staff meetings, scheduling conference speakers, continuing to teach, and much, much more. Please, as you think of us, please pray for Paul during this transition. God has chosen him to be an incredible leader, but along with that comes much responsibility. Please pray that Paul will remain faithful and sensitive to the Holy Spirit as he strives to please the Lord in all things. Thank you for your encouragement and excitement over this big change. We are truly thankful for each and every one of you!

Amongst other busy activities, Paul and I have really been enjoying getting to know the students. We've had several "fellowships" at our home and have even had a few students for dinner. Usually there is a "fellowship" at a different staff member's home every week for the students. I think most of them come for the free food, but it's also a nice time of conversation, fun, and bonding.

This past week, I had a Pancake Party at our house, girls ONLY! Poor Paul; he looked so pitiful in our bedroom, all alone. Somehow, he survived! I think it was the pancakes that helped him along. I made over 60 pancakes, a fruit platter, and hot chocolate. It felt like IHOP. Then again, I guess it is the International House of Pancakes. Those girls totally inhaled those cakes! I was afraid we'd have a bunch of sugar rushed maniacs on hand, but somehow they were able to enjoy the Cinderella movie we watched afterwards. It truly was a fun time! Here's a pic of all 18 girls in our tiny living room! Anything for pancakes, right?!

And... I know this has nothing to do with this blog, but I gotta show off this cake I made a few weeks ago for another fellowship. This one took a lot of sugar!

Only one more week in Hungary and Paul and I will be heading back to the States for one month. Paul's older brother, Keith, will be getting married December 6th, so of course, we thought it would be nice to stay with family for the holidays. It's hard to believe that only one year ago, we were living in my Mom's basement, still raising support in the States, dreaming of the day we would finally get on the mission field. Don't get me wrong, I love my mom, but we are SO glad to finally be in Hungary! God has truly blessed us in amazing ways this past year. He is amazingly faithful!

It will be sooooo nice to see everyone again and be able to spend Christmas together. I am REALLY excited to give all my family members a gigantic hug... and to eat Taco Bell ...and Wendy's ... and go to WalMart! Sometimes I feel like the wimpiest missionary ever!

Please pray for us during our travels. Although the main reason for going is for Keith's wedding, we will also be speaking to many youth groups about the Bible Institute. We want to use our time in the States for the glory of God. Paul already has about six engagements with youth groups and Christian schools to speak about Word of Life Hungary. Please, please, please pray that we get several applicants from these visits. It is extremely important that these young people have a firm foundation in Christ before they head to college or a liberal university. Paul and I genuinly feel that the time spent at our Bible Institute is the most important one to two years of a young person's life.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and encouragement. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and save me some turkey!

Busy Little Bees

There is a famous Spanish proverb that says, "The busy man is troubled but with one devil; the idol man by a thousand." (by the way, I can't read Spanish. I found it online. Ole!). There's no doubt about it, we are B-U-S-Y! School has started, Paul is teaching, I'm learning, and the oven is working overtime! I think in the past three weeks or so, I have probably baked on at least ten different occasions for something special pertaining to the ministry; everything from fellowships, to girl's devotions, to one of Paul's meetings. I think the Word of Life Bible Institute is fueled on cookies!

Paul is in the third week of his new class for the Fall, Biblical Theology. The course basically goes through the Bible, book by book, and discusses the different theological truths we learn about God, Christ, The Holy Spirit, the Church, Man, Sin, and End Times. Talk about a difficult task! My heart hurts for Paul sometimes because I know he wants to elaborate in class about a specific subject, but there is just no time! The Bible is a big book, and this is only a 30 hour class. He's done an awesome job so far keeping a balance on class discussion and his own teaching. I think the students are excited to see God's Kingdom Program clearly played out in the Word. This course helps road map the workings of God throughout history, to establish His Kingdom. Very cool! He's definitely my favorite teacher :)

Paul is also the Academic Dean at the Bible School, so he has been busy organizing academic records, talking to students about expectations, and preparing for the jam-packed year ahead. Not to mention, he is also in charge of the internship program for all of Word of Life Hungary. This year there are 12 interns who are busy helping the ministry operate and improve. Paul keeps their department heads accountable, leads meetings with the interns once a week, and is available for any questions that may come up.

This year, I will be responsible for organizing hospitality for our guest lecturers. Many of our teachers come from the States for one week intervals to teach a certain course during the school year. While they are here, the goal is to build strong relationships between our guest lecturers and staff members. One way we do this is by having the teacher in a different staff member's home for dinner each evening. It is a way to show our appreciation for their willingness to come and to get a good meal in their tired bodies! I am responsible for making a calendar each quarter, showing the guest lecturer for the week and the different homes he will be eating in. It may sound simple, but it is so not! I don't think I knew what I was getting into! I have to figure out exactly what day and time they are flying in, which staff members are available when, if the teacher is bringing his wife, and when they plan to leave. Lots of details!

Also, I am taking the second year at the Bible School, and finishing up my degree online with Liberty University. I am sooooo ready to be done with school! I don't think I'm one of those so-called "life long learners." The learning stopped for me after language school. I'm educationally pooped!

Last night, Paul and I had a few German friends from language school come over to our house for dinner and board games. They all drove in from Budapest. We showed them around the castle and grilled out on our porch. I think they really enjoyed seeing the "country side" and all the wonders of our little village. We love having the opportunity to open up our home be hospitable to others. I just don't like the cleaning up part!


Below are some pictures from open air evangelism a couple weeks ago. Paul is explaining the Gospel through a paint board. For those of you who know John Neineghbor from Columbus, he is pictured below on the right. It's exciting to be starting another school year. God is going to do amazing things through His servants at Word of Life Hungary. We are bee-ing what He wants us to bee!

Full Steam Ahead!

Check out our newest video as we plow through the streets of Budapest, trying to get to language school. This ain't your typical school bus ride!


The school year has officially begun! Word of Life Hungary Bible Institute is now in session! Full steam ahead! This weekend marks the beginning of the 15th year of our Bible Institute. Fifteen years ago, two very brave men, Dave James and Alex Konya, stepped out in faith and began teaching Hungarians the Word of God. In the beginning, there were only a handful of students, and classes could be taught from our castle’s dining room! Now, this year alone, we have 52 students and 12 interns! There are 24 new, incoming students, and 28 returning, second-year students, including me! I will be completing my second year of the Bible Institute as I also continue to take classes online with Liberty University. Should make for one educational year!

Last night the entire staff and student body celebrated the beginning of a new school year with a delicious banquet. We ate, laughed, and caught up on what everyone had been doing over the past three months. It was a great encouragment to hear about the different summer ministries the students had been involved with. One thing is for sure, God is working through the WOL Bible students. The Lord has a great plan for each and every one, and it’s so exciting to see those plans being played out!

After dinner, we all headed down to the meeting room where we did some singing, had staff introductions, and opened the Word. George Theis is the guest speaker for the weekend. He is the former President of Word of Life International, taking over for Jack Wyrtzen, the founder of Word of Life. He and his wife Joan have been married for 49 years and have ministered throughout their entire married lives. They started out in the Clubs ministry with Word of Life Florida, but were then called to begin the very first overseas Word of Life in Brazil. For twenty years they served the people of Brazil, until the Lord called their family back to the States to take over for Jack Wyrtzen. It is such an awesome encouragement to see a couple who have served the Lord whole heartedly their entire lives. God truly does bless those who are faithful to Him.

The rest of this weekend will be packed with seminars, instructional meetings, orientation, and fellowship. This coming week we will start the first class of the year, entitled Street Evangelism. Sam Frey, an expert in open-air evangelism, will be our guest lecturer for the week. This guy is amazing. He travels all over the world, teaching people how to get out there and evangelize, whether it be on the street or to a stranger on the bus. At the end of this week, our students and staff will all travel into Budapest and put what we’ve learned into practice. Armed with the Word of God, a handful of tracks, and a little bit of bravery, we will spread the Good News on the streets of the city. Please pray for this amazing evangelistic opportunity!

Paul and I were busy this past week, preparing for this upcoming school year, and settling back into our humble home after being away at language school. It’s amazing how much a yard can take over in just one summer. I spent and entire day outside trying to tame Mother Nature back into shape. Luckily, our sunflowers needed no help. They have finally opened up! My wonderful Grandma Prebeck sent me some sunflower seeds back in May, so now I have a little piece of her in my own yard across the world! I was so excited, I even decorated cupcakes in a sunflower motif! Paul used them for his intern orientation this past week. He is the official Intern Coordinator for the year. There are 12 interns helping out at WOL in various departments. Each has special talents and abilities and a true desire to serve the Lord.

As we look to the year ahead, it is exciting to see what God will do. His blessings are endless for those who are willing to follow Him and remain faithful.

A Hungarian Holiday!

Well, it's been another eventful, fun-filled, completely exhausting week for the Weavers! Just like always, we have been going, going, going. Last Monday, August 19th, was the first day back to language school after our nice summer break. I was so thankful to the Lord that I was ready to go back! In the beginning of the week, I was dreading it, but by the Friday before school began, I had pumped myself up mentally to get back into learning Hungarian. I do not learn very well if I am not totally and completely tuned-in to the subject being taught, so it was important that I was motivated to go back to school, or else the time could be a waste!

For the last three weeks of language school, Paul and I have decided to attend a new university all together. It is called ELTE (Please don't ask me what the acronym stands for! All I know is it is a famous Hungarian's name plus the word "egyetem" which stands for "university"). We made the decision to switch schools because our friend's wife was also attending, and she had recommended it to us. The program is thus that we attend six hours of class per day, and at the end of the school hours, we have some kind of special presentation or outing. For example, last week we took a trip to the National History Museum, and we had a guest professor come in a discuss the history of Hungary in the 20th Century. It was incredibly interesting, and that means a lot coming from me (AKA: queen of zoning-out)! This next week we will take a visit to the Opera House (I totally almost wrote "Oprah House"!), The Museum of Applied Arts, The Terror House (a museum devoted to the Holocaust in Hungary), and the same professor will return to speak about the history of Hungary from the fall of the Berlin Wall until present day. One week down, two to go!

This past Wednesday was the national holiday for Hungary which celebrates their independence. Budapest was completely packed! Paul and I headed into the city for the afternoon to check out the activities, food, and events. One of the biggest attractions for the holiday is the annual Red Bull Air Race. Professional stunt-performing pilots from all over the world compete in a race of loops, twists, turns, and obstacles, in order to receive the best time. The coolest part was that the whole show took place over the Danube River! Literally millions of people were lined up along the shore, as they watched these stunt planes complete their amazing tricks. I've provided a few pictures of the event. It was so cool to have all the ancient and beautiful Hungarian buildings in the background! Parliament is pictured at the top of my blog.

Yesterday I played "mad scientist" and attempted to propagate ivy so I can plant some in my yard this fall. I took stem cuttings from the end of the ivy growth and placed them in prepared soil. According to the Internet (and Martha Stewart) the cuttings should have rooted in 4-6 weeks, at which time I can transplant the ivy into my yard. We will see! I know you will be checking "Jill's Blog" everyday as you anxiously await the results! Until that time, thank you for your prayers and interest. We love and miss you all! Sziasztok!

P.S. Happy Anniversary Gramps and Grams! We are amazed at your commitment to eachother and to the Lord! We love you!

P.P.S. Welcome home, Dave and Karen James! You have been very much missed over the summer! We are so glad to have you back from furlough!

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!

The Amazing Race: Paul and Jill Style!

Well, once again, it's been a very busy week in the Weaver household. I hate to use the word "household" because it could mean one of several places: Budapest, Toalmas, or even on the road (we spend so much time driving now a days). In fact, in the past three days, Paul and I have set foot in four different countries! We have been to Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Austria all within the past 72 hours!

Because we are currently in a short break from language school, and because we will have next to no time once the Bible School year starts, we decided to take advantage of our independence and see the world! (or at least a couple of neighboring countries :) Our first stop, Bratislava, Slovakia, wasn't all that exciting. Slovakia, formally a part of Czechoslovakia, has only been independent from Czech since 1993. Apart from a palace and one castle, there was not much to see there. In fact, we weren't even allowed inside the castle or palace. We took a few nice pictures from the outside and jumped in the car towards Prague.

Prague is a BEAUTIFUL city! I absolutely loved it! I could totally see myself perusing through the city streets, dining on gourmet meals, and taking yacht trips down the Danube. Of course, this is my worldly, "in your dreams" self that only lasts for a few short seconds until I realize we're living in the real world. BUT... if I ever make it big on American Idol or something, I think I will live in Prague next to the Palace District which is over 6 Km large!

Paul and I thoroughly enjoyed our time in the city. We stayed in a really nice hostel that I was able to find online for half its original price. It wasn't at all what I thought it would be. We had our own room which was pretty nice and even our own bathroom down the hall, because the rest of the rooms were vacant. The hostel even had free breakfast, consisting of authentic Czech salami, cheese, bread, and coffee! Wowzer!

By the way, (this is definitely a rabbit trail) did you know that all McDonald's in every country have a "Dollar Menu" ? Expect, it's not really a Dollar Menu because the American dollar is so weak. For example, in Vienna they had the 1 Euro Menu, but the Euro is equal to $1.57 American dollars! In Prague, there is the 17 Crowns menu, which 15 crowns is equal to $1. I just wanted to tell everyone this so their eyes are opened to the conspiracy which is McD's. What a rip off! (did I mention that they charge like 75 cents for ketchup?)

During our day in Prague, we took a tour of the Palace District, which consisted of the oldest Gothic-style church in Europe, several monuments, and of course, the castle. We were even able to spend time in the gorgeous castle garden, which I totally loved! Later in the day, we rode the "Funicular" up to the highest point in the city. The Funicular is similar to a ski lift, going up a hill, but it looks more like a trolley, and is definitely safer. The view was beautiful! Probably the coolest site in Prague is the Charles Bridge. It was the famous bridge that Tom Cruise jumped off of in Mission Impossible (at least that's what Paul tells me). It's huge and very grand, but unfortunately, I can't tell you any history about it. I was too excited about all the shopping located around it! You'd be proud though, I left Prague with just a few postcards!

One of the most exciting sites for me was the Barbie Exhibit at the Toy Museum! For those of you who don't know, I spent most of my teenage years collecting Barbie Dolls and studying collector's magazines. I was pretty much a Barbie-loving nerd and had no shame! Ever Christmas and birthday, my only request was Barbie. I think I have somewhere along 80 doll still in their boxes. They are currently sitting in my old closet in my Mom's house. Poor Barbie felt pretty ignored once I entered my senior year of high school. Instead of buying collector's magazines and memorabilia, I switched to paying for clothes, make-up, and gas to get to school. Anyway, this exhibit was pretty thrilling for me! I enjoyed seeing the classic dolls up close and in person, or should I say in plastic? I actually owned many of the newer dolls on display. It made me want to get into collecting again, but I don't think I will. My collection will probably find itself on eBay on of these days when we are back on furlough :(

On the way home, we swung by Vienna, just a half hour out of the way. We saw a couple palaces from the outside and walked the historical streets. What a beautiful city! I highly recommend it! Before leaving, Paul and I enjoyed some sweets in this totally cute cafe that was all pink! It was definitely a memory.

We are currently safe and sound, back at home now, enjoying each other and our wonderful life in Hungary. Paul will be preaching in the village church this Sunday, so he will be busy the rest of the week working on his sermon. As for me, I have to get registered for classes this Fall online with Liberty. I think I will also try to plant some cool weather crops in the garden and just see if they will come up in a couple months. Maybe some spinach or lettuce? Or maybe I will plan another trip somewhere! I think tomorrow we should go to Paris!