Hungary Day 1

Well today was interesting to say the least. I got into Budapest yesterday and was able to shower eat dinner and go to sleep for 12 hours. The next thing I know I get a phone call from one of the other ringers asking if we were up. Um, I was now. We missed our 7:30am wake up call because it got cancelled without us knowing. So I hurried in packing and ran out the door to the bus. My roommate and I didn't get into trouble because it wasn't our fault but I really wished I could have had some time to get ready instead of rushing. We took a tour of Buda and Pest...same place but Buda is the hilly side and Pest is the flat side. When I have pictures up later it will explain itself. We saw the palace and tons of old buildings from WWII and older. We did some shopping and ate a really tasty sandwich. Then we were off to the church to set up and play. To make the day more interesting out bus driver took us to the wrong church...so we had to walk a ways with our bell stuff. Then we had to carry our very heavy bell equipment up narrow stairs. It was nice and easy after that. We had a welcoming Hungarian desert and tea before the concert. Oh, it was so good. Then we played our pieces. It was well received and many cried. Everyone was eager to learn how to play when we gave them the chance. After that we came back to the hotel and had another tasty dinner and are all resting and preparing for bed as it is 11pm here and 2pm back home. I think that is all I have for today. Tomorrow and Friday are home stays in Gyor. Then we are off  to another city. I will keep you posted when I can. Oh one last thing I LOVE IT HERE! I want to live here. At first it reminded me of WI, so green and a bit chilly...but so beautiful!

Packing, Packing, and More Packing

First off I have to say that I have not planned to write almost every day. However, it has been very soothing for me to write in the morning after I wake and spend some personal time with God. So if you do read and noticed that I have posted a few blogs in three days have no fear posting every day will not be the case. When I am in Austria and Hungary I have no clue if I will be able to get online so I wont have the chance to post every day. And as for camp I know I can't post every day either. 

Now on to my subject matter of packing. I REALLY DON'T LIKE IT! My title is correct when I say packing three times. This is because I have packed Wednesday, Thursday, and am continuing today...and will be making sure all items are packed for tour. After tour I pack up the car and get ready to go home then to camp. There is LOTS of packing. I know that I am becoming a good packer after four years of moving around but it is still a pain. Plus as Wally and Melissa kept saying yesterday I have way to much stuff! I agree...and in the process of packing I am trying to give stuff away...its working but still...to much STUFF! I kept wondering if others feel the same way I do when it comes to packing. Not the I don't like it but the reason of it feels like your getting no where in the process. Do you ever get that feeling? The one were you have been packing for hours and it doesn't seem to have made a dent. Well thats what it felt like yesterday. And when I woke up this morning I still felt that way...I looked at the closet and all my clothes were still hanging. 

Well it is time for me to go attack those hanging articles in my closet and finish packing the little odds and ends. The pre-journey is still in motion and summer HERE I COME! YAY!

It hit me...

Do you ever have those days that seem to go by so fast but throughout the day it feels like 3 or 4 days rolled into one? I do. And yesterday was one of those days. By the end of Wednesday night if felt like Friday night or Saturday. I was so confused all day asking myself what day is it and reminding myself each time I looked at my planner that it was still Wednesday. I had crammed so many things into my day that it made it feel like three days in one. However, there was a point when IT  hit me. When I say IT I mean summer! At 4pm yesterday I went to my last bell meeting and realized I am leaving on Monday! I am leaving in 5 days for Austria and Hungary and I have SO much to do! Then my thoughts brought me to camp...wow....that adventure begins in 17 or so days. It had finally hit me that I would be starting on my adventures in 5 days! YAY! As I kept thinking I realized the summer adventure has already begun. I have finally started packing all of my dorm room stuff...only one box...not much but its a start. As I have been packing up my stuff I have also been making piles for camp and for  handbell tour. I think that packing is apart of the adventure and journey.
I will say I had a wonderful adventure with my friend Kate, Kate's mom, and Keisha last night. Kate's mom took us to dinner at Gina's, the pizza was wonderful and the conversations were simply delightful. I love spending time with the girls, it is energizing and soothing after a long day. After I got back from dinner I had to say good bye to my wonderful suite mate Hyunsook. She was headed back home to Korea right when I walked in the door. I will miss her but I know we will be able to keep in touch via Facebook. I also enjoyed time with my wonderful boyfriend Wally. He was still working on homework but he took a break and we played a game of Phase 10 while watching Myth Busters. It was nice to finally unwind and and have some quality time together.
As for today I have my last final, MAJOR packing, and some shopping to do. I am sure God will through a few more things into my day but I am up for it.  

Pre-Journey

I have started my summer journey by surviving finals week. I am not finished yet with finals but I am close enough to it. I have been working on my pre-journey requirements for the past few weeks. This included time filling out a large stack of paper work for camp and sorting through odds and ends that needed to be completed for camp arrival. I have also been practicing for my handbell tour that will take place in 5 days. I have also been working on a packing list. I am hoping to upload photos and discuss my experience from tour after I return. I may not be able to update until after I get to camp and begin training but we shall see if God provides time to.
A few things that I will hopefully get done this week is packing up and moving out of the dorm, packing for handbell tour, and camp. I need to complete my first aid and CPR class on Saturday, and rest! I know there are more things to finish up but for now those are the big items on my mind. I will say that after moving in and out of Concordia the past 4 years has taught me to became a pro-packer.
Well I must go and finish up a few things including my last youth ministry class and homework. Then its on to packing, bells, and saying goodbye to friends.
I will say that I am super excited for this new chapter in life to begin and I can't wait to share it with you!