letusgive!

Giving Tuesday—really giving every day but it’s good to be focused for a day:). I’ll just start by saying life is really good and God is really waaaay better:) It’s been a while but I must say—this fall season has been amazing. A few new places, experiences and even new people!   I just continue to be amazed at opportunities. The street work—yes, it’s heart-breaking but also humbling for me. The two women I go to the streets with are cream of the crop. Leaders in their organizations and a heart for these women, men, pimps and most importantly a love for Jesus.  And another opportunity is to be in actual classrooms, during class time, in. Hungarian school teaching English. Brilliant kids, gracious teachers and English is ok for me:)!! So as I sit here on a plane headed back to Budapest; I’m excited. Excited for this holiday season with my Dad and brothers family coming to Budapest!  Not completely sure of the new places, experiences and/or people awaiting me but excited!  

I’m constantly amazed at the world—its languages and cultures. Mostly, I’m thankful English is the ‘internationally’ accepted language. I can speak, read and understand English:).  However, the past month has brought varied experiences with other languages and I have enjoyed those VERY much! 1. Sitting in a hotel conference room in Albania listening to English but the ‘murmurs’ all around the room of translation (many wearing headsets) into Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Hungarian, and Romanian!  Beautiful, humbling and music of a new kind.  2. Riding in a bus to a volleyball game with a team speaking Bulgarian, Chinese, English and Hungarian in the back.  Then with the driver telling stories in Hungarian and a bit of Russian to an American understanding just the Russian but smiling and nodding his head for a solid hour. Classic - yes, but beautiful music.  3. Walking the streets reaching out to the women working there and their ‘boyfriends’ driving up speaking in angry Hu

What do the following items have in common? —Going in a Salvation Army van to two streets in Budapest known for prostitution on a VERY hot day and offering cold tea, water, cola and snacks. Remembering and being remembered by the girls on the streets.  Words?...none...just broken-hearted prayers —Visiting a dear family in a tiny, hot, stuffy apartment in Budapest who gifted me for my birthday. Dad had a massive stroke 7 years ago—lost everything and listening to the 14 year old daughter tell how much the whole experience has taught her..about prayer, life, love, community and God.  —Sitting around a table in Poland with several men who have been left for dead due to addiction(s) and hearing their story of redemption and being SO thankful for a chance to simply be alive and second chances.  —Gathering outside for a Friday night bar-b-que with Syrians who have been granted asylum and are grateful for life. Families separated but left due to persecution and/or forced into mi

7/18/18 - Happy birthday Patti! I’m not sure I can make this one short J   My heart is breaking and full at the same time – is that possible? ·       Life is good, God is waaaay better. ·       My heart breaks – going on the street to offer a smile, kind word, snack, chocolate, tea, or whatever to those ‘working’ on the street.    I am grateful for the chance to do such things but praying it is fruitful somehow or someday it will come to good in just one life. ·       Another rough week in Serbia.    This time not personally, but hearing many languages new to me, some sharing their stories – those are rough. Walking many, many miles and want their paperwork to show the actual city they are from instead of the one the police officer knows – because it makes a difference.    An city/area is a statement – it matters.    ·       To see young men sit at a table doing sticker art…that’s kind of all we had left after playing games and putting puzzles together for quite a while.

Random thoughts at 2:30 in the morning Budapest time but 1 hour and 15 minutes away from landing at San Francisco Int’l airport.   So begins the process of adjusting my internal clock. ·       Whistling is nice and pleasant…but not advised when you are trying to light a match.   Cracked myself up the other day trying to light a gas burner on the stove and I guess I was in a good mood since I was whistling J ·       Once again it was confirmed in my life; when moving, you are guaranteed to have the hottest day so far in the year.   Moving is not my favorite thing; friends and family helping in many ways definitely are a favorite! ·       People are kind; truly.   In my lifetime there have been many people showing kindness.   I enjoy that and am quite thankful. ·       Life is good, God is way better. Would you like an email each time I post a blog?...enter your email to the right on this website ( http://yesletusgive.blogspot.com ). How about donating to my volunteer wor

There have a been a few times in my life that my heart was broken… ·       When I first was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis) and I watched an older lady cross the street very slowly – I could actually ‘see’ and ‘feel’ her pain as I have never seen or felt pain before. ·       My best friend’s daughters running, hugging and telling me that their parents were getting divorced. ·       Sitting in a medical clinic in Ethiopia – dirt floor, meager surroundings and yet it was a place people came and had hope for a cure or better conditions and village leaders verbalized grace and kindness to our team from California. ·       Standing in a hot, humid, mosquito-filled refugee camp in Greece with no showers or ‘real’ bathrooms talking with a Mom and she said she could not move to another camp like this.   If that would happen; she would rather return to Syria to her house in rubble and war-torn town as shown to me on her husband’s mobile phone. ·       Feeling pai

Life is very good and God is waaaay better! 1.      Ahhh…the sweet smell of rain and the sound of thunder.  That is what I’m smelling and listening to right now.  Budapest is racing right through spring time and full force into summer! Summer in April…what?  My fans are working. 2.      My favorite flower is lilac – all varieties.  This is the season for lilacs here…oh man do I love them!  It reminds me of my Mom – she loved flowers!  I find myself loving flowers too J   I remember when I was a junior in high school and our class was responsible to decorate for graduation.  I had a two-fold reason to make it good; my sister Susan was graduating and I was junior class president so it needed to be done well!  So my Mom and I scoured our little town and the next town over for lilacs. I’m telling you what – that stage was FULL of lilacs!  I’m not really sure what the senior class thought (sorry for those with allergies…we didn’t even think of that!) but I was happy – there were lilac

Life is very good and God is waaaay better! 1.      You know what?   I’m encouraged – after spending 10 days in Belgrade and meeting young people (20’s and 30’s) from all around the world – literally – that come there to volunteer, work and whatever else.   They work very hard!   I hear so much about how these ‘millenials’ don’t have a good work ethic or are lazy etc.   Could be true…but once again…that is a generalization.   I’m not a fan of that because there really ARE good ones out there!   I’m encouraged. 2.      Easter week – not exactly my normal Easter week but I am enjoying it.   The trees are not budding, flowers are not blooming, and I don’t have Easter decorations around my house.   And yet – I am enjoying each day and moment.   I have not been at my house in two weeks; instead I’ve been in Belgrade, which I consider a bit more ‘raw’ than Budapest.   I’m quite thankful – I didn’t lose a phone on this trip (2 lost/stolen there last year) and the people I got to know re