Quick Update

Family and Friends,

Well... I've realized that it has been awhile since I've last written and thought it be wise to let everyone know I am alive and well. Since the start of fall semester things here in Nagykanizsa have picked back up once again: school is in full swing, English tutoring is back on, Baby English is a go, Friday Nights have been going steady and meeting new people has been a constant mission. On top of all of this, two new girls (Joani and Katelyn) have joined our team and have been great additions in making God's word known!

This past September I was blessed with my parents and older brother, Michael, coming to visit me. What an adventure we had!! (see pictures down below) I wish the time could have lasted longer but I knew it was only going to be short goodbye till I see them again.

Recently, we had a campfire out at a lake and invited students and their families, along with others from our church to enjoy a time of fellowship and prayer. It was an event that Samantha and I have wanted to do for awhile and the day couldn't have been more perfect! The sun was shinning, the temperature was mild and the ground dry enough for a fire! We had a great night of playing soccer, enjoying a campfire, eating smore's and praying for the city of Nagykanizsa. It was a great and bitter sweet moment to see some of our students lifting their voice and letting God's name be lifted high!  

Over these past 9 months of living overseas I have had the amazing opportunity to travel to places I never thought would be possible. I have experienced an abundance of one-of-a-kind opportunities, been submerged into many new cultures and met people that have forever changed my life. In spite of all of these amazing things,  the more and more I realize that this life is just a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of eternity. When I was in Prague for a company meeting, a friend of mine said something that has stuck with me: "The more I travel the more I realize that this world can't satisfy, we were made for something so much more." Later I was reading a book by C.S. Lewis and this is what he says, "If I find myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." Out of all these places I see or people I meet, I've come to realize how true these statements are. God is the only one who can truly satisfy us because He is that "something" or "someone" we desire! God is the only reason we have life and for that everyday should be a day to revel in His majesty.

I only have two months left until I return home, so please be praying that we can stay focused in presenting the joy/hope found in Jesus and continue love on our students well. For our students that don't have a personal relationship, I ask that you join us in prayer for their souls. There are so many distractions/challenges that keep them knowing God but God is greater than all of it. All we can do is continue to have faith and pray!

Love you all and see you soon!
Kaitlyn

Trip with the Family

Budapest

Sopron, Hungary

Hallstatt, Austria

Salzburg, Austria

Neustwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany

Innsbruck, Austria

Bled, Slovenia 

Plitvice National Lakes, Croatia 

Taco Night @ Friday Night Bible Study 

 

Smore's Night 

Summer English Camp + Other Adventures!

My Dear Friends and Family,

While I was recently standing on Charles Bridge in Prague, with friends, watching the sun set over the beautiful city (I know, tough life) I couldn't help but praise and worship the mighty and awesome God I serve. It's hard to fully put into words what my week in Prague was like but I can tell you it was a blessing and a huge refreshment for my soul. Over 1,000 believers living across Europe gathered together for a week of encouragement, sharing of testimonies, and time of worship. The way God is working and moving in Europe is beyond what I could have imagined. David Platt came to speak and what he had to say was encouraging, convicting and thought provoking. Platt pressed that we need to be faithfully preaching and teaching the word, without compromising or watering down the message we have been given from God. During the week, Samantha and I really enjoyed being able to meet new people, build upon old friendships and just experience Christ's community. You really don't realize how much you miss something until you have it again and my week in Prague gave me just what I needed.

Now Summer English Camp was a blast and I loved every minute of it! We had a total of about 65 students attend our camp, along with 7 translators and 17 people from the States, which made the week exciting and exhausting. Camp was a total of 4 days in which the mornings consisted of presenting the gospel through English teaching and afternoons consisting of outside games, such as Organized Mass Chaos, Capture the Flag, American football, baseball, etc. Every evening we also had an event that was optional to the students. We had a board game night, movie night, henna night and the last night was a family celebration at the town plaza. There were three students who made the decision to follow Christ (praise God!) and many other students who are interested but still have questions and reservations. Please pray for Samantha and I as we follow up with these students!

Over the summer I have been able to spend the majority of my time discipling five students that I've come to love and grown to have a deep relationship with. Their names are Petra, Tina, Gita, Annette, and Barni. Out of the five, Petra is the only believer so I ask that you will pray God will reveal Himself to the others as I continue to share my faith and present the gospel to them.

Barni 

Gita (black glasses) 

Tina (far right, next to Gita)

Petra

Annette

Love you all and miss you all!
Kaitlyn

"At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except through the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." --Matthew 11:25-30

Prague

Summer English Camp

Trials and Tribulations

My family and friends,

What a month it has been! Summer has officially begun here in Hungary. Students are finished with school for the year, days are starting to get hot and summer camp is approaching! Samantha and I are very excited to participate and help lead summer camp!

Overall, this past month has seemed to be more difficult than the others. By no means has it been bad. Samantha and I have had a lot of fun together. We've made all kinds of goodies, we've become crazy plant ladies, we've struggled learning Hungarian together and we've hung out with friends. On the physical front everything looks great. However, on the spiritual front, this past month we've dealt with a lot of warfare. There are situations we are dealing with that I never thought I would have to confront. Samantha and I have reached a point where we've become speechless, wading through uncharted territory. Our eyes have finally been opened to the stronghold Satan has on this city. To be honest, it's been hard not to become discouraged. It has felt as if all the steps we've taken forward with three specific friends, they've taken double the steps back in a matter of a few weeks. It's been hard for me not to become frustrated and it's been hard for my pride not to get in the way of things. It is the LORD's hand, not mine, that is working in the lives our students. It is His doing that brings students to Him. He knows the future and He has great plans for Nagykanizsa. Whether I can see that or not, all I can do is believe. There is no way Samantha and I could taken these on situations on our own. Therefore, we've lifted them up to Him. Please pray that Samantha and I will seek and continue to seek God because we need Him, especially through trials and tribulations that are sure to come.

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" -Psalms 90:12
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." -Proverbs 9:10

There have been great things this month, don't get me wrong! I now have two new students for the summer, and have had many great spiritual conversations. Never has my faith been stronger than it is now and never have I felt so powerless but yet at the same time so content. God's using situations that I lack control of and teaching me to rely on him even more. Situations I can't fix, He can! He's even showing me the messy bits and pieces of myself that I can't fix, He can. Talk about a humbling experience. God delights in us, although we're messy and broken (Psalms 18:19). That's why I love Him so much!

Blessings,
Kaitlyn

 Training for a Half-Marathon. Look at the beautiful trial I get the pleasure of running on! 

Girls eating French Toast the morning of our second sleepover

A Few weeks ago we traveled to Pécs. It's a beautiful city, with over 35,000 college students. 

Found a beautiful field of poppies. They grow wild every year.  

Got to visit our first Hungarian Castle: Sümëg. So COOL! 

A beautiful view of Lake Balaton. 

Our last day with Megan before she headed back to the states. She is doing great, although not enjoying the Las Vegas heat. 

 Went Geocaching with Sárá! After searching for a long time we finally found the cache hanging from a branch in a tree. 

 We started growing a little garden on our balcony. It's looking quite cute! 

Bought a Magyarország jersey to support Hungary in the European Cup.

Samantha and I after watching the Iceland/Hungary football match in our town square.

Annette, Samantha, and I enjoying day with each other.