‎"Bízz az Úrban"

"Bízz az Úrban" is Hungarian for "Trust in the Lord."  It comes from the famous verse of Proverbs 3:5-6 that says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

As many of you know, I got a tattoo that says just that in beautiful lettering.  I know some would disagree with me getting it, but I didn't get it to please others.  I got it because it is such an important thing to me that I have to remind myself all the time.  I pray that it will also lead to many more deep conversations and that it can be one of my witnessing tools.  It's in hungarian, because Hungary is my home and I have a strong bind to the country and its people.

This truth is exactly what I have been reminding myself day after day ever since June 5th of this year.  June 5th my family and I got on a plane from Budapest, Hungary (EU)  and headed for Dulles Airport in Virginia (USA).  It was a long, boring and dehydrating trip but I survived but would rather have not taken it. I really miss home, but I know God has many things in store for me this next year and a half.

This blog post consists of many overdue updates that I have promised to quite a number of people!
It has been a whole month and 8 days since I have been here in the US and still no update, so I'm sorry! :)

PLANE RIDE:
Plane rides are always quite eventful. They can hold fun movies, lots of sleep, unfamiliar food, dehydration, crying babies, small bathrooms, weird neighbors; and everything from warm blankets to stiff joints and needing lots of clothes due to the refrigerator temperature of the cabin.
The first flight we took was to France, it was not so bad.  I was sitting by the window in a 3 seater row on the right.  My neighbors were a good looking, friendly young french college aged guy and a super old asian lady who liked to drink a lot of beer. :)
The second flight we took was to Dulles Airport in Washington. THAT was the worse flight. It was super long (8 hours or longer.. can't remember) and it was so cold that I was freezing the whole time and got really dehydrated and felt just horrible.  On a good note, each person had their own TV which had music, movies, tv shows and kid games.  I played just about every game and listened to a few songs on each music station, watched more than 3 tv shows, and at least 2 movies (maybe 3?..again can't remember).  I know for sure that I watched the movie Valentine's Day and it was really good!  I was assuming by the people in it and by the name of it that it would be pretty dirty (lots of unwanted sex scenes), however there weren't! I liked how there were so many different actors/actresses from many different movies all in one.
I also had a lot of time to pray and focus on God, as well as think about the life I had in Hungary. I spent 10 years in Hungary with my family and it seems like yesterday that we moved there... actually it seems like a completely different life!  I actually did cry a lot, but thankfully no one stared.  I sat separate from my family on both flights so that was actually kind of nice! :)


FIRST MONTH:
WOW. The first month I spent here in america was just that word.  It was really hard because I had to be escorted by my dad everywhere I went (due to no public transportation here) and being cooped up in the house so much.  I'm used to always being out of the house, leaving late morning and not coming home until almost midnight about every night. I also miss being able to go out by myself and go shop or spend some alone time downtown just walking around.  One of my favorite places to go to have alone time was by the Danube River, next to the Chain Bridge on the Pest side.  It was so beautiful in the evening and so calming because during the winter and groggier days there was no one there and I could just think.
I have decided that there is way too much food in the stores here and that air conditioning and aspartame is evil.  I drank alot of diet drinks since i've been here (because people think it's better for you) and have had numerous splitting headaches which I very very rarely ever get.  Aspartame is actually super bad for you! I'd rather not be putting some chemical in my body which can be harmful in the future. I'd rather put REAL sugar and fat in my body and know I can just work it off later. :)
READ THE FOLLOWING
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/americas-deadliest-sweete_b_630549.html

I have found that Air conditioning dehydrates me and makes my eyes itchy and red and dry.  Some people know how to use air condition, many don't!  Many people and stores have it so high it's like a refrigerator in their own home, why not just leave the food out?! it's just as cold outside your fridge as inside.. brrrr.  Also, I bet and KNOW stores and companies can save millions of dollars if they just turn the AC down 10 to 15 degrees. :)



PRAISES:
1)I got my VA Learners for driving
     +those of you don't know what that is: I took the theory test and passed (super easy compared to Hungary, it's almost a joke! :) and now I have my learners, which means I can drive with another person who has a driver's license and is over 18.  I have to practice a certain amount of hours before I can go to the DMV (department of motor vehicles) and take the driving/forgalmi exam.  When I pass that, I then will get my official drivers license.

2)I am all settled into my new room in Staunton, Virginia.  I will be living with my Mom's cousin Stacey and her husband, 2 kids and 2 dogs and fish :) A few weeks ago my dad, sister and I got to paint the room.  It used to have dark brown wooden trim, weird green walls with a trim of wallpaper by the ceiling of some leaves.  We painted it "Ultra White." I wanted a color to brighten the room and make it look like whole new one, it worked!  My theme for my room will be "flea market style/vintage." I'm really looking forward to decorating it!  The following are before and after.  More pictures to come! :)

3) I went to visit the Staunton School of Cosmetology who I had been in contact with because I was interested in going to their school.  I went with my mom and we asked to schedule an interview with someone in order to be considered for school and to possibly get a tour of the school.  The lady of admissions (basically she was the head of the school) remembered me and said that I need not to worry but she had already looked at my application and I am accepted!  Another big blessing was that this fall the price of the school was going up, however since I had been in contact with her for a long time I could pay the old school price.  The school will cost me 13,000$ for everything and I mean everything.  Tuition, books, smock and t-shirts and my supplies! I will start in september and I'm pretty excited!


4) God is really working in me and helping me be at peace with being here in America.  I honestly would rather still being in Hungary but I know that school-wise it's best that I'm here.  I'm hoping to go back to live in Hungary after school.  I would love to work with Campus Crusade there to reach out to the youth of that nation, and naturally work as a hairdresser there.
We will see what God brings me, but I'm really praying about that!


THANK YOU for praying for me and if your one of my close friends, thanks for being there for me through everything.  For understanding me, encouraging me, and just making me smile!

Love,
      Rachael