Missions Minded - HUGE news

*Warning - the contents of this particular post may send some into shock.
Viewer discretion is advised.*

So, we, you and me, go back... over a year... Hundreds of posts. We've spent time together and I've given you a peek into my life.. my thoughts, my sad times, my joys, my desires. You've gotten to know me... my rants about PMS, my times of sadness when loved ones passed (3 this year!!), my incoherent posts because my girls that I host keep me up waay to late. And if you've been with me a while, you've been jealous when in March, I would leave for a week to spend my time in Budapest with the church, my friends, touring the city, basically having a blast-o-la.

One week ago tomorrow, I made the decision to go. Go? Yes, go. To Budapest... for a year (well, 10 months). I'm not going as a tourist this time. I'm going as a missionary, to be a part of the team, to serve in the church, do outreach throughout the city, minister to the poor and needy (most of Hungary is poor and needy), work with the youth. I've been asked "what will I do there? I will do there what I do here... be very involved and more than likely will be found ministering to the kids (ahem, teens). To help rent an apartment, I will teach Math probably to the junior high in their English speaking international school. I'm told that half of my monthly salary will cover a month's rent. I did the calculations and that means I'm pulling in about a grand a month. Trust me, this is not a career move. I have a nice home, great car, good paying job.. but I feel that Hungary is where I should be in a month's time. I'd call it a call and maybe it's crazy and I know how insane it all sounds because I have so much to do before I leave but to simply put it.. I walk and live by faith.

I asked one of my blogging friends if she thought it was okay that I post about this. I never did quite get an answer from her but because I've posted about everything from colon cleanses to co-workers who don't wipe the seat, I figured I could post this here also.

The director of the school (my new boss) said that it would be a good idea to raise some financial support before I go. Basically, you would be helping fly me (and Polly) over there and back (in a year). I HATE asking for money but I thought it couldn't hurt to put this out there. I put a Donate button at the top right of my page, if you want to donate.. if you can donate... the funds will go straight into my PayPal account. And of course, donations are tax-deductible. To be honest, I'm not sure what I need total but as a start, I think it would be awesome to raise 2 grand...

I know whenever I donate to cause, I want to know what it's going toward... Well, see below...

------> My airfare to and from Hungary
------> Polly's fare as excessive baggage
------> Starter items for apartment (I can't pack this stuff)
------> Whatever survival means living ten months in a foreign country
------> Occasional weekend missions trips to Berlin, Romania, Czech, etc.
------> Electricity in my apartment

Please go check out the school's and church's websites. And check out of my own church and take a look at the missions section. It's amazing that we're going into all the world!

The School
The Church
Home Church

If you can't support financially, maybe you can pray for me because that is just as important! I will post my list of needs and details in the right side also.. Maybe you will see something that you can help with? In advance.. thank you, thank you, thank you!!

ps. I made my 10 lbs lost mark!!