Craving Adventure: A Year in Hungary

   This past Sunday, I had the wonderful opportunity to deliver the sermon for an English speaking worship service in Szeged. Even though I very recently updated my blog, I want to share my sermon with any who wish to read it. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Text: Malachi 3:1-4 Philippians 1:3-11 Luke 3:1-6    It’s the season of Advent and I couldn’t be happier. Advent is a beautiful time of year when we celebrate the coming of Jesus, as well as prepare in anticipation of Jesus coming again. For me, this Advent is even more joyous than usual as I get to experience Advent in Szeged. I have loved seeing all of the lights, the Christmas market, the Ferris wheel, and the hot wine, but my favorite thing so far has been the giant Advent wreath in Dóm Tér.    Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus which means “Coming.” Adventus is a translation of the Greek word parousia, which is often used in reference to Jesus’s second coming.    The Advent wre

“Music is the universal language of man[human]kind” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow   Living in a town with a university, I have encountered many people who speak English. This has made creating relationships easier for me as I can communicate with those around me. But it is also a crutch, because I am not learning as much Hungarian as I should be. This leaves me at a disadvantage when I meet people who do not know English.  Recently, I find myself in many different situations involving music. I am blessed to find myself in these situations, as shared language is not needed to build relationships through the music. The music, and the emotions it can bring, do all the work for me. Is This Choir Practice?   Back in November, the church I am serving at had an English speaking worship service. I had the wonderful opportunity to give the sermon. The Friday before, we had you youth group. I went, thinking it would be games and fun like always. (Board games surprisingly work well to build