Hello!

Hello!

Welcome to Rachel's Adventures in Hungary. As you can tell from the title, I am moving to Hungary for 10 months as an EFL (English as Foreign Language Teacher) and a missionary at Sárospataki Református Kollégium Gimnáziuma (Sárospatak's Reformed College Grammar School) in Sárospatak, Hungary. The school is known as Refi to teachers and students.

I am leaving next Monday (the 18th) and arrive at Debrecen Airport on Tuesday (the 19th). From there, I will be picked up from the airport and taken to Sárospatak. Term doesn't start until the 1st of September, but I have to arrive before then to settle into my new home, get settled into the school, have teachers meetings and organise my lessons. 

A wee story as to how this opportunity came about. I met my now best friend Aiysha Jebali when I was living in Aberdeen. She moved to Hungary a year after we met. She had been teaching English at the Reformed College Grammar School for two years, when she felt that God was calling her to come back home to Scotland and spend time with her family. The school had to look for a replacement teacher and they asked Aiysha if she had anyone in mind. We had been having regular Skype/Facebook/e-mail conversations during the time she was in Sárospatak and Aiysha asked me if I would want to  replace her as the English teacher for the coming year. I fit the criteria: I would graduate soon from university, was studying towards a TEFL certificate, loved communicating and learning languages. It was apparent that I had also developed a love for the country, since volunteering at an English camp last summer in Balatonfűzfő and spending time in Budapest. Something about the language, the people, the cities, the countryside - it's like nothing I had ever seen before. 

So, after much thought and prayer, I knew that God was calling me to take the opportunity and to growth in faith. I accepted the job and went over towards the end of May to visit the town and the school. 

A few facts about the school: 

It was founded in 1531 as a theological college, the first Reformed theological college in Hungary. 

Sárospatak was once part of Transylvania and Refi was favoured by the Transylvanian Royalty, who taught in the school for years and across several generations. 

Teachers were martyred during times of socialism. 

Refi is not only a secondary school and theological college, but it also has expanded into a primary school. 

It is a very beautiful school, with many extra curricular activities outside school hours. One of these activities is the school public relations team called the Refi Revolution Team, which was started up by Aiysha in October 2012. The team is made up of around 30 students and three teachers, who raise awareness of the school by holding open days, youth festivals, fundraisers such as talent shows and ice cream/cake sales. The money from the fundraising events goes towards the annual mission to the UK, where the Refi Revolution team have a full-on week sharing Christ's love with various churches and Christian organisations in London and Aberdeen. It is a wonderful experience for the students and the teachers who go on the trip, as for some of them it is their first time to the UK. 

Although this opportunity will be full on and I will be working a lot of the time, I am really excited. I am nervous however, as I will be over 1000 miles from home and in a place where I can't really speak the language (although I know a few phrases). However, I believe that God has gone before me and knows the plans He has for me, he put Hungary in my heart for a reason and it's for Him that I have decided to go there. 

A verse which I feel I will be able to refer to whenever I feel frightened, nervous or alone is Isaiah 41:10: "Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." 

God is always with me, no matter where I am and I pray that this year will be a blessing and also help strengthen my faith. 

In the next blog update, I will be posting some Hungarian phrases, so be sure to look out for that! 

In the meantime, it's goodbye and God bless!

R xx