It has already been over a month since I left Las Cruces, NM. A month since I have gotten to hug my mom or hear my friends laugh. Wow! I am settling in to my new home for the year and have had a lot of time to think and reflect (especially when I got sick this last week and had to rest). Spending a year in a different country is sort of a crazy thing to do, but yet I am so glad I am here and welcomed with open arms. I sometimes wonder “Why me? Why am I here of all people and of all places?”. I sometimes feel like I am not the “right” person to be serving overseas. I don’t necessarily feel qualified enough to teach English in a high school or help empower the Roma youth that I will be working with and for. Less than a week ago, we had our Sending Service after which we left to our respective sites for the year. At the service, Rachel talked about how we are all called to this ministry. Us. Called. To Central Europe. I keep playing this message over in my head. I tell myself, “You are called to this ministry. You are called to be in Budapest. You are meant to be here.” These past few days of settling in have been full of uncertainty and getting ready to start work. I am still figuring out public transportation, but I am lucky to have my host family help me along the way. I am still figuring out how to “be a teacher”, and…well…when I figure that one out, I will let you know. Speaking Hungarian still makes me nervous. But, hey. I am called to this ministry. I am called to be in Budapest. And I am meant to be here. Struggles will come and go and some days, I will shine. As nervous as I am about truly starting this year, WOW am I excited! Today was my first day at the school but it was a very short and easy day for me because a lot of teachers were out due to sickness or travel. Tomorrow is my first day at Phiren Amenca and I look forward to working with totally rad people. Cheers to the first week of work and many more to come!