this last friday, Abby and I threw a party for our foreign exchange student friend Madison, and all of our students. about 30 minutes before we were expecting guests we receieved some really terrible news that one of the girls at the orphanage took her life. she was a beautiful, energetic, always smiling and joking around 16 year old girl, and the news came as a total shock to us. Abby and I got to hold each other and cry for about a minute before having to pull ourselves together to host 50 students at our flat. the distractions made us able to pull off a great night for our students, but the next day we made our way to the orpahange to comfort the children. it's been a really hard couple of days, probably the hardest since arriving in Miskolc, and I haven't had the chance to really grieve yet, but God has been giving me strength to get through these last few days, encourage the kids, and still smile and love His people. Please pray for the orpahange.. for God's peace and healing in their hearts.. and for His protection over their minds during this time of vulnerability.
today there will be a memorial service. we'll share memories, show pictures/videos, and I'll be singing a song that I wrote last year about God's healing. below is a recording of the song that God blessed me with the opportunity to make here in Hungary with a good friend. The song is called Healing Hands.
On a more positive note, I received this encouraging message from a student on Sunday:
"Hey Alyssa! :D
Thank you so much for the lyrics,it is very meaningful and deep.Awesome song,one day it will be famous. (:Today in church the worship was about teachers who form the lifes of students by teaching them about the love of God,and it was like that the pastor was talking about You.
Because I think the love of God is reflected in You,and You taught me to trust more in God and to be more tolerant to people and to love them like God loves us despite of all the faliures what we have.
I am also very grateful that You chose Hungary because you had an impact on lots of people's life,and all the people of Miskolc will miss you.:(
I hope You will have an awesome life and i hope that God bless You and give you back multiple of all the good things and love that You gave us.
Can't wait to see You in May!God bless You.We will never forget You.
P.S Oh yeah,and before I forget,in class, Dany and myself promised to play You something in guitar,but that sadly didn't happen.So we will compose a song for You,maybe I will write lyrics,but probably it will be just an instrumental version,cause I can't sing,Dany can't but You can pretty well so.. (:
Please Write if you have some good stories or whatever."
This was encouraging to me because, although I had never had an intentionally spiritual conversation with him, God was using my life, my smile, my words and my actions to minister to the hearts of others this year, even when I wasn't stepping out to vocalize my faith.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me this year, encouraging me, and supporting my ministry financially. I can't express how blessed I am to have such a strong network of support. I love you all. See you back in the States soon!
Alyssa
