hey everyone. I'm home. I've seen both my grandparents and all my siblings- except Andrew! There was some difficulty getting home because I mixed up the day I was flying home but I am home safely and my flight was quick. I am very cold (it's about 50 degrees) so I am walking around the house with a blanket. :) I still have lots to get organized- none of my clothes are put away and I am still trying to get things into a pattern again. I hope you are all doing well, thank you for your prayers. ~ Laura

God has really given me a peace about returning to Hawaii. Yesterday I was thinking about it and how much I would miss my family and how lonely it would be alone but God stopped me before I could convince myself that Hawaii was wrong. He showed me an amazing family who accepting me in with open arms and were so loving. One of the men actually came to Christ through sports and I had amazing conversations tht encouraged me and convinced me that I have nothing to fear because this is God's plan and I can trust in him to find a way for this all to work out for me.

hey everyone! I'm graduating on Wednesday! I still have two tests to take but I've taken 3 and read my two required books. I can't get over how good of an author John Eldridge is! Epic is an amazing book and so is The Ransomed Heart- and I'm not even finished with it! I am really feeling like I am supposed to come back to Wahiawa to start up some sports programs- they don't have any soccer teams, baseball, or anything. It is such a boring town! You can see the prostitution on the streets at night if you know where to look( not kids) but people and the youth are so bored and in need of attention. I am convinced that sports teach many important life lessons in addition to channeling energy in a positive direction. I had an amazing opportunity to help out with Vacation Bible School this week and it was so fun! I help with the games and while I was working with the games I knew that I would be happy running around a playing with kids my whole life. I would really like to would with 15 year olds and I am wondering if lacrosse would be a possibility. I know many lacrosse players have old sticks they don't need so I wonder if I could collect some a bring them over and start a lacrosse camp. But I think even more important than what sport or the organization of the sport is the comradary that is built. I don't know if there are lots of gangs around here but I do know that in a gang you look out for eachother and I want t build a team that has good values, loves eachother, and is like a family. How sad would it be if a gang cared more about it's members than Christians about their neighbors? I really feel that this is something I am called to do even though I don't love Hawaii like I love Hungary, there is still a strong desire to return to Wahiawa. I don't really know what my plans are currently but I'll try to keep you updated. I will be returning to Virginia on the 8th of April (I graduate on the 2nd). I hope you are all doing well. Much love, Laura

A real post

Well I don't even know where to begin. Obviously China was an amazing life changing experience. I tried strange foods, went to the bathroom in a hole, and walked along littered streets. In Hong Kong I was offered drugs, I've never heard of them- the name didn't stick either-, there were laws against spitting, and Starbucks had made it across the ocean. I learned minor lessons in China, like how to eat ANY food. I ate cuddle fish, shrimp, crab, fish (eyes and all), squid, octopus, and even oyster although I have to admit the oyster was TERRIBLE! Everything else was pretty good. I ate goat- it was amazing, freshly killed chicken, I saw almost ever animal you could imagine being sold to be eaten- including cats. It was a very maturing experience. I learned how to be a kid again, and was almost run over by a few crazy taxi drivers. I saw malls that had more levels that I could have ever imagined. But even though I learned how to act like an adult and still keep my child/innocent heart, that was not the most important lesson I learn. God reveiled something even more important to me, something I am dealing with and praying about. God reveiled that even though I thought I had given up my pride, I still was full of pride. I was judging people instead of loving and to proud to reveil my full self to many people. Well one of the ways this was obvious is that I ony told the people it was necessary to tell that I had seizures. I knew I'd talk about it in my testimony so I figured it could wait but it was pride. I didn't want to share my life, my problems with them because I thought I was better. I can't say the I am very good at loving people even now but it is getting much easier now that I pray for them because by praying for them God is working in my heart. I have been struggling to understand how David could have loved his son after he raped his half sister but it is only because David loved God so much and was full of God's love. I have said that I am thinking about going to Hungary again but I need to empty myself of all of my wishes to return to Europe and pray. I met a pastor when we were doing an outreach and I feel like God told him something of the spiritual darkness that is surrounding Wahaiwa. He knew before I talked to him that I was a Christian and he told me that it is important to spend lots of time with God so that we will be overflowing and the devil with now be able to come near us because we will be so full of the spirit. Then the interesting part came- I had been reading about David that morning since I want to become a woman after God's own heart as well and I was reading about how music drove the evil spirit away from Saul. It struck me that maybe more often we should praise God and worship Him to drive away evil and that maybe we underestimate evil. Well anyways he asked me if I played an instrument and I said no but I wanted to learn guitar and he suggested the harp. Not a big one but a smaller travel size one. I don't know where you'd find that but I was amazed. Also I met a previous Hell's Angel. I don't know if you have heard of them, I believe one came to my school when I was in 8th grade or something. Dad if you remember what the deal is with them you could explain but they're if I remember right very very hard core and it's rare to ever meet an ex-Hell's Angel because if I remember right they don't let you leave. But anyways this guy had just become a Christian so that was amazing. I really feel like God is coming along my side and holding my hand. Sorry about getting so inconsistant with writing. Oma- I just got a letter from your friend so I need to call her and hopefully we can meet up! Love you all!! Laura

Back in Hawaii

China was a very good trip for me. I have for the most part always followed the rules and stayed within the lines but often I have strongly disagreed with the leaders in charge of me. I learned that is important to not only submit in your actions but also in your attitude. Attitude can be the most important things because it is so obvious to others through our actions. Obviously since I was in a foreign country there were some cultural differences- such as the toilets; unless you were in a hotel you could expect a hole that flushed. My travel to Ukraine made it much easier to adapt- it was almost normal. But the whole time I was in China I couldn't get going back to Hungary out of my head. I know I can travel alone and now I know that the toilets would be no problem. Almost as if to re-enforce what I was thinking in Hong Kong I met a Hungarian and a Pole (a guy from Poland)! What are the chances? Hong Kong was amazing but way to much of a huge city for me. It felt like it was 6x the size of New York City. They have a light show so we went to that. We also went to a church there that was very alive, the churches in Hainan seem a little dead. It's so hard to think of all the important things that happened in China. I've discovered that I am the type of girl that every guy wants to protect, so now I have many guys who act like brothers to me. I was able to cry for the first time in a long time about missing my family, my brothers. It was awesome. I did surf but it was not ass exciting as I thought it would be. I am excited to come home but I'm sure the next month will be good too. Love you all

hey! I'm doing well! China is pretty good although I did enjoy going to McDonalds and getting icecream and I miss meat! I'm having some great experiences and very interesting talks with the Germans (Jan and Martin) It is really good to have to talk to a non-christian who is nice. It's really hard but very growing. Mom, you'll think I'm very grown up hen I come home. I love you all, Laura

hey everyone! so far China has been amazing. the food is crazy but great!! i have tried everything and i even like the shrimp and crab they have given us. I really think that all my pickiness for food is going away! Everything is good!! I had a wonderful birthday, my mom gave me a chocolate bar!! It was very yummy and I got 2 pictures next to a camel- I hope to ride it before I leave. There are two Germans here who are surfing and they are super cool. Their names are Martin and Yaun- I'm not sure I spelled the second guy's name correctly but they're awesome. They're studying in China so they speak some Chinese. Then there is a Frenchman who lives here so he know a lot of Chinese and is also very funny. The people here are awesome. When I flew over Hong Kong was amazed at how beautiful it was but it is a HUGE city. We spent the night in the airport and went into the city for supper- I had lamb, and it was amazing. I saw a muslim woman which was a surprise (all dressed in black) but there was a huge mosque. Over all I would say China is beautiful but it has a pollution problem and the language is very difficult. I am having a wonderful time though and thank you for your prayers. I didn't have any difficulties with waking up early. I love you all, Laura