Daily Archives: May 28, 2007

1. Bring no expectations
2. Remember, it’s not better, it’s not worse, it’s just different.
3. Follow the leader
4. No hard or semi hard case bag can be larger than 16″x11″x25.” Further, this bag can not weigh more than 50 pounds.
5. Acquire and sign your passporta. pack a copy of it away from your personb. give a copy to your leaderc. have a copy where a responsible person can fax it to youd. Fill out the contact page of your passport in pencil
6. Eat yogurt daily
7. Learn about the culture that you are traveling to
8. Take three extra passport photos
9. Keep those things which are valuable to you in your carry on, if you can’t do without it, don’t check it… this is true for equipment as well as sentimental stuff
10. Never lose track of your passport and plane ticket
11. Keep prescription medicines in their original container
12. Never cut it close time-wise at the airport13. Wear comfortable shoes that support your feet
14. Pack a clean shirt and undergarments and toiletries in your carry on so that you are prepared when they lose your luggage
15. Never leave behind a clean napkin, you never know when it might be helpful16. When you find a clean rest room, use it, you can’t be sure when you will see another one and tell your team mates where it is.
17. A packet of hand wipes or a container of anti-bacterial hand cleaner is prudent.
18. American noisiness and abrupt behavior is annoying to Europeans, keep your voice and laughter as quiet and civil as possible
19. NEVER USE TRAVELLERS CHECKS, take an atm card and be very careful with it, don’t be careless at the atm machine (which are called “banc-o-mats”).
20. Learning some simple phrases and striving to learn more from your friends abroad will do much to win their hearts
21. Bring earplugs… because of living in a city, you may not be used to all the sounds of busses, trolleys, people and such at 4:30 in the morning!
22. Always be ready to try food that your host offers, remember rule number one
23. Frequently review rules one and two
24. Leaders – use plastic whenever possible to lessen trips to ATMS for cash.

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who died in military service. Read the national proclamation.

Being in DC for the weekend, we had lunch near the Pentagon and while we sat outside enjoying our food an army sergeant walked by with an arm full of hash marks. I believe each hash mark represents four years of service. Many ribbons decorated his coat. A soldier who had given many years of service. I hope he and those who serve with him feel appreciated.

I served in the Air Force for four years in the mid seventies. I remember the way the guys who were leaving Viet Nam felt as they came home. I hope we will, no matter what we think of the current war, appreciate those who have served.

On Saturday, as I drove up to DC, I was passed by many ‘bikes’ on their way to Rolling Thunder. Read about the 20th anniversary.

I often pass Arlington Cemetery on the way to Becca’s house and the sight never fails to touch me… The News Hour has a segment tonight about it, click here for the News Hour website.

May we remember with honor, so many who have laid down the ultimate price for our country.

Our plans continue to be modified to meet our financial resources.

June 8th – depart IAD on British Air at 1000 PM (thats 2200 – at night) via London (4 hour layover)

9th – arrive Budapest at 535 pm , girls move in to the Newell family home and guys move in to the office in Budapest (Bp), climb castle hill and see the lights of Pest?

10th – worship in Bp (church t.b.d. Calvary Chapel???) begin training, brief tour of spots missed last year, training will include a conversation with the Newells about ministry to young people here.

11th – 12th (13th?) train back and forth to Vac, serving with Coppages: school, with youth of church, prayer walking, further training…

14th – some more training in Bp, [Krakow trip is a “funds-permitting” trip] PM train to Krakow (sleeper car)

15th – arrive at 0530, coffee & pastries, walk around Krakow, bus trip to Auschwitz, hanging out in Krakow until the overnight train (sleeping car) takes us back to Bp.
[Krakow trip is a “funds-permitting trip]

16th – train to Szeged, settle in Szeged, training, team worship…

17th – have an orientation tour of Szeged, travel out to Deak, final training, worship at Zion church in afternoon, team worship at Dosza flat!

18th – – 22nd English camp at DFG, hanging out with students,

23rd take trains to Vukovar via Serbia.

24th Worship at Agape Church in Vukovar.

25 – 28th English camp to support Agape Evangelical Church in Vukovar, Croatia.

29th back to Bp via Serbia and Szeged

30th – team flies home on British air leaving Bp at 1235 (via London 3 hr. layover) and lands at Dulles at 810pm