Fine ARTs Festival

Music, poetry, and...ART!

For the first time ever, this year ICSB's Fine Arts Festival included visual art!

It was an exciting event to plan. I had each of my art students submit at least on piece of art to display during the event. I was surprised when several of my students wanted to show 2 pieces of work! After pulling teeth to get them to do their projects, my heart was warmed that they wanted to show off their work.

My helpers and I spent all day Friday setting up art in the back of the gym. We turned the gym into a wonderful art gallery! Mobiles hung from the basketball goals, temporary walls were put up to display art, and special pieces were placed around the room on ledges and tables. The art added a special atmosphere to the gym.

I wanted to have a bit of art judging during the festival. I recruited a variety of 3 judges. First, a freelance photographer and graphic designer. Second, a Hungarian woman who loves beauty. And the third, with no art background, a male teacher willing to offer his opinions. They worked together for 2 hours before the concert to decide which artists deserved awards.

Minutes before the concert, people were milling around the art, and students were taking pictures of their work. During the concert, we heard from the middle school and high school bands and choirs. A few students recited poetry. Just before intermission, I took the stage..."And the winners are...!!" I was so proud of every piece of art on display, but I was especially excited to announce the hardworking winners. I handed out certificates and placed ribbons next to the winning pieces.

We enjoyed snacks at intermission, and I invited guests down to the art room to show off the newly finished mural. Last year, the art students started a beautiful wall mural in the art room. It displays many different art periods. My high school Art 2 students worked hard to finish the mural for Fine Arts Festival.

The night was so special for me. In watching how hard my students work, I was proud to show their work in a professional manner. Especially because I am leaving in just a month, it was so memorable for me to see all the art together one last time.

How can I keep from singing?

This question comes from a song by Chris Tomlin:

How can I keep from singing Your praise

How can I ever say enough

How amazing is Your love

How can I keep from shouting Your name

I know I am loved by the King

And it makes my heart want to sing

I could not keep from singing tonight...I am sitting in bed about to go to sleep, and I'm still singing! Why? How amazing is His love!

Yesterday marked 3 months until I get married. I have only one month and one week left in Budapest. The time for me to leave is very near, and I am excited to be home, however tonight was a night that made it hard to say good-bye.

The youth pastor from the church I attend hosted an all worship night. All we did was sing, praise God, and offer our hearts to the Lord. I loved worshiping with my students and with my fellow teachers. It was such a sweet time for me. The young students seem so much more focused on the Lord than I ever was...or even am today. I just love to watch them worship and I feel closer to the Lord through them.

I am so thankful for these students and the chance to worship with them. I do enjoy teaching art, but it is moments and times like tonight that really made me fall in love with Budapest.

Mom's the Word

"Hearts at Home is a Christ-centered organization that encourages, educates, and equips women in the profession of motherhood."

No, I'm not switching professions and becoming a mother, but I did have a chance to serve and get to know the Hearts at Home organization while being here in Hungary. Being able to share my art skills, I was asked to help create some decorations for a Heart's at Home event being held in Hungary. The event being planned was a special Mom's night out on April 20. The event, entitled "Mom's the Word," was to be a 3 hour event with 2 special speakers from America, tasty treats, books on mothering for sale, and a wonderful time of fellowship. The night was sponsored by Hearts at Home and was intended to be a special evening for moms...no kids, no husbands.

I helped by creating some decorations for the event. In keeping with the title, I made many signs with different words on them. These words were both positive and negative things that are associated with motherhood, words like hope, happiness, crazed, alone, etc. The signs were in both Hungarian and English in order to appeal to all the women at the event. During the evening, I was also on photo duty. I took many pictures of the event. When I got asked to help with this event, I thought, "Sure! I'll help the moms out. I would love to serve them!" I thought I would just help and none of the "mom" stuff would apply to me. Little did I know...

Unfortunately with the recent volcano, the 2 speakers from America couldn't fly to Budapest. In the end, I think God wanted us to hear from someone else...A local missionary and mom stepped up last minute to speak. She spoke beautifully about the different trials of having 4 kids and of living in 3 different countries. I found that much of what she said could be applied to teaching and to my personal faith walk as well.

Two things stuck out. First, she said, "You are the perfect mom for you kids." This really hit me about teaching...I am the perfect art teacher for these students right now. God wants them to have me. In a time of the school year where I am feeling weary, this was a wonderful encouragement of the Lord's plans. Secondly, she spoke about wisdom.

James 1:5 "If you need wisdom, as our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."

We can pray for wisdom at anytime and will receive it. What a good reminder of God's provision for us.

We enjoyed a testimony about a son who kept all the notes his mom ever wrote him, some music from a talented singer, yummy treats, and even had a visitor. This visitor claimed to be a mom...but upon closer inspection, finding a mustache would lead us to believe otherwise. The night was a lot of fun, filled with lots of laughter and encouragement.

You can read more about Hearts at Home at their website:

http://www.hearts-at-home.org/