It’s not a Problem. It’s an Adventure!

Calvary Conference Center in Austria

Lindsey in her appartment

     "No, it is not possible to rent you a car.” What was to be a 20 hour drive in a comfy

rental car to the Calvary Missionary conference in Austria  turned into a 42 hour adventure via trains and buses through 6 countries.

      Right at the beginning of our trek Ryan, Julie and I were waiting on a train platform.  We heard a train coming down the track.  We as well as the various European backpacking college students and others stood to get on but the conductor called out that this train was not our train but a train of just refugees.  Our train would come next.  We stood there in shock as we saw the train slowly grind past the platform stuffed full with desperate but hopeful faces from places like Pakistan and Syria. Hungary was days away from finishing a formidable border fence so these pilgrims were on a race against time to get

access to Europe to the jobs and safety they hoped to find there.    

     All of us stood stunned on the platform with nothing to do but gaze pityingly as weary travelers rolled past.  In the midst of it all those tense tired faces one refugee, who was for lack of a seat, sitting on the steps into a car pulled our gazes to him. He was grinning ear to ear and waving to us as if he was in a parade.  His face stuck with me the rest of our trip.  It reminded me that we may not have control of our circumstances but we do have control of our attitude within our circumstances. 

      We arrived at the conference just in time for the first session and even though I desperately wanted a shower we had to wait to get our room assignments.  In that first session pastor Wayne Taylor said a few things that made me laugh, “Going in God’s will is always such an

adventure…Difficulties are to show that His grace is sufficient.” His grace is indeed sufficient.  Ryan, Julie and I made it and we still like each other.  Thankfully Ryan had

experience with the creative time tables of Eastern

Eger, Hunary at night

European travel and proved to be an excellent guide. 

Also because we saved money by not renting a car we were able to go to Hungary to visit my bff Lindsey and some other friends before returning home to Kosova.

     We may not all be facing the same level of difficulty as those refugees but we each have our own weaknesses and challenges that we face today.  So is today going to be a problem or is it going to be an adventure?  You have a good guide. He knows the way even if you don’t. You can trust Him.