Kindergarten and the Tower(s) of Jenga

On Wednesday afternoons, I make the 20 minute bicycle ride to the nearby village of Jamina. Today's ride was more difficult than usual due to the cold rain and "Kansas" like winds.

Seriously, this was me today.

After sitting down to have a coffee with my friends at the church office, I decided to brave the wind and ride to Jamina. Waiting for me on the other side of the bridge was 30 minutes of laughter, singing, my friend Zoli, and a handful of little children. Each week, I meet Zoli (he's the pastor at the Lutheran church in Jamina) outside the kindergarten building. We go inside and begin to gather the children, who have just finished their snack time. We greet them and wait for them to put on their coats and hats, and change out of their slippers/inside shoes and into their boots.

Once everyone is bundled, they rush to form a line at the door (always wanting to be first, of course!) and put their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. They form a "train" and chant the following, as we move to another space:

Ziki-zaka-zakatol,

ez a vonat valahol.

Én vagyok a vasutas,

te meg legyél az utas!

which means...

Ziki-Zaka-pounding, 
this train somewhere. 
I am in the railway, 
you become a passenger!

Once we are settled in our space, we always take time to pray and sing a song or two. Zoli plans an activity, often based on a story in the Bible. In past weeks, we have colored pictures of scenes from the story of the Good Samaritan and the story of loaves and fishes, and played memory games. 

Today's activity was based on the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9).

If you don't know the story, click here.

Zoli placed two containers of Jenga blocks in front of the children, separated them into two groups, and asked each group to build a tower with the blocks. Not surprisingly, this was also a lesson on how to work together to accomplish something greater. 

"Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” 

(Gen. 11:4)

The children were then asked to build the tallest tower possible by using all of the blocks. With Zoli's help, they were able to create the tower below! They were blown away by his idea to place a few blocks vertically on the top of the tower. 

But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.  That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

(Gen. 5-9)

From what I could gather, Zoli then told the children that God saw what the people did and thus created different languages and scattered them all over the Earth. He must have asked the children to name languages, because I heard shouts of 
Angol! (English)            Nemet! (German)            Olasz! (Italian)   
Francia! (French)           Magyar! (Hungarian)

As time was running short, the children packed up the blocks, and we said the Lord's Prayer, which we always say at the end of our time together. One of the children wanted to sing again, so we sang the song "Ez az a nap!". It is a catchy tune and one you have probably heard before. It is a song that beats loudly in my heart each time I leave the kindergarten class.

Do you recognize this song?!

 

Ez az a nap, ez az a nap,

mit az úr szerzett, mit az úr szerzett! (x2)

örvendjünk, vígadjunk e napon!

örvendjünk, vígadjunk e napon!

mert ez az a nap, ez az a nap,

mit az úr szerzett!

and in English...

This is the day, this is the day,

that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made! (x2)

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

This is the day, this is the day,

that the Lord has made!

2015 Holiday Newsletter

Boldog Újévet kívánok minden kedves ismerösömnek!

Below is my Christmas letter (which has turned into a New Years letter...) and a summary of the events of the past year. If you already received this by email, I apologize for the typos! I suppose that is what happens when I edit something late at night. :) I think I caught all of them.

Be sure to check back soon for my January newsletter!

Peace and love,

Aliyah

Greetings! December 2015

Peace and love to you during this holiday season! I hope this letter finds you with moments of joy as you reflect on your holiday traditions and on the light that has, once again, come into the world. You are in my heart often and I thank you for any thoughts and prayers you have sent my way during the last year.

I have been taken on quite a journey this year! I began the year with a trip to Israel and Palestine with 11 other young adults. The journey, called an alternative pilgrimage, was organized by the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) campaign ‘Peace Not Walls’ and was one of eight trips during 2015. We began this journey with the goals of accompaniment, advocacy, and awareness-raising, but our experience transcended anything we could have imagined. We toured the holy sites, including the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee, the believed ascension, birth, and crucifixion sites, Bethlehem and the beautiful Old City Jerusalem.

Group photo at the Jordan River (minus Jacob)

We also visited sites in the West Bank and gained first-hand experiences of the current conflict in this area of the world. Most importantly, we met with both Israelis and Palestinians and engaged in conversations with them. We heard about their lives, their joys, and their challenges as human beings living in an area of constant turmoil. We were met with incredible hospitality as we were invited into a Palestinian home in Aida Refugee Camp to cook and share a meal together. It was an incredible experience, to say the least, and I am grateful for the relationships that emerged from this ten day adventure. I can easily say these relationships have changed my life for the better. I would be thrilled to share more about my time there, especially now that I have had more time to process.

Upon my return, I quickly began what would be, unbeknownst to me, my final semester teaching at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. During the month of February, I quickly and randomly applied for a program called Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM). In fact, this decision was made the day before the deadline and came after talking with the YAGM volunteers in the Holy Land. I went through the application process and in April, I was invited to join 75 other young adults for a weekend of discernment and live interviews in Chicago. I had been invited to interview for two countries: United Kingdom and Hungary, but for various reasons, I was very uncertain about going. Luckily, a member of my support system encouraged me to go, if only to take some moments away from the stressors of the spring semester of academia. I spent the weekend in conversations, worship, informational sessions, and interviews, and joined with others in the tough process of discernment. On Sunday morning, I received a call inviting me to spend a year in Hungary with the program, and after a week of conversations with God and those close to me, I discerned it was where I was being called for the next year of my life. I said goodbye to my job and students at the university, and began to find myself in a very tough transitional time. The summer was filled with countless “see you laters” but amongst those, I felt an incredible amount of support from my communities in La Crosse/Onalaska and was reminded of the amazing friendships that I have created over the last two years.

This also meant saying “see you later” to my adorable new nephew, Lincoln. He was born in March and is healthy and growing every day. In the photo on the next page, he is about 5 months old. Shannon and Brett also have a little girl on the way and she is due in May! But I digress… anyway...

My family (minus Tyler and Emily), and Karyn and Bridget (from my family at  First Lutheran) came to send me off for my year of service with YAGM.

In August, I packed my bags, said goodbye to my  “sending team” and flew to Chicago for a week of  orientation with the other young adults and members  of the global mission team. We spent the week  preparing for our year of service together, and a  week later, we said our goodbyes with hugs, prayers,  and long flights ahead of us. We, as young adults,  are currently living in 11 different countries around  the world (7 of us in Hungary), and are serving in  our communities with our unique gifts. This year of  service is a unique opportunity for each of us to  build relationships with communities different than our  own through a model of accompaniment. We are constantly challenged by the question: What does accompaniment look like? Along with that question,  we also witness how we are being served and loved   by our communities.

The program offers an opportunity for us to see that accompaniment is about the relationships we create by being vulnerable and willing to rely on those around us. It is about walking with our communities in the extraordinary and the ordinary moments. It is about opening our hearts and allowing ourselves to be loved by people we did not know five months ago. And it is about finding God in the seemingly unimportant moments of our daily lives. There is beauty in the ordinary, and the feeling of gratitude is overwhelmingly strong.

I currently live in Békéscsaba, a town of approximately 60,000 people in southeastern Hungary (about 25 km from the Romanian border). Though my schedule is quite flexible, I spend my time engaging in conversations with students learning English, working with the choir at the secondary school, singing with two choirs, and teaching voice lessons for adults and students at the school. I had know idea I would be using my gifts in music to such an extent! I have been constantly surprised at the relationships I have been able to build through the gift of music.

Kistemplom (left), Nagytemplom (right) The small and large Lutheran Churches in the city center of Békéscsaba

As my journey in Hungary continues into the next year, I am certain the God will continue to open my heart to Him and to this community in Békéscsaba. I would love to share more of my experiences with you. For reflections and stories about my year in Hungary, go to my blog: www.calledbythespirit.blogspot.com. If you have Facebook, be sure to check out my page for updates and new photos. As your journey continues, may you acknowledge the light from within as you allow yourself to be guided into the unknown places of your heart. Step away from fear. Brace yourself with love. Trust that you are where you need to be. And lest you forget, remember that you are loved. May peace and love walk with you, Aliyah

During our Advent retreat, the YAGM Hungary group joined with other young adults for a workshop with Phiren Amenca. The poem below serves as my response to the world and to myself.

we live in a world that moves

in a fast paced society

with little regard for community

connection is being destroyed

souls emptied

of what once was considered

humanity

when hate crimes go

without consequence

without regard

for another community

in the name of what

is claimed to be “right”

when men and women lay on the street

giving up their dignity

being vulnerable

relying on a society that refuses to look

beyond their rose colored glasses

and see the people

crying for help

for someone to see

someone to respond

Break my heart.

so I can see

beyond the barriers

beyond the walls

beyond the words

and into the eyes

of what is so blatantly

staring me in the face

Let me forget

what is “right”

what is “wrong”

and instead remember

what a life is worth

daring to step out

of the conforming society

and search for that spark

of love

and light

buried deep within

my heart.



Copyright © 2015 [Aliyah Richling]

Tough Questions

As part of my work here in Hungary, I run an English table for any student who would like to practice speaking in English. Tonight, at our first meeting, I was pleasantly surprised to engage in a conversation with ten very bright high school students. I began our conversation with light topics, such as introductions, favorite colors, and hobbies. These topics are taken from the "get to know you" section in my bag of conversation topics. We covered things like playing handball and basketball, reading "Hunger Games," and playing "League of Legends" (it's a computer game, just in case you aren't aware). 

Half way through our hour together, I asked if they had any questions for me. I always allow the students to learn about me as well, as it is only fair. They asked the typical questions of "Where do you come from?" and "How do you like Hungary?" The next question, however, took me by surprise and turned a lighthearted and surface level conversation into something deep and complicated.

"What do you think about the Paris attacks and the Islamic State?" they asked.

For a moment, I panicked.

A million thoughts raced through my head. 

How do I answer this as an American? As a representative of the ELCA?

What is my opinion on the attacks around the world?

How much should I share?

Then I realized that they wanted to discuss these issues and we had created an opportunity to do so. I didn't know how to answer, so I did what I do best: I asked questions. I discovered they were more than willing to answer or at least share how they were feeling. That concept is difficult, and they were willing to speak about it in their second language.

We discussed the attack on Paris.

They learned about the attacks in Beirut and Baghdad.

We talked about how the media responded to these situations... to every situation.

We discussed fear after many had watched the most recent and horrific video released by ISIS. 

We contemplated what this means for the world and the actions some countries are taking. 

We shared thoughts on the refugee crisis and how the world is responding. 

I am constantly amazed by the thoughtfulness and intelligence of young people in our world. They ruminate on tough issues and when given the chance, they speak freely and intelligently. 

Friends, these teenagers are doing exactly what we all need to do. They are willing to have conversations about the issues we face as a world. They respectfully and patiently listen to what others want to say and they acknowledge the opinions of others. 

Musings on a fall day

An entry from my personal journal:

November 6

This afternoon, after lunch at the dormitory, I felt compelled to take a walk to the park. It was a lovely fall day and the temperature was just right. Perfect, really. The leaves were crunching with each step, as more leaves had fallen throughout the day. I wandered off the cement path, into the yellow and bronze colored leaves. I passed the head of a statue which likely commemorated October 23, the Hungarian Independence Day. As I passed, I saw a bench ahead; a bench surrounded by the stillness and beauty of the large leaves. 
I sat. 
I thought.
I read.
I listened.
I found creativity.
I found beauty.
I sat on the wooden bench, taking in the peacefulness of the world around me. "There is great value in stillness," I thought. "So often I miss the opportunities to be. To live. To listen." So I sat there, feeling content, allowing peace to fill my soul. 
I felt alive.
I felt loved.
And I wasn't doing a thing.

For the first time, in a very long time, I was inspired. It isn't that I haven't been inspired during the last few years, because I have- just not with this type of inspiration. The type that opens the "creativity pocket" in my brain and allows me to write freely, without judgement. As I dusted off the cobwebs, I was pleasantly surprised by the result. See below. 


[Poem without title]


The wind whispers to the trees,
quietly persuading them to let go of the leaves 
they so desperately want to keep.

The time comes when they can no longer hold their leaves tight, 
and they release.
They release without knowing, 
without realizing.
They cannot control it, 
and must give in to the peaceful voice that surrounds them.
Yet the trees are surprised,
not by the lifted weight,
but by the beauty.
The beauty which is now opened to the world;
that of one small, yellow leaf gently gliding to the ground, 
filled with others of its kind.
Its beauty makes the release seem easy,
and the trees find the courage to let go of more,
until they are free of weight.
They are light,
but not empty.

With time, 
the trees will be met with a new type of beauty,
One of confidence and growth.
It does not meet them immediately,
but they know, 
with patience,
it will arrive.

Without warning.

With grace,
with love,
and with new life.


© Aliyah Richling, November 2015

Erős vár a mi Istenünk

Reformation Day:

the day where I am constantly humming the familiar tune of "A Mighty Fortress is Our God"

The first time I heard this hymn sung in Hungarian, I was sitting in the high school music room with a room full of choir students. My inner dialogue was as follows: 

Yes! I know this one!

Oh wait... what? Maybe it isn't the hymn...

Yes it is! There are just fewer notes... you know, to fit the language... duh.

                  

This realization sent my heart soaring. This hymn written by Martin Luther (originally German "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott") has been translated into numerous languages and sung all around the world. Even if you do not follow the Lutheran or Protestant tradition, it is likely you have heard this tune, as it's melody has inspired compositions by some of the world's most widely known composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn, and Claude Debussy. 

If you are unfamiliar with this melody, have a listen to this arrangement sung by the St. Olaf Choir. Happy Reformation Day and enjoy!

Food Boxes

Food boxes have been set up in Békéscsaba, Jamina (area immediately outside the city) in front the Lutheran Church, and they have been successful in anonymously getting food to those who need it. Items are put in the boxes in the morning and when checked in the afternoon, all the items are gone. What a cool idea.

The men in the photo, both Lutheran pastors, are two of my colleagues here in Békéscsaba!

Check out the original website (in Hungarian, of course) covering this story here: http://www.beol.hu/bekes/kozelet/a-raszorulokat-segitik-meg-az-eteldobozzal-630781