We've heard it said people cite three main reasons for avoiding mission trips: the beds, the bathrooms, and the food.

Even though people assumed there would be fewer cultural adjustments this time, moving to Europe vs. moving to Africa, we have found many differences already! First of all, they have, like, a different word for everything! Just kidding, of course we knew the language barrier would be difficult, and actually, our hosts here at the Baptist Aid mission house, where we are spending our first week, speak very good English. I think I wore out our hostess yesterday with sheer English conversation--but Larry would say that's pretty typical!

I'm sure there will be many more stories to come, but we wanted to share just a few fun impressions from our first days, and ask, what would you do?

For example: would you sleep on the comforter, under it, or inside it, like a hot taco? 

Let me explain. Our colleagues Kurt and Carrie Smalley, Americans also serving in Hungary in partnership with IM, told us before coming that Hungarians don't use top sheets. They had friends bring them flannel sheet sets from the States. This seemed funny--they have an IKEA store in Budapest, but the Smalleys assured us we would find no flat sheets. Hm. Hungarians just use a twin-sized comforter wrapped in what you call a duvet cover if you're fancy or from the American South. ;) I giggled at the thought of each of us sleeping under our own blankets instead of together, but at least we would be sleeping in the same bed, unlike the Lucy-and-Desi twin beds we had in Liberia!

So, when we got to the mission house, Hannah and Barney, our hosts, showed us our room, a family-sized attic room with three twin beds for the girls and a double bed for us. Our bed has a light blanket on top of two comforters folded up like sleeping bags. The first night I slept on the comforter and under the blanket. The second night Larry said we are probably supposed to sleep under the single comforters...somehow. So, when I came to bed, Larry was under the light blanket, inside the comforter like a sleeping bag, open toward me. I pulled down the blanket, opened up the comforter and folded myself in! It was surprisingly cozy, if not complicated. The beds are a bit more firm that ours at home, but fluffier than the grass mats Larry slept on in Japan!

For the sake of space and modesty, I will just say the bathroom is pretty much like home: toilet, small sink, shower with hot water.

Larry has said that our food at home is from European roots, and most of what we have eaten is familiar. Dinner the first night was a chicken broth with angel hair pasta, boiled carrots, potatoes and ox tail spooned in. Just when I was thinking the meal was a little light, Hannah asked if we were ready for 'seconds' meaning the second course! Then she served delicious, fresh baked chicken and mashed potatoes. 

Breakfast is the most different: we are offered several options, from Cocoa Puffs and Cheerios, toast and jam or Nutella to salami, cheese, and a relish tray! They also have a kind of veggie spread that they said is Arabic. It's like veggie hummus. Kinda. So my favorite new breakfast food is delicious bread spread with spicy veggie stuff and layered with cheese, salami, and bites of green onion! And no, I'm not pregnant!

Yesterday Barney took us to a restaurant. The dining room was upstairs in the sloping-ceiling attic, full of windows and light. For starters, Larry and I ordered soup, and so far it has been my favorite food here so far: bean, small dough balls and delicious sausage, spicy and red with paprika. The main course was like chicken cordon blue, only turkey filled with white cheese and peach.

Coffee is delicious: espresso with milk or hot water and sugar. They drink soda water, but I haven't developed at taste for it yet. We can buy Coke, Sprite and any kind of juice. The girls had peach juice at dinner. It was very good!

Beyond...Before going to Liberia, we were asked over and over about snakes: are there snakes, are they dangerous, etc. Yesterday on a walk, I saw the first snake I've seen on the mission field! When we announced our transfer to Hungary, no one asked about snakes, or in the bigger picture, shared concerns about our safety in general, and I will echo again that I felt safe, loved and protected in Liberia, and so far I can say the same here. We were met at the airport by Baptist Aid workers with a sign that said Stantons, and we have been welcomed and cared for. The Bible tells about such hospitality experienced by the disciples, and we have seen it at work in our lives.

If you've ever felt the Holy Spirit prompting you to serve him in a different, uncomfortable context, be encouraged by our story! We have found great joy being strangers in strange places for The Lord.