Commitment Starts With a Decision

Commitment starts with a decision. Two years ago this month I made a decision to stop drinking diet drinks . . . Pepsi, Coke, etc. I have not had one drop, not one taste, for two years. Sounds like an alcoholic talking, doesn't it? Well, I am not an alcoholic.

Why did I stop? I was a Diet Pepsi-aholic! Too much! I kept reading about the side effects . . . phosphorus taking the calcium out of my bones possibly making them brittle. Oh yes, aspartame wreaks havoc with the body. So, I stopped. That was hard to do! I really enjoyed the taste.

Recently, I have been working on cutting out saccharin and aspartame. I was putting that in my iced tea or hot tea. Now, that's a new taste to acquire. I will keep you posted on how I am doing.

Why am I cutting out the man made sweeteners? I felt bad and wondered what was wrong. I am already starting to feel better. Hm-m-m! It just might be worth it! Once again, I will keep you posted.

By the way, I stopped sugar a long time ago. I wrote about this earlier. Let me bring you up to date on my progress. No sugar for the last 8 years and 10 months. Yep! Can't believe it, can you? Well, it's the truth! Really!

I find that if I make a commitment to discipline myself in one area that it helps me in other areas. I start working on a new area. Love it! It starts with a decision.

Eric

Would you believe $8.90 a gallon?

Hard to believe, isn't it? That's what we are paying over here now. In Germany and in the UK it is more!

Approximately $4.00 per gallon goes to the Hungarian government in taxes.

The weak American dollar is wreaking havoc with our ministry budget. About 7 years ago, maybe 8, we received 310 forints per dollar. Today? 141 forints per dollar. We have lost 55% in buying power.

So, not only do we have to pay $8.90 per gallon, but we have less buying power. It takes many more dollars to pay, that is, to buy forints to pay for the fuel for our van. So, it takes slightly over $135 to fill up the tank.

Thought you might like to know.

OK, it's time to fill up the tank and drive 16 hours to Montenegro where I will direct Camp Monty 08. That will take about two tanks of fuel.

Let's see, that's $540 roundtrip . . . I am thankful for wonderful donors who make this possible.

Eric