The Baker's Half Dozen: Life in Hungary

Showing posts with label Life in Hungary. Show all posts

Fun Fall Festivities

Recently we attended a Sunday service at which five Hungarian Baptist churches joined together for worship. It was a really special time to see these five churches together in one place. There was even a bouncy house, face painting and crafts for the children. The girls (above) are pretty princesses, puppies, and butterflies, while the boys (below) are fierce wild animals!

The children's school held a fall festival with games and loads of candy. Our two grade schoolers were the baker and the princess. Kind of reminds me of a scene from Despereaux.

I absolutely love the fall leaves! And I am so glad I get to witness the beauty of such splendid colors.....and watch the kids play in them!

New Life

Almost one year ago, Monte missed the bus and had to wait for the next one. While waiting for the next bus, an elderly man walked up to wait for the same bus. They began a conversation and continued it after boarding the bus. Then the bus was stopped because of an accident ahead on the road, which caused the bus to take a thirty minute detour. They had more time to talk because of the delay, and they became friends, exchanging phone numbers. Gyuri (pronounced Jury in English) is Hungarian but lives in Norway, and travels back and forth for various reasons. Even though Gyuri was agnostic, he acknowledged that it was not by chance that he met Monte. Gyuri is 78, he escaped communism and found asylum in Norway, and has lived his whole life in search of peace and joy. In his search he acquired many things that he thought would bring him happiness. Over and over he and Monte had long spiritual talks, but he still had so many questions and much opposition to accepting Christ. He asked us to pray for him because he was "haunted" by this decision to accept Christ or not. So, we sent a prayer letter to our praying friends, and we continued to wait.

July 31, Sunday evening, Monte went to visit Gyuri in his home, and stayed 4 hours. Monte came home after midnight, and said that Gyuri had prayed at 11 PM to receive Christ. Gyuri had said, "I don't know what I'm waiting for, this is really a simple decision!" Now the really amazing part is this - We had just received an email that night from one of those praying friends, telling us how burdened he was for Gyuri, and that he was prompted to pray for our friend.

We are so encouraged that God raised up someone across the world to pray at the right moment, and that that our dear friend put his faith in Christ. He said that he now has Jesus with him, before him and behind him.

Curly Haired Pigs and Thatched Roofs

We visited the Hungarian Open Air Museum in Szentendre and enjoyed a beautiful journey back in time. This open air museum features buildings and village segments based on the different regions of Hungary during specific time periods. Even though the weather was cold and rainy, the kids loved sloshing through the mud and discovered lots of treasures from Hungarian culture......like curly haired pigs, the mangalica pigs. They are really cute close up!

Peeking into wells, looking through windows, going into houses, cottages, barns, and village churches, and seeing the chairs, beds, and dishes that once belonged to someone else make us mindful of those who once lived here, and of those today who seek to carry on their traditions.

The museum really is dedicated to preserving Hungarian traditions - folk dancing and singing, traditional village dress, handcrafts like wood working, spinning wool, egg painting, sewing, and language preservation through story telling and poetry. Our children got to make flying birds using real hollow egg shells, which is a traditional Easter craft.

A walk through a slow, unhurried village, touching the thatched roofs, eating langos and kurtos kolacs baked in outdoor ovens, hearing the pigs and the chickens, and admiring the skillful determination of cultural preservation is a nice reminder of our humanity..... a walk through the past is always good for the present.

Talking to Strangers

Some of the neatest conversations with Hungarians have happened because we stopped and initiated the conversation. We noticed this lady sitting on a bench trying to sell her handmade beaded eggs. We walked past her because we were tired and ready to go home, but then we looked at each other and knew we should go back and talk to her. She was selling her little beaded eggs for 600 forint, that's about $3.00. But she was more interested in our children and why we were in Hungary. Fortunately, our English-accented Hungarian and our American culture were of some interest to her, and she had lots of questions. We had a great conversation and some instant bonding, and we were so glad that we stopped. People are always more important than our agendas. You never know who could be in need of a little friendship.....and usually you are the one who will be blessed the most.

We went home with less forint but more love, and eggs in our pockets.

Red, White & Green

March 15 is an important holiday in Hungary, and all who celebrate wear a red, white, and green ribbon on their lapel or wave the flag. We decided to avoid the crowds and speeches but wanted to be out in the city, so we went to Gellert Hill. There are great slides that the kids enjoy sliding down. The spring weather is just perfect! This place was swarming with families all enjoying some sunshine after the long dreary winter.

From Gellert Hill you can look out over the city and the Danube River. The green Freedom Bridge is one of our favorites, and this day it was decorated with Hungarian flags.

The Petofi Bridge in the distance,

the Chain Bridge,

and the Elizabeth Bridge - the real favorite in our family! If you look closely you can see the Hungarian flags waving their red, whlte, and green.

A Rare Day

We went to Hungary's National Rare Disease Day and were thrilled to see the number of organizations represented. It truly was a rare day to have so many people who are affected by rare disorders to be under one roof, and it was a beautiful sight to see so many people working together to promote equality. We were also able to meet some new friends who are affected by Turner Syndrome and who are interested in working together to spread awareness and support to families.

There were tables with information available on numerous rare disorders, but not one for Turner Syndrome. It is my hope that Christ will use us to comfort others with the comfort that He has given us, and that every part of our lives will be used for HIS glory.

My eyes were filled with tears as I watched the dancers, who in that moment found such joy and freedom in their abilities. Christ offers unparalleled freedom and joy, and even hope in the midst of strange, daunting experiences. The acceptance that Christ offers is indeed rare among a hurting world that often fails to acknowledge the needs of our weakest and most vulnerable people.

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 5:16

This Little Light

We recently visited a local "cave" which was really an old rock quarry. Rocks were cut out of this to use in the magnificent Parlament that sits on the Danube River. Now that this "cave" is no longer used for mining, some people have "rented" a small room inside to grow mushrooms. The cool, damp, dark conditions are perfect for growing mushrooms. We never would have known about this if some locals in downtown Diosd didn't whisk Monte away one afternoon to show him the little rooms inside. We've seen the cave many times but never went inside. I admit, I was a little apprehensive because it was completely dark inside, and we had to walk until we found the small light where the workers were. We were too late to get any fresh mushrooms, and they told us to come back at 8AM. We did get to share Christ with one of the workers - standing in the dark holding flashlights - and the reality is that this is what we are doing everyday. We are living in a spiritually dark, dark place, and are shining a little light into the darkness.

"I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of LIFE." John 8:!2

Santa and the Baby Jesus

This will be our second Christmas in Hungary, and I am still learning about their holiday traditions. Having children makes this so much more fun. When we lived in America, I never told our kids that Santa brought presents, but we always had fun seeing him at the mall, and reading about the history of St. Nicholas. This week I took three of our kids to see Mikulash (St. Nicholas) at our local mall. Mikulash visited Elizabeth's kindergarten class, so Olivia really wanted to meet him also. Elizabeth told us that when he came to her class, she had to recite a poem the class had been working on just for this occasion. At the mall, I was surprised to see there was not a long line to see him, and he was dressed in the traditional red garb and white hair, and surrounded by angels, not elves. The few children before us took a very long time sitting and talking with Santa, and I wondered what they were doing. When it was our turn he asked us lots of questions, and I think he enjoyed talking to some American kids. Another surprise - he did not ask the children what they wanted for Christmas. Now I knew that in Hungary it is not Santa who brings the children toys on December 25, but the baby Jesus. Santa fills their boots with candy on December 6. But to see this conversation played out really gave me a cultural shock! Instead of asking the children what they wanted him to bring them, he asked them what they could say or sing for him! I had not prepared the children to sing a Hungarian Christmas song or poem and fortunately he asked if we could sing Jingle Bells. So, we all stood around Mikulash and began singing Jingle Bells, in English. Then, after we performed for him, he gave out the special Hungarian Christmas candy and a sticker book to each child.

One new Hungarian tradition that we haven't adopted is waiting until December 24 to put up our Christmas tree. We have found that it is such a great teaching tool for our family, and have used it to talk about it's history - St. Boniface, Martin Luther, hanging fruit on the branches, and of course stars and angels. Tradition here says that angels and the baby Jesus deliver the tree and presents on Christmas Eve, and usually only the adults put the tree up in secret to surprise the children. We hope that JESUS will be exalted during this Christmas season and that many will realize that the baby Jesus is actually IMMANUEL - GOD WITH US. Not a baby anymore, not still on the cross, not still dead in the tomb, but a risen SAVIOR, living and interceding on our behalf to God our heavenly Father.

St. Nicholas - Mikulash

Hungary has Christmas traditions that are unique for us Americans. One of our favorite new traditions is December 6, Nicholas' day. Here, everyone's name is somewhere on the yearly calendar to celebrate a "name day." This is a special day in addition to your birthday. Nicholas's name is on December 6, therefore he is celebrated and remembered on this day, just as in many other countries he is also honored on this day. Here his name is Mikulash. Some families have grandpa dress up like St. Nick to visit their children, or you can "hire" someone to come to your house. I always see the signs with a phone number to call, but haven't tried the personal Santa visit. He did show up at Elizabeth's kindergarten class, and she insisted that he was the REAL one! (He had a real white beard and red clothes) Olivia wants to see him too, so we will try to track him down at the local mall.

The children put their clean boots outside on the window sill and go to bed in hopes of getting candy in the morning from Mikulash, rather than the "switch." There is actually a golden stick you can buy in the stores for this very occasion. And just to be funny, I bought four golden sticks this year to put in their boots. It is such fun to see the kids' faces when they find their boots in the morning!

As a family, we have enjoyed reading the true story about the real St. Nicholas, a man from Lycia and a bishop of Myra. Voice of the Martyrs has published a wonderful book that chronicles his life - his desire to share his riches with the poor, his desire to serve God, and his desire to preserve and preach the truth about Jesus Christ. He was imprisoned under the Roman ruler Diocletian for refusing to bow to him. He chose to worship God alone and stayed in prison.He endured years of imprisonment and persecution because of his faith, and was released when Diocletian died and Constantine came to power. Constantine was a Christian, and he released all the Christians who had been imprisoned. The story inspires us to pray for those who are being persecuted today around the world, and to live boldly for Christ. It's good to remember Nicholas. The real story certainly points us to Jesus, and that is worth celebrating.

(The Story of St. Nicholas, More Than Reindeer and a Red Suit, by Cheryl Odden, published by Voice of the Martyrs)

Budapest - Get Engaged

I love this video because it highlights some of the wonderful inventions made by Hungarians.

Same But Different

Just in case you ever wondered what living here is like.......we listed some of the differences to give you an idea of what daily life for us is like here in Hungary.

Different:
All bills are paid at the post office. This potentially means long lines every time you go, but it does streamline things.
A truck comes to our house to "vacuum" up our septic tank once a month. It must be emptied or it will overflow into the street.
Doctors can make house calls.
Eggs are always brown, and speckled bird eggs are for sale in the grocery store.
If you want to use a cart at the grocery store, you pay 100 forint. Your money will be returned when you return the cart.
Bring your own bags to the grocery store, or buy new ones each time.
Outside shoes are taken off when you come inside, and inside shoes are put on.
We use a clothesline to dry our clothes.
We ride buses, trams, metro (subway), and trains in the city.
Almost every home has a fence, gate, and a dog.
We eat FRESH bread, not pre-packaged, pre-sliced, spongy, plastic-wrapped bread.
Lunch time means a large, hot meal....sandwiches are saved for the evening supper.
You can buy chocolate infant cereal.
Greeting one another with 2 kisses!

Same:
The setting of the sun, and the evening moon rise, the dark night sky that makes stars so visible.....The same spiritual darkness is here, as is everywhere in the world. Lack of interest in spiritual things, unawareness of a greater dimension outside of this present time, intentional avoidance of the Bible, deep atheistic beliefs that prevent a thorough logical examination regarding the natural world, focus on money and position for a successful life, abortion on demand, and self-preservation instead of community. However, the love of Christ is a shining light and is evident in the affection and unity that believers have for one another. This unity always amazes me - to find people in a different country, culture, language, etc...but who have the same knowledge of Christ and share the same love.....it's breathtaking.

Good Summer Comes to An End

We were very blessed this summer to have two visits from family. In July and August we spent our vacation time with grandparents from Texas and Florida. We also got to act like tourists and visit many places we have been longing to see! We had such a wonderful time exploring more of Budapest and even taking a short train trip to Vienna. Even more amazing was that it felt like we had just seen them yesterday....even though it has been a year and a half since we have seen our families. Time is going by so fast, and we are glad to have shared some great memories with people who love us.

Leaving is never easy, saying goodbye doesn't get any easier, and I'm still not used to the separation. There's a pain in my heart when the children ask, "Where is Poppa?" Skype, digital pictures, internet, packages and emails make life a little bit sweeter, but trusting that God is in control makes all this bearable, and worth it all.

English Camp

Memories of when I attended camp as a child are still embedded in my mind. There is something unique about the camp experience that can heighten the senses and bring into focus all the important things in life. It is such a time when all other daily routines cease and the senses are dulled to the monotonous and exchanged for something far more glorious. The photo is tangible evidence and will always be there to remind.

The setting invited an array of questions:
"How do I know God is real?"
"How can God hear me? Does He really have ears?"
"How do you know when God is talking to you? Does He have a loud voice?"
"Can you tell me your story?" (a boy wanted to hear how I came to know Jesus)
"What about all the suffering in the world? Why doesn't God stop all the wars?"

And some bold, convincing statements:
"I already have a plan for my life, and I don't need God."
"I don't think God is real because I can't see Him."
"I am not a sinner."
"I became a believer at camp last year."

"But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

It's amazing to find yourself suddenly in the middle of what God is doing...."God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:4

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 And so I wait for the day of completion in each of these young lives.

Stop and Smell the Berries

The mulberry tree behind our church is a magnificent display of God's creation. It's height is breathtaking to a girl from the South. We're not used to such tall trees. There are also so many different varieties of trees here - cherries, almonds, chestnuts, apples, pears, peaches, walnuts, red and black currants, and mulberries. Sadly, there are no Texas pecans or Florida citrus! We have enjoyed watching the trees bloom in the springtime and try to guess what kind of fruit it will bear.

As an adult, I can easily forget how sensitive children are to our surroundings. I forget that all the wonders I have seen for thousands of times are very new to a child who has yet to explore the world around them. The world is full of wonders to dazzle our senses....if we take time to notice them. Elizabeth can't wait to get to church so she can pick the berries from the ground and branches. She is so amazed to be able to pick these juicy berries and fill up her bag. Even Stephen is fascinated with these beautiful berries and helps pick them. Little Stephen always walks slow because he is trying to see everything - a butterfly, flowers, a rock, an ant. I understand why children always look behind them when trying to walk forward - they don't want to miss anything!

I like what Pastor Jay said from FBC Lakeland,....."What if God handed you a camera every morning and told you to snap pictures of you noticing Him at work wherever you go?" What would you take a picture of? Do we even know what God is doing around us? God is much closer than we realize. He is working in ways we do not always realize. He wants to speak to us, reveal himself to us, and show us the next thing to do. We have so many opportunities to be kind, to be helpful, and to speak about Jesus.....if we aren't too busy to notice. A big part of our work right now is going slow, being slow, being available, and taking time to notice people. We stopped walking through the mall because an elderly lady recognized us and wanted to talk. We sat down on the bench with her for awhile. It was good to not be in a hurry.

It's time to be still....know that he is God.....and join him.

Holocaust in Hungary

We visited the Holocaust Memorial Center in Budapest which is a memorial site of 1,441 lost Jewish communities and over 500,000 victims. They have an amazing exhibit which makes you feel as though you are part of this history. And actually, we are. We are not so distantly removed. If we think we are, then we forget.....we forget how to really love our neighbor, how to love people we don't like, how to treat a refugee, how to treat someone who is different from us, how to live in humility rather than pride, and how to have compassion.
A communist symbol was sprayed painted onto the wall beside the Holocaust Memorial Center. The letters above the symbol are in reference to the gas pipeline that is planning to be built through Hungary in order to transport gas from Russia to the rest of Europe. It's just another small piece of evidence to prove that the threat and scent of communism does still linger in the air here.

The outside of the center reflects the distorted and twisted world of Nazism and the darkness of atrocious killings. Immediately we were swept into a world of despair, unfairness, and ugly ethnic pride.

This synagogue is one of the largest built in Budapest in 1924. It has been restored and is now a part of the center and is used for concerts and exhibits. The blue and gold colors are strikingly beautiful. As another reminder of lives lost, there are empty glass chairs labeled with individual names.

This is a small portion of the wall that lists names of all Hungarians who died in the Holocaust. Relatives can locate their family name through a computer database, and research is still being done to finish collecting all the names. For now, there are still some blank spaces.

"All that is required for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing."