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."

Waiting for the Harvest!

Spring is really, finally here!!! The days are still cold but now there is sunshine and the snow is only a memory. We bought some gladiola bulbs and soil at Tesco, and then worked to prepare a small "garden" in the back yard. I know it doesn't look like much, but the children worked very hard to plow up the hard ground, pull up the weeds & rocks, pour in the good soil, and bury the bulbs. We had fun digging up worms too. Everyday they love to go outside and water their garden with their very own watering cans. This week there was so much rain, that there are already some small shoots appearing.

Doesn't this paint a beautiful picture of how God works? Each person has a special gift and different abilities. As we work together in the body of Christ we are laying a deeper foundation in preparation for a great harvest - to see more people turning their hearts & minds to Christ. There are so many things we can do to prepare for a great harvest, but the truth is, we are a part of God's plan for a great harvest, and it is God's harvest, not ours. "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. Now he who plants and he was waters are one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers...." 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

And one last thought....
"And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few....." Matthew 9:36-38

The Hungarian People

"In truth I understand that God does not show favoritism,



but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness



is acceptable to Him." Acts 10:34-35

In a Desolate Place

We visited a historic monument in Budapest which is located at the top of a hill overlooking the Danube River. It is one of the highest points in the city and you can see the entire city from here! While Budapest flourishes in culture, music, traditions, art, literature, medicine, universities, cathedrals, and cafes, this really is a desolate place - spiritually. The cathedrals are so ornately decorated, patron saints are everywhere, and heroes of the deep "Christian" history are named on the street signs. One would think this a place where Christianity abounds. However, under the surface of the goodness of the people, under their beautiful hospitality and welcoming words, my soul can feel a desperation for the touch of God. Most people don't know what a true Christian looks like because they have never seen one, and are unaware that there is more to this life. It is good to be in a desolate place, for it is there that you can recognize your need for God. But to never recognize your need for God is to live believing that you already have everything you need, and falsely believe that you are SATISFIED.

How hungry and thirsty I am, but never satisfied until I move closer to God!
"for here we are in a desolate place......and they all ate and were satisfied." - Jesus feeding the 5,000, Luke 9:12 - 17

Snow Days

This is our driveway, shared by other duplexes like ours. The snowfall has been just incredible. The Hungarians have said they haven't seen this much snow in years. We Texans and Floridians think it's just great and are having fun playing in it! But for those who have to shovel it (like Dad) it is a lot of work! Sometimes he has had to shovel it twice in one day. It has been a great way to spend time with the neighbors; pictured above, as they pose after shoveling the entire driveway! They keep small bottles of palinka (Hungarian vodka) in their pockets to sip from in order to stay warm.

Here is one pile of snow in our front yard that has been a small mountain for the kids to climb up and peek over the neighbor's fence.
Our language teacher lives out in a small village, just outside of town. The road isn't paved, is full of huge holes, and isn't plowed during the winter - which makes it very difficult to drive on. Our van isn't able to make it up the hill, pictured below, it just slips and slides. One day we were stuck, unable to make it up the hill, and we had to go down a different, more treacherous road to get home. So we made the decision to park the van and walk. That's me pictured above with a giant snowball aimed at my husband on our walk to class! And after the picture was taken he grabbed it and threw it at me - honest!
We are so grateful for these days, and are living to make the most from every opportunity - and to see challenges as just that - open doors of opportunity. "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1

A Humble Beginning

As we have come to the end of our first year in Budapest, we are looking forward to experiencing God's promises in the new year. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus...The challenges of moving to a new country, culture, and home have increased our dependence on God and decreased our dependency on all things that were once important....who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped... Holding onto the past, experiences, skills, achievements, degrees, money, favorite toys, and the comforts of America with a clenched fist only increase my self-sufficiency. What a blessing to be in a place where all these things are stripped away...but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men.... The 'form' of who I am must change if there is to be transformation and inspiration. I am no longer certain that I can do anything, except remain empty.....He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.... Humility is a pre-requisite for following Jesus, I know this. How humbled am I willing to be? Some boast in chariots, and some in horses...I have nothing more to claim or cling to. I am desperate for the Lord to do His work in His way. God, if you don't do something, nothing is going to happen here! ....But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God!

Philippians 2:5-8, Psalm 20:7

Merry Christmas in Budapest

Nativity scenes at the Christmas Market.

Shopping in the market - all handcrafted items!
Langos, a Hungarian specialty is baked in this dome shaped oven, and topped with onions, bacon, and sour cream!


Another annual Christmas tradition is to visit the Christmas market in Budapest. This is held in Vorosmarty Square and is a series of outdoor booths, filled with handcrafted gifts, toys, ornaments, and special foods (sausages, kabobs, langos, gingerbread cookies, hot tea, and mulled wine). They also have a live advent calendar displayed in the surrounding buildings' windows. There were numerous nativity displays that were also very beautiful. We were very glad to find free parking by the Danube River and the weather was sunny when we visited!

Christmas Traditions

Elizabeth listening to the Hungarian storyteller.
Joshua eating his creations.
The children enjoyed decorating cookies together.
Rolls of beigli ready to be put in the oven.
Rolling out the dough for the beigli.



Our church spent an evening together preparing for Christmas. Some women baked large quantities of real gingerbread cookies and the parts for gingerbread houses and had them ready for all the children to decorate. They used plastic bags to pipe white icing onto the delicious cookies, and the children were allowed to decorate as many as they wanted!! While they worked, we had a special visitor, a Hungarian storyteller, who read to the children. He was quite dramatic, which made for a very special time of quietly working together on the cookies. While the children licked their fingers and ate their finished cookies, the women worked on making beigli, a special Christmas bread. First a yeast dough is made, rolled out, and then a nut or poppy seed filling is spread on the dough (much like making cinnamon rolls). The dough is then rolled up and baked whole. After it is baked, it is served sliced, and is very delicious! Beigli is also for sale in the stores, and is a very special gift to give others. It's just not Christmas here without the beigli!