Thursday, July 25, 2013

Not Your Ordinary Camp

I am adapting to trying new things... This adventure you are reading about helps you understand some of them, but what I have been really amazed about this first 6 months we have been here is the intensity with which Hungarian students study.

Not only have most students been studying much harder than anyone I have ever known during the school year, but they continue to do so in the summer. Then they also go to camps, (if the family can afford it), during the summer to continue studying subjects they want to or need to in a more intensive manner! Good heavens! There really are younger and older people who DO this!

This is where English Camp comes in. Students voluntarily come to English camp for really intensive English classes and free time for about a week at Lakitelek from all over Hungary and the areas where Hungarian is spoken. As you may recall from some of my postings, nearly 50% of the jobs available to Hungarians need a good solid working knowledge of English. Well as you may know, we do teach intensive classes here, but we use the Bible as the text  for them to read. This not only expands their vocabularies further, but it helps get the word of God into their hearts in some way or another.

This week, I have had the privilege of being called a surrogate mom to a young lady who's mom has just abandoned her; comforted another young lady whose mother suddenly passed away this winter; helped to blow away a group of kids through sharing real life with them; helped to give numerous testimonies of how to live life out loud with my husband and the campers, as well as get to know many really neat people and teach classes.  There will be pictures soon, But for now, we still need your prayers for all these campers. Some are adults older than us, and then it goes down to kids in the pre-teen years. Hearts and lives are being changed, praise God!

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Patchwork Camp '13




 Imagine 50+ ladies,  all getting together for two days to sew, talk and laugh - you have Patchwork Camp.  Now imagine this setting in a culture where people don't speak to each other on the street, unless they know each other well. Smiles are few. Now transport the joy into this different culture and you understand why so many women are drawn to this club.

  A friend of mine, Eri, remarks that she "Just feels so good and happy for days after she has spent time at  Patchwork Club. Something about the people is so different."  Eri is one of the many unbelievers in the club. In fact, just a handful of believers were in the Patchwork Camp and the purpose of this camp is to encourage people to draw to Christ. It works! At least one lady turned her heart to God this last weekend! Many more were amazed to hear the stories and the thought of life that can be so different with only one "small" decision.

  God is definitely at work in this small town. People come from many different towns and cities to join in the activities.  "I feel so happy and safe here" is a comment that is heard often. "Safe" being often the idea of not being condemned or having the freedom to express yourself.

  Many ladies were blessed with gifts they "won", thanks to generous donations from people like you. This also is fairly unheard of here. "You mean, I don't owe you anything?? Really?" Really! We also made some tissue holders for every attendee (Thanks to the Camano Chapel Ladies' Retreat for the idea!) and those were loved!

  Now in a week will be English Camp, where young people from all over Hungary will come to play, practice their English  (a necessity - almost 1/2 the jobs here in Hungary require a good working knowledge of the language), and hear the Word, read the Word and have a lot of energizing fun.

Would you join with us in praying for the campers - that the Word would permeate their hearts and minds? Please also pray for the staff - for energy and wisdom and joy throughout the week. We have more campers this year than ever (75), and we have some staff who weren't able to make it this year....
Maybe God is calling you to come to help next year?? Think about it! You could come to Patchwork Camp, and then be here for English camp! Or, just come for English Camp - the people are always amazed that others willingly take time away from life to come and help.  So, do you want some amazement??? Email us if you want to be kept updated with day to day life with English camp. We will also try to blog sometime during the week to share:)

Thanks for your prayers!