Those Wild Bikers!

    One of the first days we were here in our little town, I saw a mother and daughter riding their bikes through the town and they proceeded to shop. The daughter was in her 50's, I suppose, and the mother was in at least her 70's. "How cute! "I thought, "Good for her!" (the mom) to be riding a bike so late in life…

    What I once thought was an anomaly - it certainly would be in the States- is more the norm here! People have been riding their bikes or walking everywhere for a very long time, especially during the times of socialism and communism, when having a car was only for the very privileged.  It also makes great sense in a country where gas is at least $7.50/gallon. No need to use all that gas if you are only going a little way. You will often see people of all ages - especially 'older' people- riding their bikes many places.

   The variety of bikes is also quite astounding! When I was a kid, my folks refitted an old Schwinn to make it look pretty new… gold with a gold banana seat and those high wing handlebars with gold handle grips.  I swear, that bike is over here by the thousands, but the seat has often, though not always been changed out! There are also old rusty contraptions that have been pieced together from many a dead bike, new bikes (though they get stolen quite easily), bikes with a lower to the ground gearing, and electric bikes.

   It is nothing to see a number of older people riding along to/from the local market [called the piac (pea-ots)], local woven baskets on the handlebars, and a sturdy plastic/fiberglass bag in the holder over the back tire. They wave to the ones they know and say, "Jo napot kivánok!" (Good day I wish you)

and sometimes may even stop in the street or off to the side to chat.

   You can tell we are still foreigners from 'the sticks' here, we say "Jo napot kivánok!" to everyone! Sometimes we get people to say that back, or sometimes we try to strike up a conversation about the weather or whatever. Thank Heaven more and more people are responding to us as though we really know what they are talking about! We get glimpses into the conversations, but we have a long way to go with the language.

Life on the Ground…. running!

       So, here are some bits of everyday life as we live it over here…  There is an English Bible Study where we concentrate on conversational English. We read the Bible and then we discuss it. So far it has been the most effective and best attended type of English classes so far!

 
   Nearly 50% of the jobs available want people with the ability to speak English - and it's hard to do when the many of the teachers in school often only learned it from a book, and that is how they teach the pronunciation to their students.

   Students may also listen to movies or podcasts or television, but it is difficult if you don't have a chance to practice. We try to have them practice as much as possible, though sometimes it is a challenge to get them to open up. Once they relax,  they really seem to enjoy not only the participation but also the camaraderie of everyone.

 
    Although we read from the Bible and stick to the text, we also try to help our students relate to what was happening at the time of the writing. This way, they can often see how they can apply it to their lives.

  (We are always happy to answer questions,  so feel free to email us if you have some!)

How Do You Know You Are Relentlessly Pursued?

  A conversation was happening last week we were involved in.

The question was, "How do you know God has relentlessly pursued you?"

   Such an interesting question! A person may consider, when? Then again, it may be in light of coming to know the King on a personal level, whether it be now or many years ago. It could also be viewed as a protective stance for us…. but consider also, maybe He has covered an area all around us - perhaps we have never looked to see how He protects us as we move forward or to the side, but only through the rear view of our lives do we see His hands having orchestrated our protection.

  The next question was, "What do you relentlessly pursue?"  

    This could be another question that would be considered, "when"? Yet it could also uncover some of our thoughts of us being over zealous about an occupation; coffee; a hobby; eeking out a living or starting a business from scratch while still working full time; Bible study; a loved one - yet how many of us relentlessly pursue God? Do you pursue Him with questions? Do you pursue Him with adoration? Do you relentlessly pursue running away from Him? Do you relentlessly pursue His goodness and joy? Do you relentlessly pursue making something different for dinner? Do you relentlessly pursue capturing the perfect light in a painting or photo?

    I have thought about these two questions quite often this last week, and yet again today was reminded of one thing I have relentlessly pursued - gardening. Our landlord thinks I (Carrie) am completely nuts in composting, buying cow manure to help improve the soil for our garden, tilling the compost/manure mixture with dirt…. He doesn't know it is such a joy for me to have soil that is actually soil! My life has consisted of a) clay  b) glacial till - i.e. rocky ground that is so rocky, there is really very little soil or  c) no garden, so making one out of scraping off the grass & roots and trying to coax life out of clay or rocky soil in a climate that either has very little rain or way too much.  The soil here is  dirt and sand mixture, yet has been used for who knows what, but it can be improved.  I thought when we moved here that Europeans are crazy about recycling and composting…. well, maybe Western Europe is, but there are precious few here that I have met.

  I know God relentlessly pursued me - saving me from giving my life over to satanic worship. In fact, I had yelled at God countless times for fouling up 'the plans'! Oh, what JOY, what AMAZEMENT, what ASTONISHMENT that He would care so much to even 'foul up' my planned death so I wouldn't submit to Him! The fact that He LOVED me, CARED for me, desired to have a RELATIONSHIP with me, and thought THAT I WAS VALUABLE! Me? Such a hater of Him??? He still wanted ME? WHY?? (That my friends, is still a conundrum!) But He DID!

    He CARES that much for you, too! His greatest joy is that when a sinner will submit one's trust in His salvation, His glory, His son's sacrifice for us, in order for US to be reborn in Him! ACCEPTED! REFRESHED! RENEWED! REWORKED for His purposes - some we can never even imagine until we see them….

   Oh, don't delay my friend - TRUST in His plans! There is nothing like the FREEDOM you feel when you come under His obedience and discover that the overflowing JOY comes from this! What an  imaginative God we have! He will till our soil, reworking it from the compost of our former lives, renewing it with the help of His holy spirit and the sacrifice and resurrection of His only son. Give it a go! Allow great beauty and growth to flourish in your hearts and minds through His will…

    

Photo courtesy of Lori Wentland

1st Anniversary for all of us!

      Happy Anniversary - To ALL of us! Without your help, your prayers, your encouragement when we have been discouraged, your friends, your support…. we wouldn't be able to be here.  We also desire that you would be inserted into the photos with us, so as you glance below, let your mind view yourself as being here, since you helped send us ok?

PS - PTL! Our car is now funded!!! Thank you for your help!!

K & C @ Höllökö Castle

Kurt teaching English at English Camp

Dancing at Attila & Evi's wedding

Hungarian Dancer

Hungarian & Indian Friends over to visit and have Mexican food - a special treat!

A child at a Bárka outreach 

A team outing

The Bárka's services now flow into 3 areas w/ so many people!

Hungarian Sunset on the Parliament Building

Carrie @ Patchwork Camp

Our Welcoming team (11:30 pm!) to Hungary

A Hungarian treasured floor - Music room, Vajita, 15 types of wood…..

The Women's Bible study

A 'punk' suit of armor

The youth of the church going on a mission's trip 

Catch an experience

 When you travel and experience a different culture, it is good to keep a fun perspective and remember to get photos while you can. Here are some of ours from last year:

Now THAT's a cup of coffee!

Door handle to a bakery

Hinges on a door at Fisherman's Bastion

A hand made Spartan hat

One of the many Budapest sculptures

Flower Shop a the Market

  Not only are the photos fun to look at, but many give back fond memories of outings with people we have enjoyed spending time with as we learned some history, some places to go, cultures and most importantly, what makes up some of the Hungarian mindset.

  We have all reflected our lives from this last year. For us it has been a time of intense and often frustrating growth but it has been seasoned with new friendships, joy at seeing others coming to Christ and progress in learning the language and the culture.

   There are SO many opportunities to choose to be a witness for Christ here. Step out your door and you will be observed, which has it's good and bad points, but it will always impact someone. We can all make that choice to impact others through our actions, thoughts and determination. Let's make some positive impact in another's world!

Traditional Transylvanian furniture and designs

Lovely Budapest

The roofs on the Castle Cathedral, Budapest

Sunset in January with the Chain Bridge and Parliment

The Castle Cathedral and one of our favorite statues

We have been hosting many people and going to local places during our Christmas break from language school. We are excited to have friends visit and to celebrate the joy of visitors.

What a privilege to host our first Thanksgiving in a country new to us with many from other places as well as starting one of our first game nights in our place with many of the people we enjoy spending time with!

Thanksgiving in 3 rooms with guests!

Hollókõ Castle Ruins, Hungary

Technology and More Label Fun

Sigh.... Technology should be our friend, right?  I just worked HOURS trying to get out our latest newsletter... and it didn't go! Well, I will try it again, but not tonight!

So, to make some things 'lighter' here is some more label fun:

Who would have thought - a Gluten free store and a toystore in one spot!?

Oh, c'mon, you know that says "Lord of the Rings" !

A new twist on a phrase

  We will be praying for all of you to have a great holiday season - we will be posting before Christmas,  but for those in the states, we hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving with whomever you get to spend the holiday with!! Make the best of it and keep your sense of humor... there is a reason:)