South Africa

It was a long labor, but as I asked God, it was clear:

"As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me . . ." —Genesis 24:27

"If we are born again by the Spirit of God, our devotion to Him is hindered, or even stopped, by continually asking Him to guide us here and there. (...) We should be so one with God that we don’t need to ask continually for guidance. (...) A child’s life is normally obedient." - Oswald Chambers: MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST

I feel like I was standing on one side of the crosswalk while the light was green already. I was waiting for something to happen, while... : )

Goal: September, 2010

Praises: God's patience, leading, provision, the friendship with my future roommate (Miriam Ritchie).

Prayer requests: faithfulness to God in all things, preparing myself for the ministry there, finishing well here in Hungary.

To be continued...

November 2, 2009 (Monday)

3:30 packing
4:00 departure
6:30 arrival
8:35 1. performance
10:10 getting ready
10:30 2. performance
11:50 getting ready
12:10 3. performance
13:50 lunch
14:50 packing
15:30 departure
18:15 arrival

I wrote all these down so that you can see how a missionary suffers! NOOOO! : D In the name of the whole team I can say that it was one of our most blessed times in Nyíregyháza, in a Lutheran High School, where 570 students heard the gospel. Right after the first performance it was obvious that the room was not adequate, so we will need another alternative. The teachers came up with the idea, why don't we go to each class in pairs to lead discussions. What an experience!

The conversation after the last performance was the most remarkable to me. At that time we stayed in the same room and 12 young people gather around me to ask really good questions. One of those girls had a lot of question marks in her head, while 2 other girls (Christians) supported my answers and Bible verses with their testimonies. God's strength is revealed in conversations about the Cross. I realized that again!

Please pray for our opportunities in November:
- 16th: Budapest
- 23th: Eger
- 27th: Tápiószele

In Caring Hands

My fall break wasn't too restful, I had ministries, but there were one or two nice happenings that I would like to share with you. If for nothing else, then because it was just another reminder that God doesn't only give what is needed, but so much more...

"Backstage Pass" - Operetta Theater: Romeo and Juliet

I admit, it was free... :) I can be thankful for good connections...

Romanian and Hungarian actors played in the piece, and did the musical in two languages. In the brochure I read: "The motto of this play - Love in the face of hatred - becomes all the more real to us, and touches us with such power, here in the 21st century. Romeo and Juliet is, after all, a piece that provides such a great example that hostility between families, peoples and nations, and racial, religious and linguistic differences cannot destroy human relationships, and cannot permanently dominate here on Earth."

It was a reminder from God, that He is a Lord - much greater than love - over everything, even over the black-white difference in Africa. There is hope that God will destroy the prejudice caused by skin color!

Budapest Zoo: Through the "Looking Glass"...

"This too shall pass!" :) I hope that soon I will be able to wonder at God's creation without having to look through a glass wall, on another continent, in Africa! I was in a zoo on Sunday afternoon. I was the beneficiary of another invitation, and was able to be a witness to many-many colors, shapes, and smells... :D We walked for about 2 hours, looking at African predators and other, less captivating animals. :) It is truly unbelievable to see - with my own eyes - God's creativity.

+1 Closed door. Open arms?

Please pray with me!!! "The door of Uganda" did not open. But they are awaiting me in South Africa with open arms. Pray along with me, that I would do God's will, and not act out of my own, human wisdom!

The replacement of my shortcomings

Erzsébet Csabák alias Böbe

I mentioned our new staff member working at our camp team in one of my earlier entries. Even though I still owe you the "older" staff member's too - here is Böbe's testimony, how God directed her back here among us (she graduated 3 years ago at our Bible School), to Word of Life. I also have a strong connection with her: There isn't a day passing by without me having stomachache by night from laughing so much. :D We are a great team - to entertain each other! ;) We were quite mischievous in school too - since we were sitting together -, but you don't know about that! ;)

"My plan: I wanted to go work in a foreign country this summer, so that I would have enough money to finish my last year at school (Baptist Seminary). But no matter where and how I tried, I was facing closed doors.

God's plan: Since my summer ended up being free, I undertook 5 weeks of ministry at Tóalmás as a unit leader. I heard Laci's announcement: He would like to see one or two volunteers at the camp team for the coming year. When I first heard it I thought to myself: "This is for sure not for me. Here we have a lot of skillful young people, so for sure it's not for me." So I didn't even think about it.

After 1 or 2 weeks, Laci asked the question specifically from me at breakfast. Since he was looking straight into my eyes I had to believe he is asking me. I was very surprised and it stirred me up, because I thought I would be the last one they would ask to serve here. So all I asked is that we would pray for it.

The fight started in me. I was praying for weeks, but I started to like the thought of serving here more and more. I'm doing my last year at school and the required ministry is 4 months, that was one of the reasons I was willing to say yes. I asked my parents and my pastor, and after they all gave their blessings :), we sat down to talk about the details. I want to be an effective part of the camp team and to bear fruits to His glory and to build others up. So please pray for this when you are reminded of me! :)"

The new "hairstyle" of the castle

Someone who didn't want to name himself or herself gave an offering to our organization with a specific purpose. Using this gift, we started the entire replacement of the roof in June and also in September they started the modernization of the heat system. We are not taking baths in milk and honey, but in dust, though we do look forward the glorious future: "dry" rainy season and "lovely, warm" winter. : ) Maybe those of you who have been to Tóalmás before ask the question: "what about the greenhouse?". Will not be renovated yet. But hopefully soon! Till then, enjoy the pictures made of the process.

September 17 - 18

2 days, a lot going on, plenty of reasons for praises...

1. Street evangelism

Every year, the first couses at the Bible School are Personal Evangelism and Street Evangelism (I had the privilege of translating at the latter one), after which we go on the streets for 2 days. This year 210 people heard the gospel through personal conversations and 10 of them - at Nyugati's underground and at Blaha - trusted God as their personal Savior! To God be the glory!!! This year I was mainly translating for our international students and interns, but I also had a long conversation - in Hungarian. Praise the Lord, that He saves, and convicts people with love to salvation. How longsuffering our God is!

2. Last shots :)

I've got everything in me! Health-wise I'm ready to conquer Africa! :D God is so good!!! The last ones were given to me at the Health Department in Budapest. I called another international injection-center before. They would have made me pay as much for 1 shot and the required counseling as I had to pay for the 3 altogether. (Side note: If anyone is planing on going to Africa, I would love to give you advice how to prepare!)

3. Friends - in focus: Rita

I spent the 2 days inbetween evangelism at her place! While we were at Bible School, the deepest spiritual relationship developed between us. We met every day for half an hour to share our joy, struggles and most importantly to pray for each other! Even though we graduated 3 years ago and we can rarely send e-mails to each other, and meet even fewer times, whenever we do meet, we continuie from the exact place we "ended" the last time. I'm so thankful for her, because she is not only my friend, but as a missionary (CEF) she is also my supporter!

Bits of August - in pictures

Home

Four of my cousins visited us on a Friday. We had a blast! :D We acted out the story of the Good Samaritan (I played the part of the ambulance), we drew an invitation for a show, which devolved into a "marketing-slogan writing" campaign. (Kids these days... :D ) We stuffed ourselves (since we are still in growth), and by the end of the day we - or rather "I" - managed to wind up exhausted.



This picture was taken by the youngest guy, Márk. We couldn't pry the camera out of his hands. I think he was on to something... :) Then there's Ádám and the kisses... :D The next morning, when Márk got up next to his his grandma, he asked: "Are we going to Éva's house today, too? (Éva being my mother)




Márk, as he is being " creative"... (By the way, he is drawing a fish inside a fish - eating was a constant topic, even outside the kitchen. :)







Doctor

Just a few words about my current state: Skin turgor - Normal. Pharynx - Not inflamed. Contractile tissues - Healthy. AHDL-C: 1.9 mmol/L. Clean lungs. Regular hila. Isoelectric ST-divisions, positive T-waves. But I do have an iron-deficiency. But I knew that already, it wasn't a surprise, I got medicine for it.


The other great adventure was getting my shots. So I have the solvents of two preventative injections flowing through my veins: Typherix (for typhoid) and the first two of the combined shot series for Hepatitis A and B. Because of my rapidly changing geographic coordinates, every shot was given by a different person, and that won't change any time soon. :) I have about 5 shots to go. Pictured is the official documentation, as well as the long-long list of side-effects. :D But thanks be to God, I didn't have any of those, except feeling that my arm was a lot heavier that day. :)

These doctor's appointments and trips gave me many opportunities to tell me what I am getting ready to do, and especially to tell them why. I had to be quick and concise each time, but may God grant that the planted seeds come alive in these people.

Since September 5th I have been breathing Tóalmás' air, preparing music for the opening weekend of the Bible School, trying to make up all the e-mails that have collected in my inbox. I am also slowly teaching Böbe (Erzsébet Csabák), our new camp staffmember, how to do my job, so that by the time I leave, she will hopefully not be faced with too many surprises. But I will tell you more about the start of this year later... :)

My first Bloggian words

Behold! With great fanfare, I present to you my much-awaited blog: param-tadam! :)

Browse, read about, ask, spend time here! To start off, maybe I should answer a basic question about this Ugandan chapter of my life: "Where did this come from?".

During my 2 years of Bible School, my guiding verse became Romans 15:20-21 : It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. Rather, as it is written:"Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."

There have been many-many videos and such made about African - and amongst them Ugandan - revival. The spiritual hunger is great. But there are very few who are able to disciple them and help them know God.Another aspect of this is not continuing something, but beginning something, being a pioneer in a ministry.

2. It is my 3. year of serving at WOL Hungary. By the end of my second year I was so frustrated (why can't I get settled anywhere?), then - finally - I fell before God, waiting for him to tell me something. He showed me how having many different areas of interest is not a negative trait (bouncing around), but quite the opposite: one of the greatest virtues of a pioneer is that they can do many kinds of things. This is the direction God is leading me, so that when I am "in the situation", I will not be caught off-guard, and I would be able to "lend a hand".

3. The specifics: Africa - there is no special revelation behind it, I merely wanted a continent where there are economic difficulties, among other things. And just as I don't fit in Asia because of my height, I stand out in Africa because of my color - but my heart still draws me there. Uganda - currently there are 6 countries with a Word of Life presence in Africa. My choice of these was reduced to 3 countries. And since I have 2 very kind and special friends and WOL Uganda, I gave in, and...

this white girl will be spending 9 months - initially - at WOL Uganda. After this will be an evaluation, and a decision will be made about how to continue. But let's not rush ahead, I first have to get there... :)

My first order of business is to go and see how my doctor is doing. :) The goal would be to have a full check-up, and also get my shots.