Gobble Til Ya Wobble!

My favorite 9 year old cousin... Happy Birthday, Cole!

The annual picture around the end of the island

This year's eating theme: GOBBLE TIL YA WOBBLE!

Mom, the grandkids, and great-grandkids

This calls for an update...

Since returning from Hungary {last post} just a few things have happened over the past 4 months.

1. New roommates {well, not really "new" anymore}

2. My 5th year teaching 3rd grade.
I have 5 girls and 16 BOYS in my class! They are a sweet bunch of kids! It's been a great school year!

3. 1st Alabama game

4. Trip to the Big D to visit my besty

5. A long weekend at the beach. The weather was perfect! Sorry, no pictures.

6. Thanksgiving break is here! Headed to Mississippi for Thanksgivingmas - The Tylers celebrate Thanksgiving, clean-up, and then we have Christmas!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Check out the youth blog for daily updates and to catch-up over the past few days. 

http://www.mbccyth.blogspot.com/

Just 3 more days of youth camp. Our youth are having amazing opportunities to share Christ with the Hungarian youth. It's amazing! Please pray for open hearts as the the love of Christ is being shared daily. 

Although it will be hard to leave Diosd in 5 days, there are things I miss about home and look forward to being back in the States. Thank you for your continued prayer over my summer in Hungary. It is truly a blessing to have such strong support from my family and friends in the States. I look forward to sharing how God is moving through this Body of believers and drawing others to Him!

Hungary, Hungary Hippos

The youth are here! We are having a blast. Today is the second day of "Converse" Youth Camp. There are 61 Hungarian youth here at camp. MBCC's 9 youth are doing a great job with English Camp, Sports & Games, & hanging out with the Hungarian youth. Our team is spending our evenings discussing our unity as believers in the Body of Christ. 

Last week I had the opportunity to travel to Vienna for a day, visit a castle, go to a thermal bath, have dinner with a wonderful family, and pray with a Hungarian friend to receive Christ. More on this later... 

Here are a few pictures to capture the past week. 

Dinner with the Hermann family: Juci, Dori, and Julia

Having ice cream with the two Ildiko's

The imperial palace in Vienna

with LIlla at the thermal bath in Erd

The youth are here! Hike at Lake Balaton

First day of Youth Camp

*The title of this blog post: At youth camp we have chants. When anyone on the mic says Hungary everyone chants "Hungary Hungary Hippos." There are other chants to get the Hungarian youth involved.

Poppy seeds are commonly used in large amounts in desserts. My first experience with poppy seeds in Hungary began while eating with a Hungarian family from the church. Stophi {the 12 year old son} memorized the menu in English to read before we sat down to eat. When he got to dessert he said, "For dessert we will be having puppy dog." What?!?! If you sound out poppy dough with a Hungarian accent it is a common mistake to call the popular Hungarian dessert "puppy dog!" That was only the beginning of many run-ins with heaping amounts of poppy seeds. My curiosity had me questioning how they sell poppy seeds. In the States I might use one small jar of poppy seeds every 2 years! My dislike of large amounts of poppy seeds {birdseed portions} has become humorous to many Hungarians. This bag of poppy seeds was a gift from the Paulus staff after the second week of English camp. 

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There is so much to write and I'm not sure where to begin. This past week was similar to the week before except I was no longer working with the MBCC team, but meeting new friends from Roswell Community Church and working with them for the second week of English Camp. It was a joy to be a part of the second week of English Camp and continue relationships that were built from the first week. The party Friday night once again brought many new faces and some from the previous week came back! One lady who used to be involved in the mother's circle outreach seven years ago came to the cookout Friday night. She expressed how she misses the fellowship here at Paulus. She is planning to attend more outreach events and come on Sunday mornings! We also had many men in attendance. This is the hardest area of ministry for the Paulus Fellowship. Exciting things are happening here! 

The Americans {me and the Roswell team}

Intermediate Adult Class {13 of them!}

Making banana pudding for the party

I am constantly overwhelmed with how open the Hungarians have been to allow me to be a part of their lives this summer. My only expectations prior to this trip came from previous experiences. I knew the staff would be hospitable and church members would be welcoming and friendly, but I am amazed at the gratitude of so many in the church body. Today was my second Sunday to worship with the Paulus Fellowship (the first Sunday we were at the church retreat). Last Sunday the MBCC team was still here. Today I was the only American here, so I didn't expect to have translation during the service. I planned to spend some time reflecting over the past 3 weeks. As soon as I walked up the stairs I was warmly greeted by all of those I have gotten to know through the church retreat, English camps and some who have cooked dinner for our team during the week. After visiting with many people I found a seat on the back row. Sanyesz immediately ran up to me eager to translate the service. He is one of the guys who helped at the English Camp and will begin teaching English this September for the newest outreach program here. I moved to the front so he could translate for me. Chris Johnson, a missionary nearby, was the guest teacher and preached on "Worship." He brought me his English notes to follow along during the sermon. 

Sanyesz {never a dull moment around here!}

As I listened to the sound of Hungarian voices worshipping, I was overcome once again with the sound of God's children singing praises to him in a language he hears and understands! The sounds of the voices were so powerful I couldn't help but to join in. I sang as best as I could knowing that God hears me praising and worshipping him even in "broken" Hungarian. 

Following the church service I was bombarded by people eager to hear about the English Camps and the plans for the rest of my time here. Three different women in the church have invited me to spend a part of a day with them in their areas of town. Tomorrow Brigi will pick me up and take me to her house for a visit in the morning. She is an English teacher here and has spent some time in the States. Towards the end of the week I hope to visit Betti in Etyek on the other side of Budapest. I love her British English accent from spending time in London. Betti has a toddler and is excited about getting out of the house and showing me around. The area she lives in she calls "Hollywood." There are film studios and acting schools around the area. I also hope to have some time with Debbie, a lady from Iowa, who has two small children and another on the way. She prepared an "American" dinner for the MBCC team a couple of weeks ago. 

My schedule this week is already full. This is my "off" week to spend time with Ildiko and her family and rest before the MBCC youth get here Friday afternoon. I am taking a day trip to Vienna on Tuesday. Wednesday I will travel with Ildiko to Eger and then to pick up Benedek and Lilla who we dropped off yesterday at her parent's house. 

I can't believe in 2 weeks I will be boarding a plane heading back to the States! My time in Hungary is flying by! 

There is much more to tell, so for now I'll share some pictures recapping the week.  

There are 3 Minaretts in Hungary from when the Turks ruled. The one we visited is in Erd.

Zoli walking down the very narrow spiral staircase inside the minarette in the pitch black {I can't believe someone used to walk up and down this 6 times a day!}

Friday afternoon Kurtos Kalacs come to Diosd! yum!

me and Lilla at Hungary's highest point {Kekes 1,014 meters}

Recski Concentration Camp {1950-1953}

A local sewing club volunteering their Sunday afternoon to sew 80 handbags for the children's camp in August {a wonderful opportunity to bring more people from the area to the Paulus Community House!}

Fields of sunflowers cover the land

The MBCC adult team left Sunday after church. It was a strange feeling staying behind, but I am thrilled to have more time with my Hungarian friends. I had some time Sunday afternoon to process the first 13 days of the mission. The Roswell Community Church team arrived Sunday and we started planning for the second week of English Camp. I moved into the cottage next door to my dear, sweet friends, Janos and Ildiko Kiss {pronounced "Keesh"} and their children Benedek and Lilla. It is a one bedroom/one bathroom small "houselet" and is about 15 steps to the Kiss's house. I have had some precious time with them in the evenings. They live about a mile from the Paulus Community House, so I walk to and from English Camp in the morning and evening. I'm trying to blend in as much as possible with the culture -  not making eye contact with the other walkers on the street and trying to cross the street without getting runover. Today, I went to the Posta {post office} by myself to mail some postcards. When I walked in there were 2 long lines. I avoided eye contact and was hoping no one would say anything to me. It was a success! 

Thank you for your continued prayers in this mission! The English Camps are a huge success. Many of the adults from last week are back for English Camp this week. There are 10 students in the morning children's advanced class and there are 13 intermediate adults in the evening. Eight of the 13 are from last week. I have always enjoyed teaching children, but this year I am really enjoying the adult class. There are about 30 children at camp this week and over 30 adults in the evening. It is not normal to have more adults than children in the outreach program. This is exciting and a huge answer to prayer! Sanyesz, Zoli, and Ildiko from the Paulus Fellowship are assisting the native English speakers in the classes, but they are also making connections and building relationships with people in their community. Please continue to pray that those who are attending the English classes will ask questions about the Paulus Community House and that they will see something "different" in us {the American teachers and the Paulus staff}. 

The MBCC team is headed back to the States now and I am adjusting and getting settled into my new home: 

with my family... 

A glimpse of the week...

Manor Park 

sweet Lilla 

picnic lunch at Manor Park

Intermediate English Camp Girls {Karina, Ancsci, Dori, Kamilla} 

Eager to play Kickball

Zoe'

Budapest from the watch tower in Diosd

on the watch tower in Diosd

Sunday we returned to Diosd from the church retreat. The retreat was great! I enjoyed spending time with old friends and meeting some new ones. At the church retreat we went on a long, strenuous hike, prepared some Hungarian sausages and stew, played in a volleyball tournament with the Hungarians {Jimbo & I were second}, almost won the family competition {our team was second by 2 points!}, and participated in the talent show. The best part of the retreat was spending time with the Hungarian people and worshiping God with them.





Sunday evening we took a trip into the city. We were supposed to go on a river cruise, but the Danube is flooded from a lot of rain over the past few weeks. The Danube has washed out a road. We walked around Budapest. First we went to the art & music festival on the Chain Bridge, then saw St. Stephen's Cathedral, ate "pancakes", and walked to the Citadella to see the city at night.



There is not a lot of time for updates this week. Our team is well into our second day of English Camp. We just finished up the children's session. There are 40 children in 3 classes. Nine children are in my intermediate class. After class each day we are teaching the students kickball. Today they didn't want to stop playing when it was time for class to end.

Now we are about to eat lunch and then spend the afternoon preparing for the adult class. Hopefully we will be able to prepare for the rest of the week, so we can spend some of our afternoons sightseeing. Our team is having a great time, but we are very tired.

Please pray for sweet rest, wisdom in preparing what is needing to be taught, and connecting the English students to the Paulus Fellowship.

Hungary Picture Update

MBCC Hungary 2009 Team



Paulus Community Center

Budapest Bound

This time tomorrow my bags will be packed and I'll be heading to the airport for five weeks in Hungary.

Check back here for updates. MBCC's short-term mission blog will also be updated.

PRAYER

MBCC team to Hungary {June 23-July 5}: Tammy Lindsey, Mollie Lindsey, John Bradford, Jimbo Tucker, Natalie Smith

Tuesday, June 23
o safe travel – Birmingham to Atlanta to New York
o sleep on flights
o Spirit-led conversations

Wednesday, June 24
o safe travel – New York to Budapest
o reuniting with Paulus Movement Staff
o adjusting to time of day

Thursday, June 25
o safe travel from Diosd to retreat
o retreat preparations
o language barrier
o mission team unity

Friday, June 26
o Jimbo's Bible teaching at retreat
o children’s activities
o meaningful conversations

Saturday, June 27
o Jimbo's Bible teaching at retreat
o Children’s activities
o quality time with church members

Sunday, June 28
o Jimbo's Bible teaching at retreat
o Children’s activities
o Travel to Diosd

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

mountain adventure

Little River Canyon

Paddling the Hiwassee

Rafting the Ocoee

Bald River Falls - Cherohala Skyway

Bryson City

Smoky Mountains with my sweet Daddy

Cade's Cove

It's a bear!

Tallulah River Gorge