Kaposvar

One of my visits was to our oldest staff member, Barb, who serves in Kaposvar, Hungary. Barb is an incredible woman, full of energy and enthusiasm, and a real pleasure to be around. She was widowed thirty- some years ago, and at the age of 62, moved by herself to Hungary. Like I said, an incredible woman. I spent four days with Barb, and a day before I got there, found out that she was leaving for the States just two days after I would depart. When I asked why she hadn't told me, her reply was, "Because I wanted you to come, and I figured if I told you, you wouldn't!" :-)

My time with Barb really was delightful. It was good for me to get to see some of her ministry, to hear her passion for the people she serves, and to hear her heart for a ministry partner to come alongside of her to continue the ministry when she retires. She serves alone in Kaposvar and knows that due to her age and health, her time there is limited. She longs for someone to join her, so that the ministries that she has planted will continue on after her departure. As I keep saying, she's an amazing woman. Her primary ministries are: English lessons, serving international students that come in to volunteer with a humanitarian group called, "Compass," and bi-weekly English classes serving 30-50 men at the......men's jail. Yeah, amazing woman. Even cooler, b/c of her age and how elders are respected in that culture, she has an amazing opportunity to share Christ with these men, and they actually listen. A cool and crazy thing that happened: after Barb wrote about the jail ministry in one of our big IM newsletters, one of those newsletters somehow found its way into Alcatraz and into the hands of a man convicted of murder, but saved in prison years ago. He then began writing to Barb in Hungary and continues to do so, encouraging her to keep on persevering in serving the men in the prisons there. Amazing, right??

My heart really went out to Barb during my time there, as I observed her serving so faithfully, but all by herself. Please pray for her for the following:

-for her health
-for her encouragement
-for more friends or other English speaking missionaries to come serve there
-for someone to come alongside of her to serve with her and eventually continue her ministries

Gorgeous Hungarian countryside covered in these amazing fields of rape seed.

Holy Moly, I loved this tasty treat. Chimey Cake, or 

Kürtőskalács.

 

 

 

Check out this link telling more about this delicious pastry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCrt%C5%91skal%C3%A1cs

English Class with one of her students. This boy was just delightful, and beat both of us at Scrabble. :-) Barb has been teaching him and his sister for years now, and it was fun to see their relationship.

Why can't we have signs like this in America??

The Compass students hosted a poetry event for all of the middle and high schools on Hungarian National Poetry day, and we went to offer support. I understood nothing, but it was fun to meet more of the Compass students she serves.

Barb and I spent an evening walking, talking, and enjoying tea with one of the German Compass students. This girl seems to be extremely open to the gospel, and we had a really nice evening together.

One of the beautiful streets in Old Town. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to run through Kaposvar in the mornings.