In the shadow of His wings: Orbottyan

Staff Conf. was over Sunday night, April 6th, and most everyone headed out after breakfast Mon. morning. I stayed for a meeting and then headed to Orbottyan, Hungary, with Bence and Abby. They're one of our youngest couples on staff and you might remember me spending a night with them this past summer. It was so fantastic to make this second, longer trip to them. The first time to a staff member is always a guessing game. How long do you stay so that you can leave with it being a blessing, and not a huge imposition? What if you only know one spouse? What if one spouse isn't completely comfortable speaking in English? What if one spouse does the ministry and the other works or studies? And, of course, if I go to a couple(which I don't very often), is the spouse that doesn't know me as well comfortable with having me there? So back in the summer, I only stayed one night with them, which enabled me to spend time with Abby, as well as get to know Bence. This time around felt totally different; very relaxed. We all knew each other, and just enjoyed the time that we had together. Bence had work and classes my second day, so I got to spend the whole day with Abby and go to two of her craft classes in a school in the next village over. That in itself was a really neat experience. It's a public school but she's got complete freedom to share her faith with the kids there. The topic of Easter came up and also what the word "missionary" means. So I was able to tie those two together and explain how Christ had come to die for all of us, to pay the debt we can't possibly pay, and to give us eternal life if we believe in Him alone- and how the Bible says that people are supposed to take that great news into all the world, so that's what missionaries do. Kids are so matter of fact. One girl looked up and said, "Oh, now I know. I always wondered what that meant." It really was a fantastic time of encouragement and fellowship, and I'm hoping to get some more time with these two(and little one due in June) when they're here in the States in the Fall.

Bence & Abby with delicious Hungarian ice-cream. This is the 2nd time we've gone to this place in their town, and I've decided this is a fabulous tradition to have. :-D