No, Really, I'm On the Road Again!

This trip to Hungary has been a lot of packing boxes, cleaning out of spaces, traveling (nearly 1500 miles already!) and AGAIN we're off (Friday) to "the other place" to move some things & fix up Mary Jill's place. Among other things, there's some mold on some of the walls, so we want to take care of that before she moves in -- so we're armed & ready!

We're also meeting Sebi on Sunday. Sebi is a grad student at a prestigious university in Budapest. He's the eldest son of our Open Bible pastors in Gherla, Romania where we just visited. I'm taking Sebi a (thin) mattress, for him to sleep on, since his dorm one isn't as good as he needs. It touched my heart when he emailed me and said, "Tammy, you're the first of 'my family' that will come visit me at the university." Aww. I love the Pop family and love the relationships that have formed over the years. I'm glad to help!

Mary Jill also has friends from her hometown coming to Budapest on Sunday. We'll meet them for a few hours in the afternoon, before coming back to Debrecen. Monday, I need to take off BACK to Ukraine! (More on that later!) Your prayers for travel, health, safety, connections and rest is appreciated!

"Chance Meeting??"

Today I had to take my car in to get the oil changed. No biggie - but they said to come back a bit later because of a problem with another car. This was my 3rd attempt at getting the oil changed, but again - no biggie. I came back later and the boss offered to take me home while they did my car (it was raining - but don't you love the service?!) I took him up on the offer, since I knew my roomie was going out later & she could drop me by. The only drawback about all of this was that I was waiting for a call from our local Open Bible pastor so we could meet. Now, I'd be without a car, and today was the last day to meet with him this trip. If not today, I wouldn't see him until next summer.

We were later getting out of the house & to the car shop than expected, and GUESS WHO we met at the car shop?! Misi! The pastor I was waiting for a call from! He was dropping something off, so we went back to our house for coffee & a chat! It was a really nice time! I love it when stuff like this happens!

Our Ministry GPS

I have a GPS that I often use when going somewhere- even if I know where I should be going. Sometimes, as I'm traveling down the road, I think I should continue to go straight ahead, but the GPS directs me to turn. ...but I've never been that way before... I don't know that road... The dilemma arises: Will I continue to go the way I think is right, or go the way the GPS tells me? Hmm.

In ministry, we also have these kinds of moments. We're headed in a direction - and then - according to our GPS (God's supernatural direction)- we're directed to turn. The thing about God's direction, is that He is always right! The question is whether we will follow Him or not.

This week I've had an email about some changes and turns in our direction for starting INSTE in Russia. Hmm. I hadn't anticipated the turn, but you know, I'm so incredibly grateful and happy for the direction that God has given us! He has a plan. The road is mapped out. I pray that He makes our road into Russia smooth and straight. Won't you continue to pray with us about our start of INSTE into Russia?? (Thanks! I know you will!)

What You See & What You Don't See

Here's a picture my friend took of me out on this old rickety dock on a lake, surrounded by some cool grasses. I like the picture. It looks cool. And I like it in black & white. What you don't see is me pretty scared standing out there on that rickety old dock!! I'm literally trying NOT to think about being there! I got dizzy just turning around on the dock... and I didn't go out further!

It got me thinking, that this is like much of our lives... outsiders looking in, often don't see what's going on with you on the inside. There are people all around us that are scared, hurt, needing a hug or a touch, worried, depressed or some other emotion known to humans. But oftentimes we look - but don't see their emotion inside. We pass by- but never talk to them about anything personal.

I guess I just want to encourage you and myself to slow down and care about people. Ask questions and then really listen to them. Show people that you care.

Apple Soup

Food from different cultures is interesting. Travel enough, and you eat a lot of different kinds of food. Let me introduce you to a soup we had at lunch on Friday (in Hungary) with the Juntunens: Apple Soup

Fruit soup is served in Hungary as a first course, although sweet and "dessert-y." It was also served warm. I liked it!

Trip to Romania

Today (Monday) & Tuesday I'll be traveling to Romania (Gherla) to do some work with the INSTE group leaders and translator there. Of course, it'll be a quick trip, but it's always meeting meeting with friends and being able to call it work! Thanks for your prayer for safe travel & good health & good ministry.

Scoping it Out

This weekend we (Mary Jill and I) went to scope out the new place in Diósjenő (DEEosh-yen-eew) (a village in Hungary, 30 miles north of Budapest.) MJ has a house there, and she's moving there later this month. I'm moving my things there. The house has been rented by a family and we went to take some breakables up, survey the situation, clean up some of the house and yard and I wanted to see a bit of the town. We did all that and I found it quite beautiful. I've never been in that area. It's at the foot of the Buk mountains. There's a beautiful lake just 1 mile away & the mountain is 1 mile the opposite direction. The village has a camping area with mountain climbing and swimming as attractions. Mary Jill is the only American in the town. It will be quite an adventure for her to live there now! Here's a few pictures of the area.

Friends

My friend Mary Jill is back from the States! She's been gone a year- and I've missed her! We've been roommates in "my Hungarian place" in Debrecen over the past 2 years.

Mary Jill & I are going to Diósjenő tomorrow. It's a small town north of Budapest where she has a small house. This month we're moving out of the house in Debrecen (Hungary.) I'll store my things at her house (since I'll be in the States & will just need a place to keep some of my things.) She'll live there at least through the summer. Come summer, I'll make some more decisions about some of the details of keeping a place to stay in Hungary.

Over the couple of years I've known MJ, I've grown in my love and respect for her love for people and the Lord. It's good for me to be around her, and I'm glad she'll let me!

Swine Flu in Ukraine Closes Schools, etc...

Look at this link !

Friends & Colleagues

Mike & Nancy Juntunen are both my friends & INSTE colleagues. They work with INSTE in Hungary and are doing a great job! It's always fun for me to come to Hungary and to spend some time with them.

Prayer Request

I just talked to Lena in Ukraine and she told me of a very recent development of a very serious viral flu (yet undetermined what kind) that is killing people in Ukraine. In the last 48 hours, 32 confirmed deaths (according to her report) have died from this viral pneumonia-type flu. Look for an English article on it here if interested. Your prayers for the health of the Ukrainian people are appreciated!

Photos

There are so many things along the way from Zhitomir to Hungary that I'm just unable to take a picture of. The difference in scenery is amazing. In Zhitomir, we've already lost most of the leaves- while in the Carpathians there was a bit of snow and fog, and the leaves there and the western on side of the Carpathians are in full color! But the camera just wouldn't get the beauty today!

There's also dozens of times I wish I had a long photo lens-- to catch a shot of old ladies in the village standing at the fences talking, the men logging in the mud with their horses and some of the other things along the way that I find interesting. I've literally been driving this road for 9 years. There have been many changes over the years (the roads are better, there are more gas stations along the way to mention just some of the changes) but I never tire of the beauty! Here are just 2 shots from today's drive. Enjoy!

36 more days...

...until I leave for Spain & an Open Bible convention (& a little fun in Barcelona). From there, it's to Houston, Texas for my first Christmas in the States since 2000. Then, I make my way out to the Northwest for several months of visiting churches, raising funds, making new friends, catching up with old friends and who knows what else!
At this point, I feel more panic than excitement. There is LOTS to do between now & when I leave-- and once I leave, there's a lot that needs to be done in the States! But, it's going to be a lot of fun, too! Hope to see many of you along the way! (PS- your prayers regarding all of this are greatly appreciated!)

Trip to Hungary & Romania

Sunday I set out to the west, driving for a couple days to Hungary. It's under 600 miles, but the trip takes 15 or more hours, so I take 2 days. While in Hungary, I will drive on to Romania to train a new INSTE leader for leading a group AND deliver the books for the next 10 months for the groups.

In Hungary, my roommate will be returning from the US. I haven't seen her in a year, so that will be fun. We're also moving out of the house in Debrecen. MaryJill (my roommate) has a house north of Budapest. She's moving there- and I'm moving my things there, too. I'll be gone until June '10, so I'm not going to unpack things yet- but will keep my things at her house.

There's much more on the list of things to do (both fun and mundane) in the 2 weeks I'll be gone, but these are some of them. I'll (of course) keep in touch, but tell you all this so you can pray for the travel and my health!

Imagine That!

Last week I was amazed (and grateful) that God saw fit to answer my prayer for Him to do a miracle and make my icing for the birthday cake I'd baked work out. Figuring out how to make a cream cheese frosting without the primary ingredients available proved not the impossible task I'd imagined (with God's help!)

Well this week, something that we've prayed for and asked God to resolve has indeed happened. The heat came on in our office! Several weeks ago, there was a notice by the heating company showing that several in our building owe money to the heating company. As a result, they announced, that NONE of us in the building would have heat this winter until the debts were paid (even though we are paid-up!) Heating is controlled by the city and is for the entire building. They turn it on in our buildings (in the town) by mid-October and keep it on until mid-April. It's been quite cold and we've been using an electric heater and I have those gloves that have the fingers out so that I can keep at least part of my hands warm. We'd asked God to resolve this--- and today, the heat came on! I thank God for His mercy on us! I'm not sure if the people paid their bills (they were quite high-- several months' wages worth) but I'm grateful for the warmth that will be in our offices and homes this winter!

Irresistable!

A Short Video

Here's a short video I made for my church in Spokane (Turning Point Open Bible - new name...same great people!) for last Sunday. I thought maybe some of the rest of you would enjoy seeing it! Enjoy!

Stories

With my Ukrainian family's family in town, there are lots of stories going around the table each day. I'll share one with you. In the 30's there was a famine in Ukraine. Somehow, my friends' grandparents got their hands on (a round ball) of sugar. The grandma hid it under the chair, wrapped in a towel. She had to leave the house and told the kids, "Look at that picture on the wall" (of a famous Ukrainian poet) "Don't touch the sugar. He (the poet) sees everything and I will find out if you do anything," and she leaves 3 kids 8 and under in the house.

Grandma comes back a while later. The 3 year old says,"I know a secret." The 8 year old shows her a fist & tries to keep her quiet. "Tell me." Eventually, the 3 year old says that the 8 year old ate all the sugar" and her mother sees that the eyes of the portrait are gouged out! 

Pictures from Yura's 50th Birthday

Family from Siberia, Zapparozhiya (southern Ukraine) and across the way all came out to help celebrate Yura's 50th birthday. Food- this was only part of the food that was served! LOTS of fish-based food on hand. I made a carrot cake-- no one but me had ever had it (they'd never even heard of it before!) Fun day-- but tomorrow it's back to work for me. The rest of them are on vacation the rest of the week!

Birthdays & Color TV Story

This week we have a houseful of people. Yura's birthday (50) is tomorrow, and his brother and wife are visiting from the southern part of Ukraine. Additionally, Lena's sister from Siberia (up in the Arctic Circle) is here for 3 weeks. Being a "jubilee" birthday, there's a lot of celebration - sure to continue all week. Mostly, the celebration is the fact that family is here, unimaginable amounts of food will be served tomorrow (& all week- think a Ukrainian version of Thanksgiving) and no one (but me) is working in the office this week. Tomorrow, we're all off to celebrate. (Birthdays are a big deal!)

One of my FAV true story of the family's life is about a color TV. Yura & his brother are 11 years apart. They don't see each other often, and until about the last 5 years, even telephone communication was sporadic. But in the early 80's Yura & Lena got a color TV-- as did Yura's brother. When his brother came to visit, he was in shock at their TV & kept talking about how wonderful it was. "But Sergei, you said you have a color TV too!" "Yes," he replied, "but our TV only has the color GREEN!"  ...For some reason, I laugh every time I think about this story! 

Pictures tomorrow of the birthday boy & the food. (They're already planning medicine to take because they're planning on over-eating!)