A Week From Today...

... I'll be off to the airport. Can't take my car & can't get there in time for the early morning flight on public transport, so I'm going to stay at a hotel at the airport. OFF... for the better part of SEVEN WHOLE MONTHS. Ugh. This is my longest stint "out of the country." Now- I'm looking forward to traveling and speaking in churches in the States & seeing friends & family... but it's still 7 months away from my life here. It's a long time. Pray for me, ok?

Over-Ambitious?

Perhaps thinking I can pack for 7 months & 3 seasons into ONE MEDIUM-SIZED bag is a bit over-ambitious... I've got just over a week to get it to fit. (There's a winter coat in there, too!) It's going to work! :)

Just A Glimpse

Here's a link to one of the videos I've been working on for use when I speak in churches in the States starting in January. Want to show you some of the faces & places, so you're able to more closely identify with what's up with us in Eastern Europe. I'll have several & can use them instead of the standard power points. ...We've come a long way since the old slides presentations missionaries used to do. It's interesting to see how we (missionaries) try to connect with & show you our life, our love, our passion... (btw, the real version is higher quality.)

What is it??

click on the post / on the picture to see more clearly what this is. Any guesses what the black stuff is? People living in Eastern Europe need not answer. It's obvious to us... yum!

There & Back!

Today (Wednesday) I'm off to Lutsk on a quick trip there & back in a day. It means leaving in the dark & coming home in the dark-- but most things these days are that way! :) Max (the 6 year old Ostrovskiy boy) is coming with me to keep me company. He's brought his sword and his dad gave him 4 little boxes of Tic-Tacs for the road. (Like the kid needs sugar to wire him!) Business there is for Open Bible, INSTE and even some personal stuff! Praying for good weather, good company, good roads, safe trip and that we get all we need done! Thanks for the support!

Worthy

"Swimming" in His Love

I'm not one to make a habit of taking pictures in church... but I had to share this with you. I love it when kids like "little Katya" stand in God's presence- "swimming", as we say in Russian, in His love. Both of Katya's parents have abandoned her and her brothers and they live with a grandmother that really can't keep up with them. But she knows well enough to bring them to church. Watching Katya in worship, you can see that she's forgetting all the shortcomings and failings of her earthly parents, and basking in the love of Father God.

Prayer Appreciated

Part of the reason I keep this blog is to use it as a tool not just for information, but for prayer. I figure if I can help you pray for me (us) intelligently, that we're better off for it.

Recently, I've had some problems with my left shoulder. So much so, that I can't put my left hand in the small of my back! After trying to self-diagnose & medicate, I went to a "real" doctor. Their x-rays show that the shoulder is fine, but that my neck looks like that of an old grandma! God's creation is so intricately connected, that a problem with the neck can mean problem with the shoulder. I've been twice to the physiotherapist- but he's in Kiev. Then, I was gone 2 weeks in Hungary. Now that I'm back, I have (less than) 3 weeks until I leave again. But I went to a physiotherapist today in Zhitomir & we've agreed to work together for the good of my health. He's been taught primarily Japanese & US techniques, so I'm familiar and comfortable with them.

But my prayer request is for me- my health- specifically, my neck and shoulder. The pain is significant, and the problem is nothing that God can't heal right away. Believe with me for good health and complete healing!

Birthday Boy!

One of the joys of my life is being "placed" in a Ukrainian family. I truly know this is a gift of God (see Psalm 68:6a) My Ukrainian family is the Kulakov family, and their daughter's family, the Ostrovskiys. 6 years ago today, Maxim was born. 4 1/2 months later, he was adopted by his mom & dad the Ostrovskiys. It forever changed their lives- and by association- mine. I love this kid! Today, he's six. He's desperate to get a skateboard for his birthday. Of course, it's under my bed - a gift from his grandparents & me! Can hardly wait to see his eyes tomorrow!

November '09 Hungarian Collage

Monday - Another Travel Day

Today (Monday) I head back to Ukraine after 2 weeks "out & about." It's been a good 2 weeks, but I'm ready to get back. I will take 2 days for the travel, since it's far. I will travel through the area that has had the highest death rate of flu/ pneumonia/ whatever sickness is out in Ukraine. The current thought on the recent deaths from flu & pneumonia is that the government is making this as a political issue... blowing it up just to "politicize it." In the first 9 months of 2009, there were about 3,000 deaths from pneumonia in Ukraine. In the year 2008, there were over 6,000 for the year. (So it would appear that the death rate from pneumonia is down.) Anyway-- It appears safe to go. I appreciate your prayers for the trip- for wisdom, health and safety.

Sunday

Today, in an undisclosed country in Central Asia, there are 10 INSTE students having their first lesson in the Discipleship 1 book. This is the first meeting of the first group in this language and in this country. They're obviously new to all of this and will need some extra prayer and attention on our part. Will you be a part of those that will pray for them-- even though we will never know their names or see their faces this side of heaven?? Join with me! Your part in the process is vital!

Saturday Surprise

We were out north of Diosjeno (in Hungary) & found that there was a new Tesco (think British version of Walmart) about 25 km away... so we went. AND, look what we found there! The Slovakian border! So we crossed! I've lived in Europe 10+ years and lived and traveled near Slovakia, but had NEVER crossed over! So now, I have! The 10 minutes we were there, I noticed that Slovakian language seems similar to Ukrainian. (Not like Hungarian or Russian.) But, again, I was there for all of 10 minutes, so I'll refrain from making more statements!

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.