Hungary Mission

Jo napot (good day) all,

 

Yesterday we arrived in Budapest after a 3 hour train ride back from Pecs.  We took a bus from the train station to Heroes Square, which is right near our hotel.  The hotel is really nice, and we get free breakfast (that's always a plus).  Last nite we went out to eat at a restaurant that had live music, walked around the large city park, took some photos (I'll see about posting some tonite - the computer yesterday did not want to cooperate). 

This morning we are going to do a variety of things including seeing the Parliament building inside on a tour.  Please pray for rest for the team - there have been a couple of sleepless nights for some and everyone seems tired.  I will write later - thank you for your prayers.  God bless you all.

 

Eric

Hello all,

 

Yesterday we arrived in Pecs, and dragged our luggage up the street to where we were going to stay - the Boy's College.  Yes, we are staying in dormrooms...but you can't beat $6.50 a night.  No air conditioning, but tonite should be cooler.  A cold front came through and it is again cold, windy and rainy today.

One of the neatest things we did today was spend time visiting and photographing the Synogogue here.  Sorry, no photos for awhile - we don't have access to our computers.  We are making our entries at an internet cafe.  But you will love to see the pics once we do download them.  At the end of our stay we spent some time praying in the back pew of the synogogue for the Jewish and Gentile citizens of Pecs.  Please join us in doing that as well.

We've all made the comment that we like the relaxed pace here in Pecs.  It has all the conveniences of a modern city, but with the feel of a small village.  We'll be leaving tomorrow for Budapest; tonite we'll try seeing the sunset (the weather is clearing now) from the old church in the ancient part of the city where there are more Roman empire ruins, which we've already toured today.  It was fascinating - again, expect some photos soon, hopefully.

 

Eric

It's a beautiful afternoon here in Hungary.  It is mild and mostly clear weather.  It warmed up from this past week.  On last Thursday and Friday we had to teach class inside because it was too cold and windy for the kids (in July!). 

Yesterday we went to an area north of Budapest along the Danube river, called Szentendre - it's a little like the colonial Williamsburg of Hungary.  We visited the shops for souvenirs with a group of other Americans who had come to teach English or do the sports camps.  We had a great time hanging out, practicing our Hungarian and bargaining with the shop owners for deals. 

Earlier we'd gone to a place for lunch called 'Sir Lancelot', a medievel-themed restaurant.  We were served large pieces of meat and vegetables on a wood platter 2 feet long and about 1 foot wide.  It was delicious.  We had finished with alot of walking and climbing in The Labyrinth, sort of a catacombs under the castles built on the tall, rocky hills overlooking downtown Budapest.  It was very interesting and fun (see the pics that are/will be posted).  These tunnels were used as a place of refuge for Hungarians during the various periods of invasion and wars that have occurred in the past  

We were also able to view ruins from the Roman Empire, including terra cotta walls and an aquaduct which is still standing and runs along one of the main roads.  Hungary has quite a long history, as we have been learning.  Our 'tour guide', Gabor (one of the Word of Life staff, the Dean of Students), was a great host and brought a great sense of humor to the day.  It was needed when we discovered that, unfortunately, the 'pepperoni' pizza we picked up on the way home was covered with....peppers (apparently the Hungarians translate the word literally)!  lol

Yesterday and today have been kindof sad days - we've been saying goodbye to alot of our friends we've made here.  The three guys from Dallas, Texas (they were here on a backpacking trip after graduating from college at Texas A+M) left yesterday on a train to Italy.  Some German friends left yesterday morning after breakfast.  One of the older couples left for home early this morning, and another couple left for the Word of Life summer camp in Serbia along with some of the staff a few hours ago.  There are new volunteers here from a church in Indianapolis, but we don't really know them, although they are very nice.  Some have been here before like me; others are here for the first time like Deb and Talitha.  They will end up having their own fun and adventures, and have lots of stories to tell, like us.  So, as I sit here typing, listening to some of the staff practice worship music in Hungarian, it seems somewhat of a bitter-sweet day as we think about leaving a place and people we have grown attached to.

Thank you again for your prayers for us as we prepare to travel cross-country tomorrow on the train, and for your prayers for the new campers, the counsellors and the staff here.  Isten aldjon (God bless you)!