License Quest Update VIII

Today I (Nancy) completed my next-to-the-last step in getting my Hungarian driver's license. It almost didn't happen, though. Last week I passed my last test, the behind-the-wheel driving test. I had to wait three working days and then I went down to the department of transportation-type office yesterday where I picked up the papers with the official stamps on them saying that I had passed all my tests and could receive a license. Then I went down to the City Hall where the licenses are issued and made an appointment for this morning. When I read the notice I was given stating what papers I needed to bring with me to the appointment, panic struck. I had all the papers but one! I was missing the official home address card that was supposed to be kept in my passport. I looked high and low for it and even checked at a couple of offices where I had shown my passport to no avail. It was gone.
So, yesterday afternoon Mike went with me to the Hungarian immigration office to see about getting a new one--they were closed and would not open until after my appointment at City Hall. After much prayer, I decided to go ahead and keep my appointment. One of the first things the clerk asked me for was my address card. I tried to look helpless (and probably succeeded, because I was) and told her that I had lost it. After a few moments, she looked up my file and found a copy of my card from the first time I had been at the office! Praise the Lord! It only took 45 minutes and a couple of trips to other clerks at other windows and my papers were processed! Almost finished! I have to wait three weeks and then go back to pick up my official Hungarian driver's license.
God is so good! By the time I get my license, it will have been three months, lots of money and lots of work, but the Lord has carried me through! Thanks for your prayers!

Szeretnél Focizni?

Harom héttel ezelött a barátom a gyülekezetból elhivott engem focizni. Mondtam hogy igen de csak egyszer fociztam életemben. A gyerekkoromban játszottam baseball-t, amerikai futballt, és kosárlabdát, de nem fociztam. Nem tudok cselezni, vezetni vagy fejelni a labdat, igy hátvéd voltam. És egy kis idöt kapus is voltam.

Nem tudtam pontosan, hogy mit kell csinalni, de én jól jatszottam. A barátom mondta, hogy jóbb hátvéd voltam. Izomlázom volt három napig, de jól ereztem magam.

Would you like to play soccer?

Three weeks ago a friend of mine from church invited me to play soccer. I said, "yes," even though I had only played soccer once before. During my childhood days I played baseball, american football, and basketball but not soccer. I did not know how to dribble, drive or head the ball, so I played defender. I was also goalie for a short time.

I was not exactly sure what I was to do, but I played well. My friend even said that I was the best defender. My muscles were sore for three days afterwards, but I had fun.

License Quest Update VII

Sikerül! (Success!) I (Nancy) passed my behind-the-wheel driving test this morning! Praise the Lord! The Lord helped me to understand the driving instructions during the test and to drive the correct (Hungarian) way instead of relying on my old habits. Dicsöség az Úrnak! (Praise the Lord!) I have finished with all the tests! Now I have to wait three working days for my paperwork to make it through the department of transportation-type office. After I pick up the paperwork from them on Wednesday, I will take it to another office, pay more money and then wait seven to ten days for my Hungarian driver's license to arrive by mail! Whew! Almost done!

Spring Semester Class

We have been going to Hungarian language classes twice a week since March. We kept forgetting to take a picture of our classmates, so when we remembered on Monday, we took a picture even though two students were missing.
From left to right are Zaho (Pakastani), David (Korean), Mike, Sumin (Korean), Katalin (our teacher who's Hungarian, of course), Lela (Korean) and Jasko (Japanese). Missing are David's wife Johanna and Marta who is from Serbia. Needless to say, we have some very interesting classes! On Monday we were learning what Hungarian animals say. We learned, for example, that Hungarian dogs say vau-vau and roosters say kukuriku. Each of us then told what the animals say in our own languages! I wonder if Hungarian dogs can talk to Japanese dogs?

Minister's Prayer Meeting

Yesterday I (Mike) attended a Minister's prayer meeting which was held at the Free Christian Church here in Debrecen. There were about 30 pastors from all over Hungary in attendance.


Of course, our time together began with worship. I always enjoy being with people of God who love to worship. And, even though I may not understand all the words to the songs (I am understanding more and more each time), I can still sense that God is present when we sing.

Following the worship, the pastors discussed how the church should respond to this economic crisis. Each pastor was asked to come up with three ideas and they shared them with the group. I didn't understand everything that was said, but I know a couple of the pastors mentioned that this is a time to put our trust in God and not in the government.

Following this discussion time we ate lunch together and had a time of getting acquainted. Then, in the afternoon the pastors prayed for the government, for revival to come to Hungary, and for each other.

You can join us as we pray for Hungary. Not only is the country facing an economic crisis as the rest of the world is, but they are also in a transition in their government. The Prime Minister recently resigned and a new Prime Minister was selected. We need to pray that the country's leaders will make wise and godly decisions. Also pray that the church will develop a greater desire to see revival; that there will come a true hunger for the Presence of God, and a commitment to reaching the lost. We recently heard that a prophetic word was given that revival in Europe will begin in Hungary. We pray that this word is true!

License Quest Update VI

Okay, I (Nancy) still don't have my Hungarian driver's license yet. But I'm making progress. Today I passed my first aid test. Hungarian law states that all drivers must stop and give first aid when they come across an accident. So, in order to get a license, all prospective drivers must prove that they know first aid. I took a first aid course (only offered in Hungarian) the first part of March and (slowly) studied the instruction booklet (also in Hungarian). Then today with the help of my translator friend Eva, I took and passed the exam. Praise the Lord!
I have only one more test to pass--the behind-the-wheel test. Last Saturday I had my first lesson with the driving instructor in the training car. Before we started, I learned that the instructor is a neighbor of our missionary friends Mary Jill and Edith! But, Jozsef speaks only Hungarian. He said that was okay since I only needed to know simple things like "right" and "left." The practice was a little nerve-racking, though, since my brain not only had to understand the instructor's commands but also had to tell my body quickly what to do while reminding me to break bad habits like keeping my hand on the gearshift while I'm making a turn! Whew! I have a couple more practice sessions before my test next week.
I remembered this morning a prayer I had prayed earlier this year. I had asked the Lord to "hyperspace" our language-learning. I was getting frustrated that our language skills seemed to be coming so slowly and pictured that scene from Star Wars where the Millenial Falcon jumped from one place to another using hyperspace. Well, I believe my experience with all my lessons and studying for my driver's exams have pushed my Hungarian studies into hyperspace. I thank the Lord for all the practice and all the new things I've learned, but next time I'll be a little more careful what I ask for. God does answer our prayers!

A Fun Easter Tradition

This week in our Hungarian class and in our Hungarian conversation club, we learned about a fun Hungarian Easter custom called "sprinkling." On the Monday after Easter, which is a holiday here in Hungary, the young men in the villages throw water on the young (and sometimes not-so-young) ladies. It goes something like this: a friend or relative of a young lady goes to her house and recites a little poem about the flowers needing water. The poem ends with "may I water (you)?" It's not allowed for a young lady to answer "no." She always needs to answer "yes." Then, often with the help of his friends, he tosses a bucket of water on her.
The young lady then gives the young man a decorated egg, a dessert, and/or a drink. In the cities, the tradition is slightly different. Instead of dousing the young ladies with buckets of water, the young men spray the young ladies' hair with perfume. The young men still must recite a poem first and the young ladies give them gifts which also might include chocolate.

The discussions we had about the tradition were interesting. The young ladies generally were not too thrilled about the practice whereas the young men enjoyed it. One young lady said her dad would wake her up on Easter Monday by squirting water from a bottle on her! Another young lady said that the worst part for her was that her hair smelled so bad by the end of the day because all the young men used cheap perfume to spray her with!

What a tradition! I guess Easter egg hunts are not all you can do for fun at Easter time.

We wish all of you a very blessed Easter. How we thank our Father for sending Jesus to die for our sins and then raise Him from the dead so that we might have everlasting life through Him!

License Quest Update V

Praise the Lord! I passed my written driver's license test with the help of a good translator! Whew! Thanks for praying!
Now I need to study for my first aid test. Saturday I practice for the behind-the-wheel test. I feel like I'm halfway to my driver's license!

License Quest Update IV

I (Nancy) still don't have my Hungarian driver's license, but I am a tiny bit closer now. I have an appointment to take the written driving exam next week with the help of an official translator! Yippee! Now all I have to do is keep studying so all the information stays in my brain until I can get it on paper.
Last Monday, Eva, my translator friend, met me at the driving school and translated for me during some practice tests. Having Eva's help gave me the confidence that I could pass the written test. I did well enough that the school set up an appointment for the written driving exam and called the official translator to help me. So, once again this weekend I am studying the traffic laws of Hungary!

God Heals!

Can you see the miracle in this picture? Sunday morning we walked into church and saw Norbert Kiss on the platform playing drums with the worship team! What a miracle!
Last January, Norbi was at work when a crane accidentally dropped one ton of steel on him! He was rushed to the hospital with a fractured spine, punctured lung, broken ribs and other injuries. He lay in a coma for two days. The church immediately began fervently praying for Norbi. The doctors were skeptical about his recovery, but just ten days later, Norbi was released from the hospital! And now, just over two months later, he is back on the worship team. Norbi is an INSTE student with a passion for the Lord that makes him a joy to be around. We pray that the Lord will complete his healing and provide him with a job that doesn't require being around tons of steel!