One Million People Praying

Our son Paul and his wife Kate visited us from Minnesota this past week. We had a great time visiting some of the sites in the area. While in Budapest we did the typical tourist thing and went to the Parliament, Heroes Square, Castle Hill and St. Steven's Basilica. But, we also did some exploring and we came across an interesting attraction.

As we were traveling on one of the trams along the Danube, we noticed some interesting buildings in the hillside across the river. It looked like a castle built into the hillside. We found the tram to take us across the river and discovered that what we saw was a chapel cave. The cave is called Gellért Hill Cave but is also know as St. Ivan's cave. According to legend, a hermit named Istvan healed the sick from the waters that sprang from the cave (the medicinal baths which are still used in the area are probably from these waters). Istvan was later canonized.

In 1924 a Pauline order was formed and used the cave as a church. Later a Pauline monastery was built alongside the cave and connected to it. This is the building that has the tower on the right side of the picture above.

The cave entrance

When communism took over the country the order was destroyed by the Hungarian secret police in 1951. The superior Ferenc Vezér was executed, and the other monks received 5-10 year prison sentences. Every entrance of the cave was sealed with concrete.

After the fall of communism in 1989, the cave was reopened and serves as a church today. There are about 10 friars serving in the monastery at this time.

Inside the cave

The chapel

It was very interesting to see the cave and to hear its history, especially of the persecution they faced in the 1950's. What really struck me, though, was the plaque at the entrance of the cave. It reads (in my best translation), "If there would be one million Hungarian pray-ers, I would not be afraid of the future." Just imagine what would happen if one million Hungarians (or Americans, French, Germans, etc., etc.) would really seek God in prayer. What would happen to our countries? What would happen to the world? Maybe we would actually see II Chronicles 7:14 come to pass! Maybe we would see a real revival!

Family Connections

Lisa, Tammy, Nancy

My niece Lisa had been studying this past semester in Spain. Before she headed back home she came to visit us in Hungary this past week. It also happened to be a week when Tammy Swailes was in Debrecen, so we decided that we needed to get together at one of our favorite Hungarian places- McDonald's. We had some INSTE business we needed to discuss before Tammy headed back to Ukraine, but we mainly wanted Tammy to meet Lisa because they both are from Mt. Pleasant, IA.

Since we have come to Hungary, we have come in contact with several people who know people who know us. It just confirms to us, first of all, how small the world is becoming, but also how connected the family of God is. No matter where you go, you will run into a family member somewhere along the way! What joyous experiences they are when that happens!

A Product of INSTE

Ács Zoli

Today we had the privilege of hearing Zoli Ács preach at the Shalom Open Bible Church today. Zoli is a dear friend of ours and has been a great blessing and a help to us. He has been a Christian for about three years and has become very active in the church. He is also taking INSTE and is just finishing Discipleship 2. This was his first sermon, and, although he was very nervous, he did a good job.

We continue to hear testimonies of how much INSTE is helping the people grow in the Lord. Zoli has told me many times how much he appreciates INSTE, and his fiancee, Dori, is excited about starting INSTE this fall. Your support of the INSTE program in Hungary makes all this possible. This is just a small indication of what God is doing through INSTE in Hungary.

Another semester done

We finished another semester of Hungarian language study with a test on Wednesday. We still don't know the results of the test, but we do know we learned a lot of Hungarian this semester. We also learned a lot about Hungarian culture as well as the cultures of the other students in the class. Did you know that it is impolite in Korea to blow your nose in public? Did you know that if Hungarians are jealous, they are not green with envy, they are yellow with envy?
We are signed up for the four-week summer course that begins in July. Until then, though, our language studies continue. We study every day on our own and meet with conversation groups and conversation partners. And our studies continue to include church in Hungarian, doing business in Hungarian and talking with our neighbors. We are putting a lot of time and effort into the goal of speaking the language, but it is vital. We want to minister directly to Hungarians and the best way to do that is to speak their language well. Thank you to all of you who pray for us. Please keep it up!

Holocaust Reminder

Sunday, a group from Nyiregyhaza Open Bible Church came to Debrecen to share a special message with us about the Holocaust. Through song, dance, testimonies and stories they shared how Jews and Gypsies from around Europe suffered and died in the concentration camps during World War II.
The leader shared how her own father was Jewish and so the story was especially personal for her.
Later, one of the grandmas from the Debrecen church told how when she was 19 years old she saw her friends being led out of the city in a long, silent line, wearing their yellow stars on their clothes, not knowing where they were going or what would happen to them. Out of the almost 200 people she saw leaving, only one family returned.
Pastor Gulyas shared from scripture about honoring the Jews as God's chosen people and about caring for people in need.
May we all remember "not to look only to our (own) interests, but also to the interests of others."

Neighbor's Flowers

We are enjoying another May in Hungary. This spring has been quite dry so the flowers are not quite as vibrant and prolific as last year's although they are still beautiful. Here is a picture of our neighbor's balconies. I admire the horticultural skill of the Hungarians. How they love growing beautiful things!

Anyak Napja

One of the greatest things about living in Hungary is celebrating both Hungarian and American holidays. Since last Sunday was Mother's Day in Hungary (Anyak Napja) and next Sunday is Mother's Day in America, Nancy talked Mike into taking her out to eat on both days! But the best part about Mother's Day here last Sunday was the darling little program the children put on for their mothers at church. Each of the children 5 years old and older recited little poems about mothers and then all the children sang a song. After that they each presented their mothers with cards and flowers. Of course we have to show you pictures of the cute, smart little kids.

May Day Church Picnic

On May Day we enjoyed attending the Shalom Open Bible Church Picnic. Here are some pictures of the event. On the menu were gulyasleves (goulash) and corn on the cob.