Ippistle (5) Sept. 16

Ippistle (5)

September 16, 2008

Jack and Cindy Ippel

Dear Friends,

We are finally getting into a rhythm here in Budapest. We have gottenour flat to the point where we feel it is more personal and homey. The transportation system is now more familiar to us, although with so many buses criss-crossing the city, there are many routes and short-cuts to be learned. We have been blessed with new friends and colleagues, and have really appreciatedthe worship we have experienced at Calvary Chapel. Our “adopted” children, Orsiand Zoli Halmi, have also been a part of our social life in the last month; welove to be able to spend time with them. This past weekend a trip into thecountryside provided us with a respite from the sirens, concrete, and throngsof people. Anne-Marie Kool, who Cindy is working for at the Mission Institute,was so gracious to take us to her cottage in the hills near Kismaros, about 45minutes north of Budapest.

Trefort Agoston Kettannyelvu Fovarosi GyakorloSzakkozepiskola opened on September 1 at 10:00 A.M. with a somber ceremony inthe school courtyard. Over 600 students attend this high school, making it thelargest in Budapest.Now in my third week, I am learning names and personalities, especially withthe 9^th graders I see four times weekly. Here are some numbers:

• I teach a total of 83 students; 78 boys and 5 girls.
• I teach seven different groups of students; four 9^th grade classes, two 11th grade classes and one 12^th grade group.
• My schedule: 4 classes on Monday, 4 on Tuesday, 7 on Wednesday, 6 on Thursday, and 1 on Friday. (My weekend begins at 9:40 on Friday!)
• Three of my 9^th grade classes and my 12^th grade class are made up of 8 or 9 boys. The other 9^th grade group and the 11^th grade groups are 16 students.
• School begins at 8:00 and ends at 14:25.

For the most part students are willing to learn, but arequite hesitant to speak English. I guess they need lots of practice. Time willtell.

Cindy has started her work also. A thirty minute commute bytram and subway brings her to Kalvin ter, meaning square or space. The statueof John Calvin is nowhere to be found, as the area is all torn up with theconstruction of a fourth metro (subway) line. She is working in the Central andEastern European Institute of Mission Studiesat the Karoli Gaspar Reformed University. The last two weeks have been spentgetting the office organized (another new administrative assistant began at thesame time), learning how to function in this new work setting, and getting toknow her colleagues Monika and Gabriella, as well as Anne-Marie, the director. Their main goal now is to establish a smoothrunning office so that the work of the Mission Institute can be promoted.Today, Cindy finally got her Microsoft Office working temporarily (60 daytrial) in English. Try working on a computer in a language you don’tunderstand…not easy! One of the many dreams of the staff at the MissionsInstitute is to establish a place where students from the university can comeand feel a sense of community within the Mission Institute. Presently, there isno common fellowship place for the university students. Cindy hopes toestablish a room within the Mission Institute where students will be drawn to“hang out” and share ideas. Hopefully, they will find an atmosphere where they willwant to discuss their faith and other life issues with other students andfaculty. So far, Cindy is feelingwelcomed and appreciated for her contribution to the staff at the MissionInstitute and enjoying using her abilities in this way.

We have attended the worship services at Calvary Chapel onthree occasions. The church meets in a renovated theater on one of the busymain streets downtown. One of the benefits of attending here has been that Orsiand Zoli have joined us. It is a fifteen minute walk from their flat. Theservice is bilingual. We really enjoy the singing/worship leading; very similarin style to EverGreen Ministries (our home church). The songs are mostly inHungarian, which is good, because it forces us to learn the language.Occasionally a verse or refrain is sung in English. It was quite moving singing“Szent Vagy, Szent Vagy, Szent Vagy” (Holy! Holy! Holy!). The preaching is solid and relevant, and fromOrsi’s perspective, the translations are accurate. We are so thankful to havefound a church here so quickly where we are nurtured and challengedspiritually.

Please pray for our continued adjustment to living in thisnew culture. We are so thankful for how well the adjustment has gone thus far.Pray for our relationships at work, with our fellow staff members and Jack withhis students. We have long desired to have our lives intersect with those ofnon-Christians; God has certainly provided this for us. Pray for wisdom as wemeet new people and develop new relationships. Pray that our brains will beable to absorb the Hungarian language and that our learning will come quickly,so that we can begin to speak and build relationships with the people around us.

Serving Him together,

Jack and Cindy