Ippistle 21

Dear Friends and Family,

It seems as though the long, cold, snowy Hungarian winter is finally over! We have heard many reports that this was the hardest winter in at least eight years. We were spoiled last year with an abnormally warm and snow-less winter. So we have been encouraged by a week of wonderfully warm weather, black birds singing their evening song, and seeing the forsythia beginning to bloom. Yea for spring!

Parties are an important part of the Hungarian culture. Any excuse will be given to have a party. Our “excuse” was that Jack’s school gave us much needed new beds. We are sleeping much better and decided to celebrate by inviting Jack’s fellow English teachers (mostly Hungarian) to join us in a “new bed party”. Six teachers from Trefort joined us in a champagne toast for our new bed, followed by a meal of Navajo tacos and a game of “Bang”. Each of the teachers had been in our flat before but never altogether. It was a good time of fun and fellowship.

The following day we hosted another of our famous “pizza parties” for Jack’s 9A class. The two boys, five girls and one other teacher brought Hungarian treats to add to our homemade pizza. The nine pizzas were plenty, although Daniel came with a real hunger and ate 15 pieces! While Jack hung out with the students, the other teacher went to help Cindy in the kitchen. She had also attended the bed party the night before and she expressed to Cindy her pleasure and appreciation for Jack having begun the meal with his colleagues by praying for God to bless the food, the conversations, and the friendships around the table. She said how good it is to have “people like you coming to Hungary that have moral standards and beliefs that guide your lives.” We continue to pray that others will be drawn to God through our lives and example.

March 15 was a national holiday celebrating Hungary’s independence. It was also the deadline for ESI teachers to decide whether they would return to Hungary as ESI teachers next year. Only four of the ten teachers have decided to return to Hungary. TeachOverseas staff are busy recruiting new teachers for next year. Please pray that God will work in the hearts of new recruits, and prepare them for service here in Central Europe. Please pray also that if possible there may be some new schools added to the list, one here in Pest and two others in Miskolc. Of course, that necessitates adding even more teachers in addition to the six vacancies. Are you interested? Know of anyone else that might want to live and teach here? There might be a finder’s fee!

Beginning tomorrow and for the next ten days, we are excited to host Cindy’s college roommate Edith and her niece Erica. We plan to show them all of our favorite spots in and around Budapest. Four years ago Erica’s family hosted Zsofi, an exchange student, through the same Pannonia program that brought Orsi to our home. Over the five-day Easter break we will be visiting with Zsofi’s family in Miskolc. We are looking forward to being culturally enriched in all the things that Zsofi’s family plans for us. We already know that we will go to a special Good Friday mass and Easter service. They also plan to take us to mineral springs in a nearby cave; to Debrecen, the city where the Reformation began in Hungary; and to Hollókó, a UNESCO site, where we will experience a traditional Hungarian Easter celebration.

Orsi is in her final semester at the Peto Institute, and plans to graduate in June with a degree in conductive therapy. Conductive therapists work with children that have cerebral palsy or other motor disabilities to re-train their muscles. She has begun applying for jobs in that limited field, and is particularly interested in a job opportunity at a Christian educational center in Ohio called Sara’s Garden. She has had a preliminary interview and is now sending other information at their request. Another interview is scheduled for next week. Please pray for Orsi and Zoli, that God would provide both of them with jobs in the place of His choosing. Please pray also for Orsi as she has a major test on Tuesday, March 30, on her teaching performance in the classroom. Of course, we are very excited for Orsi and Zoli as God leads in their lives.

Don’t forget to check out our blog: http://hopeinhungary.blogspot.com

Blessings!

Jack and Cindy Ippel