Ippistle 22

Dear Friends,

It is a breezy spring day, a bit cooler feeling than the 70 degrees indicated on our indoor/outdoor thermometer. Cindy has just come home from work, and we are sitting here with the balcony door open, hearing the sounds of kids in the playground below, along with the ever-present sounds of trams going back and forth, sirens, and general traffic along Ulloi Street. What we are now hearing for the first time in a week are the jets taking off again, as Ferihegy Airport had five days of cancelled flights due to the volcanic cloud. We live in a very crowded and busy part of the metropolis; yet we have really enjoyed the budding of the trees and opening flowers. Yesterday the lilacs below our balcony started opening. Spring has finally arrived!

Getting out of the city and the concrete jungle is as therapeutic as it is enjoyable. Since our last Ippistle we have toured Visegrad and Esztergom, two towns on the Danube Bend known mostly for their centuries-old histories. We also went to Miskolc with Cindy’s college roommate Edith, her niece Erica, and Zsofi, who was an exchange student with Erica’s family three years ago. (She had come through the same Pannonia program that brought Orsi to us.) Zsofi’s family generously hosted us for the Easter weekend, and showed us so many sights in their “neighborhood”. But what impressed us most was their love for our risen Savior Jesus Christ. Sharing this common bond and worshiping with them was the real highlight of the weekend. Please refer to our blog for lots of pictures of our time with the Simko family.

We have also had a chance to enjoy the spring weather by hiking and geocaching in the Buda hills and in the Halmi Forest. This latter is quite close to our home here in Kispest, as it is in the next district called Pestszentlorinc and is reached by tram and bus. The hike in Buda was a ten-kilometer hike to a splendid rocky cliff with a beautiful view of the surrounding hills. This past Saturday we went to Gödöllö to tour the Royal Palace, the summer home of Emperor Franz Joseph and Queen Elizabeth in the 1860’s and 70’s. As you can tell we are taking full advantage of all kinds of wonderful opportunities while we are living in Hungary.

Even more exciting than our travels is an opportunity that Jack had recently in talking with a student at Trefort about his faith. After substituting in a class that Jack does not normally teach, this student asked Jack if he was religious. After Jack’s affirmative answer that he was a Christian, Chris commented that he has felt something stirring inside him and that he knows that nothing happens by accident. Jack affirmed the stirrings as coming from God and agreed that even the fact that Jack taught in that class that day was no accident. Jack gave him a Hungarian/English Bible the next day and agreed to meet with Chris regularly to talk more. Please pray for Chris to continue to be responsive to the Holy Spirit. Pray also for Jack’s future meetings with Chris. He has many questions, but seems to be eager to keep moving toward God!

We would also ask for prayers for Orsi and Zoli as they continue to pursue job possibilities in Canada and Ohio for next year. One of the difficulties to overcome is that a diploma is needed to begin the visa process. Orsi won’t have the diploma until June 20, the visa process can take up to three months, and she would need to start the job by late August. One school in Ohio has said that they are actively pursuing hiring Orsi so she is really optimistic. This school is a small private Christian school for children with cerebral palsy, so it seems like a wonderful fit for Orsi. Another school in Winnipeg has already given Orsi a second interview. Pray that God will clearly lead where he would have them go.

Cindy has a new work opportunity offered to her for next year. She has been invited to join the staff at EDYN (Ecumenical Diaconal Year Network). She would assist in editing their promotional and training materials as well as many other tasks best done by a native English speaker. EDYN‘s main purpose is to provide a network for Christian volunteer organizations around the world. Its headquarters are located here in Budapest and our friend Petra who works with the director of EDYN suggested that Cindy apply for a volunteer position. Cindy now needs to decide where God would best use her. There is a possibility of volunteering both at the Mission Institute where she is presently working and EDYN. Please pray for guidance as she considers what is best.

Cindy has also been very involved recently in the process of choosing the recipient(s) of the 2010-2011 Pannonia scholarships. This program is dear to us since we hosted Orsi through this program. The program is designed to bring Hungarian students, usually from the Reformed High School in Sarospatak, to the U.S. for a school year. They are placed with Christian families, enrolled in the local Christian High School, and encouraged to actively participate in their host family‘s church. Since coming to Hungary, we have met many of those students who have participated in this program. It’s amazing to hear their stories of how God used that year to mold and shape them to be the leaders that they are today. What has especially caught our attention is the spiritual impact that this program has had on these students. The goal is transformation in their lives, so that as they return to Hungary many more people will be transformed. Pannonia is in need of financial support as well as host families. If any of you are interested in finding out more about Pannonia, please contact us and we’d be glad to follow up.

This Saturday we plan to host a pizza party with Jack’s 11D class. So today we traveled across town to a larger store where we can get mozzarella cheese and pepperoni in preparation for making eight pizzas. This group is in their 3rd year at Trefort and the class consists of 12 boys and 1 girl. They’re a pretty wild group but Jack has a good relationship with them. You never know how God can use even these pizza parties to open doors for meaningful conversations down the road.

We thank you for your love and prayers. Áldás és békesség! Blessing and peace!

Jack and Cindy