A Certain Woman in Eastern Europe

Celebrating Father's Day last Sunday with the Duke, Goff and extended Alaskan "family" Here I am sharing about Hungary & Ukraine at the ALCC mid week service Out for "Mexican" with friends - Karen, Judith, MJ, Michael and Paul With my son Michael doing a little sightseeing 30 years ago my son Michael and I got saved at Abbott Loop Community Church (ALCC). I graduated from the church's 2 year bible school and my on and I were sent out on a team to New York to help plant a church. (My son is now part of the leadership of the River Church, Poughkeepsie, NY) We were the 50th team sent from ALCC. Over a period of about 15 years more than 1,000 people were sent out. This June 19-22 we are enjoying a reunion with many people returning see each other again. Our "Father's in the Lord", Dick Benjamin and Dick Strutz and an "uncle" Dick Iverson have been speaking about some of the valuable things they have learned over the years. A

Well, after a very long delay in the flight out of NY, I finally arrived Seattle at about 1.30 am. Since I had missed my 10pm flight to Anchorage I needed to wait until 6am to fly. What would I do now? Window shopping was fun for awhile & no problem not spending. When I arrived at the Market Place - food court which is usually teeming with travelers, I had the place almost to my self - just look at all the free seats! There were some people there, the floor cleaners and security people and 2 lovely ladies washing windows. These are very unusual windows as they are earthquake proof - notice the cabels etc. These ladies wash the lower two sections of the windows three times a week and they really had a good system going. Starbucks was open and Jaimie was on duty. We had a great talk. She spent last year in Indian not in missions or humanitarian aid (as I guessed) but polishing her art of dancing and Indian violin playing. She became interested because her grandfather was from Kashmi

Patricia and Brian, our new Canadian friends, arrived back from their prayer journey, and blowing the shofar in Slovakia. They are in the last week of a month long prayer ministry around the borders of Hungary. We had wonderful fellowship together and got to walk in the town center and enjoy the annual "Turkey Days of Debrecen".

We had a wonderful meeting of "ICF" Friday at 7. Ed & Syble came from Debrecen and Ed preached a wonderful message to finish John Chapter 8. A special guest was baby Denes and his big brother Tamas (mom Anita & dad Zoli). Above you will see Denes who came for prayer. His brother Tamas is twirling in worship in the middle photo. Please see Arden's blog for all the wonderful details! God is good and He still heals today!!

Jennifer, Bethany, Sara & Erik, Jim, Edith & Judit, MJ, Tanya, Arden, David at team mtg This will be my last trip to Szeged for this university year. It has been a GREAT first year for this ministry, informally called "Friday at 7" or ICF - International Christian Fellowship-Szeged. We started with an opening concert in late September and met weekly from the first Friday in October. We have had 10 different speakers, a weekend workshop on relationships, two meetings highlighting the prophetic and have taught through the first 8 chapters of the Gospel of John. Regulars and visitors have been from Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Italy, Germany, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Nigeria, New Zealand, Canada and United States . On Wednesday we had a leadership meeting to evaluate and plan. We all felt it really was a God idea and we especially rejoiced in everyone growing closer to God, the Holy Spirit moving in our midst during worship, (great leading, Erik) words of wisdom an

Fred, Edith, Tibi, Shane, Naomi, Sharon, Issac, Trisha. 8 people - 5 nations! I lived for 9 years in Budapest and when I moved there from Scotland in 1997, the Lord said to me "This is a strategic repositioning for the days ahead." I had made many wonderful friends and connections from the 5 previous years in Scotland but Budapest was a huge intersection and cross roads of international travelers. God had me specializing in hosting, housing and helping "Kingdom" travelers there and it was not uncommon for the "nations" to mingle in our midst. In 2005 God began to stir my nest even as He directed much change and transition in His kingdom worldwide. Many missionaries and ministries were leaving Budapest and I became one, too. I remember being so grateful I was not called out of Hungary but thrust even deeper into the nation by moving to the eastern city of Debrecen. Also, western Ukraine is more easily reached. God has really blessed my move, surrounded me

Here is Joszef with the string and wire Here it is almost touching there! A German man stops to "help" Syble, Joszef, his wife, MJ and the handbag that held the car keys that were locked in the trunk! Photos by Edith

It is not always easy to plan a day out with 3 busy missionaries but we juggled schedules and checked weather forecasts looking for just the right day and off we went. Did you ever have one of those days where you thought you knew where you were going and what you were doing but found out (again!) that you weren't in charge? So, we packed the coolers, the blankets, the towels, the food, drinks and headed off to Hajduboszormeny, a small town close to Debrecen with lovely thermal baths and strand (outside pools). It has been in the 80's for a couple weeks so no thermals for us - no sirree - outside pools for us! We brought the number 30 sun creme. Sadly, the outside pool is not open yet! We dragged everything back into the car and headed to town center where we eased our disappointment with fresh strawberries, a great shoe store and a refreshing ice cream cone! - Now what! Let's head the other direction out of town to Hajduszobaszlo to the really big swimming complex. Happily

Here we are 141 km from Szeged and the police have pulled over a wagon. We often share the road with horses and wagons and now lots of tractors and hay bales. The storks came back in March to nest and prepare for the little ones. All along the route to Szeged are nests of storks. Now the babies are big enough to peek over the top of the nests. Last week we saw lots of "twins" this week they are even taller and we have sighted twins, triplets and even 4 to a nest. Ahhhh the blessing of a large family :-).