A Certain Woman in Eastern Europe

On Tuesday we will be traveling around the Northwest of Israel to Mt Carmel, Megiddo and Nazareth Village. One of our buses will travel up North to Tel Dan and Banias. We hope to pray on these sites as well as to look around them and learn about the history. How amazing it will be to see the very place Elijah confronted the false prophets of Baal and fire from heaven consumed the sacrifice! And Nazareth Village - it has been restored to what it would have looked like in Jesus' time. Please pray for my sensitivity to the Spirit and of course, safety for all! Thank yoy and blessings,

A number of years ago as I was reading throught the Psalms, I felt the Lord whisper - "Your eyes will see Jerusalem"! Over the years I have hung on to that Word and wondered, "When Lord, When?? And now, today is the day!! I will be heading out early because I am flying ElAl Airlines and it is important to get there 2 plus hours before for all the screening. I should arrive Tel Aviv at 2.05 Monday afternoon. There I will be met by representatives of Be'ad Chaim, an Israeli Pro-Life group, wait for a few more people and then drive to a guest house on the shores of the Sea of Galilee not far from Tiberius. The attendees of this 7 day Pro-Life Conference will meet at 6pm for dinner and at 8pm for our first session. I will be rooming with a dear friend from Iowa. You may remember my "Summer of Love" and being "kidnapped" to Iowa after "TheCall Nashville" on 7/7/7 - I met Luanna then and what a summer that was! Check the side bar and click to ...

The first day of every trip we spend together with the "Hope and Life team. We pray together, share a meal together and go over our schedule. We always start with a schedule but "it is printed in pencil" . This team of 2 couples (for now) organize our schedules by contacting all our partners, arranging all our visits, ministry times, appointments, taxis, housing and meals. They are on call almost 24/7. In addition to this they have just started the 2nd semester of an outreach they began called "True Life English". Even with us there they managed to teach all their classes from beginners to advanced, children and adult. They have about 20 students - most "pre-believers" who are really enjoying the bible stories, lessons and prayer times. Each of these team members are ministers of the Gospel in their own right and are impacting the Trans-Carpathian region for Jesus. Meet Anya and Richard. They have been married for 3 years. Anya is Ukrainian and...

Mary Jill with Pastors Marlow and Vince. What wonderful fellowship we had together! Our roots of friendship go back many years to our days in Alaska. Vince and Marlow know each other for more than 30 years. This was Vince's first trip to Ukraine and God touched him and used him is some amazing ways. Marlow ministered throughout the region on "A church without walls". He sprinkled his teachings liberally with stories of hunting and fishing in Alaska. He draws some amazing truths out of his favorite sport - fishing! Vince taught on "Leading from the Second Chair" and his over 20 years of experience really shone through. I ministered from John 13 when Jesus washed the disciples feet and then said you do likewise and about the need of "clean feet". Vince said it was like mom sitting at the kitchen table having a serious discussion with you. All of our messages were well received as almost 50 of our ministry partners gathered together on one day. Joining ...

After a wonderful trip to Ukaine, a sunny sightseeing day in Budapest on Thursday and seeing the team off this morning, I finally headed home to do laundry and repack. After an hour in the traffic driving through rainy Budapest, I stopped at an outlying metro station which has a Burger King. I noticed a film crew outside when I walked in but they were just hanging out. I got something to eat and sat by the front window. At first I amused myself by watching two grown women who looked like employees out front adjusting their BK crowns! So fun to watch especially as I had recently ministered to about 40 "Gypsy princesses" encouraging them to keep their crowns from slipping and their royal gowns from getting muddy and talked about the need for washing the "dirt" of life off our feet so we could minister to "Our Royal King". Then I noticed here at this gray, rainy station the camera crew had moved into action to film a man and a woman dancing in the rain. He ha...

Ukraine, Israel and Romania February 15 -26: Ukraine: Uzghorod, Mukachevo, Holmok, Khust Some highlights: Thursday,February 18: Ministry and fellowship day for all of our partners and local church leaders Friday, 19th: Ministry and prayer for "God's Pearl" outreach to Jewish survivors Saturday: Leadership Meeting Sunday,21st: Mukachevo - Church of Living God morning and Gypsy church evening Monday 22nd: New "Hope and Life" ministry "True Life English" - help with classes Wednesday 24th: Travel to Khust and minister evening service Thursday 25th: Travel to Budapest March 1-15: First trip to Israel 1-4th: Prayer tour with stops in North, south and west - from Galilee 5th-7th International ProLife Conference 7-10 Visiting friends in Netanya 10-15 Jerusalem March 26-29: Arad, Romania 27th - Ladies meeting for churched and unchurched ladies Humanitarian relief for gypsy "squatters in dump" With me are two Hungarian friends from Debrecen who will ...

Monday, I will be heading into the Ukraine again. This time with a team consisting of Pastors Marlow Dunham, New York, Vince Brassard, Colorado and a couple from NY who hope to retire soon to Ukraine - Jim and Laurie Slize. We usually travel by train but this time we will be picked up and driven in. The ride should be at least 5 hours long and could be 7 depending on road conditions, weather and the border crossing. We sure would appreciate your prayers. We will be ministering in Uzghorod, Mukachevo, Holmok and Khust, Ukraine - all in the Trans Carpathian area of Ukraine. The Ukraine has recently held an election and the "new" President is Russian leaning and reportedly not in favour of free/independent churches. It will be interesting to hear what our partners there are sensing. I was really impressed when I visited in December in the growth and strength of all the ministries. The outreach to street children now has multiple locations and a new residential home. The ori...

It is a Tri-band phone so I will be able to use it across Europe and in the USA! Yipee!

The newlyweds Erik & Sara enjoy hosting "ICF-Friday at 7" in their rooftop apartment. ICF - International Christian Fellowship of Szeged was started in the fall of 2007. It began as an in home bible study of missionary, Arden Campbell. As international university students joined that group they began to ask for an english speaking fellowship and ICF began as a team lead ministry in a rented meeting room downtown Szeged. This new school year (fall 2009) the meetings were moved to Sara and Erik's flat. The students really seem to be enjoying the new format which now includes dinner, and a dvd bible study with lots of good discussion and prayer time. This week's meeting was lightly attended as it was still exam week and some regulars were out of town but the rest of us enjoyed a good meal, very good dvd, lively discussion and prayer time. You were missed!!

My blessed washing machine is installed and working!! Wahoo! Here is the "pit" with the water meter and Eva and Sandor turning off/on the water.

Beautiful Budapest! A very festive look for Central Coffee House Notice my new hat and my new friend! A cold but interesting walk up the Vaci utca. Tanya and Julia on a cold winter's walk - but it was such fun! The Fine Arts Museum - the Italian Masters were amazing artists! It was a great show.

My, almost 7 year old pal "Bela-Buddy" saved Christmas cookies for me and brought them to church yesterday. He proudly showed me the ones he decorated (most of them) and lowered his voice to say "You should drink them with milk - that's the best way". I think so, too! Thank you, Bela and Patricia and Sandor - they were delicious!

My dear neighbors Sandor and Eva - they prepared and painted, shopped with me and then hung curtains and last week had to recharge the car battery! - They collect my mail, will advise on my garden and any other help I need. The best part - Eva and I pray together - sometimes daily! Praise God for His wonderful blessings in my life!!!

I had a wonderful visit with the Person family yesterday. They enjoyed seeing the "old house" as a home. We ate together and then they took me to pick up my car - which is now is tip-top shape (for the shape it is in :-) and we went shopping for the new washer! We had time to eat chili, make ice cream, investigate the attic and walk the dog around the yard. Julia (Jim's sister visiting from Alaska) and Tanya helped me to think about picture hanging options. In the collage above is Jim and Julia, Tanya, Bethany, Jennifer, David and Tianna and Misty the dog. (who has her own Face book account :-) The Person's are my friends, family, almost grandkids and support team here in Hungary. They are a huge blessing to me.

I am so blessed to have new photos of my wonderful son and daughter-in-love. They surprised me for Christmas with enough money to buy a new washing machine. In Debrecen the rental included one but had none here and 2 months without one is...a challenge :-). I am thankful for friends who invite guests with laundry :-) Cora (a local, large French supermarket) had a great sale starting yesterday and my new washer will be delivered next Tues. Yeah! and thanks again to my dear family!!

Austin in the middle - he is now 10 Mikhaila looking Oh so grown up at 12! Michaila and cousins - Bethany and Veronica - aren't they beautiful?! Bryce and cousin Chris - both 13 At the Ackerbauer's - Christmas season always includes a photo shoot of the 6 cousins (by Michael) This usually results in a Christmas card for each family. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

We three kings of Orient are....real men - that's why we can wear pastel crowns!

Here is mom wth her 2 youngest grands Ryan and Sarah. She really enjoyed seeing everyone and opening all her presents especially her Christmas stocking! Mom with her Silly Santa hat and her best friend Libby in antlers. I think mom wore her hat longer than Libby agreed to keep her antlers on! They are both good sports. With mom is Ryan, mom's youngest son David and his wife Sue.

I enjoyed a traditional British Christmas complete with Christmas crackers - full of jokes, prizes and these shiny hats and proper plum pudding for dessert. We listened to the Queen's message over BBC radio and had a lovely day together. Yes, we had turkey and gravy and roast potatoes, brussel sprouts, carrots and peas. After dinner we opened presents and I stayed long enough to have a turkey sandwich! Thanks for your great hospitality Roger & Chris! Our host & hostess, looking every bit a royal couple - Chris & Roger Pook and their friends (and my new friends) Michael and Val (also British). These couples and I have something in common. We are all english speakers who moved to a village in Hungary and renovated a house. As you can imagine we had lots to talk about. The table set with Christmas Crackers

May the God of ALL Peace, Joy, Love, Gifts, Grace and Provision dwell within your hearts and home as you celebrate His birth this Christmas. May you enter into the Fullness of ALL He desires for you in the New Year of 2010. You are each loved and appreciated by me!