A Certain Woman in Eastern Europe

Ma & Pa Kettle having a picnic lunch before sorting the trailer Laci & Terry help clean the gutters Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho.....it's off to work he goes! And he does!! Kermit!! Terry sorts and sorts and sorts some more This young man is a hard worker!! Missionary Friends needed to leave their trailer filled with humanitarian aid from Germany in a safe place. Last weekend they came and sorted through it, designating it for certain orphanages and families. We had a great time together doing this and that and just being together!!

Wonderful time of worship, pray and bible teaching with our countryside home group. My faithful angel neighbors brought a new person and we had an out of town guest,too. Our subject was "Following Jesus in water baptism" and I am delighted to say that 2 people were eager to do just that!!  Watch this space for that big event - they prefer to do it when the lake water gets a bit warmer. :-)

Be fruitful and multiply!! And the ministry is and the families are!! Babies, babies, babies and all boys.  The ministry is growing,too. The outreach of the English school is a great success and this semester has 60 students! Many are university students. I sat in on a lively conversational English class where we played a word game and watched a segment of a great movie on Martin Luther.  Timea on balcony of Hope & Life office keeping 2 or is it 3 babies happy. Samuel at 14 months old will be the oldest of the newest generation Richard and Anya out "strolling" My first stop was to see baby Jacob - now 2 months old Jacob at 2 months, how he loves being out in his stroller Edick, Samuel and Timea. Baby brother Nathaniel is due any minute!

I went into the Ukraine on a mission trip for the first time in 1992.  By now I have many, many, many pages of stamps in my passport showing border crossings. Some years I have gone in monthly but this was my first visit since September of 2010.  I hit the streets of Uzghorod running (metaphorically only :-) and had meetings, times of counseling, prayer times, coffees, meals, missionary catch up, meetings with the Hope & Life team, friends and those who are now like family. It is so interesting when you are on a God trip, despite the length of travel, the many appointments, and the late nights, I came home utterly blessed, encouraged and invigorated!! From all reports the Ukrainians feel the same - the wonderful 2 edged sword of God - good for me and good for them!! Ok, ok some were tired!! :-) And the laughs we had.....you know often on a mission trip there are those things that are only shared by the team. Sorry, but they were so funny!! Now, so that you can picture it...

I can visit a young friend for a game of "Mousetrap" Who was VERY happy to catch a mouse! Time to visit old friends - George and Adrienne of course, they are your friends,too at the Herend shop Ohh.....a new Indian fast-food cafeteria type restaurant  "Alexandra Bookstore" coffee shop At top of escalator - the FAB coffee shop complete with piano player! My main reason for being in Budapest part-time is the church and church life but these are some of the side benefits. Church life is encouraging these days, too.

Photo of tulips taken by MJ on trip to Holland 2008 Isaiah 42.9 "Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them." So encouraged by this scripture to confirm my Spring bouquet Word. (post 3/29) Enjoy the beauty of spring and the freshness of the Spirit over every area of your lives this month!  Blessings,

The Potato room renovation is restarted. Why is this space called the potato room? Because for years it was only used seasonally by the local government to sell potatoes and apples at a low price to retired and disabled folks. For some time there has been a vision in place to use this space for meetings of small groups,  office space with room for living and sleeping.  It has taken some years to acquire the space, begin renovations and now continue with the renovations.  This month windows and a new door were added and an old door and window refinished. BEFORE BEFORE   AFTER New inside door From the inside Because of the age of the building we had to refinish in keeping with the original - hence the brown metal door and yellow and green windows. At the end of the project, the lower outside facing of the building will be resurfaced. Also windows were added where there had never been windows before. Each window has 3 positio...

Pastor Michael from Mukachevo, MJ and Pastors Luba and Peter, Russian Church Bp Tried and true method - a man and his plow horse Getting ready for spring planting Blue skies and sunshine, washed cars, plowed fields, kids in short sleeves out on their bikes and mom's pushing carriages in the park - springtime in Hungary!! The International Church of Budapest had special guests on Sunday. Peter and Luba F and Pastor Michael from Mukachevo. Luba and Peter pastor a Russian Church in Budapest and we will have a joint meeting in our church in May. Luba brought me a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers and said the Lord had given a Word to go with them.."That it is a fresh, spring season for the church". Very encouraging!! ...well, back to plowing!

Most Hungarians are wearing their colors today and enjoying the day off  and as a bonus it is a sunny warm day! Today commemorates a victory over the Hapsburgs in 1848.  For many years the day was a time for political marches and gatherings but these days it is time off with the family. Banks, shops, grocery stores (even Tesco) are closed. I am going to a friends for a special Hungarian meal. Enjoy whatever you do today!

Leontine, back row left and his wife, arranged for the accordian player for my visit I enjoyed this as it was upbeat and great Words I really enjoy ministering at the Vinga Church and I have often encouraged them to get some music going on! as they usually sing acapella so this visit they invited an accordian player to do special music. By these photos, I am guessing it I enjoyed it more than these young ones :-) Meanwhile back at home, the cat is snoozin' in the top bunk of Sarah's bed I really enjoy going into Romania every 2 months to minister. Our main goal was to have Women's meetings and those are quite successful.  God is faithful to bring the people and He always inspires the Word I bring. I also lend Jackie a hand with her Gypsy church in Vinga.   This trip was extra special since we went into the school - where a  Gospel message had never been preached before!!  Then I always stay at Jackies house so we can have a good catch up and time with...

Jackie, Rodica the deputy director of school and MJ These lives, radical for Jesus can change this village MJ and her translator Adina in action Saturday's meeting What a wonderful time in the Lord here in Sofronea and Arad, Romania.  It turns out the invitation to come to the school came from the deputy-director herself.  Rodica, also tutors Jackie's grand daughters. She is a lovely, tall :-) woman and very open to the Lord. She was disappointed the classroom wasn't full so she invited us to come back in May.  We are eager to return. These ladies were so open and interested in all we talked and taught about. I know the seeds sown went into good soil and we are praying for fruit that remains! On Saturday we had a good turnout with new people coming because of the radio spots. We also had women return who have been at every meeting. This was our 6th meeting together. We always have a mix of women (and some men) from different churches and missions and ministr...