A Certain Woman in Eastern Europe

2011 October, Mary Jill's Schedule October 1 Home in the country house – friend visiting 2 International Church of Budapest – Nigerian Indepedence Day Ez az a Nap – Nationwide Christian gathering, Jesus Culture Concert Mission Expo 3 Flight to USA – arriving Albany, New York 4-6 With sister, brothers, cousins & friends 7 Travel to Poughkeepsie to son & family & Changepoint Church Firedwellers – worship & time with God 8 Ladies meeting with Judith Green, Alaska 9 Changepoint Church Elders, leaders get together 11 Travel to Nashua, New Hampshire 11-13 GOIAM Conference – International gathering - 10 th Anniversary 14 Fly from Boston to Budapest 15 Arrive Budapest 16 International Church of Budapest

This is the 11th year for "Ez az a nap" "This is the Day" which started out as a gathering of Christians, a Christian March, add music and by this year a major event in a major stadium.  I can not even guess how many thousands of people were at this year's event. I do know they came from all over the country to attend.  Mission Expo is a time for the Christian foundations/charities to gather together and advertise their "mission". I was given tickets and had a great seat for the event. I am so thankful. I also met many friends I had not seen in a long time. That was such a treat! Jesus Culture is on a European tour and said they are seeing young people raising up and believe God is going to use them to "Awaken" Europe to the Lord. Amen and Amen!! The enthusiastic crowd at "Ez az a Nap" for Jesus Culture Friends at Eastern  European Outreach "Life" friends, Gabor with his son Noah Shout for Lif...

Last fall I had a french drain built around the old country house to redirect the water away from the walls. This year the walls were dried out enough (Thank you Lord!) that they could be renewed - for now the living room which was the worst was redone and the outside walls. Now it looks so nice! Before Living room before Outside with the refinishing started Back side of house almost done In the process of renewing New walls outside! Front, finished! Looks like new! New walls - right there behind the furniture!!

Agi and her crown of beauty I am really rejoicing in the afterglow of the fellowship of the ladies and of the Spirit in my recent 3 week Bible study called "Beauty for Ashes" based on Psa 61.  It is a study on the healing of emotions and I had 12 wonderful ladies attending.  We did 3 sessions this month and will do 4 more in November and will including healing from the spirit of rejection.  All the ladies are Hungarian and are precious to the Lord and to me!!  One night I gave as optional homework to create your crown of beauty. We got some great entries but only one photo. Thanks Agi. OK ladies, let's take a group photo! Well, done! Now meet, Lizi, Rita, Judit, Terri, Dori,  Rozsa, Andi and 3 Agi/Agne's, 2 Zsuzsa's and an MJ! It was also my joy to witness to one of these, prebelievers and pray for 2 to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Father for the good work that you have begun, that you will complete!! I look forward to seeing...

One of the previously, most consistently frustrating agencies to deal with in Hungary was the postal service. In Hungary, the postal service is an intricate part of your life. All bills need to be paid there, any official paperwork requires stamps bought there, picking up packages is one of the most frustrating things. That would usually require the special notice you found in your mail box, then going to a specific window, at a specific post office that may or may not be in your neighborhood. Then there is waiting in line for a loooooong time and then being told you were at the wrong window (& usually not in a nice way!)- head over to the longer line! Let us not even discuss - customer service! And of course various windows are closed for certain times of day. (Usually unadvertised times) Add to this, if you needed to buy stamps, to pay a bill and to pick up a package - that would require standing in 2 different lines, maybe 3.  On the plus side, you can pay...

We had a wonderful service last Sunday with new friends from Ohio, Pastor Wayne & Sherry Sanders.  Wayne and Sherry came highly recommended by my good friends and ministry partners, Hope & Life, Uzhghrod, Ukraine.  Sherry & Wayne have been traveling to the Ukraine twice a year since 2000 ministering often on marriage, family and relationships. They have an extraordinary testimony and are very down to earth and deeply care about people. They are in Ukraine this week doing a divorce recovery workshop and will be conducting a seminar for Hope & Life entitled "Is marriage relevant for today?" Many unchurched people are being invited and we are looking forward to fruitful results.  We really enjoyed them and have invited them to return in the spring. Pastor Wayne & Sherry Sanders from Ohio Wayne & Mary Jill International Church Budapest

My angel neighbors in the countryside have hit a real hardspot and I would  like to ask you to join us in prayer.  Sandor just turned 64 and recently had a seizure. In 1998 he had a sport injury to the back of his head, which has caused a brain bleed, stroke and now seizures.  All this time he has been working,with one increasingly weaker side, but is a delivery man using his own vehicle. Yesterday, his doctor told him his driving license will be revoked for one year because of the seizure. Of course, this is devastating news; economically, emotionally and mentally.  Eva is a strong believer in God and is trusting He will provide and bless this difficult time, but we sure would like your prayers, too. Sandor is growing in His faith so please pray He runs to God in this situation. Thank you! Sandor's 64th Birthday, with Eva Youngest daughter, Greta and her beau Middle daughter Andi and her man and "bump"

Mission Sunday at Abbott Loop Community Church (ALCC) in Anchorage, Alaska. Thanks to a wonderful, dedicated servant of the Lord, Maggie Snow, my field coordinator, I was well represented.  She had prayer cards, September newsletter and a sign up sheet for new people who may be interested in my work. Bless, you Maggie and all at ALCC.

A beautiful, historic building, a beautiful September day and a bride and groom much more beautiful than these photos. Congratulations Lena and Florent and their families.

Thank you for praying for me. It is a very busy month as you can see. Blessings! 1 – Staying with Person children (Aug 28 – Sept 5) (parents in Romania) 2 – 6pm Prayer walk Hero's Square joining Russian Church 3 - 1.00 pm Wedding of Lena G. St Istvan's Basilica 4 - 10.30am ICB Church service 6 - Alaska friend's living in Denmark arrive Budapest 3-5pm Tea with International Women's Club for networking opp 9 – 6pm Prayer Walk – Deak Ter-Vorosmarty Ter 11 – 10.30am ICB Church service 12 – 15.23 Train to Ukraine! Meet with Hope & Life Ministry partners 13 – Ukraine – Certain Women prayer time 14 – Ukraine – English school 15 – Ukraine – Hope & Life, meetings, prayer with partners 16 – Ukr until 17.40 Train to Budapest arr around 10pm 17 – 2.10 Pick up guest speaker from airport – settle them at my Bp flat 4-6pm Aketey's Alpha c...

In preparation of doing a newsletter, I reviewed my notes/blog/posts for this year. Earlier in the year God gave  me a message based on Isa 42:22,23.  You are robbed and plundered, snared in holes and imprisoned, as prey and plunder BECAUSE No one Said, RESTORE!! Added to that the wonderful promise in Joel 2.25 that God would restore the years the cankerworms had eaten. I believed that God was speaking and encouraging that as we (dared) to speak into things according to His Word and promise that in this season He would bring restoration. But how exactly can He do that? Let me give you an example that I am "living and tasting" right now.  Some years ago an Alaskan family moved to Hungary. There initial connect was with me. After some years their ministry connection became stronger with another ministry who were friends that I greatly admired and the family's primary responsibilities shifted but we all remained very close. In fact, with me they brought alive Psa 68.6...

Mid-July the Hungarian Parliment passed a bill that is to go into effect in January 2012.  This new law officially recognized only 14 existing churches as legal to operate in Hungary and continue to receive government subsidies, grants and the taxpayer's designated 1% that came from the government coffers to the church. The stated reason for the law was the economy and need to weed out church "businesses".  If you were not on the very "short" list of recognized churches, and 344 were not you have the "opportunity"   to re-register by December 31, 2011. If you do not you face losing not only your status as church but any assets including property.  So, therefore you must re-register. The governments stand is "We do believe in freedom of religion" - you just need to re-register. OK, so to re-register as a "church" there are obviously some requirements. You must have 1,000 members (and furnish their names, address and official Hu...

Do you have 5 minutes to enjoy Budapest? Just click  here . It really is the most beautiful city! Perhaps you could join us this fall on our prayer walks through Budapest and use this as a virtual tool to visualize where we are praying.

I am back in Budapest for my 3rd Sunday since the trip to New York. Since the end of January, I am the chief elder of the International Church of Budapest (ICB), serving with a team of co-leaders. I have a wonderful an International group of partners in ministry. The leaders are from Ghana, Hungary, England and the USA.  Usually, August can bring a smaller number of  people to church due to vacations but we have had some really good services with decent attendance. We are increasingly hopeful for the future of ICB. Last Sunday, we welcomed back Jim, Tanya, David, Bethany and Jennifer Person after their 15 month sabbatical in U.S. &Alaska. Jim & Tanya first came to Hungary on a home-group mission trip to visit me. At the end of the visit God called them to minister in Hungary.  Here David is leading worship for us.  Here we are praying for one of our young people, Selena after she gave her life to the Lord.  A young girl, I look up to :-) S...

On August 15, in Sydney, Australia a little girl was born. Mom's 11th great-grandchild. Her name is Madeline Jill Hagan.  What an honor for mom, how sweet Lauren and Brett named her after her great-gram!! I am blessed to welcome MJ into the family!! Isn't she precious!! Look at all that hair. Welcome to the world little angel!

My niece Kari got married on August 6 and the family was ready to celebrate a happy event!! Jack and Debby and Kari and Charlie had planned the ceremony for a lake-front restaurant, the bride would come in by boat and walk up the dock to an outside ceremony with reception following under a large tent. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate but nothing dampened our spirits! The colors of the wedding were truffle and the green of "Irish Bells" The groom's joy was contagious. It was an Irish-Scottish event and the bride was "piped in". I love how adoringly Jack is looking at Kari!! And look how excited the ladies are! Arriving! The first dance. Gown details - and such a lovely bride! It would have been a wonderful dock to walk down. My brother Jack in a rare moment of affection! The father-daughter dance. My brother David and niece Sarah on the left. My son Michael and his wife Raelene enjoying themselve...