My trip to Hungary and Italy

So! I just returned from Europe. I am still fighting jet leg and constant headaches, but I'm getting there. It is so good to be back home.... HOME.... by the way, many of you ask me how it was being back "home" in Hungary. Well.... I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with my family, I miss them all the time, but as far as my "home" goes, it is here in the US right now, where my husband and son, and of course where my kitchen is!!
For years I resisted the culture here, I kept comparing everything to "back home", and I must say I was miserable all the time. I was homesick and depressed a lot. But after a couple of years living here in the USA I said to myself: "You know what? No! I live HERE now! This is the home of my husband and son, so this is MY HOME TOO! My home is where my family is!" It wasn't until I accepted it that I finally was okay living here. I learnt to appreciate a lot of things about the American culture and tried to pick up its pace. I adopted the culture as my own and stopped fighting it. So if you ask me today how it was being "back home", I will tell you, It was great, but now it is so good to be BACK HOME! :)

HUNGARY
I spent one week in Hungary. The main reason for this visit was my brother's wedding. They asked me to be the wedding photographer, which first made me really nervous (I am not a professional photographer), but then I got really excited about the task. I looked at a lot of wedding photos on Pinterest and other places for ideas. However, when the wedding day came there was no time for getting my little idea book out. It was like SNAP SNAP SNAP all day, I tried not to miss any important moments. :) So I had to just listen to my guts and SHOOT!! ;) I am so glad that they didn't only like but loved the photos. Especially a few which were actually taken in "in-between" moments when nobody looked or when we were just "playing around" with the light etc.

First few days of the week was preparations, then a two day wedding, then clean-up. I also did some visiting and shopping. It was tirering, but it was so good to be back with my family a little bit. 

The wedding: we made most of the food since it was a small family reception. Actually, lunch and dinner, and the next day a dinner for some more family members who were not there on the first day. 

Here are some pics of the food: (These are just samples, we had lots more traditional wedding foods like stuffed cabbage rolls, beef stew or Husleves)

ITALY

Then on Monday night I flew to Rome. My plane landed late, like 10PM. A nice guy, Alessandro picked me up and drove me to the Bible School where I stayed for a few nights. I was so tired and sick after that flight OMG even though it was "only" a 90-min. flight! As he was driving like 60 miles an hour on those narrow and curvy little one lane streets I commented, "Oh, glad this is a one way street, it would be pretty scary if there were cars coming from the other direction too since we cant see whats around the corner...." 

He goes, "Oh this is not a one way street..." Gulp. O.O  Oops. 

Driving in Italy: You keep pushing your "nose" out slowly but steadily and eventually you will get through intersections and jams. When you hesitate and pause is when accidents happen--my Italian guide explains. People drive fast. I could probably best compare it to driving go-karts and bumper cars. No kidding. 

I planned a ROME-DAY for the next day. I had my map with all the want-to-see sights staked out on it. I had my umbrella, because the weather-man said it would rain, I had my comfy walking shoes on, money, camera, sunglasses..... everything I needed! I spent 10 and a half hours WALKING in Rome, I literally couldnt feel my legs and feet by the end of the day, but I kept dragging myself. And I found ALL my sights!!!

Even those tiny little shops buried in narrow little streets that I saw in a travel book and wanted to visit!

So I was quite proud of myself. I took the subway too a few times and I found my way around Rome very well!! 

Vatican City, Basilica di San Pietro

The Italian "Hollywood"

On Wednesday I took the train down to PIETRACATELLA, a 1500 years old town built on the top of the mountain. I stayed with the Marino family for a few days. They are going to be our co-workers in Italy next spring when we move over there (God willing). We had a good time getting to know each other and talking about many details of our future ministry in Italy. 

Here are a few pics of Pietracatella, this enchanting little Italian hill-town. 

Antonio and Dolores, Director of New Tribes Mission Italia and his wife :)

Beautiful 1000 years old church. According to the legend, Hannibal buried his fallen soldiers here after a battle. 

The whole town is carved out of a HUGE rock

Pietracatella

Beautiful scenery

the little church plant of Pietracatella

Milk vending machine (fresh local milk from the farmers)

"Street of the Hungarian Revolution". I feel so honored. 

Very old church

"MY" Fiat 500 :)

Happy Birthday Antonio!!!

Tanti auguri a te....

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Edina to Europe

I am  leaving for Europe in a few days!!! :)  I will spend a week in my hometown in Hungary where my brother is getting married. I will be the photographer at the wedding :)
Then I will fly to Rome and spend a week in Italy. The plan is that I spend a few days in Rome, then I will take the train down to central Italy, Pietracatella where I will meet the director of New Tribes Mission Italia and his family for a few days. This will be a very nice opportunity to mutually get to know each other since Scott and I are praying about serving in Italy as full-time missionaries with New Tribes Mission.
Please pray for my travels and for God's direction and provision for our lives. Thank you!!!

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Immeasurable worth

I came across this great story in the book I'm reading these days called Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas.
I highly recommend the book to every wife who desires to grow in her marriage and her role as a wife.

Immeasurable worth

In the twelfth century, the vast wealth of Weinsberg Castle lay in peril. Enemy forces besieged the stone fortress and threatened the riches that at within. The inhabitants stood no chance of defending themselves against such a great horde, and the opposing forces demanded a full and complete surrender. If the occupants would agree to give up their lives, the women and children would be spared.
After consultation, the women of Weinsberg Castle asked for one provision: they asked to leave with as many possessions as they could carry. If the opposing forces would agree to this one request,the man inside would lay down their arms and hand over the castle's riches. Fully aware of the wealth of riches loaded within the castle, the enemy forces agreed. After all, how much could these women take?
Finally, the castle gates opened, and the sight that emerged elicited tears from even the most calloused soldiers. Every woman carried her husband on her back.
How many of those rescued men were perfect? Not one. But every one of those imperfect men meant more to their wives than anything they owned.

Where is y o u r greatest wealth?

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Blessed on Saturday morning

Blessed on Saturday

Saturday morning we went out to the Dutch Treat campground where we met up with some old and new friends. We were reported the day before that a few little girls in the campground decided to set up a lemonade stand for a whole week and give all the proceeds to a missionary family! Namely: to US! :)

They had a Buy one get one free sale going all week and even with that they were able to raise 70 dollars!!! 

Wow..... we were so humbled and encouraged, there are no words!

We went out to see the girls and we gave them a short presentation about the ministry and people of Indonesia. We praise the Lord for the hearts of these precious girls and pray that He will bless them through this as well! Thank you for blessing us!!!

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July update :)

 

H e l l o  F r i e n d s, 

We are getting ready for Scott`s upcoming trip to Indonesia in August. 

He is very excited about it! All the plans are coming together nicely. 

He needs to raise $2,500 for this trip. 

If you would like to donate or have more info on it please KLIKK HERE.  

 

Many of you ask how our support raising is going and how you can pray for us. 

The Lord allowed us to raise $1,507 monthly support so far. Praise His name!!!

But we can not consider leaving for Indonesia until we have raised at least $4,152 monthly support.

So we need to raise another $ 2,645.   :)  

Just to break it down for you,

if   we   had  264 people giving $10 a month, we would be fully supported! :)

OR

if we had just 132 people giving $20 a month, we would be fully supported! :)

OR

if we had just 52 people giving $50 a month, we would be fully supported! :)

OR

if we had just 26 people giving $100 a month, we would be fully supported! :) 

We are ready to leave as soon as the Lord opens the way for us!! :)

But we know that God is not late and that he will raise the rest in His good time.

Meanwhile please pray for us as we are contacting churches and talking to individuals about this ministry opportunity. Please pray that we will encounter with churches and individuals who want to partner with us financially too.

God is changing the lives of tribal people- You can be a part of that today!!!

The resources you invest in through our ministry are focused on one goal: 

PLANTING CHURCHES AMONG TRIBAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HAD ACCESS TO THE GOSPEL!!!

If God is leading you this way, please visit our BLOG for more information. :)

Praise: Edina`s friend from Hungary is coming to visit for 3 weeks in August while Scott is gone to Indonesia. :) 

Praise: a couple of month ago we spoke at the Church of the Open Door in Wyoming and we met a nice lady whose husband was Indonesian! :) He had passed away a few years ago but she told us about 3 other Indonesian ladies who live in Zeeland, MI. So a week ago we all got together for lunch. They fixed us a very nice Indonesian meal. We talked a lot about Indonesia. It was a real treat!! :)

 

Thank you for all of you who have been praying for us and supporting us!!

May God reward your eternal investment!!

Orando et laborando,

Scott and Edina

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weekend in kankakee

A HOT weekend we spent in Illinois. Tim and Tanya Berg are old friends of Scott. He was actually best man at their wedding. We stayed at their house the whole weekend. Thanks guys for feeding us, entertaining us, letting us intrude your house! 

The city of Kankakee, IL

Benjamin at the farmers' market
The Illinois sweet corn was SWEET!! :)

Benjamin had a fascination with the flowers

Sniffing pretty flowers

On Sunday morning we went to Grace Bible Church with our friends. To our surprise the guest speaker was none less than Dave Meyers from new tribes! He spoke about perseverance in our journey. It was very encouraging. At the evening service we had the privilege to share our testimonies and about the ministry that the Lord has called us to do in Indonesia. Many people came up to us afterwards with questions, or to tell us about their Hungarian relatives. That was very cool! :)

Benjamin having fun with his little friends

The Carmical family from Papua New Guinea, Dave and Carolyn Meyers from the NTM campus in Missouri and us

Beautiful memorial roses from Ecuador. They are just as tall as me.  5'3"

On the way home

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Our home church

Our home church is Jenison Bible Church in Hudsonville, Michigan. 

Scott has been a member of the church since 1992, and I since 2007. 

This is a warm and friendly church, and we love its people. 

There are many kinds of programs and Sunday school groups for every age group. 

Pastor: Dr. Stephen Lebar

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Gyülekezetünk: Jenison Biblia gyülekezet (Hudsonville, Michigan állam)

Scott 1992 óta tag, én pedig 2007 óta. 

A gyülekezet nagyon barátságos és meleg hangulatú. 

Minden korosztálynak vannak programok és vasárnapi iskolai csoportok. 

Lelkipásztor: Dr. Stephen LeBar

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