Trinity Presbyterian - Hungary Report

This week I got asked by my old church in Bangor, Trinity Presbyterian, to write a report of the Wetfoot trip in Hungary, so it can be read out at the summer mission feedback session on Sunday night.

The following is what I wrote - not sure if they will use it all as it was a bit long:

Thank you to all in Trinity for your prayers during the preparation time for the trip and during the trip as well.

There were 13 of us on the team from 9 different countries: Northern Ireland New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines, England, South Korea, Hong Kong, Hungary and India. So we based our devotions on Ephesians 4, as it’s about unity, as that’s what we wanted to work in unity, and not just between the 13 of us, but also work in unity with the church in Nytirtelek, who we were over in Hungary to help.

In the first week we ran a children’s camp for the kids who attended the church and those who lived in the neighbourhood. The week was entitled Champions Challenge and the kids seemed to really enjoy the time we spend with them. When they turned up each afternoon they ran to us as if we were old friends, it was really nice to be there with these kids and see the smiles on their faces each afternoon.

Each afternoon consisted of the kids turning up at 2pm, then a welcome some songs, a drama and then the Hungarian leaders taught the bible story. After that we split the kids into three groups and they took turns to do sport, learn English and crafts.

The kids loved the sport, but they especially loved the Thursday sports, the day I led the sports. Why did they love it, well because it was 45 degrees and I was hot so I introduced games which involved water balloons, they loved this and the last group of the afternoon got a bit carried away and the games turned into lets see who can soak Jo more. I was so wet; I had to walk home as would not have been allowed in the mini bus!

English lessons went well each day, some kids spoke some English already and by the end of the week they were speaking to us in English, in order to practice, but I was trying to answer them in Hungarian as I wanted to practice what I had learned – they were better than me!

And they loved the crafts as well, we wanted to make things with them which they could take home and use, so we decorated glasses, bags, biscuits, Chinese fans and lanterns and photo frames. The look of concentration on their faces when they were doing the decorating was so cool, they put their all into everything they did, and they were grateful for everything we did for and with them. It was so refreshing.

And then in the evenings we ran an English Café. The aim of the café was to help teenagers and adults with their English speaking. The café evenings were quite information, and included dramas, games, and because it was aimed mainly at non Christians, we included a little gospel message as well.


On the first evening I did a talk on identity, I was very nervous doing this as I have never spoken in front of a crowd before, and the first time I do it, I do it in another country with a translator, my friends say I never do things the easy way!

These evenings went really well, people listened intently to the talks and the questions around the table were amazing, people were really interested in what was being said. There was one women (Kota) who came along who was not a Christian but her colleague had been trying to get her to come along to church for years, but she was never interested until she heard there was a group from England coming to help people with their English speaking. So each afternoon she turned up to learn English with the children and each evening she turned up to the café to practice her English there as well!

The week after the café nights ended, Kota went back to her work as a Kindergarten teacher, and she was telling anyone who would listen about these 13 people who came from London to teach English, about the unity with in the team. And also about this one girl from Ireland who gave a talk on identity, and how she was mesmerized by the this talk as she never really grasped the issue of identity before and how our identity is not in what family we were brought up in, or what country we were born in, but it is in God, our creator. She finally realized that night how God’s love can change people’s lives. This blew me away, as I never thought when I was writing this talk or even saying it that it would touch someone as much as it touched her. But then God is amazing and he works through us even when we don’t think He can.

On the Saturday, Steve and Agi (two of the team) ran a Christianity Explored training day, in order to help them see how CE can be ran within their church and how it can affect people’s lives. As CE renewed my faith in God and helped me out of a very bad patch of my life, I was asked to do my testimony so that they can see how it actually does help. This was very nerve wracking for me, but I did it, and the whole day seemed to go really well. There was talk that they might do CY - CE for young people.

The next week was a mixture of things, we had two days of rest in Budapest, a couple of visits to Hungarian hospitals to treat my infected mosquito bites and Ava’s bronchitis, and then back to Nyritelek on Wednesday celebrate their National Day.

It was amazing to be there for their celebrations, it consisted of us doing songs and dramas, then the Hungarian youth singing as well, games with kids, eating Ghoulash and cakes with the church. And then in the evening we went to the town celebration were there was a food tasting session, people in traditional dress and military uniform, blessing of the bread ceremony, us again doing our dramas and songs, they Hungarian youth doing their gig. It was great mixing with the locals, the gypsies and the church folk.

The rest of the week was taken up with going to Gorgonsallaz, the gypsy village; I only made it out there one day as I was ill most of the second week, but when I got there my heart just broke. It’s hard to put into words exactly how I felt, but seeing those kids and adults who have nothing, just run up to us and really wanting love and attention brought tears to my eyes. We sang songs with them, but they were more interested in sitting on our knees and playing with us then singing. Then we broke them into two groups, one to do craft and the other to teach English.

At the craft session we did photo frames with them – the kids were putting their all into making these the best thing they have ever done, even adults came to join in, and this just tore me. When we came back at night, one woman showed us her frames, they now had pictures of her two kids in their best clothes – these were the only photo frames she ever had. Something that I could go and buy in the shop was something that meant so much to them.

In the evening, the church held an evangelism event in the gypsy village – there was preaching, we did a drama and sang songs and one of the group gave their testimony, we ate with them and we just interacted with the locals. It was amazing to see these people, but it was hard. This day was the hardest for me, and when we got back to our base, I just broke down into tears and cried for about 3 hours – my roommates did not know what to do with me. But God was working in me and challenging me.

The two weeks spent in Hungary were challenging, intense and full of joy. It was very very hard leaving the kids at the end of the first week and saying goodbye to the gypsies at the end of the second week, but most of all it was hard saying goodbye to the church who we had worked so closely with for two weeks. Pastor Misi described us a wet tea towel, which he had wrung all the water out of… he is an amazing guy and just reminded me of my father – it made me realise just how difficult it is running a church, having a family and dealing with all the difficulties both of them throw at you.

God was really working through the church, through us as individuals and collectively as a team. Just need to pray now for the team as we process everything, for the health of team members, as three of are still sick and off work and for the Hungarian church, in their continuing work with the kids and the gypsies, and that the seeds we sewed in people’s hearts will grow.

Can't cope without each other!

Well we were missing each other so much, that 6 days after we got back from Hungary, we met up for Sunday lunch after the morning service. Not all of us were there, Agi and Zsuzsi were still in Hungary and Jaimey had other plans.... but those who did come, had a good time.

We went to pizza express, and I had my favourite pizza of all time, pork and eggs!! Ha ha, only joking, I actually cannot remember what I ate now, but I do know that I felt very full after it and the Banoffee Pie.




I think Tim might have been discussing red wine at this stage and his forthcoming trip to the French wine region!

Ruth was tired of feedings herself, so I decided that in the name of team unity, that I would help her!

Hopefully when the two Hungarians get back to London, we will all be able to meet up and have a full reunion with each other. We still miss each other, well I miss them anyway!

Our last Hungarian Meal

When we arrived in Budapest we had an hour's debrief of the past two weeks and then we headed out for our last ever meal in Hungary. It was 9.30pm so we were all quite hungry. And as you can see by the photos below, some were quiet tired too!

We finished our meal at midnight, and then we went back and collapsed into bed, as we had an early start the next morning.

It was a very long day, and a very sad day as well - as it was the end of a fantastic two weeks in Hungary.

Not goodbye just Au Revior!

At 3pm, we all headed down to the church to say our last goodbyes to the church members of Nyritelek.

It started off with Uncle Misi saying his goodbyes to us, and how we had done such a great job in Hungary, and that we had wrung us dry like a wet tea towel by making us do three weeks of work in one week!

Then the church gave us all some presents to say thank you. And after that the London team all said our goodbye's and then we gave her presents to Misi and Anna, and to the translators and our bus driver.

We then said our individual good byes to people and then had group photos on the steps of the church. And after that, well about 30 minutes after that, because people could not really let us go, and we could not stop saying goodbye, we got on the bus and started our journey to Budapest.

It was very emotional and hard saying goodbye to these people who we had spent a lot of time with over the past two weeks. But hopefully we will see them one day again, even if it is in Heaven.

Last Church Service in Hungary

After the tree planting ceremony we went into the church for our last service in Hungary. There were lots of trees and am not ashamed to say that I shed some tears - a lot has happened in Hungary and am always going to have a special place for Hungary and its people in my heart

The service was very long, as many groups took part in the service. First of all there was the people who attended the gypsy conference, they sang a song for the church. And then we got up and sang two songs and Pinoki gave her testimoy.

As well as the gypsy people singing and us singing, there was also a baptism of a baby from one of the gypsy families.

After all this the bishop gave a sermon which I think was based on mission, well thats what I gathered from the bits of translation I picked up from Agi during the service.



It was a good service and afterwards we spent time saying good bye to some people, but there was going to be a big goodbye meeting at 3pm, so we kept many of the goodbyes until then.

Planting Trees

Sunday was our last day in Nyritelek and we were all pretty sad.

To mark the end of the gypsy conference and us being over to help out with the Hungarian church, the church had a tree planting ceremony, were four trees were planted: one for the bishop of Nyritelek, one for the gypsy village, one for the All Souls Wetfoot team and the fourth one was for the church itself.

It was a very moving moment... I did not understand what was being said except when Dave spoke, because he was the only one that spoke in English. But having a tree planted for us in Hungary, was amazing because it brought us altogether in unity with Christ, we are all one family. And these trees symbolized all the work we did together in mission for Christ.

More Gorgonzallas Photos

Ili and Tim


Lovely food hey!

Dave was trying to rescue me!

Hands Drama

Ying Hwie giving her testimony and Agi translating for her

Arpi took this photo.... he is a good wee photographer

Me trying to hide from the Mosquitos... oh and Agi because she was hitting me everytime one landed on me... and even when one did not land on me!

Gorgonzallas in the Evening

After devotions had ended, we got ready to go back out to the gypsy village to do some street evangelism.

I still did not feel 100% so I stayed behing with Ava, Agi, Nick and Ying Hwei and we headed out an hour later to join the rest of the team.

The evening at the gypsy village went well. The team sang a song, Ying Hwei did her testimony and then Dave, Tim, Jamiey, Zsuzsi and I did the Hands drama. People were walking in and out of us doing this, it was a bit disturbing but these people aren't really disciplined so its not in their nature to sit for hours and listen to people. But the people who were listening seemed to enjoy it, and people were even doing the actions on the hands drama with us!

It started raining whilst we were eating and the mosquitos were out in force, I tried hiding from them by covering myself up completely... but they still found me. So we quickly ate our dinner and then left. My mum always told me I should not hate anything, but I can definately say I hate Mosquitos.

Today was good but I felt very fragile and emotional all day - God was working within me today and I am very grateful and appreciative for all that he has done today and within the past week of me being ill in Hungary.

Encouragement

Today's devotions which was based on Ephesians 6 vs 21-24 and was all about encouragement. I have been feeling discoyraged all due to being ill and being out of the team. But today I was encouraged by the study and realised that all the encouragement I need comes from God. And he was certainly giving me courage this week through various people and verses I have been reading.

All I need his God's acceptance and approval and no one else's. God's opinion is all that matters.

Gorgonzallas Feelings 2

When the crafts and english teaching had finished, the parachute was brought out and the kids loved this. The power of the parachute, it has the ability to bring a smile to anybody's faces no matter where they come from or whatever age they are!

I sat in the hut with Ruth and others who were just singing a few songs, it was amazing to see everyone gradually just flocking into listen to them and then started singing as well. It was really lovely to see and the kids love singing.




Some of them are Christians and I can see God really working there. I just pray that more people's hearts are opened and that God is welcomed in.

I came away from the camp feeling guilty - here were people who had nothing yet seemed to get on with their lives without complaining. I am from a westernised country and have access to everyhing I need or want yet I complain. Last year I was convicted by the same thing in Serbia, and again God has convicted me again.

I need to be more content with what I have. Life is not about materialism, it is about relationships and especially the one with God.

Crafts & English Teaching

We split the kids into two groups - one to go and do crafts and the other to learn English, and then after about 30 minutes, they would swap activites.

I stayed with the craft section. The craft today was decorating picture frames. And they seemed to really enjoy this activity. They put all their effort in to making them really nice, making sure the paint wasn't sloppy and that they had the right decorations to put on them.

Some of the adults came and joined in with the crafts as well, this was really nice to see. To me, they were just like big kids and were enjoying painting and decorating their frames. One man spent about 40 minutes making sure his was just perfect. I think the fact that the could do something like this and then take it home meant a lot to them.

One women came up to one of the team members later, with the frames her kids made and they contained photos of the kids in their best clothes. She was very proud of the frames and when I heard this story it brough a tear to my eyes, because this was the only frames they had ever had.

Gorgonzallas Feelings

As well as kids turning up at the camp, mothers also turned up with their babies with them. There was one small boy who was running around with no trousers on, but did have a t-shirt on. But no one seemed to care.

The feeling I got from the camp was that these people do not have anything but they have each other and they seem to be content with that. All they really need and want is love and encouragement and that was what we were trying to give them and also what the church at Nyritelek also gives them in their regular work with them.

Gorgonzallas

Today I was feeling better when I woke up this morning, and because this was the last day of the gypsy camp, I decided that I would go.

We left at 9.30am and arrived at the camp at 10am, by the time we arrived, kids had already for there. They flocked towards the team members they already knew. But as I had never been before I kept at the back and settled in gently.

Ruth led a time of songs and the kids seemed to really enjoy this - it was great to see them being so enthuasiastic. And their behaviour was fantastic, they listened to the bible story and despite expecting chaos to break out, it never did.