We have been asked by All Souls to feed back about the trip in October, and our leaders asked us to put together a few words of how we saw the trip for ourselves, this is what my summary of the trip is, individually speaking really:
"The trip to Hungary was a very challenging and intense trip which was also full of joy. For me it was a real step out of my comfort zone as it saw me doing things I had never done before, e.g standing up in front of kids and doing the leading, doing dramas, giving a 5 mins talk to the adults, and also giving my testimony on the CE training. But I am glad I stepped out and did these things as it showed me that I can do this and that with God nothing is impossible.
I went to Hungary as I felt called by God to go, I wanted to see what He had in store for me whilst I was there and was looking forward to it, but little did I know that meant visits to a Hungarian hospital and many days in bed with a virus. However, it was not wasted time, because with me on my back it gave Him the oppurtunity to work within me, knowing that I could not run away from Him, and work in me He did - I was able to close doors of my past in terms of forgiving people who had hurt me in the past, which brought a change of hear and peace to me after what was a turbulent couple of years. It has made my relationship with God stronger and my outlook in life more positive, and though I may have been sick and missed out on some things in the second week, I will never be sorry about that as God knew what he was doing and am so thankful for everything He taught me during that week, as well as the things I learnt during the first week as well.
Even though there were frustrations for myself and the team, it was an amazing two weeks and many of us came back changed and renewed in our love for God and for God's people. And personally I would recommend everyone go on Wet Foot, but when they go to remember, that what you might expect to happen may be different from what God wants to happen, but whatever it is, it will be fantastic because it will have been God blessed".
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Thursday, 18 September 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, 13 September 2008
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!
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!
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!
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
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.
Monday, 1 September 2008
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.
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.
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.
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.
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