Snow on the first day of Spring!

March 21, the first day of spring, brought a surprising snowfall.


Snowflakes falling gently

I was spending the day sitting in front of my computer, getting caught up on emails long overdue, when I looked up and was shocked to see large flakes gently falling. As I sat there, the flakes got bigger and bigger and fell harder and harder. If the snow would continue to fall like that for an hour, we'd have had 2-3 inches in no time.



However, it didn't continue to snow for long, and the next time I looked up, it was sleeting in huge waves!


Sleet the size of my pinkie

And the wind blew the walkway clear for us!

Cool, eh?

The weather forecast calls for mixed rain and snow for the next couple of days off and on, but we aren't there to enjoy any of it. More about our whereabouts later...

Inspite of all the snow flurries and sleet, the flower shops are bursting open their doors with spring flowers all over the pavement. Glenn and I found this beautiful bouquet of orchids for 1,400 forints (or $8!).

Still perfecting kettle korn!

Glenn and I are now in the Czech Republic to attend a regional support team retreat, but before coming I had to try ONE MORE TIME to make kettle korn for us to eat on the 7 hour drive to Prague. Another missionary (a man!) told me his secret to making kettle korn and I just had to try it. He said to pop the corn on the stove and then pour caramel syrup over the hot popped corn, stirring it well. Sprinkle with a little salt. After cooling for about 15 minutes, the caramel hardens and it is perfect! Obviously, because the 7 of us in the van ride just about finished off all the popcorn!

Glenn and I enjoy a hungarian meal in the market, our favorite local food joint

Pecans in the market!!!

While we were at the market, I was delighted to find pecans that were imported from Germany. Delight turned to dismay. I didn't buy any for two reasons. First, I had a bag in my freezer, and secondly, they were 3,950 forints for half a kilo, or $23 for barely over a pound of pecans!!! For some strange reason, we can buy walnuts here fairly reasonably (about the same price as in America), but pecans are outrageously high-when you can find them.

Chocolate covered coffee beans!

Glenn and I went to a new store (for us) called Metro, the Hungarian version of Sam's or Costco. Even though it looked like Sam's with concrete floors and shelves stocked high to the warehouse roof, the prices didn't seem to be any better than what we pay in the local Tesco (think Walmart). We have also come to realize that in Hungary when something comes in bulk or in a large size, it is not any cheaper than the smaller size per ounce or item. We did, however, find a couple of things we have never seen before, such as these chocolate covered coffee beans. We also found a 2 1/2 kilo bag (about 5 1/2 pounds) of chocolate chips. In fact, they had milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and dark chocolate chips! Again, we did not buy any because we still had some we bought at Sam's in Marietta a year and a half ago in the 10 pound bag, and because the bag was $28.

Yesterday was Easter and even though Hungary is a Catholic country, the only thing we saw that looked like Easter or looked different from any other day were the rows and rows of chocolate bunnies in the grocery store. Oh, and the huge piles of small, celophane-wrapped hams for sale everywhere. It is so sad, but even attendance at church is not much different on Easter Sunday! It seems that for most Hungarians, the Easter holiday is simply a day for family to get together to eat ham. It is only in the small congregations of true Christians that the sacrificial death and powerful resurrection of our Lord and Saviour is understood and celebrated. Hungary is so lost and in desperate need of a Saviour, and she doesn't even realize it! And for me, it is frustrating to know that I am so limited in the language that the likelihood of leading someone to Christ is slim to none. We need folks who are called to the front line to fight for the lost souls that otherwise will die and go to hell for eternity. Please pray for Hungary.

Pretty pathetic posting!

How I wish I were funny, eloquent and creative in my writings on this blog, but alas, that gift skipped a generation and ended up in the minds and pens of our two children, Kari and Chris. Both of them are terrific writers, albeit in two totally different forms, while I ended up with the desire to communicate what God is doing in and through us but without the words to adequately express it!

Even though I came to assist Glenn with Member Care, it might already be evident to each of you that I am happiest at the Eden House where I can use my gifts and talents to their fullest. That gift of organization as I figure out which families should go into which room and that other gift of cleanliness (right next to godliness, of course) as I have vacuumed more rooms in the past three weeks than I ever want to do again! I truly have no greater joy (besides knowing that my children walk in the truth; III John:4) than to be able to "practice hospitality" (Romans 12: 13b) to those who come for medical care, business or vacation. I have loved my ministry at the Eden House, but with the arrival of Brian and Michelle Stevens next month, once they get their feet on the ground (not literally, but figuratively), I will be stepping out of that role. God has something else in mind for me, and I will be watching with expectancy to see where He leads me next! I just want you to know how much fun I have had and how I pray that Brian and Michelle will enjoy it as much as I have!


Full house!

We are now back to "normal", whatever that is, at the Eden House and I am having time to do some other things that have been put on the back burner. Also, with the spring weather coming on, I have been able to get back to walking on a regular basis, which always helps my frame of mind!

Speaking of walking... did you know that many women in Europe suffer from depression due to a lack of vitamin D. In America, we get vitamin D from our milk that is "vitamin A & D enriched" and from sunshine. Well, here in Europe the milk is not enriched with D, nor does the sun shine much in the winter months. Now, what does that have to do with walking? Bear with me...One of the recommended prescriptions for dealing with depression here in Europe is to get outside and walk for an hour a day, preferably with your face uncovered so you can absorb that much more vitamin D! And from what I read, you absorb it through your eyes!


Walking uphill always lifts my spirits as we look out over the city!

Anyway, I think I have always suffered from Seasonal Affect(ive) Disorder to some degree due to lack of enough sunlight (except when we were in Africa!) during the winters, so now that the weather is turning warmer and the days are getting longer, Glenn and I are getting out more and enjoying the long walks that help so much!

Imported from Austria-Coke Zero!

And if the beautiful weather wasn't enough to bring a smile to my face, the arrival of Coke Zero sure did! I found it for the first time this past Friday at a local mall in a fruit and vegetable store!!! So far this is the only place I've seen it, but that could mean it is on its way in the country! This same store also sold Dr. Pepper for an arm and a leg ($2.51 for a half-liter!) The Coke Zero was $1.25 for .33 liter.

Better go get some more before the hoarders get it all!

Have a great week, and thank God for the sunshine in your life!

Week of wonderful things!

This past week is the second of three weeks in which the Eden House is full so let me start off by selfishily asking everyone to pray for stamina for one more week of craziness! I won't go into detail, but let me just say I have cleaned more rooms this week (some of them twice) than in the eight months I've been handling the Eden House! (Szylvia, the housekeeper, is on vacation.) It's been very busy with a lot of guests coming and going, but it's also been a lot of fun.


"Sorry, Mom. I must have lost my boot somewhere."

Now that the weather is nicer, we are able to get outside and get some walking in. While Kari and Jonathan were here, we came across this interesting sight. Now, how do you think this kid explained to his mother how or where he lost his boot?


Duane and Melissa

Mary and Alvin, our co-workers, had a visit from their son and his wife and two children just as Kari and Jonathan were leaving. It's too bad their visits didn't overlap more because, it turns out that, Melissa was Kari's Acteens leader the year the Olympics came to Atlanta! Melissa, called Missy at that time, worked with the other leader, Diane Andrews Rose, and taught the girls clowning, which they then did in Atlanta as part of the Olympic festivities. Isn't it a small world? I think it is amazing that we already knew (although not well) Mary and Alvin's daughter in law!


Darcy and David, the beloved grandchildren of Mary and Alvin

I babysat one night so that Mary, Alvin, David and Melissa could go out for dinner together. It was a true flashback from middle school days because Alvin had to come pick me up and then bring me home later (because Glenn needed the car.) It was eery!

Thanks for "caring"!

Got a care package this week from Darrin and Kesha who lived down the street from us until this past November. They were our first friends here; our friendship went all the way back to the time we volunteered as counselors in Poland before being appointed with the IMB. I think I've gotten Kesha hooked on Randy Singer novels. She read a couple of mine before she left, and then mailed me these two newer ones after she got back to the States. If you haven't ever read any of his books, they're great! In real life, he is a Christian and a lawyer who practices in Atlanta, and his novels deal with ethical issues. Great clean reading!

Getting back to the care package, she also sent us some microwave Kettle Corn because she knew I was trying to make it here at home. Unfortunately, I have scortched so much sugared popcorn that I have given up on trying to make it myself! Glenn and I will really appreciate the microwave kettle corn!

Well, it's about time!

Every time (no joke!) I go to the grocery store (Tesco, a British version of Wal-mart), I check to see if they have started carrying peanut butter, and finally, my perseverance paid off! We "could" buy peanut butter in the "international" section for $6.70 for 16 ounces, but we just "couldn't" bring ourselves to pay that much for it. I figured EVENTUALLY the world would discover peanut butter, and now I know the British have! Tesco must have gotten one case of 9 jars to test the market, and I got the last two jars and they were only 250 forints, er, I mean $1.49!!!


I'll let you know if they ever get any more in. In some countries outside of America, store owners don't like to stock "hot" items because they can't keep it on the shelves, and they just have to keep re-ordering it, and it's just too much trouble!!! We've heard this tale from more than a dozen missionaries about favorite items in their country (so it must be true, right?)

Welcome Skipper and Sue!

Much of my time the past two weeks, in addition to working a full Eden House, has been outfitting a house for a new couple that arrived on Friday. The Board provides them with a "furnished" place to live and the house that was rented for them only had furniture provided, so I have spent the past week shopping for sheets, towels, dishes, cookware, etc. for them. I love this job! Sue is my new walking partner and even though she is short like me, she can give me a work out! You'll hear more about the Perryman's later!

I'll write more later....got to get up to the Eden House to welcome a new guest! Szia!