Serving Christ in Hungary

Zsolt and Ilona

2011-02-26T16:43:00.002-05:00

This is my friend Zsolt Csernus. He and his wife, Ilona, and sons Benjamin and Daniel are missionaries with Operation Mobilisation, Hungary. They serve Jesus Christ as a welder, sailors, teachers, parents and as a wonderful example of what Christian marriage should be. The wonderful news about Zsolt and Ilona is that they have been offered another opportunity (the second for their family) to sail aboard an Operation Mobilisation ship that will sail from port to port (more details will follow soon!) to share God's love through medical services and education and literature in the languages native to the area. Please pray for the Csernus family, and if you would like to learn more about OM international, please visit http://www.om.org/, and if you would like to support the Csernus family on their mission field, please contact OM Hungary and let them know of your desire to support Zsolt and Ilona Csernus.

Do something this year! Have a great 2009!

Workshops are fun!...and fattening?

2010-07-08T03:53:00.001-04:00

Those who know me know I love food. That's why I was thrilled to see 3, count 'em THREE, workshops devoted to food this year. Workshops at English Camp (Angol Tabor, in Hungarian) are each about an hour long and represent an interest or expertise of one of the camp workers. They are approached with trepidation by the camp workers, because we rarely view our gifts as things to be shared, oddly; the challenge for workers at camp is to see themselves as vessels to be poured out, and workshops give us that opportunity.

Among the workshops this year are:

Soccer (a personal favorite, since it is taught by my daughter!)

Making Cowboy cookies

Making gingerbread waffles

Decorating cupcakes

Project Runway: World Cup

American Dating

Chess

Get Fit! (which you have to do after making waffles!)

Nail design (yes, we have our own licensed cosmetologist teaching this!)

Drum set

So, you can see that we are a group with a wide range of interests! The best part of all…I'm watching the Get Fit group right now, filled with kids of an average age of 10 or 11…is hearing the kids laugh and giggle their way through the exercises, working on their English and having a wonderful time. This process, the making of friends, is largely why Anne, the kids and I continue to come back year after year; we see our gift as making friends, and being able to use that friendship as a platform for bringing something of meaning here. God has richly blessed us in this experience, and we only hope that we are as much a blessing to the ones we hold dear, both here and at home…

Camp Time

2010-07-07T02:21:00.001-04:00

The days have flown by here; I always think I have more time than I end up having to prepare. (Of course, the same can be said for my time at school, and with my family, and at church…maybe it's me?) Anyway, our days look like this:

10:30ish We begin our day with devotions. With at least 3 seminary graduates on the camp staff, you'd think we'd have someone well qualified to lead our morning devotions. Alas, Boci (Uncle) Duane got the nod this year, so we're studying about God's passion for the lost…you can start in Luke 15 and follow along!

11:30 Staff lunch

12:30 Campers arrive

12:30 Opening…LOTS of singing and general merriment

1:00 English lesson (prepositions, numbers, days of the week…the good stuff!)

2:00 Staff led workshops (Hannah taught one on soccer today…she was a little disappointed at not being able to model much because of her knee, but she taught well!...and she thinks she wants to be a veterinarian??? HMMM….)

3:00 Go West time…today we're panning for gold (popcorn kernels buried in the grass; blessedly it's cloudy today and not 90+ and humid, like yesterday…)

5:00 The kids have dinner

6:00 Moms and dads and Anne and I have dinner

6:30 Kids are in evening game, song and testimony time; grown-ups are working with Anne and me…tonight we're talking about setting priorities in life and aligning them with God's priorities for your life.

Those are the days for camp. We have about 30-40 kid campers, and we had 9 adults show up for the first session last night. We're trying to accommodate everyone wanting to get home to watch the World Cup by 8:30-including the camp staff! It's the only thing we can watch language free and know what's going on!

Over all a great week. I'm spending a lot of time thinking about school this year, for some reason. I wish school could be more like camp, with less focus on the business of "schooling" and more on learning…learning is a blast, and the way we lose the joy of learning is awfully disappointing….but hey, a new year starts in just a few weeks!

Getting Oriented...again?

2010-07-02T17:00:00.000-04:00

I am amazed at how much there is to remember as we prepare for English Camp. The entire camp staff has arrived, and after a day in Budapest to stretch legs and get introduced to one another we've begun the business of preparing to meet our campers and to enjoy working with one another in a purpose larger than ourselves.

One of the biggest reminders I owe myself (more often than during these summer engagements in Erd) is that faith drives virtually all that I do. Belief in God and belief in others, whether students or teachers, my children or my wife, my friends or the strangers who will become my friends over the week ahead, is the central theme of my life. Nothing I have accomplished has been accomplished on my own, and nothing that I want to see done in the future can be. Among the great blessings I count each day is that God has sent these fellow workers into every aspect of my life to join my journey. While I don't always find success in the world's eyes, I certainly emerge from every day the richer for having traveled it in the company of my friends and companions. Monday brings another group to work with...I serve a great God, and am amazed at the blessings in my life as I sit here in Erd, or in my office in Jackson, or on my deck in Locust Grove...and I am grateful.

A day in Eger

2010-06-28T15:06:00.001-04:00

We got a chance to take our families (extended, too!) to Eger over the weekend. It's always wonderful to spend time with people who are intrigued by us. My greatest joy is finding myself in situations where the best I can do with a language amounts to an attempt at humor that native speakers laugh at. Saturday was my day in Eger! Eger is known for it hometown wine, Egri Bekaver, or Bull's Blood. Suffice it to say that the name hearkens to the first of two Turkish invasions over 700 years ago; I doubt Ernest and Julio Gallo can say the same thing?

The picture above is a shot from the center of the city toward the castle...

Anne and I have had our pictures taken on this bench during every trip to Eger...a pretty great tradition to have with my beautiful wife!

Figuring out what to do...

2010-06-28T14:55:00.000-04:00

Anne and I have come here to Erd over the past six years to teach. Ostensibly, we teach English...lots of interesting vocabulary, conversations and scenarios. Each year we work with a theme that we try to make lend itself to our work, though we always work to present Christ and His plan for salvation.

One of the dynamics in our household, and the planning that goes into each summer camp, is that we both have lots of ideas that need to be melded together to create one whole experience. Using a metallurgical metaphor, this melding requires, well, quite a bit of heat. Over the years we have learned to contain the flames inside the furnace, and in focusing the heat of creation we are able to burn away most of the dross of the lesson before we give it. Of course, building the heat is, well, the difficult part...

So we're working on our lessons now, trying to get a handle our English theme..Going West...while trying to figure out how to introduce Jesus throughout the course of the lessons. We're packing the wagon, picking the right trail, and seeing Christ as our trail boss; that's the thing, isn't it, when we teach...to make things so odd, or interesting or out of the way that students can't help but remember what we teach. And then think about...and then act on what we teach.

That's the thing. Letting Christ speak through us in a way that works in our students' hearts, helping them to see and ultimately accept His love is all that's important. And if we need to wear chaps, spurs and cowboy hats, that's what we'll do....giddy up!

A daytrip to Bratislava...

2010-06-26T15:23:00.002-04:00

We had to postpone our daytrip to Bratislava for a day because we ended up trying to catch the train at the wrong station. We thought we had the right station, but as with many things in Eastern Europe, the trains sometimes have a mind of their own and we have to go with the flow. So we did!

Friday, however, found us traveling to Bratislava (capital of Slovakia) in good order; indeed, the traveling to and from were, from the "good order" perspective, the best part of the day. My companions were Aaron, my son, and Dustin, our companion from the camp crew. Dustin is a self-proclaimed East Europa-phile, so the day was a hit with him!

Alas, it didn't work out quite the way we'd planned, though. First, our maps were GALACTICALLY inadequate given the Bratislavan's don't really have an appreciation for street signs, directional signs or anything that might tell you where you are or where you could conceivably go in their city. We got off of the train and began our explorations which included walking...and walking...and walking. We wanted to get to the Danube and find the Bratislava Castle-noble pursuits to be sure! So we walked...

We happened upon the Presidential Palace with its lovely public gardens where we at our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (yes, we brown-bagged it...) and chocolate creme cookies. This was, for me, the highlight of the afternoon. The day was overcast which contributed to my already questionable ability to judge direction. Of course, it didn't really dawn on us to ask which way the river was...so we walked...and walked...and walked.

So we walked. We saw several lovely parks which, blessedly, had benches. We sat as often as we could...which ended up being not that often. We helpful advice from one English speaking Bratislavan who assured us our desired destinations were "that way;" we walked that way...for a LONG time. Indeed, apart from the 30 minutes we spend inside the Polus City Centre Mall, we walked all day, from 11:50am until 7:30pm.

We found ourselves on the far side of nowhere when it struck me that with only 2 hours before our train was scheduled to leave we would be pressing to make up for 5 hours of getting lost. So we began our retreat. Of course, neither of the maps we had actually showed Hlavna Stanica, the train station, so we found ourselves at the mercy of several very kind, multilingual (though not English-speaking) Slovakians. We were approached by a very kind 70-ish man who spoke a brand of pidgin Slovako-German who indicated that we were a long way from our destination. We walked some more, and then spoke to a delightful couple who were out for their evening constitutional who also indicated that even though we'd been walking for some time now, were were still a LONG way away from the train station.

The train was scheduled to leave at 7:54pm, and it was now 7:15pm in a strange city, and we had no idea where we were and our legs/feet/knees/toes HURT. And just when I was resigning myself to finding a room for the night, the tram that ran to Hlavna Stanica passed right by us! You might be asking, "Why didn't you just get ON the tram!?" The answer is, I had no idea where to buy tram tickets..you see, in Europe there is rarely the option to pay a bus or tram driver directly, and if you haven't purchased your pass at a shop or station, you don't get on...such was our dilemna. But, we did follow the tram, like puppies smelling food in the kitchen. And we walked...

Blessedly we started finding landmarks we recognized, and slowly we limped the final half mile or so into the station...with 15 minutes to spare! Of course, I'd been praying for God to help us make the distance before our train left and in his provision He did help us...and then some! Just as we walked into the station, the office posted that our train was 35 minutes late...a safety cushion that I, at least, greatly appreciated.

Lessons I learned:

1. Always have a GOOD map;

2. Always travel with friends (it made the day WAY better);

3. Always appreciate the small kindnesses of others;

4. Wear comfortable shoes;

5. Be grateful for every opportunity God gives you to grow, to love and to explore...that's how He transforms you into the likeness of His son...

dad aaron 062410.avi

2010-06-24T08:49:00.000-04:00

We had planned to go to Bratislava, Slovakia with another of our camp-working friends today, but...I guess we'll go tomorrow...

2010-06-23T15:52:00.000-04:00

For our friends worried that we should find time to smile, laugh and relax. We are...

Sun's up!

2010-06-22T23:38:00.000-04:00

Jet lag can be a pain. We watched the world cup game last night; South Africa happens to reside in the same time zone as Hungary-six hours ahead of home. The game ended at 10:45ish local time, and we were off to bed...and from 3 o'clock on, I sat staring at the walls while my sweet bride and son and daughter slumbered. What to do with my time but work on school work and blog!

It's 5:30am here now, and the sun is full up. I forget in the months between visits just how far north Hungary is compared to us, and how much earlier the sun rises here. It looks as if this may be our first day without rain, so I'll get out and walk around the neighborhood this morning, being what I am, an American out of place. The people will know that immediately because I'll greet most of them with "Jo Reggelt!"-Hungarian for "Good Morning," and will be met mostly with blank stares. Which is why I return here with my family so often-the innate optimism I have that is born of a hope that so many here don't have drives me to return. Something about these people draws me here, to them, in the hope that I might be a blessing. Three weeks of this trains me to try to be a blessing in my own world as well...and I need that training.

The morning train into Budapest just ran by. Must be time for another cup of coffee. Jo Reggelt!

Old, young friends

2010-06-22T15:19:00.002-04:00

What a delight friendship is. I'm sitting in Erd, Hungary watching the World Cup with a room full of friends-American and Hungarian. The evening was spent playing games with our Hungarian friends, working on the finer points (?) of our language and catching up on life.

We've known most of them since they were in middle or early high school, and they have grown into interesting, kind hearted, loving college students who make the trip halfway around the world more than worth it.

We're yelling at the TV, like good futbol fans, getting ready to work together in a week teaching English, and more importantly, about Christ and His saving grace...and to think, we're just getting started...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Könyves Kálmán St,Érd,Hungary

June 21, 2010

2010-06-21T15:04:00.000-04:00

Well, we're here, again. It's funny that the home we stay in while in Hungary should feel so much like HOME, or at least a home away from home. As usual our travel presented some challenges, but we are blessed to have a home with extended family waiting for us every time we come to Erd.

Our adventure this time involved poor resource management at Delta; we got on our plane to New York on Saturday, all buckled in and ready to go, only to be told to de-plane so another flight could have our plane. We were then delayed until 6 o'clock, assuring that we would miss our connection that evening...only one flight a day leaves from JFK direct to Budapest. We did finally arrive in New York at 8:15pm or so, and spent the next three hours in line re-doing our flight plans for Sunday afternoon and getting vouchers from Delta for ground transportation, hotel and meals. An interesting experience if you've never had to do these things...of all the travels that I've had, I have apparently been pretty lucky thus far!

We had an opportunity to make some new friends, which is always the best benefit of traveling. At the top of the list this trip were Mel and Jo Cornillaud from North Carolina, who were on their way to take a cruise up the Danube from Budapest. Mel and Jo work with the Baptist Convention in North Carolina volunteering in various ministries...what delightful people to share our travels with!

We just had our "family devotions;" a tradition of our camp times here. I'm looking forward to learning from others, and also to teaching. Devotion time is the most regular time when all of us are together, and being around the word of God together is a blessing not to be underestimated.

We're here with three college age kids who came over for the summer-Savannah, Kimberly and Dustin. They are working around the house, helping to prepare for camp and helping Katie Beth, who is recovering from a viral infection of the ear nerves which has impacted her balance, causing dizziness and fatigue...not much fun! But it IS fun to be around the kids and to work with them throughout the camp...we've completely enjoyed knowing and working with all of the folks we've met over the last 6 years...

More tomorrow!

Doors, doors, doors

2010-02-14T16:25:00.000-05:00

I think you can tell an awful lot about a place by its doors. Doors to hidden walkways, doors to garages, doors to churches and homes and stores. Are they locked, or open? Big, as if to let in many people, or small? We enjoyed a wonderful weekend in Eger, Hungary leading a marriage retreat weekend for 10 couples who are our friends. The doors told us a great deal about this wonderful city. Beautiful

To think, they laughed at my German!

2010-02-14T15:49:00.000-05:00

Herr Steinke, my high school German teacher, would have been proud! I ordered a cup of coffee and the Schinke-Kase Toast (ham and cheese, for the uninitiated) and actually got what I intended. Of course, the wonderful, sporting lady behind the counter smiled broadly at my pronunciations...but I loved the practice! Of course, this was fairly early in our 14 hour airport day in Frankfurt...hmmm.....

Taking time to breathe

2007-07-13T17:34:00.000-04:00

We're back "in harness" now; we got home Sunday night around 6pm, repacked our bags and made off for Jekyll Island for the Georgia Association of Educational Leader's conference. It provided everyone a chance to debrief and get our heads back on straight after getting off of the plane.

I returned to school on Thursday of this week, and have already had 3 interviews. I'm a little pressured at this point given we still have three teacher openings to fill, but the same God that got me to Hungary will provide the people He wants at Jackson High School. I'll keep emailing, calling and interviewing in the near future, getting ready for the kids to return on August 6th.

We have appreciated your prayers, emails and thoughts more than you know. Ministering to our friends in Hungary is a job far bigger--and more important--than one family of four can tackle! Thanks, and stay tuned. A few more pictures and the promised videos yet to be posted!

Celebrating with extraordinary friends

2007-07-07T10:30:00.000-04:00

We had a great week, and ended with a wonderful end-of-camp party. Edit brought the apple ciderish children's champagne,and we toasted friendship on both sides of the ocean. Then we all went downstairs to the cafeteria and ate Hungarian donuts, danced, took pictures and said many goodbyes that weren't easy. We're planning for next year already!

Last class for this camp

2007-07-07T10:23:00.000-04:00

We got together for one last class where we talked about God's help in planning for the future. Our friends are concerned for the future of their families and their nation. We spent a remarkably open and clear discussion time talking about God's hand in our lives. A wonderful opportunity to point to the power of prayer...and seeing it answered. I blogged earlier in the week when we only had 7 students join us on the first night. God then blessed us by sending a new student every night except one; Anne and I ended up having the opportunity to minister to 18 or 19 students...the most we've ever had...humbling and wonderful. I am left wondering just how to say thank you to my awesome creator...

Another long story...

2007-07-07T10:16:00.000-04:00

One of the things we like to do when sharing the gospel in our classes is to be as open as possible, personally, spiritually, emotionally. And then the openness comes back to haunt me :) Our dear friend Edit decided that it would be fun to write a send up of "Cinderella" where I was the main character, Anne was the wicked stepmother and Edit played the prince...I think the camp enjoyed it (we did it for the camp talent show), and certainly it was a highlight for us...

Things taken for granted...

2007-07-07T10:10:00.000-04:00

include the size of our toileting areas. European buildings often have a separate room for the "loo;" I was standing at the opposite wall of the "room" when I took this picture--there was quite literally not enough room to turn around...at least for me :)...

Dance contest for Jesus???

2007-07-06T06:39:00.000-04:00

Sure! Why not! The teens have been playing the "Game of Life" this week, having to make several life decisions and facing the "consequences," earning life points (or seeing them taken away...) and participating in silly moments where they can show whatever rare talent is called for, like cucumber carving or, in this case, dancing. Gettin' down...I love it...

The class of 2007

2007-07-06T06:36:00.000-04:00

Well, last night was picture night at camp...each of the individual class groups smiled for the camera. I took the chance to get a quick snapshot that I could post so you could see our friend. I'll post a list of names with the picture a bit later. We're wrapping up camp today--already!?--and we hope that we have been faithful servants of the word while here. Anne and I did our very best last night to explain the need for Christ, the conviction of the law and the saving grace of Christ's death...and the glory He shares with us in His resurrection! What a great story to be able to share. By the way, I have a biblical "Aha!" moment for you...I'm studying Joshua presently...hmmm...in a foreign land, reading about a leader who had to go to claim a foreign land for God??? Hmmm....anyway, today I read chapter 5. One of the great jaw-dropping episodes in scripture, I think...check out Joshua 5:13-15, and let me know what you think--I won't spoil it for you!

Camp Faces 2007

2007-07-04T15:37:00.001-04:00

Members of the Mr. Bunny gang...

2007-07-04T15:25:00.000-04:00

or bank heist gone horribly wrong? Neither, really. A wild camp game where competitors had to whirl stocking legs around their heads in an effort to latch on to other players stockings and rip them off of their head...wild fun! Then, of course, there is Mr. Bunny who is Emma Domian's constant companion and confidante....

Morning aerobics...

2007-07-04T14:51:00.000-04:00

And you might have thought that all we do is sing! NOOO!!! We dance, too! We've (okay, actually, "they've") learned three moderately modern, active dances that those of us with bad lower backs avoid like the plague! Proof that we move as well as sing...and check out Aaron Kline with the smooth dance floor moves! (Did NOT get them from his dad...)

What we come for...

2007-07-03T16:05:00.000-04:00

Here you see Anne and I in our natural habitat...a classroom, working with our extraordinary group of friends from this side of the ocean. We are sharing God's word, talking about the hope that he gives us all, praying for one another and encouraging each other as we face the challenges the world gives us, all in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit. If Anne and I can think of a better 15 days a year that we spend fully connected, I'm not sure what they'd be. Thanks for praying for us, and for our friends. We continue to grow in size; tonight, we had 15 adult students, the most we've had in three years. Please pray that the Holy Spirit is using us to full benefit, that our words are his and that we not be a hindrance to any of the people who come and share their lives with us...

Me and Ellie

2007-07-03T15:57:00.000-04:00

I've written of Ellie in an earlier blog; a beautiful young daughter of Nathan and Cydil Waggoner, adopted from an Albanian orphanage. For the first 1+ years of her life, Ellie's world consisted of the walls of her crib (in a corner of the room, so only two sides were able to offer any interaction or stimulation) and the ceiling above her, with only temporary respites for the changing of diapers and/or clothing occasionally. Needless to say, she has faced a challenging time dealing with all of the stimulation that our world offers. She is often overloaded by new faces and new voices, and she deals with the overload like any sane minded person does, with a desire to get away, to cry or, as we say down south, "pitch a fit." This isn't unusual, particularly for two year old people, so any chance I get to help her cope, I try to take.

Tonight, success. We learned from each other that we both like to psssshing and woooshing sounds, and that sharing those sounds, one with the other, gave us great joy. So here's Ellie, laughing and smiling, intrigued by the amazing sound talents of Bocsi (uncle) Duane...

My Bonnie lies over the ocean...

2007-07-03T15:23:00.000-04:00

Each morning we have our morning program, which highlights a bunch of "camp songs" with a variety of english vocabulary, and of course, motions to go along. As we sing "My Bonnie" we either sit down or stand up each time we say the word "Bonnie," singing each time faster and faster...a real aerobic workout!

Learning Hungarian...

2007-07-02T16:47:00.000-04:00

I learned how to count to ten in Hungarian today. While the majority of our campers are in English lessons with other teachers, one of the translators has been kind enough to teach us english speakers some Hungarian, like "I am" (En vagyok) and how to count to ten (egy, ketto, harom, negy, ot, hat, het, nyulc, kilenc, tiz--umlauts and accents are missing, but I'll do it for you when I get home!). Jo estet kivanok!

That's my story, and I'm sticking with it...

2007-07-02T16:43:00.000-04:00

Okay, so like I was sitting there with my back aching and someone threw this bottle at me. I just figured you took 2 tablets every 4-6 hours, right? Like, that's what you do with every other medicine on the planet...

Well, after 10 tablet in the last 36 hours, I finally read the instructions only to find that you're only supposed to consume no more than 3 tablets every 24 hours. Oops! No wonder my back is feeling so much better! I think I'll temper any further medicinal consumption to what the label says...I can't even get sick right...

INTERNATIONAL Christian School of Budapest???

2007-07-02T16:40:00.000-04:00

You bet! You can see the collection of bibles--hungarian, english, russian, chinese and ???--just in one classroom. What an amazing ministry opportunity. Plus, it's very cool to be surrounded by the word of God in so many languages...

Me and Emma

2007-07-02T16:37:00.000-04:00

Emma is my sweet nap friend of a year ago, the daughter of our dear friends Tibi and Jolayne Domian. Tibi is our translator, and Jolayne is a field missionary here. As you can tell, Emma has grown considerably in the last year, now about a year and a half old. She came to visit me while I was preparing for tonight's session (we're up to 12 adults now in our session; see, prayer does work!), but I couldn't interest her in a nap...alas! But, tomorrow's a new day!

Tired, bent and old

2007-07-02T08:48:00.000-04:00

You know, there has come a time in each of these three trips to Hungary when I've thought to myself, "you know, Duane, your just not quite as young as you used to be." I've hit that point in this trip...perhaps this is my thorn in the flesh? Those of you who have known me over the last couple of years are aware that my back is, well, my Achilles Heel, as it were. I've had half a dozen episodes where I've been reduced to awkwardly plummeting into chairs, beds, and toilets, not really sure whether I'd ever extricate myself from them again, captive to rather harsh pain and a weakness that makes me feel like a wuss. Such is my state at present, though it has only kept me bedridden for half a day (yesterday); my friends here immediately through a veritable drugstore at me so that I am now well stocked with Naproxen, a back brace and a mysterious green pill that claims to be a muscle relaxant...only the pharmacist knows. I do feel better (read: the edge is off the pain) after taking the various pharmaceuticals, so I'll continue taking them, I suppose.

This is the first really full day of camp; the opening weekend runs on an abbreviated schedule of 8:30A until 6:00P, though we're now going 8:30A until 7:30PM, plus clean up and travel, so it's a solid 12 hour day, plus blogging, plus waking up early enough for devotions, etc.. We've gained students each day; we added one adult last night, and I'd be surprised if we didn't add a couple more tonight to get us up to around 10 or so. The lessons we're teaching are focusing on life as a journey (it's all about the metaphor, you know), and we've done a life map (pictures to come later today), and have talked about how we're "packed" for the journey--a great intro for a discussion of sin and generally unhealthy attitudes that need to be unpacked. And can we do that unpacking by ourselves? Nope...and here comes the gospel to save us! We'll be looking at past, present and the future through a comparison of what the world tells us versus what God has to say, leading up to Thursday when we present the straightforward question, "Do you know the way?" (Get it? The Way? Map? Lost? Found? Get it?....) And we'll spend a great deal of time talking about the Good Shepherd, seeking the lost, putting them back on the right path, being the door through which the sheep enter, etc..

I suppose I'd better hobble to the classroom to help Anne with getting together for tonight. We love you, and we appreciate so much your prayers and the encouraging emails we're receiving from you! Please send them on, and if you have any questions, now is a great time to ask them!
Live in the light--
Duane

Camp 2007 Day Two Slideshow...070107

2007-07-01T16:29:00.001-04:00

Around the world, anyone?

2007-07-01T16:13:00.000-04:00

Today was World Tour day at camp! We had 8 of our camp members offering "tours" of various places they had been, ranging from the French Alps to London to Mexico to North Carolina (the most exotic of all!). The campers would get tickets during a set of 5 different rotations, allowing them to visit 5 different countries. (I bet you'll never guess which country Aaron was selling tickets for, n'cest pas?) It's a great activity to teach different kinds of vocabulary and share some of the rest of the world with our students!

Camp 2007 day one...

2007-06-30T15:43:00.000-04:00

We began the day tired; preparation has its own energy cost, and we were feeling it this morning! We got off on time (a thing, with 49 different workers coming from all over the southern Budapest area). We ended up meeting about 35 or 40 students today; obviously we're hoping for an influx of some more tomorrow and, most likely, Monday. Anne and I are especially hoping for some more of our "regulars" to return. We began tonight with 7 adult students, four of whom are new to our camp. We are hopeful that God's wisdom is pointing us toward significant personal results for a few rather than introducing lots of folks to the gospel initially. Either case, of course, is our privilege; we're working to give the Holy Spirit as much of a chance to work as possible...certainly not to get in His way.

Pray, please, that God will send everyone He wants here...the fields are white, right?

Camp Day One slideshow

2007-06-30T15:28:00.000-04:00

Slideshow for June 29, 2007

2007-06-29T15:28:00.001-04:00

Where I pray...

2007-06-29T15:01:00.000-04:00

One of the favorite prayer spots I have is looking out of the windows in the school over the town of Diosd, a neighboring town to Erd. I often see people in the process of living their daily lives, and other than an occasional "Jo Nappot" or "Viszlat," I know very little of them. I do know though, that they can be strengthened and encouraged by the God that I serve, so I pray for them, each and every day.

Moving in...

2007-06-29T14:55:00.000-04:00

We took today to move into the classroom side of the school where we'll be leading our workshops, lessons and conversation groups. Did a little furniture moving (some of us tested the furniture for comfort :) ), some room cleaning and general organizing. We're ready for students to come tomorrow. Lesson #1A: No activity is too small to glorify God.

Differences in our approach to morning..

2007-06-29T14:51:00.000-04:00

As you can see, my son and I have a slightly different approach to morning; he prefers not to start his until, well, afternoon (something I'd normally be guilty of, too), and I wake up with a camera in my hand. Please be praying that Aaron and Hannah are morning people for the next week or so, and that Anne and I are just happy to be alive these days. Attitude is everything at camp!

I know you've been praying, but...

2007-06-29T14:45:00.000-04:00

...just in case you haven't really started yet, now's a really good time! We are starting tomorrow at 8:30AM Budapest time (2:30AM at home) with registration and greeting all of our friends. Anne and the kids and I are really excited, though it's always a little edgy the first time for folks, and we have a fair number of first time camp workers. Pray that they see the opportunities God is giving us right out of the chute, and that tomorrow goes smoothly, especially the hospital lesson (more on that tomorrow) and our adult lesson tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to introducing everyone to you tomorrow when we get home!

Tearing down walls?

2007-06-28T15:46:00.000-04:00

And Ronald Reagan thought he was someone when he challenged Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this (the Berlin) wall!" I got news for you...Gorbachev had nothing on the Hungarians. Taking a look at the pictures above, what do you notice? How about a fence around EVERY yard, typically gated shut, allowing only the most cursory interaction even between neighbors? The homes above are some that we pass on the way to and from our camp site, the International Christian School of Budapest...and they all look pretty much alike. If only we could get THESE walls down..

Getting Focused...

2007-06-28T14:54:00.000-04:00

We've been spending ALOT of time, as you might imagine, studying the word of God as we prepare to witness for Him to our Hungarian friends in the coming week. I'm daunted a bit, given that it is my GOD after all who I am representing in this endeavor; truly no small thing, I think. I listened to an interesting devotion tonight from Nathan Waggoner who spoke on our adoption into the family of God as sons...made more interesting in that he and Cydil, his wife, have recently adopted Elisona, their daughter, from an Albanian orphanage. We are seeking brothers and sisters, to build our family; indeed, this is the "family business!" What a wonderful privilege to have, and what terrific people to share that business with...along with my family of brothers and sisters in Georgia (US) and Indiana and Kentucky and Tennessee and...everywhere else that someone is praying that the Holy Spirit might work through us to see His family grow. I find myself just as excited about camp as I do the first day of school...maybe the best day ever created!

Marton Vassar pictures 06-27-07

2007-06-27T17:00:00.000-04:00

Today's slideshow...from Marton Vassar, where Beethoven composed the Moonlight Sonata...

You aren't really seeing these pictures!

2007-06-27T16:52:00.000-04:00

Okay, so it was a big misunderstanding; there I was, your typical tourist, having a great time in the Hungarian National Cultural Museum on my way to see an exhibit on Ghengis Khan and the Mongol invasion, when I passed an exhibit of very nice Christian artifacts (some intentional irony there...) and thought I'd take a couple of pictures. A topstone of a crypt, a wall hanging of Christ crucified and a choir box (now THAT's a choir box!); really great stuff to have in my picture collection, right? NOOOOO! The delightful woman in charge of this particular room was only too ready to insist that I didn't have a picture taking BADGE...ooops! Needless to say, I didn't take any more pictures, but it did make for an interesting dance between the two of us, each in our own languages...she won.

Our friend Attis

2007-06-27T16:51:00.000-04:00

Our dear friend Attis is off to Washington and Oregon to celebrate a wedding...during English Camp! Where are the priorities of these people?! Of course, I'm kidding, but Attis is the textbook example of why we come back year after year; he is a wonderful, God-trusting and believing brother who has the world in his hand, and who is a joy to be with. Hopefully noone will be getting married next summer as we return...unless...??? I hope that each of you has a faith brother who you can't wait to see...it is one of God's best gifts and proofs of his faithfulness...

New picture slideshow for June 26th...

2007-06-26T17:36:00.000-04:00

Hope you enjoy the slideshow...

Strong in Christ

2007-06-26T16:16:00.000-04:00

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God..."--St. Paul in his letter to church in Ephesus, from the 6th chapter.

I was riding the bus back to Erd from Budapest (about the distance from Atlanta to Stockbridge) and we passed a couple of churches, both Catholic (probably obvious), one a fairly old (150 years+ in age), and the one pictured above, with this wonderful sculpture of an angel carrying a saint (not sure which one, but not really important here...). The really, really interesting thing is that the saint appears to be armored, leading the way with his staff raised while being carried/protected by the angel of God, and that got me to thinking...

Our devotions between today and tomorrow will cover the putting on of God's armor (a review: belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, readiness given by the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God) as we prepare to go on the march for our God. And I would ask each of you--how much of the armor are you putting on? You know, Anne and the kids and I got on a plane and flew a ways to play a part in this operation to save others from the slavery to death that the devil uses, but that doesn't make YOUR role any less important. Indeed, you are, in many ways, more important than Anne and I and the kids...I firmly believe it is your faithful prayers for us and for the saving of those who don't know Jesus Christ that tips the balance as we face our foe, who has considerably more experience at this than we do. But, then, He doesn't serve the God I do.... As we study and read our bibles and pray and confess our sins and seek the forgiveness and will of our gracious God, won't you join us? Commit yourself to the righteousness and holiness to which you are called, and for which God has sent His son and Holy Spirit to to prepare you.

We love you all. The time of the Lord's favor is NOW. Join us, and live in that favor.

Samuel Clemens was...Hungarian???

2007-06-26T15:28:00.000-04:00

Okay, just a short one here, but...all of the great Hungarian leaders that I have seen committed to artwork, especially sculpture, bear a striking resemblance to Mark Twain. Maybe those late 19th century European travels really were something special for Mr. Clemens???

Fatal (?) Restaurant...

2007-06-26T15:24:00.000-04:00

Yep, we ate lunch at the Fatal Restaurant today...and lived to tell about it! (Actually, it's pronounced 'Fuh-Tall) Check out the portions...and that's what Hannah and Aaron ordered! Aaron's was roast beef with a heaping helping of onion ring thingies, all on a bed of fried potatoes. Hannah's was essentially three gigantic chicken fingers (chicken hands?), also with the fried potatoes. Me? I just had a plate of beef gyulash with tomato and red wine sauce on a bed of pasta...nothing special.

Had a great day in Budapest...more in further updates....

No doggie scraps here!

2007-06-25T15:37:00.000-04:00

The Etyek Vendegfogado is a beautiful little etterem, or restaurant, in Etyek, a small town about 20 minutes drive from Erd. Most of the seating here...and in many restaurants in Hungary, is outside on a patio. This one happens to overlook the town (some of the pictures in the slideshow below are overlooking Etyek from our table), and has a resident pet who camped out beside our table. While I'm sure he had designs on our scraps, we disappointed him by not leaving any...

Bringing the fountain drinks...to the table!

2007-06-25T15:34:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I'm having to read the instructions for this blog page in Hungarian, but...this is what we had for dinner to night. We got to go out with Dan and Katy Beth, leaving the kids in the care of the team members--or maybe we left the team in the care of the kids? The meal you see in front of us included chicken, pork and beef, with rice AND french fries! What fun! All at the Etyek Vendegfogado...more pictures will follow...just wait until I tell you about the drinks...

Dinner on Sunday night...

2007-06-25T15:31:00.000-04:00

Getting to know the crew...

2007-06-25T15:16:00.000-04:00

We had our first official team meeting today after the arrival of the team from Asbury College, headed by Nathan and Cydil Waggoner. You can see we are very Lutheran in our meetings...around food, usually! We had a wonderful dinner of turkey and rice, and Dan got us started off in the word, preparing us to be examples to the community here, just as Paul exhorted the followers in Corinth, and as he exhorted Timothy to be an example regardless of his age.

I'll be offering the devotions later in the week...you can be praying for clarity and some good bible time before I do that. Also be praying for Anne and me that we have some good, conflict-free time to plan our set of lessons for the adults in camp (you might suppose that we each have a unique set of opinions about what goes on in our classroom..!).

We go to Budapest tomorrow, which is always a wonderful day...the kids really enjoy seeing everything new...now for the third time! Thank you so very much for supporting us in this mission; please pray that whether we sew or harvest, God's name is glorified and we will be grateful for the chance to serve him with these extraordinary people.

Two campers

2007-06-25T15:08:00.000-04:00

We have two beautiful, special camp workers this year. First is Emma, who we met last year as 6ish month old, still catching up on account of being several weeks premature. You can now see how beautiful she is, and how she has grown surrounded by the love of her mom and dad (Jolayne and Tibi Domian).

Our second worker is new to the team this year, fresh from an orphanage in Vlora, Albania. Elisona, or Ellie, as we know her, is still getting used to people, though is managing quite well, enjoying the pool with her dad (Nathan Waggoner--mom is Cydil...). She was able to leave her crib once every couple of weeks, just long enough for the orphanage workers to change the sheets, then back she went...until she met Nathan and Cydil...

So I get to be Bocsi (uncle) Duane for a couple of weeks; one of the great gifts I get while working for my Lord...cool!

Canine companion...for dinner

2007-06-24T18:11:00.000-04:00

A picture slideshow...

2007-06-24T17:56:00.000-04:00

Hope this works...this should present a slideshow with all of the current day's pictures...will comment and add video as we work...

Sunday, June 24...

2007-06-24T17:01:00.001-04:00

Hi all. What a great day! Up at 2 AM (okay, Georgia time...)! Took a walk and got to see some of the neighborhood up close. A great way to begin Sunday.

I'm on the deck/patio drafting this entry, listening to Ben and Tibi and Shane and Jolayne warm up their guitars and voices for church. Dan and Katy Beth open their home for a multitude of kingdom uses--home English clubs, Sunday church services, hotel to visiting short term missionaries. Perhaps there's a spiritual maxim here: open your home to the spirit, open your heart to the spirit; open your heart to Him and He'll remain with you.

I'm working out the mechanics between God and me and others. God desires me, He desires my salvation, He loves me, so...I love Him, I desire salvation, I desire more of Him. Something like that. Why is this important? Becasue it informs how I approach others with the message of God's extraordinary grace. As a Lutheran I've been blessed to have been taught to think of salvation, to consider God's grace and His salvation and the extraordinary tools He used to strengthen, preserve and save us. But then I'm left with the fact that it boils down to God saying "I love you. Love me. Love each other." I'm afraid, after reading Jesus' attempts to simplify the great mysteries of His love, that we have returned to the complexities we find there, more comfortable in arguing about those mysteries than in reveling in the fact of His infinite love for us--and our need for that love.

So anyhow, I'm here to share God's love and tell of the truth of His existence and power, all the while working through the nuts and bolts of my own belief and salvation. Read the word. Pray for His peace and for the salvation of those who don't know him.

I've posted the basic pictures below--the house, preparations to hear God's word preached and His praises sung, the kids having fun with our camp friends. Work starts tomorrow--Anne and I will be working to put together our plans for the adult program. Please pray that God's words are spoken clearly through us, especially His love and the need we all have for that love and forgiveness. "Now is the time of God's favor. Today is the day of salvation."

Off and running...er...landing?

2007-06-23T12:02:00.000-04:00

Well, we're here! We arrived at the house at 9:30AM, Georgia time this morning...14 hours or so after taking off. Good flights...a wee bit bumpy, but safe all around.

Things I've learned today:
1. I REALLY need to remember to pack my shower gel stuff in a ziplock bag...I spent half an hour washing off everything in my shaving kit...but it was soapy!
2. Hungarian shopping carts have 4 free wheels, allowing for way more maneuverability, and more opportunity to run into things!
3. Should I ever move to Hungary, I'll spend half my life at Media Markt--kind of like Best Buys, only better. I forgot my power adapter for my computer and had to pick one up...was expecting the worst, but got out without a problem.
4. It is possible to survive on 4 hours of uncomfortable sleep, as long as there is the promise of more and better in the near future!
5. The Hungarian passport checking people really don't like you to take video in their world...oops...

We're in the process of meeting our new team mates and decompressing. Thank you so much for your prayers...they were indeed fruitful. God's blessing is with us, as always; may it also be with you!

We'll do a mini picture tour tomorrow...tune in again! We love you all...
Duane, for the Klines

Truth

2007-06-20T22:06:00.000-04:00

We're using a book called Truth as one of the resources for our adult conversation groups this year. It presents God's word and truth as diametrically opposite to what the world speaks as truth; for folks who see everything as grey, always "depending on the situation," this kind of dichotomy presents an interesting point of consideration...hence its value as a discussion tool.

So off we will go on Friday into the heart of socialist Central/Eastern Europe where the idea of absolute value is largely dead, presenting a message that is exclusive in its inclusiveness. The message that Christ came to save us all, but He alone can do the saving is one of the great conundrums facing us. Save us from what? Who is He that He claims this power? Why would He want to save us? All of these are questions begging to be answered in Diosd, Hungary...and in Locust Grove and Jackson and Stockbridge, Georgia. I'm thrilled to be able to share with my family (immediate AND extended!) the chance to answer these questions, at least to the best of my very feeble ability. I can't wait to get to our friends in Hungary...and to get back home again so that I might begin, again, the same important work right here in my own back yard...quite literally...we'll have a cookout and invite you over when we return!

The Day of God's Favor

2007-06-18T22:15:00.000-04:00

I have a difficult time with emotional containment in church or when I'm on the "field" (missionary lingo, don'tcha know). I get paid pretty well to contain my emotions 230 days a year in my job as a high school principal (read: I often don't say what I'd really like to...), and for some reason the closer I walk to the Holy Spirit, the less I'm able to contain the very raw emotion I feel when working for/with Him and sharing the grace that is native to faith.

Interestingly, my confirmation students and my fellow workers often think that my tears are somehow connected to some human relationship, some deep personal feeling I have for them. While I love them deeply...and I really do...the tears I shed are tears of confusion and amazement...kind of a wondering of "What are you thinking?" posed to God as He uses me. I am, I'm afraid, the simplest, rudest, roughest hewn tool in God's gardening shed. I have been made alive through the richest grace known, and whatever pale attempt I offer to tell others about that grace is only the smallest drop in an ocean of belief and faith. But that my family and I might be just the drops that might once make someone else's bucket of faith overflow. I've seen God work. Today is the day of God's favor. Today is the day of salvation. Keep us and all of our camp team and, especially, our students (100 this year?!) in your prayers...God answers them.

A Great Sunday

2007-06-17T22:43:00.001-04:00

We had a terrific day today. As with most Sundays, our day revolves around church...it is a wonderful place to feel and see the love of God as evident as ever you can. Our church family at Lord of Life is as close a family as any you might imagine; they have helped raise our children; they support us in our call as teachers and as missionaries; we share joy and sorrow, and lift one another into the care of our Father. I never leave church without knowing how much I'm loved.

Today we had an adult confirmation, a wonderful young lady by the name of Rachel Weaver. Most Lutherans go through confirmation in their early teens, a process meant to reinforce a knowledge base and "confirm" the faith planted in us by the Holy Spirit at our baptism...a wonderful rite, even if pressed on most adolescents by their parents. Which brings me to Rachel--faith hasn't been pressed upon her, she is seeking it out, which makes her confirmation remarkable and wonderful. I was privileged to facilitate her work, and to celebrate her confirmation I spoke the following scripture as a verse for her to cling to--2 Corinthians 6:1-2.

"2Co 6:1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2Co 6:2 For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

At the end of the service we were all called forward, Anne, the kids and I, and Rachel, fellow workers in Christ, as the entire church came up with us, laying hands upon us and commissioning our service as we are going to serve our Lord and Master in both a foreign land and right around the corner. What a wonderful day...what grace and blessing. This is why we go to Hungary, this is why we share the love of God...because He first loves us. Wonder of wonders...

Gettin' Ready to Go

2007-06-16T10:43:00.000-04:00

Dear friends:

It's time again to start packing! The Kline's are off to walk with Jesus in a foreign land...again! What blessings we've been showered with as we have accepted Christ's offer to be his servants...we've seen a part of the world virtually no one from our generation knows because of communism, and not only that, we've made dear friends who we love...both in Hungary-and right at home.

The support we have been given by our fellow workers in Christ, at Lord of Life Lutheran church, in Wilmore, KY, in Deer Park, MD and in Mishawaka, IN...and in lots of other places, too, has been the greatest blessing we've known. The prayers and conversations and gifts and love our family has received is beyond compare...it is all part of God's great grace and love, and is wonderful beyond words.

Tune in daily between today, June 16 and July 9th for updates, pictures and even the occasional video! We are looking forward to sharing Christ's ministry with you...pray for us in our travels, please, but most of all please pray that God's gospel be preached clearly and that his will will be done...and that friends and loved ones who don't know His love would learn of it and let it work in their lives.