March 9, 2014



Our daily path
As we walk down the hill each morning to wherever we are going, the following are some typical sidewalk scenes. 








Each day this week we met with a president/representative of an organization –the Blind and Impaired Association, the National Disabled Association (in two locations), a children’s hospital, and a foundation that coordinates needs/donations for other charities. So we were on the go. 

Thursday was a 3-hour train ride to Nyiregyhaza on the eastern side of the country to the Disabled Association.   Our interpreter was thrilled; she had never been on a train so new and nice. And it came with an ‘in flight’ movie – Frozen – on her laptop in English!  (Good movie with a nice message.)  The president and the handy man picked us up at the station, drove us around town to see it a bit – newer and less congested than Budapest.  We discussed their needs, they showed us their facilities and then the handy man took us to a place for lunch and waited for us to eat (he had already eaten) so he could take us back to the train station.  


  
We learned that the handyman is retired and works there because “his three children were all healthy and he wants to give back.  Not everybody has healthy children.”  He was an auto mechanic and now repairs everything and when something can no longer be repaired, he uses the parts to build things for the disabled people to use – such as a rickshaw, a peddle car – so that they can participate in activities, games and competitions (they promised to email pictures, but haven’t seen them yet).  They displayed lots of trophies.   There are good people helping everywhere.   
 
On our way back to the station, we noticed a nuclear power plant right at the edge of town.  And, they told us the Lego company is building a large Lego factory there, which will surely help their unemployment situation. 

We have some more appointments this coming week, and we need to prayerfully make some decisions if and how we can help these organizations and now submit some project proposals.

We both took the plunge this week and got our hair cut.   We chose someone who could speak English and I showed her a picture and told her what I wanted.  I have a good cut, but it is exactly opposite of what I told her!  

Saturday we were invited to ride with the office couple missionaries to Eger, a town to the northeast a little over an hour away.  They were going to look at an apartment for rent for missionaries, and it was a new town and experience for us.   The land is very flat and the fields are beginning to be green.  As we neared Eger, there were acres of very neat vineyards, along with many very small (10’ x 12-14’) summer homes where people live in the summer and take care of their fields and crops. 

We walked around Eger – the town Centrum (center) was all a walking plaza.  The day was beautiful, so it was very pleasant.   
Sidewalk tables outside of (guess what) restaurant
We had lunch and then went to a Marzipan Museum.  No, there was no candy!  There were several rooms showing the amazing artwork of this master confectioner, Lajos Kopcsik.  The last 16 years of his 60-year career he has focused on confectioner arts – a few are shown below.  They are made to look like a banjo, pillows, apron, clock, Russian dolls, or a Baroque room, but they are ALL made of marzipan/sugar (painted with tempera paints)!  He is internationally-acknowledged, a Guinness record-master confectioner and has a room full of awards to proof it.  Fascinating!  

Marzipan miniature of a 600-year-old Turkish tower in Eger.








Full-size room all made from Marzipan including the floor.


On the way out of town we saw another nuclear power plant near the freeway.  


Today after our block of meetings at the Pest Ward, we had a Linger Longer – a potluck lunch.  I just found out last night that I needed to make something and since I had bought a bag of apples, I made my mother’s Knobby Apple Cake recipe – complete without  vanilla and nutmeg which I discovered I didn’t have after it was all mixed up. It was fine and one member gave me a ‘thumbs up’ after he ate it.  That’s my favorite dessert recipe.  And speaking of recipes, I tried a new one today -- potatoes and celery root (very plentiful here).  It was very yummy.  


Yesterday was Women’s Day, a holiday here where men are to give women flowers. We learned that it is actually an international holiday. Did you know? Flowers were for sale everywhere the last two days.  Stands are set up at bus and villamos (street car) stations, on the squares – along with those selling books, belts, bras, panties, pussy willows, embroidery or any other item they think tourists might buy. Also, in the (underground subway) metro stations, besides the permanent stores, there are always other wares for sale or in this case, a musical band of Romas (Gypsies) -- Hungary's version of a mariachi band. Their music was actually very fun. 






All is well here.  We love you all.  The Gospel is true and we are so grateful for it.





3 comments:

  1. No lack of things to do. Thanks for keeping us informed and in touch with all the pictures and stories.
    We are suffering today with the change to Daylight Savings. I planted some peas yesterday! xoxo

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  2. Love the photos: seeing all that you are seeing. The food looks good, too.

    D.

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  3. One thing I've found with all of our travels around the world is how creative some of these cultures are. I love the framed apron, but how could you ever wear something that beautiful!! The apple cake looks awesome…can you buy cinnamon there? I'd be happy to send you some. Let me know. Sounds like a great week.

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