August 10, 2014

Stake Deacon Beehive Service activity and the finished blankets.

We had quite a bit of rain this week again.  We are always grateful for it because it cools the days down.  But we learned this week that all the rain this year has been a problem for the farmers.  The spring was very rainy; so they waited to plant and then it was late.  We didn’t get the whole story, but there’s something about the cost of drying seeds.  This week is predicted to be a hot one!  It’s almost the middle of August; I guess we should expect as much.

Monday we drove to the small town of Felcsut, about 40 minutes west of Budapest, to a stake Deacon Beehive activity where we had been asked to provide a service project for them.   We had 20 fleece blankets for the youth to help cut and tie that evening.   They did a great job.  The boys chose to cut and the girls tied.  We have 4 to finish up.  They also wrote notes to include with the blankets which will be given to children at a county home for the disabled here in Kaposvár.  

The next day in Budapest we ‘closed’ two projects – both of which have taken months to get the equipment delivered.   In the neonatal department of a hospital, Dr. Csathy, a neonatologist, had asked for two infusion pumps.  We have visited him several times and have grown to really admire and respect him.   He is very caring and devoted to these newborn babies, but he is also in charge of finding the funds needed to run this department.  We think we mentioned before that we were hoping that he could find at least half the funds so we could help replace a 28-year-old sterilizer, which he prays for every time he runs it.  However, in the meantime, their infusion pumps broke -- a critical need.  He is currently waiting to hear back from a grant request he submitted to a bank about money for the sterilizer.  We pray that will be successful.  

In Hungary, doctors are very well trained, then hired by the government, but paid very little.  The majority of doctors leave the country and practice in other countries.   We have learned from several sources that medical school here is very good training, very inexpensive and taught in English.  So, students come from all over the world to be trained.  However, if they do their residency in Hungary, it must be done in Hungarian.  That means many of these students then leave to do their residencies in other countries; and do not return to practice in Hungary.   We know of an LDS medical student from the U.S. who is married to a Hungarian; he is planning to practice in Germany.  This week we met a medical student from Iraq, going to school in Hungary; he plans to return to his home to practice.

Our other ‘closing’ was for sweet Sister Anna, one of three sisters who have operated a home for the blind and multiple-disabled children for 35 years.   They currently have 30 children who live there and 30 more who come each day.  

You will see that there are bars on all the hallways, so that the children can feel their way to get around the buildings. 

Because some of the children have disabilities that require them to be fed intravenously, they need to be periodically weighed to be sure their weight is maintained or increasing.   And the children become fairly heavy for the sisters to hold and weigh (weigh themselves, then weigh holding the child); the humanitarian funds provided a weighing chair – the child can sit in the chair to be weighed.  

Also provided was a walker for those who cannot stand or walk.  For those who have spent their life in bed, they can be strapped in at the feet, legs, back and ‘stand’ for a time and perhaps play a game or do something on the tray.  Sister Anna told us it is a whole different sensation to look at the world from a standing angle when you have spent your life in a bed.  

 This little boy kept saying “hold my hand, hold my hand.”   He just needed that touch.

On our way through the town of Felcsut we noticed a large stadium just off the road.  It looked totally out of character for this small village.   When we finished our project, we stopped to look at it.  Wow!   This is a stadium that might rival the new one in Dallas!!!!   

This is NOT a cement and steel structure.  This is an architectural design of wonder.   Check out the beautiful wood arches and truces.  It is huge, even though it only seats 4,500 – in a town of 1,700.   

 

Why such a stadium in Felcsut? We asked around and did a little research.   It seems that the current prime minister is from Felcsut and loves football (soccer).  This is at the Puskas Akedemia -- Puskas being the all-time Hungarian soccer star-- and is the place where the professional youth soccer players are trained.  Many soccer fields are adjacent to the stadium.  We learned that it costs 3.8 billion HUF, which equals $16,269,928.00 dollars – and that’s probably only because Hungarian wages are rock bottom!  Supposedly it was not built with government dollars, but the companies who donated have received 'favors' from the government.  Who ever heard of such a thing?  

The rest of the week has been the usual – research on new projects, district meeting, and Young Single Adults on Friday.   We were gone this week and missed both Family Home Evening and Hungarian class, and didn’t do any visiting of branch families this week.  We had invited a couple (our interpreter) from the branch over for dinner this evening.  We waited an hour, finally ate and when we reached them, he had forgotten to tell his wife.

In thinking about our less active members, Amulek come to mind.  Of course, the fact that an angel appeared to Amulek to tell him that he would receive/feed a prophet is quite a miracle and a good beginning to reactivation. (However, it didn't ever seem to help Laman and Lemuel.)   But Alma spent time with Amulek teaching and strengthening his testimony.  And then they went together as companions -- the prophet and a reactivated member -- to teach the people.  And what a great companion and teacher Amulek was.  He astonished  the people, was a powerful second witness for Alma, 'silenced' and then helped convert Zeezrom.  What a strength!   We are praying for an Amulek from our little Kaposvár Branch.  Please pray with us.