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| If your steak is flat,is it 'ironed?' And if there's only one apartment, should it be apartman! |
Oh my goodness, where did May go? We are not sure, but it means that there are
only 5 weeks (posts) left of our Hungarian mission!
This week has been one adventure after another, making this a very long post. We left Monday– in the rain – to wend our
way across the country to Debrecen to close two projects.
We drove through the small town of Hajdúböszűrmény that looked interesting. Because we were getting closer to the east side of Hungary, the buildings reflected Russian architecture.
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| Silverware is never set on the table, but served on a plate. |
In Debrecen we met Elder and Sister Broadhead and had a delightful
walk to town for dinner.
I must recant
an earlier statement in which I said “there are no smooth sidewalks in Hungary.” We found one, and walked on this beautiful
tree-lined, wide sidewalk to town.
There are no cement sidewalks in Hungary; sidewalks are asphalt (which have
been patched scores of times), brick (used in parking lots), cobblestone
(historic areas) or tile (pedestrian streets).
We had some time the next day before our appointments, and
took some time to explore:
The Nagy Templon (Large Church), the very well known Great Reformed Church of Debrecen is the symbol (and largest) of Protestant churches in Hungary. It has seating for 3,000, and was built in 1805 – 1824. Its interior is like other Protestant churches – simple and white.
We climbed above the bell -- largest in Hungary -- (shown in photo set above) to the top of the tower and took a picture of the city from each direction.
Next was the Modem to see a temporary exhibit of a
Hungarian artist, Andres V____, (whose name I was sure I would remember) and who, between WWI and WWII, was the first to
begin using sketches on cards (postcards).
His work of sketches, oils and water colors was very nice – but we could
not take photos.
The Déri Museum recently acquired (from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) for $5.7 million the third, Christ Before Pilate, (top right) of a trilogy of larger-than-life famous paintings by Hungarian artist, Mihaly Munkacsy. These were awe-inspiring and very similar to Carl Bloch’s paintings.
Debrecen is a university town, the second largest city in
Hungary, was the largest city in the 18th century, is one of the
most important cultural cities, and served as Hungary’s capital two different
times. Its ‘town’ area has lovely, wide,
and well-kept streets.
In town, buildings are well cared for.
Even though a branch, they have their own church building – with an actual mowed lawn (these are hard to come by in Hungary). Near the church is this lovely home/estate/manor/mansion.
On the way back to the hotel, we took a walk through the peaceful, spacious and very wooded park.
We then went to the St. Teresa’s Nursing Home where humanitarian funds provided 25 new mattresses and plastic mattress covers. The lady in red has been a nurse for 40+ years. She retired and because there was not a place in Debrecen for private hospice care, she started one. In a small home, she has 10 beds; she buys used beds and mattresses. She, her daughter and a few staff lovingly care for patients whose families cannot care for them at this stage or who cannot stay in the hospital. For instance, one 82- year-old woman broke her hip and she is deemed too old for surgery (socialized medicine), so she is lying in a bed. Because the need is great, she recently mortgaged her home to remodel a larger home for 25 beds. It is mostly ready, but she is waiting (3 months so far) on the government for their final inspection and to issue the license so she can open. She already has 25 people anxiously waiting for her to open.
To close the other project, we were invited to the semi-annual
Carnival Day at the Kemény Kindergarten.
Out of their 180 children, they
have two autistic groups, and have never received any help for them. Humanitarian funds helped with a couple of
playground toys and some bicycles for the autistic playground section. They said we were ‘good luck’ because right
after we visited, they were able to get their first-ever donation from a
pharmaceutical company for the autistic children. The children were having a great time, and
the staff treated us royally – publically thanked the Church and presented us
with gifts – a ceramic bowl and hands, an autistic symbol.
Back to Kaposvár and the next day we did missionary
apartment inspections – that means baking a treat for these hungry elders. The following day we were off to Pécs to
inspect three more apartments there.
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| Historical and nouveau samples -- a few of the hundreds! |
After inspections, and since it was our last time in Pécs the elders suggested we visit the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, home of the famous Zsolnay porcelain. Zsolnay porcelain began in 1800, exhibited at two world fairs, and by 1914 was the largest porcelain manufacturer in Austro-Hungary. During WWI, production was stopped, and facilities were used for the military. After the Depression, production resumed but during WWII, their production plant in Budapest was bombed and during Communism, the factory was nationalized, the Zsolnay named dropped, and they only manufactured everyday tableware. Finally in 1982, it regained its operational independence, its name and became a public company. Five years later it was purchased privately and now has a contract with IKEA – to produce 5,000 tons of ware annually.
In the beginning, everything was pink! Lard pots and other uses of pink in the home.
And on the Street of Shops we stepped into a candy store just in time to see the process for their menthol candies from beginning to end: 1) pour base (sugar, corn syrup, water) in form and mix in food coloring, 2) remove forms, knead by hand (using gloves) and pull like taffy over hook on wall (not shown), roll in snake-like tube, 3) put through extractor machine, and candies will emerge in long chain with perforations, 4) knock them against the glass and they will separate to perfectly sized, individual candies. . .
. . .to be packaged ready for sale.
And there is even candies that look like porcelein tiles!
Also in the sector is a glove manufacturing business. Turkish leather tanners formed a dynasty in
the area in 1762. Janos Hamerli, master
of tanning and glove making opened the first glove factory in Pécs in 1861. His gloves, made of perfectly processed
leather, were a match to even German and French gloves. The hand is very intricate and to make gloves
that look smooth and will move like a second skin requires knowledge and
skill. The peak of the factory was in
the 1980’s, with an annual output that exceeded 3 million pairs of gloves and
employed 3,000 people. After many
changes through the country’s history, the company now operates as Gant Pécsi
Kosztyű Lt. and makes gloves for the international fashion world.
Porcelein tiled roofs in the Zsolnay Quarter.
Buildings and fountain in the Zsolnay Quarter.
And Saturday we were asked to find a doctor for another
missionary. We found the address of a
clinic suggested; it was not open. We
went to the hospital, they sent us to another clinic. We went there and waited our turn. then the doctor would not see us because people in Hungary
are assigned to a doctor (socialized medicine) and the missionary didn’t live
in the right area for that doctor. He
sent us to another clinic. As we walked
up, we were greeted outside and taken in by the receptionist (we think that’s who he was). When it was finally out turn and the
missionary showed his insurance card, we were in the right place! She said missionaries had been there
before! She prescribed antibiotic for
his very sore and inflamed tonsils that have been bothering him for quite some time. Success!
Afterwards we walked through the Rippl Ronai Spring Festival
happening in town. We saw a young branch member and her friend after they had been to the face painting artist. . .
. . .and lots of booths, lots of people, but only one head
of this red color!
President and Sister Balint were out of town today, as was
the sister going on a mission. They all
needed to go to Pécs where the stake president would be visiting to get their
temple recommends signed as they will be going to the temple for the first time
in a month – a very exciting happening. Wish
we could be with them!
Church attendance was sparse today for some reason, and we
only had one non-member. Since
transfers are coming this week, and we think we will lose some of our good
elders, they came for dinner. A sister
in the branch was going to come with them, and at the last minute she had company
arrive.
We continue to be grateful for the Lord’s hand in our daily
lives and activities. We know He directs
His work. We are very blessed to live at
this time and to be serving in the Hungary Budapest Mission. We know the Lord loves His children here, and
will bless their homes and families as they choose to follow His teachings -- just as He promises His children
throughout the world.
