Tuesday - Corvinus Campus

Tuesday was our first actual full day ... and it was full...

We had out first university English class at 9a.m. so we had to be over to Corvinus (the economics university) at about 8:45. Because I've been to Budapest before, they left me in charge of delivering everyone safely via the two trams and the walking. I'm glad Mr Fed Ex (Putman) was with us as well though I would have gone the wrong way on the one tram.

We got to the university on time and had a little prep and prayer before. Our basic role was to be the reputation of FEK. The English teachers all ask FEK to bring the Americans in their classroom so their students can practice English. They are allowed to introduce the organization and talk about activities. But, there are certain places that FEK can only go if they have specific recommendations from teachers. These teachers know FEK through the times that we're there and they like us so, they recommend us to be allowed into dorms and universities with our group.

We went to 6 classes today between 9 and 1:30.

On the 5th floor of the Corvinus university new building looking down.

The snack bar and locker area between classes - can you guess it was a rainy day?

In one of the English classes and then chatting in the hall between classes. We found out more about Liz and the Stinter program that she's in with Campus -- its great that they have the extra help like her to work in the dorms and campuses.

Mark finds his strudel! Laci made sure that we got our afternoon pick up!

The outside of the old Corvinus building. This was the only building the first year I was there.

Tammie and Jodi doing Random Evangelism which we did for about 2 hours in the afternoon.

Mark and Jayne had some great conversations at this time as well and Mark was actually able to lead one guy to the Lord! He went over the whole gospel with him and the guy said he wanted that and so Mark helped him pray! I believe he'll try to meet with him again in a few days.

We went to a new dorm, Ratay dorm (Colegium) for our evening meeting. Katya, one of the Campus students, moved to this dorm this year and got the room for us to meet in. There were actually about 20 American foreign exchange students in the dorm so, it was quite funny knocking out doors to hand out invitaions and to hear "What d'ya want!" Not typical!
We started the evening with a few games and prizes. I had some old youth group games and Mark did Fed Ex trivia.
These are some of the Americans that came for the eveing - The girl in the red sweatshirt was from Alaska and the girl in the stripes was from Massachusetts.

Flora trying to act cool in a Fed Ex hat and a Speak Out shirt?

Mark giving his presentation -- he was AMAZING! He is definitely one of the best presenters that I've ever heard at BHHP! He was clear and made wonderful business points but tied it in extremely well to his faith and to God! At one point, while he was presenting, Laci leaned over to me and asked "Did they come with you, right?" I answered yes and he just nodded and said "Thank you!"

Mark had a chance to talk further with about 4 of the students after the lecture and one of them asked a lot of business questions and then said that he had some tough questions... he proceeded to ask "so how can you know how to be a Christian?" I believe that Mark is going to try and meet up with him again in the next few days.

Beth from Memphis and one of the Hungarian students.

Raday Colegium (dorm). It was an absolutely beautiful old building in a beautiful section of town. It had all been newly redone as well so it was the nicest dorm I've been in since I've started coming to Budapest!

Please pray for this dorm as there seemed to be a lot of openess here. Pray especially for the positive contacts that Mark and Jayne made today. I know that it was an encouragment and blessing to them and I pray that they'll be able to meet up again before they leave and get these guys connected to FEK.

Also pray for the many people that have heard the gospel this week through random evangelism. I know Tammie and I talked to about 6 girls this afternoon through a survey program and then just asking if we could share with them what we believe about God. 5 girls who had a nominal idea of God 1 girl who was an atheist, heard the truth about Christ today. They all walked away saying basically thanks, but not interested, but they heard the gospel. Its a let down at first - but then you think - they heard the gospel and they have never heard it before! We did what we were supposed to do - please pray that what we all say to these students and the literature that we leave in their hands this week - that God would keep on working on their hearts and that His hand would be on them and they would come to know Him! Thats the excitement of BHHP!

Monday Night's Outreach

A Day Without Strudel Is Like A Day Without Sunshine

Quoting a great man who once visited eastern europe and then got hooked on it... "A day without strudel is like a day without sunshine". And so Mark Putman, aka strudel officianado, was heard to remark on the way home from our evening event. Quickly, promises of Tuesday holding opportunities for Covered Market strudel were given by our eager to please host, Jodi.

And so our day was, indeed without actual sunshine, but for some of us - not without strudel .... and the sunshine of friendly Hungarian students' smiles....

Our day started out with devotions by Gabor and then some more detail of our "duties" by Laci (DO NOT call him Lacey -- his name is Lotzi :)) as well as walking through evangelism and how to do it with Hungarian students. We then spent some time in prayer as a group and as small groups.

Something new and cool this year are these bracelets. They have the gospel on those little block pictures -- its pretty short and sweet and then the web site for FEK on the back. You also give out these handouts with the bands that gives these clues on deciphering the "message" aka the gospel and if students' are wearing their bands for the next two weeks, members of FEK will be looking for those bands on campus and when they spot them, they'll give out movie tickets. Its kind of a cool marketing thing that really gets the image out and the name of FEK and the ministry. The handout also invites the students to the special meeting this week, Wednesday night, where they'll be talking about "Naked" (hence the naked chicken...) -- about being naked with your emotions, etc and tying into the gospel.

Crossroads' power activate -- shape of -- an evangelist? Whatever...

Zsu, Hajni and I were at lunch together for about 3 hours. We also plan to do dinner on Wednesday night before the meeting. Please pray for those meetings as well.

Meeting up at Corvinus University where Mark, Jayne and Tammie had all been doing random evangelism for the afternoon. They all talked to a number of students. Mark ended up talking to four, one of them believed in God and the others were atheists but were very friendly and open to hearing what Mark had to say and answer questions. Tammie also had a very friendly conversation with a girl and may try to e-mail her to meet up with her for coffee. Please pray that that opportunity works out as well.

Our cozy ride around town and an hour out to the dorm.... in Jodi's two door Honda Civic. We actually are getting use to the closeness...

We stopped at McDonalds for a coffee and some drinks. Mark has been desperately searching for ice -- of which there is no understanding or translation.... When he begged the McDonalds people to please fill his cup to the top with ice, they nodded knowingly and -- this is what he got....

The Economics Univeristy freshman dorm which is about an hour outside the city and from the university -- this is the one I went to my first year. Memories....

Tuleluscamogs.... the Students Survival Kits that we spent the evening handing out...

We have to take public transportation tomorrow and its a little bit of a commute. We have to take a few different means and walk some... Mark likes to think that we have to take "Two trams and a donkey..." I think we found the donkey....

There was a fuoss ball championship between us and the students. Bryan from Dallas seems to have all the fuoss ball moves.

Jayne and Liz who is a "Stinter" with Crusade for the next year here in Budapest.

Filling out the student surveys ....

Waiting for the meeting to begin...

The sheets - aka - pizzas arrive!

The hoards attack.... We had like 20 of those huge pizzas and I looked once, turned around and then when I looked back - they were GONE!

Mark enjoying "Hawaiin" pizza with pineapples and mushrooms and corn....

Jayne with a spicy meat pizza

Liz with cucumbers and goat cheese

This is great -- its arugula pizza! We never did get my favorite (not) -- pizza with eggs.

Talking after the meeting -- a chance to share the gospel and to see what students think about God.

Kyle and I had a great conversation with Esther and Andras regarding how you have to find out what you believe on your own. You can't do what your family or what your friends tell you as you have to make your own decisions about what and who you believe in. They said they were planning to be there on Wednesday evening -- pray that they will come.

Tomorrow - we teach about six English classes in the university and then we go out to the dorm for the evening program. Pray for strength to be on top of it all day... It can get long.

Things I Woke Up To This Morning

Here are a few things that I woke up to this morning:

1. A mental reminder to always give everything I'm doing to God. My relationship with Him has admittedly been on low -- ok -- empty as of late. Work has taken 110% out of me and the rest, I selfishly have wanted to keep for myself. But as I thought about all we had to and all that I wanted to accomplish this week, I got so tired and I thought -- I can't do it. AND then I remembered - I don't have to do it. Please remember to pray that all of us give everything to God everyday and that we trust him to care for all our work as well as for us. I KNOW that this is a must -- I NEED to be reminded of this by Him quite frequently.

2. A little EEEK as I remembered a chore I have to do for Jodi... THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP! If anyone happens to think of a good game to play for our outreach tomorrow night. I have a few in mind, but am very very willing to look at other ideas. It can be a group game or it can be a game for a few people that just makes the group laugh. I know I have some on my plate from youth group, but I WOULD LOVE OTHER IDEAS! PLEASE!

3. I had two confirmations from Hajni and Zsu saying thay wanted to do lunch today -- please pray for that and that our conversations would be good.

4. This is the best -- and this is where I am reminded that God will take caer of all.... I woke up today to a text from my Ildi saying that she'll come on the weekend for Thanksgiving and she'll stay with me!!!!!! Do you know what an answer to prayer this is! I'm actually crying right now because I'm so overwhelmed and so happy. I just can't wait to see her!

5. This one is just to make you laugh.... I woke up today to have my top layer of epidermis stripped from my body.... Yes -- you heard right. I LOVE eastern european showers as there is never a chance of bad water pressure. I think the whole theory was that they couldn't afford soap so they would just remove the whole layer of skin with the dirt. My room at the Hotel Classic every other year has had this shower head that, if you put the shower head in the holder on the wall and then turned the water on, the head would launch like it was a rocket and then you would be left chasing it around as it skittered across the bathroom floor back and forth. I drenched the bathroom a million times this way and wound up exhausted. This room, we have this little cube of a shower and theres no escape from that torrid stream! It can be almost painful - but actually a little refreshing as you wake up quickly.

Thanks for your continued prayers. We need them! I think we're all getting pretty good sleep so far - pray that that continues. Also pray for Mark as he speaks to a group at a new dorm tomorrow (Tuesday) evening.