Prayers

Sunday started with the church service. Zoli performed the service, of course, and Attila played the organ. He had a surprise too---as they did twice as many hymns as usual. Four in Hungarian, and four in English! As we experienced last Sunday, the hymns in the services here are slow and sedate. I don't think I've ever sung "Come Sing a Song With Me" slower. Zoli had some gifts to present to First Parish that I will dutifully deliver home, and I read a letter from Marta to their congregation and delivered a gift as well (Buddhist "ting sha" cymbals to end the silent prayer). There was social time after the service outside (with some observers watching from above).

Coffee hour (minus the coffee)

The storks---some say they deliver babies, but Csaba says "we prefer to make them ourselves."

The host families and a few honored leaders from the church---the ex-minister of 23 years Kibedi Pal and the lay president Mihaly Pal (no relation) and his wife---had a group lunch with us afterwards in the neighboring town of Szentabraham. At the lunch I presented them with a certificate notifying them that they will be the Giving First recipients for September.

We ended the afternoon with a 3-hour horse cart ride up to the ridge above the town. Instead of coming right back down the way we came, we continued on the "road" all the way down to the other side of Gagy. The deep ruts and puddles and debris of the "road" made for more of a carnival ride than a bucolic Sunday outing. Between Maureen's nervous laughter and Rob's acerbic comments about it being more like torture, or riding a mechanical bull (not to mention a few prayers), we made it back safely.

Gagy from above (with the road up visible too)

The day came to a conclusion with a surprise from Csilla Nagy and boyfriend Oli, who bought two Chinese lamp balloons (or lampoons) for us to launch at dark. The first one was a big success (and it landed next to Rob's host's house), though the second was a dud.

Rob, Anna-Maria (Rob's hostess), Zoli, wife Magdika, and Maureen's host Istvan launching the lampoon.

Post by Maureen and Michael