On our way home

Well, we have had quite a week… with no time to update you before now.  Tomorrow we head back to Budapest on a 5am train … yikes!  It’s now midnight, and seems little poin in going to bed to get up in a few hours to leave so here I am!

When I last wrote we were on our way to Homok Gypsey village, and what an experience that was!  We drove up a loose stone road, with tiny little gypsey houses on either side… outside almost every house was a group of children waving at us.  We arrived at the church to find Pastor Joseph there to greet us.  Some of his worship team were practicing, and it was the most amazing sound!  The church is one that Grace built for them, and really is a lighthouse in this village.  Everywhere we looked were little children, covered in dirt, wearing dirty clothing that didn’t fit properly and reaching up to us for hugs, some as young as 2 years.  Parents nowhere to be seen.  Dogs wandered free and along the road we saw the skeleton of a dog that had obviously been there awhile, and I watched as one little boy picked it up and threw it across the field.

The whole team immediately began to interract with the children using our translators (although this was even hard as Ukrainian gypseys speak Hungarian!)  We picked them up and held them, played with them and took pictures of them that they could see.  They were so fascinated with our cameras!  One little boy, barely 2 years, was crying… big tears rolling down his cheeks… I tried to pick him up and hold him, but he wriggled away and wandered off to find his sister who was about 3.  The team really had so much fun with these children, and after a time we gathered them outside the church with some of the adults and parents, and danced outside so that more people might come and see and hear.  Pastor Joseph praised God as we danced, and we could hear him translating Storyteller for the group, praising God as he watched the story unfold.  When we were done dancing, Sean shared a little with them, and we asked if we could pray for any of them… one old man came forward and had a back problem, so we laid hands on him and prayed…by the time we were done most of our team were once again covered in kids!!!!  We had a hard time separating them so that we could walk to get our taxis… we walked all through the village as the taxi drivers won’t come into it.  Most of the group agreed this had been one of their favorite experiences so far.

The following morning we went to Dumboki orphanage.  We were greeted by Looba who I had the pleasure of entertaining at my home when she visited the US last year.  It was great to see all the kids again, some that we remembered and many new faces.  We danced for them in their gymnasium, and the basketball team did some drills and games and got the kids involved.  They totally loved that!!!  We were then treated to a show by the kids of break dancing tricks that they can do, and I think they put us all to shame!   Sean shared and told them who we were and why we came, and once again they were all so fascinated by our cameras - particularly my video camera!  After we were done they had to go back to class, so we ate cake with Looba before we left and were on our way again.

Tuesday afternoon we visited Pavlava children’s home.  This is run by a couple who live there and watch over the kids.  This is for older girls who have graduated from the orphanage and would be out on the street.  They work by farming the land, and providing food for themselves.  The house was donated to them for this purpose, and it really is beautiful.  As there were not many girls there, we didn’t dance for them although Ala (who we know from past visits) wanted us to, so we shared some ‘moves’ with her during our time.  We saw Vica, also known from past visits, and it was so good to see these girls looking so happy and healthy.

Volodya introduced me to the director, Maria (she and her husband run the home).  She began pouring her heart out to me through Oxana who translated.  After a time I asked to pray with her… this was a divine appointment - we spent quite a time in prayer as all the others left the room and allowed us to minister to this amazing lady.  She told me that many come to visit the children, but she is so hungry for God’s word and just to feel filled with Him.  I was able to share with her from some of the things the Lord had given us during our prayer time… it was one experience that will stand out to me, and I was so humbled by it.

We left on the bus to go to teach another dance workshop, this time to the team who ministered at the concert with us this evening.  This was a truly exhausting experience, as they were a team that practiced very often and very hard, and  needed no breaks and no water to drink!!!  After I taught them a couple of dances, we shared dinner together, and I learned that one girl there had travelled 27 hours on the train to come to the workshop and the concert  (I asked her several times if she really said 27!!!!)

Meanwhile the basketball team went to visit with Josef’s kids, where I know they had an amazing time of fellowship and basketball.  The kids that Josef houses are off the street, and he recently took in an 8 year old who had neither mother or father.  The basketball team has left basketballs and frisbys at almost every stop to bless the children.  I got to see Josef again after the concert this evening, he had brought some of the kids to the show, and I was thrilled to find out he has learned English since I last came (my Ukrainian is a bit rusty!!)

This morning the basketball team had a big tournament planned at a local gym.  We all went along as we were to dance a couple of hip hop pieces for half time in the hope of encouraging some of them to come to the concert tonight.  Our team did great, and some of the dance girls made up cheers for them as they played.

We left early to come and practice our 11 dances that we were doing for the show.  Volodya has been advertising this particularly to unbelievers, and we were using the theatre in the city center.  The place was packed out, and after some initial nerves we began to really enjoy ourselves.  Before we knew it we were done, and many girls I had met at the workshops that week came backstage to greet us.  One I formed a particular friendship with and will continue to pray for and communicate with.  The boys came back with roses in their teeth for us!!!  Crazy boys!  We gave the flowers to Mariana and Volodya’s wife Oxana as we can’t take them on the train.

I think I speak for us all when I say that this trip has far exceeded any expectations we could have had.  God has been so good and so faithful in so many ways.  Each and every team member has contributed so much and we are all so sad that it’s over so quickly (well, my sore body isn’t so sad right now!) James has been such a tonic for the team… he continuelly lifts our spirits and makes each and every one of us feel so special.  It was truly a blessing that he became our 3rd chaperone.  This team has had so much fun in the midst of so much ministry.  They have been busy every minute of every day practically… all with great joy.

Ok, I wrote a novel… sorry!  I’ll finish now.  We will be in Budapest tomorrow for one night, and then back to Boston Friday… just in time for Sean’s birthday on Saturday!  Happy Birthday Sean!!

Thanks to Content and Vicki for the comments, and we’ll see you all soon.

Blessings from us all  .. ps. we tried to upload pictures (we have 1000s) but this is an OLD RUSSIAN computer! need I say more!)