A Day of Worship-

June 1-

One lesson the Lord has been teaching me during our travels is the value of fellowship and  encouragement from fellow believers in my own life.  I have sorely missed congregational worship and the study of Scripture and prayer time with my small group of sisters in Christ.  (I, of course, have missed all my family and friends but am speaking specifically about worship here.)

On this Sunday we had the wonderful blessing of worshipping at Danube International Church and being taught by Ronnie Stevens who pastored in Memphis before returning to Eastern Europe about 10 years ago.  This was the first opportunity for our family to gather together with fellow followers of Jesus Christ to praise and glorify Him since Easter and it was truly balm for our souls.

Much longed for congressional worship time!

After the church services with the Gresz family we headed about 40km north of Budapest to the little  town of Visegrad-

Visegrad Castle & Fortress-
dating back to the 11th century but best known as King Matthias' summer palace

Another beautiful vista of the Danube from atop the castle grounds

The green hills of the valley surrounding the castle

Just as in Tihany...fun can be found anywhere, even in a parking lot!

Just enough time before dinner to have some fun on a Alpine Slide!!

 Ending a full day with a full meal- fantastic!

The Hungarian Sea-

May 31-

On this Saturday morning Gabor & Edina drove us about an hour south of Budapest to the beautiful Lake Balaton. We had some time on the water and visited Siofok, the town where Gabor spent his early childhood.  We also visited another town across the lake & high on the hill that gave us a spectacular view of the whole area.
The lake itself, the largest in Central Europe, sits between lush green land and is a beautiful clear aqua color which lends itself to a more tropical feel rather than a freshwater lake. Apart from the ferry and a few tourist "cruise boats" the lake is motorboat free   In land locked Hungary it is affectionately known as the Hungarian Sea.  After WWII it was a popular holiday destination allowed for East Germans offering the only opportunity for them to meet up with their family and friends from West Germany.

We were sure glad to share our time at Lake Balaton with friends!!

Boat cruise around the lake

Missing Renato who was at home studying for exams-

One of the many meals shared between friends

Between towns we stopped for an adventure in the sky for the boys!

Gear up!

All that hard work requires refreshment!

Ferry to the other side of the lake to the town of Tihany-
a small town founded in the 9th century & still known for its
"echo" & lavendar

Fun found around every corner

Beautiful vista 

Beautiful girls

A great day for flying a kite

Under and Over the Hill-

May 30-

The majority of our first day was spent on the east side of the Danube so today we stayed west & explored the hills, namely Castle hill & Gellert hill.

Matthias Church gothic exterior

Matthias Church interior with King Matthias'
gilded frescoed coat of arms "protected" by the
infamous Black Army

The Royal Palace
(this photo is actually taken from across the river
but it gives the best  view of the whole structure
so I included it here)

Hospital in the Rock-
a "secret" emergency surgical hospital built in 1939 into
the existing the cave system in the hills.
Originally designed for 200 patients it held over triple that during WWII.
In the 50s & 60's until 1990 was kept up as a potential nuclear bomb shelter.

Museum of Military History entrance

Gabor joined us at the Miliary Museum & shared the story
of his uncle's survival of 11yrs in a Soviet labor camp

View from Gellert Hill
which takes it name from a monk from Venice
who was martyred in the year 1000

Liberty Monument (renamed from the original Liberation Monument)-
Was originally dedicated to Soviet soldiers in 1945 & had another statue of
 a giant soldier holding a Soviet flag at its base.
Now with the soldier removed, it commemorates all those who gave their lives for
the independence & freedom of Hungary   

The Cross which symbolizes our true freedom in Christ-
atop the hill overlooking Freedom bridge

Down the hill & across the bridge to Market Hall

Inside the Market Hall for a quick bite of dinner

Hungarian Langos-
a new favorite food but a weak second to Gresz Chicken Paprikash

Meeting up with our friends at the park

The new "Three Muskateers"-

First Taste of Hungary-

May 29-

When we think of Hungary the most recent history of the country under communist rule seems to come to mind, but the country's history begins more than 2000 years ago with a Roman settlement. In the 9th century the Magyars (MUD-jars) a group of nomadic tribes arrived & about 100 years later the Kingdom of Hungary was officially founded. Since that time, it has been a country that has had to reinvent itself many times.

In the 15th century under the rule of King Matthias it was the first european country to adopt the ideas of the Renaissance from Italy. In the 16th century it was taken over by the Ottomans.  In the 17th century it was taken from the Turks by the Habsburg monarchy of the Austrian Empire. In the 19th century, the Hungarians fought for their independence and in 1867 regained their sovereignty. They shared a dual monarchy & the city of Budapest became the twin capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
This "Golden Age" was not to last long for Austria-Hungary was defeated in WWI & Hungary lost over two-thirds of its territory.  It is this loss of political, economic and social power that put Hungary in a vulnerable position for fascist forces in WWII.  The loss in WWII left Budapest in ruins and  the country in the communist hands of the Soviet Union.  The Hungarians rallied again for independence in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution but remained under a softer, "goulash communism"  until the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989.

I read somewhere that Hungary is like a "rising Phoenix out of the ashes of communism"...
I could not say it better & pray that it remains so.

Gabor met us early on our first morning and we set out on foot to explore his city.

At the Fisherman's Baston overlooking the Danube
and the "Pest" side of the city

Changing of the guards at Sandor Palace, the President's residence

Gabor & the boys on the Siklo (SHEE-kloh)-
the funicular train 

 Ride down the hill to the Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge-
first bridge to link the Buda & Pest sides to form one city

We rode this ferris wheel to take in
a bird's-eye view of the city

St. Istvan's Basilica-
Budapest's largest church & home to the relic of St. Stephan's fist 

A Hungarian lunch just like Gabor grew up eating

Heros' Square-
built in 1896 to commemorate Hungary's 1,000th anniversary

The Great Synagogue-
 largest synagogue in Europe, built in 1859 

Tree of Life-
as a tribute to Hungarian Holocaust victims  

A father teaching his sons about a terrible tragedy

Dinner with the whole Gresz family-
the highlight of our day!