Prayer Missions International Prayer Missions International - Guatemala Prayer Warriors - Trip Diary

Sunday and Home

Sun, 06 May 2012 01:07:54 EST

Well,this will probably be the last of the trip blogs, except to change a few pictures and include some closing thoughts when we get home.

Today was Sunday and we went to a Reformed Cnurch, a new church that was begun about ten years ago. It was a very nice service and the pastor was very engaging with all, even the children. It was a refreshing and encouraging service.

We left Emmy and Lois after church as they were traveling to Sarospatak where Emmy has to work tomorrow. Lois will stay around there for about a week and then head bck to Grand Rapids.

The rest of the afternoon was spent walking around Budapest, visiting a few souvenir stores and eating ice cream. Back to the hotel at a decent time. Dinner. Packing up and hopefully, a good nights sleep.

We are leaving our hotel at 6:30 a.m. and most will fly to Chicago and then to Grand Rapids. Rita flys to Chicago and then to Vancouver.

Thanks for following our trip and remembering us in prayer! We love you all! Over 900 "page view" since this blog about Eastern Europe started. Hopefully a lot of prayer for our brothers and sisters in these nations!

Blessngs, Jon DeBruyn

Romania Prayer Focus

Sat, 05 May 2012 02:51:59 EST

Our residence for our time in Targu Mures, Romania is Bod Peter, a diaconal school which had extensive guest facilities.

Our room for three of us at Bod Peter.

Here are a couple of pictures from our residence area of the Targu Mures. One is beautiful countryside, the other a not so great industry picture.

Our evening was meeting with Steve Michmerhuizen, grabbing a bite to eat and heading to bed. Morning was breakfast and devotions, led by Bev Becksvoort.

Praying for Bev.

Then we split up and four of us went to OMRO, an office for micro credit in Romania. There was a big group and ours was a small one, but pray we did! Those people who went to OMRU were very impressed and eager to lift them before the Lord.

The other half went to the YWAM base in Targu Mures. That was exciting too. There were about eight people who were all involved in varioius ministries in Targu Mures and surrounding communities to touch the community for Christ. We joined to gether in prayer and all prayed for each person and their situation. It was wonderful.

Then we gathered at the Christian Endeavor offices for an introduction to their multi-faceted mnistry. One of the biggest concerns we prayed for was the 500 youth that were meeting this weekend at a camp outside of Targu Mures. CE also provided a tour of their facilities, lunch for us all and then a tour at Dorcas House, an orphage they run. We joined together in prayer with them there too

The conclusion of the day was dinner at Steve and Jan Michmerhuizen, the CRWM staff person in Targu Mures. Their boys, Garret, Henry and Sam, were great to interact with and of course, we concluded our time with prayer for their family and ministry.

Today, this is being written on Saturday night, we traveled! Nine and a half hours in a bus!

So I hope you won't mind a few bus pictures. I guess I have to identify each one too. So here we go.

Lois is our picture taker, so we had to have her pose a bit!

Emmy Bolvari knows how to relax on a bus!

Csaba has been our driver for this Romanian section of the trip.

Ben Becksvoort

Dick Huibregtse

Rita Oudelaar

Brian Becksvoort

Ben Becksvoort

Jon DeBruyn

Angie Leedy

What we saw was God's wonderful creation and the beauty of Romania and Hungary. One mountain pass had a fresh coat of snow. Otherwise, it was green and lush, appearing to appreciate the drink of rain it has this past week.

This evening we had our closing dinner and debriefing together. Tomorrow we have breakfast, head off to church and then part with Lois and Emmy. Our afternoon will be some walking, sightseeing and shopping and back to Hotel Flandria for dinner and packing up. Flight is out early on Monday! thanks for your prayers!

A Travel Day

Thu, 03 May 2012 03:20:51 EST

One of the things different about this prayer mission trip has been the amount of traveling we have had to do between missionaries. Today is a good example. We traveled from Sarospatak in Hungary to Targu Mures in Romania. While the trip was nice through some beautiful mountains, it took us all day!

But before we left we had breakfast and devotions. Julia, who flew out of Budapest this morning, was supposed to have devotions this morning. So we moved up Brian and then prayed for him today too. As a special blessing for Brian, Daniel Szabo stopped by to bid us farewell and he led off our prayer time for Brian. It was special.

Then it was off to the bus and on the road.

I haven't said much about weather but it has been absolutely beautiful. Most days it has been sunny and warm, reaching into the mid-80s with wonderfully calm days. We began to be concerned about all the crops planted in the fields but today we had some rain! In fact, it rained most of our trip to Romania. So I have only one picture of the countryside.

This is a field of what we think is rapeseed or canola oil plants. Beautiful yellow. This was obviously early morning as the rain came just about lunch time and just a ways over into the Romanian nation.

Anyway, we made it to Steve and Jan Michmerhuizen in Targu Mures! Not early enough to meet the family but Steve directed us to a restaurant and we had a pleasant meal together.

Here we are at the restaurant. Took two tables. Steve is at the other one. I will get a better picture tomorrow.

Off to bed! Amazing how a day doing nothing can tire you out!

Thanks for your prayers!

Frank Sawyer and the Sarospatak School

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:48:49 EST

We began this morning with the difficult news that one of our team, Julia Nagy, is going to return home today. Her granddaughter is gravely ill in the hospital and her daughter and family need her there. So Julia left later in the day. But during our morning prayer time, we gathered around Julia and asked the Lord to bless her and keep her on her journey forward.

Then, after breakfast, devotions and our prayer for Julia, it was back on the bus. First goal of the day: find some money. The bus company doesn't take a credit card or a check, so ATM machines, here we come. However, ATM have a limit that can be taken out in one day and the bus bill, for 10 days and countless kilometers, is no small thing! But with a little creative thinking, we managed to do quite well.

Then it was off to Sarospatak Theological School and libary where Frank Sawyer teaches. The theological school and library has been in existence since 1531 and presently the library holds over 600,000 volumes. It was closed during the communist years for forty years from 1951 to 1991. But now things are going forward well.

Frank set up our day and we began with a conversation with him, a video about the Reformed Church of Hungary, a couple of musical selections performed by students and faculty and then a tour of the library and museum.

Lunch was at the school cafeteria and then we were back on the bus for a bit of touring. First stop was the ceramic factory where we had a tour and then had a moving time of praye with the two ladies in charge there.

Next stop, the porcelin factory in Hollohazi, somewhat northwest of town, almost at the Czech Republic border. It was a delightful ride.

Back to our inn for dinner Sawyer. After a time of prayer for them, we were done for the day.

Frank Sawyer, Rita Oudelaar and Aria Sawyer. Old friends from earlier days in Canada.

It is an early day tomorrow as we have a ten hour trip to Targu Mures in Romania. We will spend some time on the bus sharing our testimonies and praying for the nations.

May Day Celebration

Wed, 02 May 2012 01:25:18 EST

It's May Day, an European wide holiday. Of course it was celebrated in Sarospatak, Hungary where we are spending three nights.

Our day began with breakfast and devotions.

Then we were off to visit the local castle, one built in the 1400-1500s. It was a wonderful castle but we couldn't take any pictures inside. So we do have a few pics of the outside and of course the view from the top of the surrounding countryside was absolutely stunning. Pictures can't do it much justice, in my opinion.

Following our castle time, we had the opportunity to meet Martin and Ibolya Robb, who has been working for some time as Daniel Szabo's assistant. He has been active as well with supporting teachers and pastors who are connecting with the Hungarian Reformed Church.

We met them as we had lunch at Emmy's house in Sarospatak. Emmy is Lois' friend who has accompanied us on the trip and did a great deal of preparatory work before we arrived.

Then we had a bit of free time to walk around Sarospatak and see the May Day celebrations. Trouble was, by the time we got out and about, most of the May Day celebration was done!

We had a great evening meal at our inn and had an early night because we were getting up earlier in the morning to go about our day with Frank Sawyer.

Good Night!

Return to Hungary

Tue, 01 May 2012 02:37:12 EST

Monday and a new day the Lord has given us! We rejoice in it.

Angie led our devotions this morning and then it was off into the bus for an early departure so we could perhaps do better at the Ukraine/Hungary border. We did do better, but the border was very crowded. At any rate, it was good to be back in Hungary and headed toward Sarospatak.

We arrived just about lunch time and we had a wonderful guest join us for lunch, Daniel Szabo. Daniel is a Hungarian Reformed Pastor who is 80 years old and as such lived through WWII and the communist era in Hungary. He was imprisoned but has come through all that with a marvelous testimony of God's grace and love. He spent some time sharing with us and then we spent a while praying for him.

From their we went to our Pension (lodging) for the next couple of nights. We have a great place overlooking the river and the castle.

After a short rest time in our rooms, we headed out to a cellar wine tasting experience. The Tolcsva region around Sarospatak is a special microclimate which also develops a special wine when conditions are right. So we entered a wine cellar and shared some wonderful wines together.

The cellar is covered with mold that is unique to the room only when wine is stored there. So it was a dark and moisty place!

Lois Craven's friends also shared with us a typical Hungarian cookout of sausage and fat roasted over a fire. The drippings are put on bread and then with some added vegtables, all is eaten.

Then after a wonderful time of prayer for the host family we headed back to our pension. There we had a time of prayer with our bus driver Feri. It was the last time he would be driving us. Off to bed!

Sunday worship and prayer

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 03:27:39 EST

Sunday morning began with a great breakfast, devotions and preparation for church.

Sunday school began at 10. Three different classes we visited, a school age class, a pre-school class and an adult class. Andrea, Pastor Robert's wife and Luda led the class for the school age kids.

Then worship services began and Pastor Jon brought message on prayer.

We had a delightful lunch at a restaurant by the river.Then we traveled to George and Sartah de Vuyat' to pray for them and for Jodi Vander Heiden a long term volunteer here in Ukraine.

After praying for some time with them, we ventured off to viait the Castle, a castle built in the 1400s. The rest of the pictures here are from the castle or pictures of the castle.

After dinner, Julia shared with us her story of moving from Hungary as a child.

Then we headed off the corner cafe (which was closed) to use their wireless (which was on). While we were there, some folks from the Baptist came by and told us there was wireless at the church! So this is being finished there.

Thanks for your prayers!

A Day of travel and Ukraine Church

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 02:29:07 EST

We left Hotel Flandria and Budapest on Saturday morning, heading out on our bus to Mukachavo, Ukraine.

We traveled through some most beautiful countryside! It was, to me, surpisingly flat and surprisingly rich soil. As we moved into Ukraine, we had many more fruit trees. It was a very pleasant trip.

When we arrived at Mukachevo, we met with Pastor Robert and Luda and Val who were elders at the Mukachevo Christian Reformed Church. We talked a lot about the nature of ministry here in Ukraine and the special challenges that they face. Of course we were privileged to pray for them.

The Mukachevo church meets on the second floor.

Pastor Robert, Val and Luda

We also had an opportunity to pray for their new property. It is small and the cost is huge, but they have great plans. First a temporary tent like setting and then, as the Lord provides, a building that will seat about 150.

Chow time happens regularly of course. But in Ukraine, we have been especially blessed with wonderful Ukrainian food. You can see the seriousness of our eating here.

It was time to head to bed at our Baptist Church guest house. We had a good nights sleep and we were ready for Sunday. Thanks for your prayers!

Understanding Hungary a Bit Better

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:52:18 EST

We began this morning with breakfast, then a time of devotions and orientation to prayer ministry. We had a good beginning.

Our first call of the morning was to the Christian school where Andrea Meszaros works. Andrea is the Librarian at the Budapest International Christian School. It is a beautiful school building and it was also a very positive Christian atmoshphere. There were eighty on the staff of the school and all had to raise their own financial support. The only paid personnel where several Hungarian workers.

After a tour of the school, and a time of prayer walking and several other prayer times, we went for a Hungarian lunch at a Mediterranean restaurant! Then we headed back to the library for a time of prayer with Andrea.

Prayer in the Christian School chapel.

Prayer for Andrea in the Library. Sorry I don't have a better pictur of Andrea! Maybe I will be able to get one from one of the other team members.

After our time with Andrea, we headed to the Terror Museum. Sorry, but pictures were not allowed in this significant place. But what an emotional experience to begin to see what Hungary and many of the population had to endure in the years of world war and the years of terror under the communists. It was indeed a horrific period of history.

Dinner was in a nice restaurant and we headed to the Buda side of the river and a walk through the castle area. Home was next, A bit of time on the computer and writing and then a good nights sleep.

Saturday is a travel day to Ukraine and George and Sarah deVuyst. We will spend Sunday there.

Thanks for remembering us in prayer!

Beginning Together

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:50:07 EST

WE made it to Hungary! It was not a completely uneventful trip but overall went quite well.

Rita traveled from Vancouver and was a half hour late getting into Newark. We would have been more concerned but our flight out of Newark was also scheduled a half hour late, Then we ended up much later than that! So that led to a rush in Frankfort to be able to get out plane to Budapest. They had a special bus for us and we were whisked through passport control and the plane was waiting on the tarmack for us and a few others.

This is our team in the airport at Newark, our first picture together.

We, from the left, me, Dick Huibregtse, Julia Nagy, Brian Becksvoort, Bev Becksvoot, Rita Oudelaar, Ben Becksvoort behind Rita, Angie Leedy, Lois Craven and Emmy (Lois's friend and assistant from Hungary.

When we got into Budapest, we went to our hotel and then off to view and pray for the nation. Our stop was the parliament building. We had a wonderful tour and had a great opportunity to pray for the government and the nation of Hungary. Here are a few pictures from our tour.

This is the main building from the outside/front of the building. There are two wings off each side as well. Here is a picture of a model made out of matchsticks!

Our most important prayer time was in the legislative area.

The guide also took us into the room for all state dinners.

And then he led us out onto a balcony overlooking the Danube, a view very few people get!

From the tour we ventured to Jack and Cindy Ippels for dinner. I didn't get a picture of us all eating in their living room, but we filled it to the max! We also had a great time of prayer with them after dinner.

We had to get home early because of our bus driver and his work regulations, But we were all ready to go because it had been many hours since we slept.