The first bus excursion….
The main goal of this outreach was to collect and deliver aid (food and clothing) to those who need it. On our way to Kiskunmayas we stopped at two warehouses FILLED with supplies from all around the world for the poor and homeless here in Hungary. The stuff we filled the bus with was mostly from Switzerland. The owner of the warehouse enjoyed that we spoke English and was EXTRA generous… he gave our team a box of delicious swiss chocolate to enjoy on the bus. We continued on our journey and met a missionary/ pastor who arranged and led our outreach. He brought us to our homestays…. The girls in one place and boys in another. Kiskunmmayas is a town of about 10,000 people. It has one of the highest suicide rates in Hungary, and recently there has been a significant increase in substance/ drug abuse. Only days before we arrived there was a HUGE drug raid in the neighborhood we were in.
During the weekend, one of the most meaningful times was when we went to visit a couple families’ homes to pray with them and encourage them, here is a bit of my journal entry regarding the time spent at the families’ homes:
“Today was quite humbling… the first family’s home we went to had severe health issues… with little/ no medical assistance, and lived in poverty. Their dedication and commitment to relying on God despite their circumstances was contagious. Their testimonies and the intimate time we shared with them in prayer brought me to tears on more than one occasion. It kicked my butt in realizing how self-centered I really am. It felt surreal…. like something I read about other missionaries doing, but there I was, sitting in this family’s living room crying with them. I felt so inadequate, but continued to be reminded of HIS truth, in which He proclaims,
“”Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.” –Luke 6:20-21
It was crazy. This family was REALLY poor; this family was REALLY hungry, and because of their faith, this family BELIEVED the words Jesus spoke at the Sermon on the Mount. This family told us about real miracles they’ve seen that sound like miracles right out of the book of Matthew (food multiplying… not fish and bread [Matthew 14:13-21], but flour for pancakes; seeing epilepsy healed (Matthew 17:14-16; food appearing on their doorstep after praying, etc.).
The second family was a widowed grandmother raising 6 grandchildren on her own after the children’s parents died or left them in an orphanage. For a family of 7 they live off less money than I receive from OM as my monthly stipend. They lived on a farm in the middle of nowhere, with NOTHING to their name, and they presented us with 2 plates of sandwiches, a basket of fruit, biscuits, cookies, and drinks. I can’t even imagine what it cost them, or what they sacrificed to offer this gift of hospitality to us. It actually made me nauseous to think they spent their money on us. It was convicting to think of all the material goods we Americans possess and are unwilling to share, when this family was willing to literally give all they had to make us feel welcomed…
At the town center, we gave away clothing and some food. It was eye opening to see the desperation/ eagerness of the local Roma (gypsies) and other Hungarians. I don’t even have to explain the enthusiasm for the goods we were providing… see for yourself in the video below.
