A few years back - found an artist named Simon Andras here in Hunary who does beautiful artwork - So on our resent trip there we went in search of some of his work and found a few. The one on the left is my most favorite and on the right are some of the ones we were able to get and a link to his website where you can explore more of his work.
December 27, 2007 - I am a person who loves Christmas – In fact some might say I take it to the extreme. I love the decorations and the food, the gatherings and giving of gifts – I have said Christmas is a hobby of mine as I love to collect things to use in decorating and for gifts to people all year long.
how would Christmas be in another country? How could I handle it? Well I chose to lower my expectations and just observe the season and share our traditions if it seemed appropriate. I was able to share American cookies with the our friends here and that was a great ice breaker. We love to surprise people with acts of kindness and small tokens of our appreciation. As so we had a great time of giving with out any expectation of anything in return.
In the past I have often come to the other side of Christmas a bit disappointed as my expectations where to high and never met. This year being in a new place with new people not know how Christmas was done meant watching and waiting and seeing how it all worked. I must say the season has come and gone and it was a real joy.
Our Virtual Christmas Gift Boxes helped a great number of kids and families (We are planning on doing it again next year). We were able to spend some time last week with our coworkers in Greece which was nice. Our coworkers, teacher, translator and driver here in Petrich, Peggy and Steffon (and kids) are fun to be with. Casey our youngest son was able to come for 3 weeks to visit during winter break in college which we treasured. So I would say it was a great Christmas filled with the reason for the season.
And now on to the new year!
September 3, 2007 - Happy Labor Day to all in the USA! Last week we went out with our contacts here in Pertrich to look for cars - we thought around Petrich but our friends took us about 1.5 hours north of here to a used car lot heaven. We went to 7-8 lots all right next to each other. Long story short we founda great car in our price range - bought it and brought it home all in the space of about 6 hours (that includes going and coming). It is a 2000 Ford Focus Wagon! It will haul what we need to haul and it will still be small enough to let us get good milage and around in tight places. Thanks for praying and helping!
We are getting down to the wire on summer and the need for our own car.
Our History
As part of our Start-up Costs, (before we came) we needed to raise funds for a vehicle. In order to get here FMWM adjusted our required funds allowing us to come with out all of our Vehicle funds in place. (We had about $4,000 out of the $14,000 we budgeted for). It was import that we arrive to cover for Longs while away. So we did this trusting God for the balance.
The Present
We are about to end our summer covering the Longs and begin to develop our own work in Bulgaria (all over Bulgaria not just one town). Our Missions Support Account – that which hold the funds designated for us was at a good level but has slipped a bit to cover monthly expenses so the amount available for our car fund is way down. (this happens as we know with vacations and travel some support has not come in regularly and timely.) Knowing that is fine but our mission board will only release the extra amount above a set minimal to cover one months expenses and so that means we have less than we need for our vehicle fund.
Our Options
1) We can wait a few months and not be able to do what we need to this fall and see if other funds come in.
2) We can get a vehicle that won’t meet the needs of the ministry but fits the budget and funds we have.
3) Or we can tell our partners about this opportunity and see how they respond.
WE vote for number 3! We know that funds were committed and pledged and are still to come in – the situations is that we need the funds by the end of August 2007. For that is when we will be asking for the transfer of funds to our bank Account here so we have the money to purchase a vehicle. Only the amount above the minimum balance will be forwarded to us. (Right now that is about $3500 not enough to get a used station wagon/small SUV for hauling people and stuff.)
So how can you help
1) Pray asking God to do meet this need.
2) Give if you feel led to help with this need and the easiest and fastest way is to do it only line – www.almellinger.com click on the “Donate” button (right side) follow the instructions and help us with our transportation needs. It fast, easy and safe!
We appreciate your prayers and what you already give. We wanted you to know where we are so that you can respond if God leads you to do so!
Please pray and ask others to pray as well about our transportation needs and let’s see how God Provides!
That is what missions life is like right now. Living in another country (or two) who function on a different value and time schedule. Who’s procedures and regulations don’t always work (neither do they in the states we are just use to them or have figured out how to get around them).
So here we are – no car – no VISA – no language skills – trying to function and figure out how to make this happen on our own (with the help of a few others we have met) on a time crunch now due to deadlines with people who aren’t concerned about the deadlines. I think things sometime get lost in the translation but we don’t know what is lost. So we are in the dark.
If we don’t get our VISA’s we could be denied entrance to where we live and work. If we don’t get a Residency Permit we can’t get a car which means we can’t get around.
What a way to begin our missionary careers and yet I bet if you ask most of the one serving they would have similar stories of working through the process to be where they are.
If it weren’t for the fact that we know God holds all things in His control and He can do what He wants I would be going crazy or maybe ballistic right about now. You see I have asked and emailed and done everything I was and am told to do and the rules keep changing or being clarified and the target keeps moving so that what we try and aim for isn’t there when we get the stuff together.
I am resting in Him for He knows what I need even before I ask. He know the plans He has for me and so I will wait (worry a little) and move on knowing He will work it out in His time!
Life out of (your) control is the only way to live. For then it is life in His Control!
July 29, 2007 - Today at church a couple came in a few minutes after the service started and found their seats. I have never seem them but I thought they might be friends of some of the English folks that are helping this summer.
Afterwards I went to great them and found out that they were Free Methodist from California – They were on a 5 week trip through Europe before she starts a new job/career in August. He is still in School but is also on staff part time while in College.
Come to find out we know there Pastor and his family and a few other people they know.
Now I want you to know that they really wanted to attend church as they took the train up from Athens on Saturday, and from an old website found near where the church was (as there was no address but) from the pictures. They found the street and guessed at which was our location. (Well Actually that happened but we know God brought them to us.)
We were tied up for the afternoon but met them in the evening and showed them around Thessaloniki and had some ice cream together. We are very happy to have met Jaymes and Erin Lackey.
If any of the rest of you are coming to Greece or Bulgaria you are welcome to come and you can call we love company and will give you good directions to find us!
July 13, 2007 – This week we got to meet 4 guys who are traveling around Europe this summer. They are actually friends of our 2 sons from SAU. One was Brad’s RA (Resident Assistant) a few years back and one was Casey’s RA this past year!
They are really nice and we got to speak English and have complete conversations with out having to wait for translation or rephrase so that they understand. (When you don’t know the language communications takes longer). It was nice and something we needed!
All the time when our sons were at home we would welcome guest and people coming through, so they knew we loved entertaining people so our oldest volunteered our place if they needed it to his buddies. That is fine we have the space and we love to meet new supporters.
They are traveling Europe for 2 months on a Eurorail train pass and so they have been to 12 countries so far! They are learning much and enjoying the different countries! The stories they have told and what they have done. (Makes me thing they are Missionary Material! - I will work on that as time goes on!)
If any of the rest of you are coming through Europe and need a place to stay or hang out – let us know if we are able to help we will! We love company!
May 5, 2007 - Walking is what we do if we want to get anything. We have to walk to get food, walk to shop, walk to get to the internet place. We have no car and so we walk. It is good as we are learning the city and the land marks - they don't really have street signs here and if they did they would be hard for us to read them. It is good excercise as well. We dpn't get as winded as we first did going up the inclines. Maybe I'll take so photos of the streets and post them in a future entry,
Over the next few months Diane and I will be traveling between Bulgaria and Greece and will be overseeing the Work in Greece while beginning to figure out what is happening in Greece.
One of the great challenges is that we don’t speak either language. Each has a different alphabet with some similar symbols and sounds and some very different. Here is one interesting example – In Bulgarian to say NO it is pronounced “HEH” But in Greek to say YES it is pronounced “NEH” Same sound, opposite meanings.
Plus since I am now trying to think in another language my mind goes to the few words that I know in Spanish, German, Hungarian and Chinese and I keep wanting to pop out with those words.
It will get better as time goes on and we will learn to get along and to function. Actually we function pretty well. So much of communication is nonverbal that we can get what we want need of the time. It is just strange that
The people for the most part don’t know what I am saying unless they speak one of these as well so they just think I am crazy.
Check back I am sure I will have more stores of verbal faux paws before the summer is done.
