Thursday, March 21, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
SNOWY TAPOLCA THIS WEEKEND!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Yum!
MONDAY, FEB.18
We had a wonderful time with our Monday night Bible Study group of Ildiko, Szilvi and Paul. The two ladies also brought some wonderful gifts: home grown honey, and home-grown and canned lecsa, a delicious mixture of onions, tomatoes and peppers (looks a bit like salsa). You heat the lecsa and stir in eggs to scramble it and presto, a yummy late dinner!
We had a wonderful time with our Monday night Bible Study group of Ildiko, Szilvi and Paul. The two ladies also brought some wonderful gifts: home grown honey, and home-grown and canned lecsa, a delicious mixture of onions, tomatoes and peppers (looks a bit like salsa). You heat the lecsa and stir in eggs to scramble it and presto, a yummy late dinner!
TUESDAY, FEB.19 COOKING CONUNDRUM!
Cooking is always an adventure! You never know which of the 4 gas stove elements will work! Yesterday only 1 worked, then today Dave got 2 to work, but at least the oven is always reliable (now that I know exactly where to have the dial). The 6 teens in our afternoon English Club loved the chocolate muffins!
While we teach the teens, Shaun and Sondi have about dozen children they teach English to in the former pub, attached to our apartment.
Half an hour after the teens left, Dave had a wonderful evening study with our friend Karchi.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20 CULINARY CREATIVITY
The chefs and waiters class where we spoke invited us to be part of their yearly competition among themselves to see who will be promoted to a higher level in their in-school training. It was a real privilege to be one of the few people to be at the lunch, part of the competition! It was an extravaganza of culinary creativity the likes of which you would see in the most expensive and upscale restaurants anywhere! They have a magnificent kitchen to work in and master chefs who teach them, and this is in a secondary school!!
Our personal waiter was Ildiko
and our personal chef was Alexandra
While Dave and I ate at our private table, judges were walking around, judging the waiters on everything from pouring drinks to explaining the meal (English was difficult for Ildiko), and how we responded to what she did! The food was done to absolute perfection!
After lunch we took our first solo bus trip out to Shaun and Sondi's and from there went to Monistoripati for the children's English Club. Today I told the Bible story of Jonah. The kids were a bit more squirmy today, but loved the pictures, and their hands kept shooting up because they thought of so many questions about the story so they were obviously paying attention.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
CONNECTING WITH FRIENDS AND MAKING NEW ONES
It was the nicest day weatherwise that we have had, so we decided to walk about town. We were out for 3 hours but enjoyed the sunshine so much!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Getting in the Swing of It!
We woke up to more blowing snow and icy sidewalks, but arrived safely at the high school in time for the 8:45 a.m. class. Actually two classes combined, so we had 40 students. We did a DVD of the geography of Canada, so the kids seemed to enjoy it.
At 4 p.m. kids came to our apartment for Teen English Club while Shaun and Sondi had their children's group in the former pub which is attached to our apartment. Our teens are very motivated, plus they love the baking, and even though my cookies were a little hard due to oven conditions, the kids had no trouble downing them. : )
The teens left at 5:30 p.m. and then one man arrived 6:00 for his Bible Study with Dave. He is so eager to learn about the Bible that he didn't want to quit at 7:30, so they went until about 8:15!
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 13
I spent the morning baking and preparing for tomorrow and then at 2:30 we met Shaun at the bus loop for our first lesson in taking the bus to their place. It was freezing cold and snow was blowing. Before the bus gets to the village where Carlaws live, we have to go down another road to a nearby village. We were 2-3 km. down the road when the bus stopped due to a blockage in the road. Two trucks had slid partway off the road due to drifting blowing snow. After the bus driver investigated, he came back and backed the bus up the whole way to the junction!
We arrived a little late at the village of Monistoripati for the Kids English Club and found our usual group of excited kids waiting for us. Shaun teaches one level and Sondi helps me with translation in my group. A few kids couldn't come because of the bad weather. The kids were so attentive to my Bible Story about Elijah and Mt. Carmel. I am doing an "Amazing Wonders" series of stories. Amazingly, one girl even remembered my story from last week! (the Red Sea crossing)
THURSDAY, Feb. 14 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!
After spending the morning cleaning and preparing for tonight's anticipated crowd, Dave and I went across the street to an Italian restaurant to share a Valentine's lunch out. Then Sondi came and we prepared 20 packages of chocolate chip and sugar cookies plus a chocolate Loonie for each student coming tonight. They were tied with curly ribbon and a lovely painted bookmark which my sister made. Unfortunately winter conditions prevented students who come from surrounding villages from being there for class, but we had a great time with the 10 or 11 who were able to come.
Monday, February 11, 2013
NATURAL WONDER IN TAPOLCA!
Saturday lunch at a new pizzeria was a special time with our dear translator, Magdolna, and her two nieces, Dorka and Gina, from another town.
Then Dave and I decided to explore the nearby natural phenomenon called the Lake Cave, discovered in 1942 when someone was drilling for a well and found this massive cave under the streets and houses of Tapolca! It is in the centre of the city, about a 15 minute walk from our place.
First we went down 72 stairs until we came to a water basin in this large cave. Then we got into a rowboat and wound our way through a maze of tunnels and caves, which the brochure called "torturous"! Dave was the "captain" and had the oars while I was the photographer. The water was about 18 ', and so pristine and clear. It was absolutely amazing!!
Sometimes our heads would have banged against the top of the cave if we had not ducked, but other times the passage was so narrow we had to push ourselves along with our hands. It was so peaceful and serene, and not a sound was to be heard except for our talking. On a summer day, about 1,000 people come through, but Dave and I were the only ones there at that time! It took about 15 minutes to circle around the waterway. God has created such awesome beauty everywhere, even underneath the city of Tapolca!
Sunday was another great day as we went to the church in Veszprem, about an hour away, with the Carlaws. The church is held in a cultural centre there. About 25 teens and adults plus about 10 young children were present. As you can see by the picture, there are mostly young couples. We were definitely the oldest people there, but were warmly welcomed and had lots of chances to talk to people after the service. Someone sat behind us and translated the sermon. In the afternoon we had our regular "staff" prayer time for the ministry in Tapolca.
A highlight of the weekend was our first Skyping with two sets of kids and grandkids, plus Toby the dog who was greatly excited to see us and rushed upstairs to the front door! : ) We couldn't contact Dave and Jen in the Philippines due to Skyping problems, but wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEN!!
Monday, today, I had a 3 hour project baking the cookies for the Bible Study tonight and teens tomorrow. It takes so long because you can only bake 6 cookies at a time due to the tiny size of the oven. We had the same two ladies for the study tonight, plus a retired teacher who was here last Thursday, so that was very encouraging as it was his first time at a Bible Study.
Thank you for your many encouraging emails and especially for your prayers. Tomorrow we leave home at 8:10 a.m. to walk 30 minutes to the high school for another Canada presentation. Please pray for safety as the sidewalks and roads have many icy spots in these winter conditions.
 |
| Magdolna, Dorka, Gina |
Then Dave and I decided to explore the nearby natural phenomenon called the Lake Cave, discovered in 1942 when someone was drilling for a well and found this massive cave under the streets and houses of Tapolca! It is in the centre of the city, about a 15 minute walk from our place.
 |
| Cave under Tapolca city streets |
First we went down 72 stairs until we came to a water basin in this large cave. Then we got into a rowboat and wound our way through a maze of tunnels and caves, which the brochure called "torturous"! Dave was the "captain" and had the oars while I was the photographer. The water was about 18 ', and so pristine and clear. It was absolutely amazing!!
 |
| Lake Cave at Tapolca |
 |
| rowing in Lake Cave |
Sometimes our heads would have banged against the top of the cave if we had not ducked, but other times the passage was so narrow we had to push ourselves along with our hands. It was so peaceful and serene, and not a sound was to be heard except for our talking. On a summer day, about 1,000 people come through, but Dave and I were the only ones there at that time! It took about 15 minutes to circle around the waterway. God has created such awesome beauty everywhere, even underneath the city of Tapolca!
Sunday was another great day as we went to the church in Veszprem, about an hour away, with the Carlaws. The church is held in a cultural centre there. About 25 teens and adults plus about 10 young children were present. As you can see by the picture, there are mostly young couples. We were definitely the oldest people there, but were warmly welcomed and had lots of chances to talk to people after the service. Someone sat behind us and translated the sermon. In the afternoon we had our regular "staff" prayer time for the ministry in Tapolca.
 |
| church at Veszprem |
A highlight of the weekend was our first Skyping with two sets of kids and grandkids, plus Toby the dog who was greatly excited to see us and rushed upstairs to the front door! : ) We couldn't contact Dave and Jen in the Philippines due to Skyping problems, but wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEN!!
Monday, today, I had a 3 hour project baking the cookies for the Bible Study tonight and teens tomorrow. It takes so long because you can only bake 6 cookies at a time due to the tiny size of the oven. We had the same two ladies for the study tonight, plus a retired teacher who was here last Thursday, so that was very encouraging as it was his first time at a Bible Study.
Thank you for your many encouraging emails and especially for your prayers. Tomorrow we leave home at 8:10 a.m. to walk 30 minutes to the high school for another Canada presentation. Please pray for safety as the sidewalks and roads have many icy spots in these winter conditions.
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