A walk through a village or two.

Y'all know I'm in Hungary, but let me show you around a bit.

Grandma with the Hungarian flag.

Welcome to my home town in Hungary!  Shall we take a walk?

As you walk the outside of the village this is what you see.  A lot of farm lands.

Dirt roads are common.  To the left you can see a bit of wall that belongs to the castle (We'll do a tour of that another day).

 

A home.  the directors to be exact but it's a common village home.  Just like the in the states there are amazing homes, average homes, and run down homes.  This is an average looking home.

Catholicism is the the national religion.


Notice the pool signs & the camping signs. 
Funny how these were here before a restaurant, ATM, and still no gas station.

Welcome to the sweet shop or the Cukraszda:

Not from the Cukraszda, even better made by a friend.  One of my favorites.  I just had to show it to you all.

And now leaving my village. 

But we're heading to a bigger one two villages over.

 

 

Welcome to Nagykata.

 

The sign for Penny market is hiding behind the tree, but this is a real grocery store.  While Toalmas has plenty of small stores that carry just about everything this is a true grocery store.

There are two gas stations here.

Remember my szalonna friend, well she also has a talent of sharpening knives in the back of a car while at a gas station.

The library.

Welcome to my favorite restaurant in Nagykata.

A traditional reformed church:

 

 

Thanks for the walk.  I hope you enjoyed it.

Szalonna

This girl she knows my tastes and I know her shoe style so it's a win win for both of us.

One of my favorite foods here is szalonna.  Here's how you make it:
1. build a fire.

2. Pray the fire actually starts as you use your last match.
3. Cut up the Szalonna as seen below.

...Yes that is just fat...
3. Roast over the fire.

4.  You want the fat to be hard like but you do not want it to be black.
5.  Do not follow my example (especially using a piece I already burnt to pose for a picture of it being roasted over the fire.)

6.  Aside from not burning it the most important rule is this one.  As the grease begins to drip off in the fire let the drippings fall onto a piece of bread instead.  This gives your meal extra flavor and uses all the fat rather then letting some of that deliciousness go to waste.

7.  Cut up some onion to go with this meal.  Sit with good friends and enjoy!

Lucky for me I was served this meal twice while visiting.  Ah so good (but not a normal everyday meal.)

Things my boys would enjoy

Mushrooms are every where right?

That is except for this kind:

This is where the sport equipment is kept for the campers.

What I call love bugs.

Mainly because 99% of the time they are mating.

Then there's this guy:

No this guy doesn't just wander around Hungary, he's a pet.

And there's this lady dog.  These NINE puppies are maybe two hours old.

I shut off the flash so she wouldn't get stressed.  I figured she's been through enough for one day.

So tiny, but beautiful just like there Momma.

My calling

Here I am home in many ways. 
To see friends that are really family. 
To walk through the castle again. 
To hear the echo of voices and footstep from the other side. 
To smell the smoke mixed with nature. 
To have my lists. 
Home. 
It is good. 

Just in the short time I've been back I can feel the excitement of work running through my veins.  The anticipation of working with new people, Remember my passion for teaching the heart of serving while also passing on life skills, and presenting a better environment for not only them but the staff but thousands of guest who pass the doors each year.  It energizes me.

This was my calling.  Once I thought I would be here for the rest of my days.  I fought hard to stay true to this place and I mourned deeply for years after I left.  I struggled to see where calling fit into cooking and diapers.  I knew I was made for something big, something like Hungary.

As I sit here helping and watching and discussing I realize that this my calling has changed.  While I am energized and still all these years later passionate about this place and the work I did.  I am not satisfied.

By being here I am even more convinced that my calling is to teach and grow others in who Jesus wants them to be. To continue passing on life skills but at a more intimate way.  To open my house showing singles what a godly family looks like.  Walking through hard times and joys together.  This is my calling.  This is my passion.  This is my calling.