October 9, 2007

Dear Friends in Jesus Christ:

Aldas Bekeseeg!

Greetings to you all from Budapest, Hungary, in the love of our Lord Jesus! This summer was really hot, but we are fine and healthy due to your support and prayers.
 
Our Roma friends are all well, except Klara, who passed away. Other Roma friends are all well in Hosszupalyi and Debrecen. Jonas is studying hard in Reformed College. God blesses Roma youngsters with newborn babies. Marika (20 years old) just has her third child; Maria, 15, Angela, 15, and Janos, 19, have had their first child. Marika, Maria, Angela, and Janos were the students whom you prayed for and supported.

In Roma culture, people get married at an early age and have as many children as possible.  Since they must support their families, it is not possible for them to continue to study. We can’t force them to study, of course, yet we hope and pray that they will bring up their children while not only preserving their own culture, but also overcoming their culture, by the way of our Lord, Jesus.

We ask your prayers especially for the Roma in Debrecen. As you know, they live on the site of a deserted brick factory. The owner of the property is the municipal government of Debrecen. The municipal court of Debrecen ordered the Roma to leave. With many helping hands from friends and organizations and God’s help, the court of Debrecen reversed their decision and allowed the Roma to stay at the present site. The court also ordered the place to be renovated for human habitation, including installing windows, bathrooms, water, gas, and electricity for 17 families.

Thank God that you have already sent funds through PC(USA)’s Self-Development of People program for repairing their houses. Presbyterian friends of the Presbyterian Church of the Republic of Korea sent offerings for that purpose too. But the state of repairs is a little unclear. Karolina Kosa wrote us about the matter. “Thanks to all and to divine help,” she writes. “Now we are working with the office of the architect to obtain all paperwork necessary to submit a remodeling plan for a building permit.

“The stumbling block (again) is the lack of approval by the municipal government to let us do anything on their property. They don’t say yes and they don’t say no.”

Although the Roma in Debrecen have many problems and difficulties, their faith in God is stable as rock. They planned two summer camps, as they did last year, one led by Karolina Kosa and the other by Irene Buzsas. We participated in the second one along with 15 Korean-German college students who are studying music in Germany.

The second camp was vacation Bible school with children’s parents. It was held in the last week in July at our newly renovated Roma center in Debrecen. Tom Whitton, with two friends from Vienna Presbyterian Church in Virginia, came all the way from the States. They brought lots of materials—along with their love for the Roma—and provided lessons for the volunteer teachers. Tom is a marvelous teller of Bible stories.

The Roma love children, and they love to celebrate with music. The camp was full of art activities, full of music, joy, and laughter. The sounds of violin, guitar, flute, and keyboard made our singing and praising God richer in God’s love. Some youngsters are motivated to take music lessons on guitar and keyboard. The Korean-German students brought the instruments and left them for the Roma faith community. The Roma still remember their love for them. Kristian is taking guitar lessons. We are looking forward to singing with Kristian’s guitar.

Bishop Gusztav, the Reverend Vad Zsigmond, and Irene decided to have a dedication service and celebration of the Roma center in Debrecen. As you know, the center was renovated by your prayers and your loving support of the Roma. You will be all welcome at the celebration next spring.

Thank you again! God bless you!

In Jesus’ love

Stephen and Kaeja

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 180