Merry Christmas 2008

Christmas in the USA is different from our celebration in Hungary. There is more commercialism, more of a frenzy to buy gifts, more light displays, and more products with Christmas themes. There are similarities too. Family time, good food, best wishes, and beautiful music, to name a few. We enjoy celebrating in either culture.

Our family thanks you for your support in 2008 and look forward to great things in 2009.
Blessed New Year!

Christmas Miracle!

My sister, brother, and I agree we have our Christmas miracle. We went from the worse scenario, expecting Mom to lose her leg, to the best scenario, anticipating her release the end of this week. We owe her orthopedic surgeon a big debt of gratitude. Mom is out of the woods and we are grateful for all the prayers we know our friends and church families said on her behalf.

The next few weeks will be difficult as we look to moving her home. She won't be able to walk for a couple of weeks and will need skin grafts on a portion of her lower leg. But these are things we can easily overcome.

Christmas is a time for miracles and we got ours! Thank you for your role in helping us. We are giving praise to the Great Physician, whose birthday we celebrate during this season.

Prayers Needed

I am writing this from Missouri where I sit near the ICU with family members and close friends waiting for updates from a kind surgeon and a very competent, patient nurse. My mother, Velma Foster, was in a serious car accident Friday evening. Through the miracle of the seat belt and air bag she escaped with only serious injuries considering she had a head-on collision with a semi truck. Mom is badly bruised and has a broken right wrist. Luckily she is left handed. The worse of the injuries was to her left leg. At this time we sit waiting for word if the tissue damage is so great she may lose it. Right now the word is guardedly good. If she continues as hoped we will know tomorrow or Tuesday. Please pray for her and us, the family as we sit waiting, waiting, waiting.

Helping the Scouts with Goulash for 200!

Ministry doesn't stop just because we are no longer in Hungary. Ministry is a lifestyle for us and many others. I, Tammy, was asked to help the local Boy Scout troop at our new church, Emerywood Baptist, make goulash for the local urban ministry outreach. The boys chopped and diced. My mother-in-law, Doris, and I baked 328 cupcakes. The scout leader, John, gathered bread donations from all over the city. The boys were on hand to dish up soup, fill glasses, cut bread, and give a little Christmas cheer. It was quite a cooperative effort (where have I heard that word before??). There were four large pots of authentic Hungarian goulash and I used the last of my imported goulash cream for seasoning. It was worth it. The down-and-out that came in for the free meal were very appreciative and complimentary. It was a good experience for all of us. The presence of Christ, not matter where you are in the world...

Telling the Roma Stories

'Tis the Season... Many Baptist churches traditionally promote missions during the Christmas season. We are privileged to be able to visit several churches to talk about ministry among the Roma in Hungary and other countries. We are blessed to be able to do that ministry through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. It is through the support of missions minded churches and individuals partnering with us and CBF that we are serving. Thank-you!

Happy 14th Anniversary!

This is a big week for us. We celebrate 14 years of service with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as strategic coordinators. Happy Anniversary!

Speaking at FBC Greenville

I, Tammy, have spent a lot of time in November and December speaking at churches, telling the Roma stories, and encouraging gifts to CBF's Global Missions Offering.

First Baptist Church of Greenville, SC has been a partner of ours for several years. Members come every year to teach English and be the presence of Christ among the Roma students at the Gandhi High School in Pecs. In fact this is the church that sent us Glen and Clista Adkins, our current Global Service Corps workers, now teaching at Gandhi. It was my privilege and pleasure to speak to their Women's Mission Circle in November (Both Ralph and I had also shared in their Sunday morning service in October) The ladies were fun to be with and showed such excitment to hear how God is working among the Roma in Hungary. It also gave me the opportunity to visit with five women who have been apart of the teams. (pictured here: Ethel Childress, Becky Boutin, and Elaine Sarratt. Susan Shelley and Peggy Goodman were there too) Thanks ladies. I had a blast!

Our First NC Snow

Snow generates a lot of excitement here in North Carolina. We counted on having a balmy winter compared to what we experience in Budapest. Imagine our surprise when we awoke to a dusting of snow on the ground. The schools were delayed for 2 hours and there was a mad rush to the grocery store for milk, bread, and toilet paper. (Not sure how those are related or what the need is to hoard them). It was fun while it lasted - very briefly. This shot is of the side of our dollhouse as we affectionately call it. Happy Winter!