What works

I apologize if I leave out an "h" every now and then- the "h" on our keyboard is a casualty of international travel it seems. Today, this afternoon, we spent some time with a young man we befriended two summers ago. He and Matt really connected over music- he was always shy and very polite and very, very talented. This afternoon and evening we walked the narrow streets near Kalvin Square, drank coffee, talked about music, politics, his studies. He is baffled at why we return to Budapest again and again, unsure of the whole Christianity thing, and how it does or does not relate to Catholicism, or Catholicism as it is usually experienced in Hungary. It's hard to explain how the heart connects to a certain person or people. You cannot explain maybe why you care for this person, why you pray for them. Wy your heart aches for them to have and be all that God has made for them to have and be. It's a small bit like how I feel about Sydney. Or how any mother or father feels about their child. Having a child allows you to see everyone as someone's child, if you allow it. I remember how my heart broke in a new way for the homeless man I met each day asking for change. I saw him very clearly as someone's son, someone's baby. I bought him lunch that day, and a large icy drink. It was summer and I kept thinking about his mother.

This is how I feel about the people I've encountered on the 'mission field.' Or many of them. The scripture that says "though my mother and father abandon me, You (God) remain" aches, radiates in my mind as I think about these things. The people I am talking about are both Hungarian Christians and non Christians- American Christians and non Christians. It's a strange thing. No matter what our relationship is wit our biological family - there is still that place that longs to be satisfied- and can only be with the things of God and with God himself. It has become a cliche- the God shaped hole in eac of us- but it is a cliche because it's true.

All that to say we are frustrated that we don't have proper time to invest in relationships here. Relationships take time and presence and they are what change people. I was changed through relationsips- first with people who loved me, and loved God, which led me to want to know more about this God that inspired my friends (who were just as poor as me) to give to me of what little they had- time, money, help. But even though I feel like I should lament not having time- I am amazed at how quickly and easily we can pick up with people like Zoli- pick up where we left off.

Tomorrow we go to do a street outreach with Calvary Chapel-and Zoli may come as an observer. Pray. That he's not turned off. That their is great sensitivity yet boldness in those who share. I am back thinking in Hungarian. It's so strange - it fits like a glove. Te city, the language, the people. It's not easy but it fits. God works in mysterious ways.