Hammons in Hungary

ministry @ POAMN

2010-10-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

Hey friends! Thanks for taking this workshop :)

I hope it's helpful!

Pictures from Budapest

2010-08-20T16:14:00.001-07:00

We are home and thankful for the love and support - through prayers and finances that we received from you guys. Thank you. Here are some photos from the outreaches we did with Calvary Chapel.

Last Night

2010-08-12T16:36:00.001-07:00

Disclaimer: it's late, and I'm emotional. :)

I really want to say a few sappy words about Simona. I've failed to ask her permission but I will hope for the best. It's an incredible thing when you experience a love for someone that you cannot necessarily explain. When I met Simona she was 18, I think she may have still had braces. Of course I noticed her immediately because of her name; Simona is also the name of a dear high school friend of mine, and it's an unusual one. Her name was a point of connection for us. We met when Matt and I were first in Budapest with our first 'warrior' mission team in 2007. She was a part of the Calvary Chapel youth group and came to the outreaches we were doing in city parks. At the time we made no real connection, she didn't speak English yet and I certainly could not speak Hungarian.

When we were in Budapest in 2008 Simona was our fearless babysitter, guide and friend. She arrived at the house to watch Sydney and we could barely communicate b/c of the language barrier. I remember thinking she was becoming so beautiful and grown up. From that day on our relationship changed. I trusted her with our daughter and they-- and we formed a bond that I can't explain. There is a special place in our hearts for the people who love our children. And Simona loves Sydney and Sydney loves Simona.

When we got to talking that summer we discovered that we shared 'father issues.' I grew up for the most part with out my father present, but Simona never knew her father. Even though the circumstances are different, we've dealt with alot of similar issues, and because of that I think, I feel even more protective of her. She became a Christ follower even though her family thought she'd gone mad- at 16- exhibiting formidable courage.

Over the last three years I have grown to love Simona like a sister, or maybe even a daughter. I think of her as my baby sister. But the fierce sense of protection I feel for her I can only attribute to motherly feelings. I told her tonight, "I know a lot of people love you. But nobody, except maybe your mother, loves you as much as I do."

Pretty soon tonight we were both sappy and teary eyed. Her message on my facebook page in early summer was the final straw - the one that made us realize that we had to return to Budapest, if even for a few days. She said "I keep thinking I see Matt in Budapest, but I know it can't be him."

Before we know it, we'll be back in the States, she'll be back in school. We will go where life, and hopefully, the Lord will take us. But this love and gratitude I feel for her will not change, no matter how far the distance between us. I am so grateful that He makes us brothers and sisters. It's so true. A miracle.

Coffeehouse

2010-08-11T03:51:00.001-07:00

Matt and I had the great pleasure of having breakfast with Steve and Barbara Johnson on their terrace in the summer sunshine. It was so awesome to sit and talk and go over with them what has transpired since we left Hungary two summers ago. Alot- alot has happened. As we sat down Barbara said "Ok, start from the beginning, I want details!" It's incredible how validating it is to be asked to share your story. From someone you know will be interested and sympathetic. People who will understand- if anyone will- our seemingly inexplicable draw to return to Budapest again and again.

A little background: Steve and Barbara Johnson are missionaries who have, along with their children, lived in Budapest for about 16years. They were a part of the team that began the YWAM coffeehouse ministry we came to serve in and their love for this country had a profound effect on us. Serving with them three years ago moved us to return- now for the third time. We don't take lightly the role their dedication to Hungary has played in inspiring us to serve here.

The "coffeehouse" is a Friday night event that happens in a building in the "fashion district" of Budapest, steps from the Deak Square I mentioned in my last post. By a miracle, YWAM (youth with a mission- the missions agency that Steve and Barbara are a part of) was able to buy a part of this building and begin renovating it serve as a coffeehouse/ ministry center. A place where Hungarians and international travelers can come and have coffee, see live music, hang out in a safe environment. Bring their spiritual questions, or not. A place where seekers, travelers, students- anyone- can experience Christian hospitality in a non threatening environment. Why is this important?

It is important on so many levels. First, in this city, many are hoping for the "EU" dream of prosperity that they may be willing to do almost anything to get it. Exploitation - of young people, women, Gypsy's- is a sad reality. It's a dog eat dog world- in short- everyone is looking out for number one. Even the church - the established church- is quite cozy with this model. They can exist comfortably in their niche, and little is asked of them. The established "high" church is not, or does not appear to be, " "a friend to sinner's", outcasts, refugees, etc.

The YWAM coffeehouse, or Rezkigyo (The Bronze Serpent) is such a place. It's uncanny who you will meet there on a Friday night. A Kurdish refugee from Iran, who began his time in Budapest at one of the refugee camps established outside the city, confessed that he comes to coffeehouse because of how "nice" everyone is to him. A novel experience in a city that doesn't necessary welcome the new throngs of Muslims who are making it their home. On another note, Matt and I had dinner with the son of a Turkish Imam the other evening. A polite, kind young man wrapping up his studies in Germany. He was shocked and pleased that I knew why he chose juice over beer. Another, young Hungarian boy, who is not a "Christian" has been volunteering in the coffeehouse. Skipping the prayer meetings, but being moved by the love he is being shown by these Christ followers. There are alot of stories like this. But what I am realizing is that in a mission culture quite immersed in "conversions" Rezkigyo is offering a safe, loving place for people to come and experience the love of God, sometimes for the first time. No demands are made on them, no sermons given. And even still lives are being redeemed and changed and "won" for the kingdom.

It's taken me a long time to realize this about the coffeehouse. Even though the building, the construction is not "finished" it is of little consequence. What happens at that building on Friday nights- in and around Friday nights- is a profound movement of the Holy Spirit. I have a suspicion that God allowed the "building project" to carry on because it gives us humans something to do- in a way. He doesn't need the coffeehouse to be finished. All He cares about is that we are loving his children into his Kingdom. A heavenly Kingdom that certainly needs no building, coffeehouse or otherwise, to be realized.

I think we, the American church, need to get serious about re-thinking long term missions. We need to be better about loving our missionaries in the field, caring for and really even just caring about their emotional and spiritual needs. The hardest mission work to do is the long term, total immersion work that forfeits ones allegience to home country and language. To truly love a people enough to live among them and FOR them, trusting that God has the whole scenario in His hands. That He is allowing us to be a part of larger patchwork quilt, one that we may only be able to glimpse a corner of. Just to do life, day by day, loving people where they are, trusting that sharing life and truth is enough.

What works - take two

2010-08-09T06:17:00.000-07:00

So we spent a few days tagging along with an evangelistic outreach team from Calvary Chapel in California. It was the same group we'd worked with two summers ago. it was funny to see some familiar faces and encouraging to see their commitment to Budapest. It's inspired me to say a few words more about 'what works' in the mission field.

From what we've observed there is a tremendous pressure on missionaries- long term in country residents and short term visitors- to quantify the 'results' of their trips or experiences abroad. What form these quantifiable results takes, depends largely on the type of sending church or sending organization. But their is a palpable sense of disappointment in many if they are not able to "lead someone to Christ."

When we were here in Budapest two summer ago we completely immersed ourselves in the approach of our host organization. A wonderful organization, and one that has been here in the city since the curtain came down in 1989. We experienced incredible leading of the Holy Spirit, we benefitted greatly from the emphasis on constant prayer- we came to depend on the the Holy Spirit- which shows up as heart pounding, nervous, palm sweating aversion mostly- to point us in the right direction. Always with uncanny accuracy.

But the pressure is on "conversions". To lead people to pray the "sinner's prayer" to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour, to repent of "sins" and welcome the Holy Spirit into their lives. In a 10-15 minute encounter on a street corner or in a city park.

When the curtain fell, we are told, just the novelty of being permitted to meet in a public place drew hundreds of curious Hungarians. The sound equipment which was used, was also a novelty, an import, and helped draw crowds. As you can imagine, 20 yrs later, those curiosities have- not become commonplace- but far less impressive. Also, the buffet of ideologies offered on the street corner has grown considerably.

The Mormons, Krishna's, Nationalists, Buddhists and Christians all share the same space. Buffet style, curious onlookers will float from "booth to booth" perusing the offers of each ideology.

This irks you doesn't it? It seems that Truth, the one we capitalize, should transcend this sort of thing. It should hover, permeate, be more than a choice in a buffet line.

I suppose the major difference between these offerings is the cost. At check out, the full cost of accepting Christ, of following Christ, of losing your life so you will find it, should plainly separate it from the rest. The cost is, or should be if taken seriously, much, much greater.

When I was singing the other night in Deak Square, I noticed a statue to a Lutheran pastor who "with the help of God" rescued 2000 women and children from the gas chambers in World War 2. The crowd was quite international, Deak has become "fashion square" and the crowd was made up of Germans, French, Italians and Hungarians. But I wanted to invoke THAT story with my words. And I also felt it was important to begin by explaining that the story we are trying to tell does not begin, but end, with Jesus. The story begins before the world itself began. A time before America, and Europe- but I mentioned that maybe the Magyar's were there at the beginning. The "Magyars" are the mysterious Euro-Asian tribe that gave birth to the Hungarian nation. It was kind of a joke- but I noticed that when I referred to the Hungarian culture- and the work of God throughout that history- the Hungarians at least- paid attention.

I guess this is my point. That the pressure on missionaries to "win souls" is like pressuring DaVinci to produce a scientific rendering of David. It's un necessary and unimportant in the face of the art- and the poetry- of loving a person- or a culture- into the Kingdom. Of making something beautiful of your life and the lives of those around you. Something pure, and real. So much more than a choice among many.

I don't pretend to know- or have answers. My time here is always too short. But, there you have it. A few thoughts from the "field." With Love and Gratitude :)- C+ M

you give and take away

2010-08-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

Today we learned that our friend Kimberly Richter, who has battled brain cancer bravely for several years, went to be with the Lord yesterday.

It's so strange to learn of this from the other side of the world. We are happy to know that she is healed and whole, but of course we'd hoped for those prayers to be answered this side of eternity. We are heartbroken for the Richter family and for the Grace Presbyterian Church family. Our prayers for peace and comfort for all.

Just last week we learned that our little friend Kate McRae is healing from brain cancer. A true victory. We rejoice with her parents and friends. It makes me think of that lyric- 'you give and take away.' I will be singing that song in my head for some time I think.

Today, we spent the day with a couple who are here as missionaries from Ecclesia Clear Lake. How exciting to talk with people who have the same ideas we have for reaching people- for a focus on long term relationships and discipleship with Hungarians. We connected on so many points, it was an exciting hang.

We've come to a place of maybe beginning to understand a little bit of why God brings us back to Budapest. We always thought we were just avoiding the call to come and live here full time- but I think we've realized finally that is not what God has for us now. It's more important, we hope and pray, for God to use us to communicate with our friends in the States the needs over here- and hopefully inspire more people to come to do long or short term missions in Budapest.

Here's the deal: The next generation of European and World Leaders are coming through Budapest. Hungarians, Russians, Estonians, Ukranians, etc.. People who are going to make up the next wave of influence in the world are coming from Post Communist, Post Religious countries. For now, material gain, as promised by the EU is this culture's religion. Under communism personal material gain and wealth was forbidden, so now you see people all but crushing each other to have it.

The work here is not providing basic human needs like water and food, as we see in developing countries. Instead the need is to disciple Eastern Europeans to want to, in Jesus name, provide a clean cup of water to not only those in developing countries- but to the marginalized populations in their own back yards. These "hardened, post modern" Eastern Europeans can and by the grace of God- will be- the next generation to lead Europe. We want to see them leading from a place of faith in the Redeemer. This means practically- a developing distaste for injustice, for greed, for exploitation. A developing taste for love, justice, truth and compassion.

Yesterday at the outreach there were breakthroughs for sure- again we saw how God uses our music to draw people in- to begin to ask questions of who, what and mostly WHY? Why are you in Budapest? Why do you like it here? Why do you want to learn our language?

Even though we might be drifting from this idea of "street evangelism" we cannot deny that the power of the Holy Spirit falls when we are playing music. It opens doors. We are grateful God allows us to be a part of this. So for this week- we will suspend our doubts and just go with it.

Another thing happened today to remind us that our financial well being is utterly and totally dependent on Him. :) How grateful we are for his provision and how totally in need we are of his grace.

To support us with prayer and/or finances - learn how here: GIVE.

Day 1 or was it Day 2 or...

2010-08-06T15:57:00.000-07:00

Yeah so the jetlag is rockin' me this time around. Mostly because I can't fall asleep until after 4am and then I've been sleeping late and so the whole thing is off. But today was great because we spent a bunch of hours at Nyugati Ter (Times Sq-like city center) doing a street concert/ evangelistic outreach with Hungarians and Americans from Calvary Chapel.

We've been really casual about planning stuff this time- I guess which translates into- we haven't really planned anything, but just trying to free for whatever God has.

So we ended singing and playing and it was great. Lots of great conversations were sparked and the like.

It was like we never left - all the same sights, sounds, smells. The tired feet from hours standing on the concrete. Feels good to be back.

Tomorrow morning we are taking a missionary friend the airport (in 5 hours) and then we are meeting an American couple who are missionaries from Ecclesia Clear Lake at 9am. We are really excited to learn about their ministry here. Hopefully being forced to get up early will help with the 'lag.

Love and blessings to all- PS Please pray for Dominick- my mom's boyfriend- he isn't feeling great and is missing out on fun times with Syd. Please pray for total healing for his body and that he would know God is his healer.
xo-C+M

What works

2010-08-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

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.

Planes, trains, automobiles, buses, trains, automobiles, buses.....

2010-08-04T08:51:00.001-07:00

Ok, I think you get the picture. As I type, I am trying to keep my eyes open after a long, and interesting journey to our home away from home for the next 10 days. If I could prop them open with tooth picks I would but in my semi-delirious state I realize this would be unwise.

Matt is snoring-- having given in to the post- International-post inner and outer city travel that we've done in the last two days. And we thought it was all too easy!

We drove the hour and a half to JFK with no traffic, arrived in plenty of time to meet our flight to Budapest. We got the only extra seat in the entire plane- allowing us (or me, really) to stretch out and catch a few zzz's while a Jennifer Anniston movie played silently overhead. (Plot Summary: feisty city girl do-gooder jumps bail, runs from ex husband or boyfriend bounty hunter, rekindles romance as the two join forces while being pursued by Soprano-esque gangster's-I got all this without the sound btw. Verdict: not so much).

Arrived in Budapest refreshed; made it through passport control and with no checked bags breezed to a taxi which took us to the other end of the airport where Matt assured me we would catch a train to the city. This is where it gets interesting. Suffice it to say we narrowly escaped losing our bags to the first taxi- but managed to get on a train (with a paid tkt no less- using the ticket machine in Hungarian!).

We spent a lovely hour or so in the cafe where Simona works on Vaci utca- the pedestrian shopping street, which caters to tourists. Simona is my love- my God- little sister- and I felt quite proud watching her at her job. We began to fade and even the double espresso's weren't quite cutting it, so we got the keys and directions to the house- about 40 minutes outside the city- and headed out.

We arrived after 40 minutes- Matt's hand was nearly taken off by one overzealous bus driver and we spend a half an hour wandering around Kelenfold station before we found our bus- but we found it. Everything was going swimmingly until we realized we had no idea where Andy and Angela's house was and the directions we'd gotten from several people conflicted. Breezing gave way to trudging -up a hill in Diosd (a village outside the city) with our now heavy bags in the hot sun. Good news- after several missteps we found the house. Drenched in sweat. exhausted, and nothing like the fresh as daisies American's who danced off the plane - but nonetheless we made it. Hallelujah!

No sweat, as I said Matt's snoring, I'm writing and making friends with the two lovely puppies who are the master's of this lovely home. I wish Andy and Angela were here- it's strange to be here and they're not- but we are so grateful for their hospitality. Now, to scrounge up a snack and wake up Matt.

Love to all, Cameron + Matt

We're still Blogging...

2008-08-28T21:38:00.000-07:00

Hi Y'all-

Don't forget to find us at hammonsinhouston.blogspot.com.

See you there!

Love,
Cameron

Home Again

2008-08-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

As I stumbled around our townhouse, trying to remember what continent I was on, I got a phone call from my brother. My father, who turned 80 on August 1st is in the hospital (again) for congestive heart failure. My half brother Todd is saying it's not looking good, and that my father is down, saying that he thinks he is on his deathbed.

My brother, who has not seen my Dad in probably more than 15 years is flying to New Jersey this weekend to see him. Maybe to say goodbye? I am not sure. What I am sure of is that this is the moment I have most dreaded all of my adult life. What will we do when he gets sick? If he passes away? When we've been estranged from him for most of our lives, it's hard to know what to do, or not to do.

I told my half brother that whatever I need to do, I will do. And for him to just tell me. My dad is pretty alone right now and he is scared. We visited him in April and it was the best time with him I have had since I can remember. He loved Sydney and Sydney loved him. He was genuinely interested in hearing about our ministry and our plans to go to Budapest. He seemed even genuinely interested in this Jesus character and wondered I think how Jesus related to his own Judaism. Or in his words, when asked a question about a Jewish holiday he said "I don't know, you'll have to ask someone who's Jewish." But when I told him I was going to seminary to become a pastor he said, "Cameron, you're Jewish!" He is a funny man, who has been very hurt by life, and who has hurt others, namely his children.

More than anything I want him to be comforted and I want him to have an opportunity to accept Christ. It seems like alot to ask that I should be the one to talk with him about this, but it seems like that may be what God is up to. I don't know. I am open to suggestions. Please pray. For wisdom, and for a plane ticket, if that is what I am supposed to do.

From now on, you can find my half asleep ramblings at hammonsinhouston.blogspot.com. Come one by. Drop in. Comment. Let me know you're out there. For now, I am going to sleep. It's 6am in Budapest and the sun's been up for an hour and a half. It's raining in Houston and my cat is curled up on our bed, happy we are finally home.

Love and Blessings,
Cameron

American Tomatoes

2008-08-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

Well it's official. We are back in America. I can tell by the tomatoes. Which is both a good thing, comfortable and familiar, and a sad thing- not Hungarian. I can't get over how all the commercials and advertisements are in English, and the employees at McDonald's speak English. I suppose that what the Hungarian employees of McDonald's were saying was just as uninteresting as their American counterparts, but somehow it was fascinating to me.

Nonetheless, we are in America, well New York which is sort of a transitional space between Europe and America in my opinion. This was a great idea to spend a few days here at the beach with Nana and Nick (my Mom and Dominick) before heading back to Houston. I want to call everyone I know but I still don't really believe we are in the same time zone. I guess I will need a few days to adjust.

Sydney was AMAZING on the plane, thanks to you guys for praying for us. We were SO blessed on the plane. I told the woman at check- in in Budapest that we were very sad to leave the country and I think she rewarded our affection with 3 seats in the bulkhead. Classic Hungarian. It's all about who you know. In our case, it's Who we know Who has inspired, provided, taught, corrected, loved and guided us through the last 10 weeks. And though we are so imperfect, so ungrateful at times, He kept His promises and then some. What a God He is whom we love.

As we re-enter we are painfully aware of all the strife in the world, especially Europe. Please pray for the situation between Russia and Georiga. We are reminded of the lingering devastation of Communism in this region. The desire for freedom on one side and power on the other. Though of course all sides play all parts- just at different times. None are innocent and all fall short of the glory of God. Pray for wisdom for our President and for all the leaders involved.

THANK YOU for supporting us in what was truly the adventure of a lifetime. We are back and excited for what God will do in and through us in America this year. But we have left a part of our hearts behind in Budapest. A piece of a locket we hope to reclaim when we return, whenever and however that will be.

Blessings, Love, Abundance and Grace,

Cameron

Summer Romance

2008-08-09T14:45:00.001-07:00

What started as a crush, blossomed into a full fledged romance.

At first we weren't sure if Budapest returned our feelings. Afterall, who doesn't fall in love with her at first sight. I am sure she is used the poetic ramblings of tourists or even missionaries. What she wants to know is "Will you love me tomorrow?" Metaphorically speaking of course. When the summer's gone and your back in your old routine- school, church, kids, etc,- will you think of the golden top of Gellert Hill as the sun sinks into the Danube? We are even feeling a little guilty, as you do as the summer wans and your romance with it. "Was I too forward?" "Did I reveal too much?" "Is it really love?"

It is hard for me not to wax poetic, obviously, but I mean every word. A better analogy couldn't exist. Though she's tough and dirty and tired, Budapest is literally, a shining city on a hill, blessed in abundance but still suffering from years of heartbreak. Of failed affairs, really. The Romans, The Turks, The Austrians, The Germans, The Russians, etc. When will she learn to love the only One who ever really loves her back?

My computer is running on reserve so I will wrap it up but promise to provide more actual details tomorrow. Houston team leaves at 4am. Gyspy outreach in N. Hungary for us tomorrow morning at 7:15 am. Fly to NY on Wednesday.

Thank you for praying and writing. We love you all, Cameron

No watch day

2008-08-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

Today was a no watch day for me, which means I never put on my watch today. Or makeup. It was that kind of day. Which was desperately needed after the summer we've had. Going and going and going. Matt on the other hand wore his watch today. He went with the Houston team to a small town outside of Budapest called "Tatabanya" which I am sure was fantastic. I will let him fill you in.

In the meanwhile I will give you some news on the last few days. We've met some amazing people. Many have been brave, gotten out of their "comfort zones" and given there testimonies. All have been powerful and moving. We are leaving in 6 days. I can't believe it. I am really looking forward to seeing everybody and being back at Grace for worship. Love, Cameron

Outreach

2008-08-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

We did our first full outreach today with the Houston team at Moskva Ter (Moscow Square). It went really well I thought, we had some incredible breakthroughs as well as some frustrating moments. I had a great conversation with Angela Slaughter at dinner about how frustrating it is for singers when the sounds isn't good. It was great to hear that I am not the only one who wants to pull my hair out sometimes. the Lord knows this of course and this is exactly why I deal with it. I am learning humility- over and over- in so many ways- through these types of experiences. John Mark gave his testimony for the first time and gave what Dani called "The best street preaching he had ever heard." And that is really saying something! We are so proud of you brother!

It's been really interesting to be able to talk more with people because I am not singing the whole time. It's wonderful actually. It's almost addictive. The first time you approach a stranger to talk it's hard. But then it just gets easier. And I've met so many cool people. One guy lived in NYC, in the Hungarian Embassy with his father for four years, when his father was a diplomat. Another Romanian guy was looking for work to make $ to send to his family- but was telling us amazing stories of God had heard his prayers for food when he was in a McDonalds with no money and a German guy gave him 2,000 forint (about $13). I felt the Lord tell me twice today/ tonight- The Harvest is big and the workers are few. There were SO many people who stopped to look and listen. We were working with a Californian team who were doing dramas and that was really attracting people. There were just so many people talk to and not enough people to talk to them. Especially Hungarian speakers. I am more inspired then ever to learn the language.

Alot of friends are asking "What's your vision?" and "When will you come back?" and "What will your ministry look like." We just don't have the answers to those questions. But slowly strong ideas are forming and we will pray that He will open the doors he wants opened, and close tightly those that He wants closed.

Good night. Early morning prayer walks around the city. Love and Blessings, Cameron

Who knew?

2008-08-03T23:39:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! So sorry for the lag time. We had trouble figuring out internet in our new house and have been quite crazy busy the last few days! Well we are alive and well (Mom, don't worry!) and in the full swing of things with the Houston team. Matt and I are playing tag team a bit more than I'd expected. It's a bit hard to coordinate babysitting when we are so far out of the city now. I think we've nearly got it organized for the rest of our time.

Yesterday night we joined Matt Edward in leading worship at Calvary Chapel- Golgota Church. This is the church where Dani and Simona are from. It was a beautiful night- we sang in Hungarian and English and I even sang in Hungarian! Learning a bunch of worship songs in Hungarian is not easy. Thankfully I mainly sang English but I jumped in with Hungarian on background vocals when I could. Who knew you could sing "Blessed be the name" in Hungarian? How cool. I am really encouraged in my attempt to learn the language. I am finding that street signs, general advertisments, etc., that have puzzled me for two months are now finally making sense. I have learned enough words that I am finally able to tell you what a "Gorog Csmege" is. There are umlauts and accents in there but I have no idea how to type them.

Anyway, this morning I am home with Sydney and then later this afternoon we will go into to the city for Dani's outreach. I am so sorry for the lag in posting. Know that we covet your prayers. We are feeling quite exhausted and a little burned out. All the running around and emotional expenditure is taking a bit of a toll on us physically. I am feeling old! Please pray for refreshing for all of us...

I am getting sad to leave but also really looking forward to the comforts of home; airconditioning (!), my own bed, Mexican food, our cat Steve, friends and family. Though I know we will miss our new friends here. I am certain we will be back -I think we just have no idea how or when. God knows though. Thank goodness. :-)

Love and blessings,
Cameron

They're here!!!

2008-07-31T13:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, I mean that in like, a "hooray they're here", not like in a Poltergeist way. Does anybody even remember Poltergeist. I feel so old. I think the average age of the Houston team in 20. Which is great! But it makes me wonder about things like if I refer to "Poltergeist" or velcro, will they know what I am talking about?

Ok, I am being silly. So the awesome Houston team arrived, bringing with it some of my most favorite people. One being Lindsey (pictured here) of course, as well as the lovely and talented Kelly Walker, brilliant and beautiful Jane Pettit, the Slaughters (talented, kind, fun, adorable....what more can be said!)and Matt Remanjek- who is one of the most intelligient and most passionate belivers I have ever met. I am sure that by the end of their trip I will be best friends with the rest of the group, most of which I met for the first (or second) time tonight. They were all real troopers and marched all over the city getting bus passes, seeing the YWAM base etc. I am sure they are all snuggled up in their bunk beds now wondering which continent they are on. When they wake up in the morning all will be clear and the fun begins!

Pray for supernatural strength and NO JET LAG, or at least no mantle of heaviness, the Hungarian funk we are calling it. Like we had in the beginning. I don't think short termers get that anyway but just in case, please pray that the team's spirits are high. Please pray for adequate childcare this week. As of tomorrow morning we are in a new place and I am concerned about leaving Sydney with Simona tomorrow night because we have to go to coffeehouse and it will be her first night in the new house. I think Simona is going to live with us for the next two weeks- which would be great! I may not go tomorrow night, we will see.

Anyway, thanks to all who are reading and praying. We love you. Please email us or comment. I am at cdezenhammon@gpch.org, Matt is matthammon@mac.com....

Sweet dreams, Cameron

Hello Jesus

2008-07-30T23:32:00.000-07:00

John Mark took this picture the other night at Szimpla, which is an open air bar/lounge in the Jewish district. Packed with young people munching on "Hungarian bar food," talking, drinking, etc. He called it "hello Jesus" and I think it's really beautiful.

Notice what looks like a hand or hands in red reaching up toward the picture. Wow. I don't know if he intended to capture all that but I think it's kind of profound.

I want to tell you about a couple of things going on back home that need your prayers. First, friends of ours have split up. They are both passionate believers who met while in recovery for addiction. He has relapsed and abandoned his marriage for his addiction (s). She is understandably devasted, but is most concerned that He gets out of the dangerous situation he is in. "It's devastating to see him so lost" she said. I will be praying for peace and healing for them both. I don't know if their marriage is salvageable but with God anything is possible. Anything can be healed, right?

Another prayer request. My mom wrote me about a colleauge of hers whose five year old daughter is undergoing treatment at St. Jude's Hospital for brain and spinal cancer. My mom asked that we all pray for her and for her family. It is just unfathomable what they are going through. I will pray that God speaks to them and that by the power of His Holy Spirit she is healed. Her name is Marit Kyllo.

On another note, we are welcoming the team from Houston today! Their arrival marks the almost- "end" of our time in Budapest, but surely an awesome beginning for all of them. I pray that they all fall in love with this beautiful, tragic city and it's people, as we have. I read something really interesting yesterday. That Jose Luis Borges, a South American poet, said that surely the Hungarians must have a poet on par with Keats, but he can't confirm it because he doesn't speak Hungarian. The observer said- basically- that it is a great heartbreak for Hungarians that their 'untranslatable language' has assured their great poets such a limited audience. Wouldn't it be amazing to learn the language so well as to be able to read Petofi in Hungarian? Poets are revolutionaries in this culture, and that is a concept absolutely dear to my heart. If any of my college professors are by some chance reading this (quite doubtful) they will be proud of my renewed interest in poetry.

In fact this is a dream that I have for the YWAM coffeehouse. To have a poetry club that meets there, maybe in English and Hungarian? I think it would be amazing.

Anyway, spent 10 hours cleaning the house yesterday and still have to mop the downstairs. Yes, the house is that big. Well yes and no. We just want to leave it so clean as a blessing for the Bullocks. We want them to come home and be able to just relax. Amber is sensing that we are leaving soon and I think she is sad. We are really sad to leave her. She is the world's best dog, literally!

Well, we are off to the "Terror Haz" with our friend Szabolcs today. It's a museum of the interrogation and torture practices of the communists. Apparently a must see. Sam (as we call him) will translate for us as all the exhibits are in Hungarian!

Love and Blessings,
Cameron

Pizza at 10pm

2008-07-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this is starting to feel like a theme. We finally got home and got Sydney bathed and in bed by 9:30am after a grueling day. The dog woke us at 4:30am. We were at the base at 9:30am. Had a break for lunch and then more meeting and prayer time, then outreach from 5 until 8:30pm.

Sydney was a trooper of course, but Mommy had a bit of a rough time. I suppose the pace of things is winding up, as we anticipate the Houston team coming, but to be honest, I have no idea how we can sustain this pace. Both logistically and emotionally. We are seeing real fruit from the outreaches, but in conjunction with everything else that has to happen in a day, it's just feeling a bit overwhelming right now. Am I making sense?

Maybe not. I am going to sleep and will write tomorrow when I am more awake.

Love and Blessings,
Cameron

PS. We are moving house this week! Please pray for a smooth transition for Sydney and for us!!!! Thanks and Love to you all!!!

So Amazing

2008-07-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

"Well, that was a day," I said to Matt as we munched on re-heated pizza and pasta from last night, at 10:30pm, having JUST put Sydney down.

We all had a very long day and Sydney too, she usually is home when we are out doing these marathon type of Sunday's but this time she was with us- and she was so amazing. Of course, we could not have made it through without precious Simona. Did I mention she turned 19 on Saturday? More on that later...

This morning we led worship at Every Nation church, which is the church plant that our house-hosts are here to build up. They met at the cafe of a Barnes and Nobles type of bookstore. Which is a BRILLIANT idea I think and something we could do in Houston. Matt was in Heaven of course because what could be better than having access to as many dupla eszpresso's as he can handle. (Matt has a little bit of a double espresso problem since we've come to Budapest. I would ask you to pray for him but he doesn't have any intention to give it up...:ha ha-)

I met a really cool woman at Every Nation. Her name is Oxana and she is Ukrainian. She is from a small town near the Hungarian border. I told her that my father's family is from Kiev and she was so sweet, she was so excited and told me that I look Ukranian, or that I look like I am from Kiev. She said it is an absolutely beautiful city. Oh, I would LOVE to go there. How amazing. And then I told her about how I can speak a tiny bit of Russian and she invited me to hang out with her and her Ukranian friends to practice. Life is so stinkin' cool. How amazing is that. I am just wishing we had more time here so we could really get to know these people more. I think she is a fairly new Christian maybe. I hope to see her again.

Then we went home, took a nap, and went back out to lead worship at Calvary. First we did a 40 minute "concert" and then led a few worship songs after Dani gave the message. This is SO incredible. First of all, when he said "concert", he really meant "concert." Just before we started, the lights went out and all there fancy concert lights came up on the stage. We were NOT expecting that!! The sound was incredible and after each song they clapped. And before that they listened. And it was absolutely full- maybe 400 people. This was so amazing for us because - for me- at least- I've never played to that many people in that great of a setting with that great of a response. It was some worship songs that we did and some God songs that are not really worship- but for reflection. And then at the end, the whole church was singing at the top of their lungs with the worship songs, even though they are not primarily English speakers! The service was all in Hungarian! But they knew the songs and sang and worshiped and it was really so beautiful. We were SO blessed by this experience.

I felt like it was a gift from God. The experience encouraged us so much and gave us this sense of hope and acceptance, courage and direction. It's hard to even explain. For a musician, this was like a dream come true. It was like God our Father knew just what we needed and he provided. We didn't even know we needed this. I hope I am making sense and not babbling too much.

We are exhausted, and I am sure you are sick of hearing me say that. But we are going to need some kind of a vacation in the near future, to re-charge our batteries. We are moving to a different house on Friday, out near The Johnson's. Praise God for the family, The Jackson's, who are letting us house sit while they are in the States. We are excited for new surroundings but will miss Amber and this house of course. Only 3 weeks left. :-(

Love and sweet dreams,
Cameron

Pictures!!!

2008-07-26T07:18:00.001-07:00

Here our the awesome hippies we met in the park on our Thursday outreach. Adam is Polish and a philosophy student. We invited him to play guitar with us as we jammed out with no amplification (we got shut down on Monday and so couldn't use any amps.) The other Adam, there he is below balancing juggling balls on his forehead) he was playing a shaker as we sang and played. Later Dani did a bible study - unplugged- and had the rapt attention of the skater guys we've been getting to know over the last two months. We gave out bibles and they were really cool about it, really respectful and interested. I couldn't believe they sat on their skateboards and listened. Dominica is a Polish girl travelling with a bunch of these guys to "rainbow" in Serbia. She said "when you think of us talk to Him (she points upwards) for us." I said "I will pray for you and we can pray right now." She said "Ok" and we prayed. It was amazing.

We had an amazing time. God is so faithful. Pray for those guys- the hippies we met- I think the Lord planted a seed with them.

Happy Saturday! Love, Cameron

Friday Night Entry

2008-07-26T06:56:00.001-07:00

.....Sorry to be posting this now, on Saturday, but blogpost. com was down last night....enjoy!

There are just so many amazing things to mention, that it really is best that I blog everyday. Last night I was so pooped and tonight, well I still don't have the pictures I was hoping to show you but I will do my best to explain. And pictures will come later- thanks to John Mark. Basically, the outreach at Erszebet Ter was amazing. It rained, and so our lack of amplification didn't really effect us because a ton of people huddled together with us under the overhang, and so we got to talking with them.

We befriended a group of Polish and Hungarian hippies, on their way to "rainbow" a commune style hippie 'paradise' meeting in the mountains of Serbia. Adam, Dominica and Adam (one Polish Adam, one Hungarian Adam) along with their dogs, friends and hangers on, played music with us, talked, listened, etc. Hungarian Adam told me, "Rainbow is great because you leave all your worldly possessions behind and just go. Everyone shares and you live in community." I told him that Christians are supposed to live like that. That Jesus told his followers to leave all their stuff behind and follow him. I gave him a Hungarian bible with the passage underlined and he was so touched.

Another thing I want to mention is Zoli's mom, or meeting her. Zoli is the Hungarian teenager who lives across the street from us. Matt has befriended him and has been recording a song for him. He has become like a part of our little possee here. He is not a Christian. I was walking the dog the other day and Zoli's mom came running out to greet me. She thanked me so much for spending time with her son. It almost looked as though there were tears in her eyes. "We were worried," she said, "You are the first to hear his music. We didn't know if he was talented or not." She is an English teacher and her husband is a physicist. They live in the biggest, newest and nicest house on the block. She was so touched that we would take the time to encourage her son in his talents. It was really incredible. It reminded me of how totally different our outlook is from the world's outlook. The things that excite me are totally different from the things that would interest most people. I think it's amazing that we met a talented 17 year old kid on the bus and couldn 't wait to invite him over to play music with us. We couldn't wait to show God's love and encouragement to this perfect stranger. It's amazing what an experience like this does for your perspective.

Coffeehouse was amazing tonight. A bunch of kids we invited from Erszebet Ter came (all I had to do was learn how to say "free coffee" in Hungarian). It was packed.

My eyes are crossing, I am so wiped out.

Night Night, Love, Cameron
PS. Pictures are coming, tomorrow!!!

House Cleaning

2008-07-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

Today was a cold and dreary rain soaked Wednesday. Matt left early this morning for Zagreb, Croatia with Steve and Emily. Simona, our precious babysitter, arrived at 8:30am and helped me clean, really clean the house. She was such a huge help. I was starting to have a panic attack thinking about all that I needed to get done before the Bullocks come home in a week. I can't believe we'll be leaving our Budapest home, it will be sad. We've really become attached to Amber, the yellow lab we've been watching. But it's really Amber who has been watching us. She greets us first thing in the morning, runs to the gate to see us go, and runs to the gate to greet us when we get home. Not to mention that she barks her head off whenever anyone so much as sneezes in the direction of this house. It's really amazing. She knows whenever anyone is coming to the door. She starts barking like 2 minutes before the bell even rings.

I think we will be moving to a house a little bit further out, between Budaors and Diosd. Kind of like the closest suburb, and Ronnie- the pastor from Danube International Church is lending us a car! Amazing. He has found us this place to stay also. What a kind person he is. The body of Christ just amazes me. I have been struck by this ever since we started fundraising for this trip. I feel like the Lord has really been reminding me of this again and again. When one is in need and another has, that person will give to the one in need. It's such a simple thing yet it has profound impact. Imagine if everyone lived this way. Perhaps this is what He meant by "I am the Way."

Another thing I want to mention. Simona told me that some of her friends from Calvary Church stayed at Erszebet Ter until midnight talking to people, the day we got shut down. Two people prayed to recieve Christ. One girl accepted after hearing only 3 words. Another guy talked with one of the Calvary folks for 2 hours and then prayed with him. I was blown away to hear this. Maybe the scene we've rehearsed gets cut, but the show must go on! When God has a plan nothing can stop it.

This news just confirms that there is something happening at Erszebet Ter. I came across this scripture tonight "Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'one sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."- John 4:35-38

I know that YWAM Budapest has gotten a word a long time ago about a harvest time coming. Reading that scripture, especially a second and third time, has given me chills. When I read it I am picturing the big green field of Erzsebet Ter littered with cigarette butts, beer cans, hippies, skaters, goth kids, artists and tourists- all hungry for something true. A literal harvest.

This scripture also connects with two others that I have seemed to 'receive' here in Budapest, when praying about our work here. One is Joshua 23:13 "So I gave you land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant." The obvious spiritual parallel is, well, obvious, but what you may not know is that this district we are living in is full of fruit! Grapes, cherries, plums, pears, apples, peaches. It's called "Ringlo" street on one side, which is the name of the small plums that fall from the trees.

The other one is Isaiah 60 and 61, where it talks about foreigners rebuilding your city and there kings serving you. I felt like that was a word about us missionaries, all of this is. We - meaning Matt and Syd and I- have clearly entered a situation where blood, sweat and tears has been offered by Christians for this city for years. But right now it feels like we've come at harvest time. People are ready to hear the truth. We may not have planted the harvest but we are certainly seeing the fruit.

Tomorrow I think we are going back to Erzsebet Ter, but unplugged this time. Pray for a harvest. For the right words to say. For divine appointments with eternal consequences.

Night, night. Love, Cameron

Taking Requests

2008-07-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

This one goes out to all the Grandparents in the house (mimi, papa, nana and nick) who are reading this blog and are frustrated with our lack of photos of Sydney lately. We apologize. We understand! If we didn't get to see her everyday we'd me frustrated too! Due to technical difficulties we've been photo less for a while but John Mark has come to the rescue with loads of great pictures of Sydney.

This was taken on one of the hottest days we've had. There was a run there where our weather was beating out Houston! Sydney was quite content to wear only a diaper, unless of course there were some cool shoes around she could try on. The more girly the better. She also discovered a love for the rubicks cube on this day- how very Hungarian. Rubick of course was a Hungarian. An expat I think. She is changing so much. She is speaking in full sentences, 3,4 and 5 words. She counts to five on her own and 20 with help. She knows her ABC's, well up until D that is. She's obsessed with nutella (who could blame her) and with Amber, our adopted dog.

Matt is going to Croatia with Steve and Emily tomorrow, just for a day, to drop Emily off at camp. Matt is excited about getting to see a little bit more of his favorite part of the world. He will be back for our outreach on Thursday, which we are still not sure where it will be.

Here is one from coffeehouse a few weeks back.

Here's me and our Scottish friend David at Bohemtanya having late night goulyash soup with Kata, Matt, Szabolc, Jarrod, Zoli and John Mark.

Marcus has successfully departed and should be in the air right now. He barely made the plane, if he did make it. We are excited to see what God's going to do in his life. I hope he doesn't forget the friends he made in Budapest.

Night, night. Love, Cameron

shut down

2008-07-21T12:54:00.000-07:00

Well, after the amazing outreach we had last week at Erzsebet ter (zs is pronounced shhh, like Zsa Zsa Gabor...fyi....) it's not a surprise that the Rendorszag (police) shut us down tonight, and possibly for good.

Apparently the permit we've been using doesn't cover amplified sound and in the past the police have just overlooked it. Tonight they did not. The owner of the club (Godor Club- literally "hole" club, it's hole in the ground in the middle of the park) has been after "us" for ever, always calling the police. I guess preaching the gospel isn't good for business.

Nonetheless, the perfect storm of factors tonight shut us down before Matt and I had a chance to sing. Dani said he doesn't think we can ever do outreach there again. This is clearly the enemy at work friends. We've been developing great relationships with the local skaters who hang out there every day (skating there is illegal by the way but the police don't seem to bother with them). We were planning to do outreach there exclusively for the next few weeks because of how amazing it was and how perfect the "audience" was to be reached by Dani's twenty something home group, etc.

Please pray that God shows us what to do, that somehow we can continue to play there legally, etc. Pray for wisdom for us and patience, especially Dani, he was really freaked out about all this.

Doug and Chris left today. We were so sad to see them go. They fit right into step with all that is happening here and it was such a huge privilege for all of us to be able to hang out with them here, pray with them, etc. Doug is such an incredible pastor and person. Matt and I were talking about how incredibly blessed we feel to be a part of the Grace family. Have you hugged your pastor today? :-)

Tell him you appreciate him. Tell him that he's made you think. Tell him how he's encouraged you. I wish I had told Doug all that before he left but maybe he'll read my blog and see it here. :-)

Church, we are so unbelievably blessed and God has given us so much. And with so much given much is expected. I am just going to be praying about what that looks like for me, for us, for our family. We are getting so sad to be saying goodbye to beautiful Budapest in 3 weeks. We feel like we're just getting started. He's got a plan, I know. But I wish I could just get a sneak peek at the blueprints. Something tells me it's beyond what I could even imagine.

Love to all, Cameron

Coffehouse-ing

2008-07-18T16:17:00.000-07:00

Very good night tonight. Very crowded. Very hot. Good music. Some familiar faces. I do have a camera again but I need to get batteries for it. I am so tired that my eyes are crossing. I will update you on Isaiah when I hear but please keep praying. Pray for our senior pastor Doug, Melissa (missions director) and Chris (youth pastor) who are here in Budapest. Just that they'd really catch a vision for this place - as they have already- and that they'd want to get Grace and Grace-ians even more involved with what's happening here. Hallelujah! God is good.

PS. We are hoping that Marcus will be baptised here (he missed his flight and is here until Tuesday) and Doug said he would baptise him! How cool is that!

EMERGENCY PRAYER REQUEST

2008-07-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

Please pray for our dear friends' Josh and Debs Walker and their youngest Isaiah who is in the hospital with a head injury. He hit his head badly and passed out and began vomiting, but wasn't waking up. He was rushed to the hospital and they've found that he doesn't have bleeding on his brain but they need to monitor him constantly....please pray he is only 3....love, Cameron

Hear that friends?

2008-07-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Shhh. Listen closely. But not with your ears. Listen to the sound of the angels rejoicing in heaven! Popping open the celestial bubbly and celebrating. Two more people accepted Christ and had their names written in the book of Life. One of them was our friend Marcus!

Ok, let me back up. For those of you just joining me now, Marcus is an American backpacker we met at Ersebet Ter some two or three weeks ago. He became like a part of the family, becoming great friends with all the YWAMer's coming to all our outreaches and prayer meetings, but was not a believer. He'd been wounded many years ago by what he saw as hypocrisy in the church and left to find the truth for himself. When we met him, he said that he'd been travelling in Europe since March and was determined to travel until his shoes wore out. I asked him what he was looking for. He said "That's a very good question. I don't know, but I think I will know when I find it."

Cut to, tonight, Jarrod, JohnMark, Rosie, Matt and I went back to Ersebet Ter to do an outreach with a home group from Calvary Chapel and our friend Dani who is on staff there. We went later than usual, hoping to be there at the height of the park's activity, and it worked. There were a bunch of skaters there, the same ones that we'd met the day we met Marcus. This time we went out with a much more powerful speaker system and no plan to do any preaching, just a few words here and there, testimonies as the spirit moved, and music. It was the most amazing day/ night yet of our time here.

There were young people everywhere and they were really listening to our music. They would sit and watch., come up and take pictures, many talked with the guys from Calvary. One of the guys Dani talked to accepted Christ! I talked for a long time with this kid Kevin and his friend Daniel. Kevin I had met a few weeks back and he was so adamant about not believing in God. We had a great talk about racism, about the problem of the racism against the gypsy's in Hungary, and how God loves everyone equally. His friend, Daniel, will become a believer. I feel it. He said that he knows that he is not perfect and they both seemed to realize that it is not right to judge the actions of others when we have anger in our own hearts. We talked about how Jesus said to repent of our anger, our lust. Kevin kept saying " But I do nothing wrong. I am better than those that steal and murder." I told him, each action started with a bad thought. If we repent of these when they are thoughts, they cannot grow into actions. They seemed to really get this. By the end of the conversation I felt like we were all friends.

Our generator, which was powering the amps, died because it ran out of gas. So JohnMark and I played a few songs on the grass. When it powered back up Jarrod and John Mark did a set, a team from Montana did a set, and we did a final set. By then it was dark. The skaters were doing amazing tricks right in front of us and a crowd was gathered, watching the skaters and watching us. Kids everywhere, drinking and smoking, laughing and talking, watching and listening. I remembered the period in my life when I used to do just that. Hang out at Astor Place in the East Village, watch the skaters, smoke and drink and try to be cool. I felt like the Lord was nudging me to share my testimony. I thought, "Ok God, here is as good a place as any." So I shared about my days hanging out with skateboarders and celebrities in New York, trying to be cool, searching, searching all the time to fulfill this unidentified longing in my soul. I got their attention. I confessed that I used to do all the "bad" things that they were doing, and how it never satisfied that longing. Basically I talked about how eventually I hit rock bottom and radically changed my lifestyle out of fear really, but that through that time, I figured out that though things had gotten bad for me, they could have been much worse. At that point I realized that something or Someone had intervened to save me from myself.

It got darker and darker until I could barely make out the faces, but I finished my story as a metalhead kid started to heckle us. We sang "Hallelujah" and pretty much you could tell that the people were really with us. They were really getting it. We finished, started to pack up and noticed that a fight had broken out about 100 yards from us. Then the wind, out of nowhere kicked up and blew some of our gear over, sending dust and debris into everyone's faces. Before we knew it it was a rain and hail storm like from some Armegeddon movie on TBN! The temperature dropped about 20 degrees in 2 minutes and we all huddled together under a balcony to wait it out. Marcus was beside me and I said, half joking, "Marcus, I would feel much better about dying in a flood here with you if I knew we'd all be in Heaven together." I said "Will you pray with me, to accept Christ?" He said "yes, ok," He said "Can I just pray in my head?" I laughed with him and said "Just repeat after me..." and he DID!!! We prayed and then we had a big group hug and I still can't get the smile off my face. He leaves tomorrow morning. Having found what he was searching for. I told him that his journey-- the real adventure-- has only just begun.

Love, Cameron

Familiar faces

2008-07-16T16:02:00.000-07:00

The whole base was buzzing this morning getting ready for Doug, Melissa and Chris to arrive. It was really exciting to think that they'd traveled so far and would be here to see what we are all up to and hear about the different ministries that are coming out of YWAM Budapest.

I heard Doug's voice first and it was so cool- so out of context and surreal- worlds collide- but in the best of all possible ways. He and Matt were talking up on the landing overlooking the newly built stage. Doug has a great voice- I know you all agree. If you haven't heard it you can hear him preach at www.gpch.org. It's very calming and reassuring- and the presence of our three friends and colleagues was just that- encouraging and reassuring. We all caught up and chatted briefly, had some home made Hungarian cheesecake (thanks Heidi!) and gathered for worship and a time of sharing.

When it came to Marion's turn she talked about the prostitution/ trafficking ministry we are pioneering. Doug was interested and asked a few questions, bringing up IJM. I have been talking everyone's ear off about IJM (International Justice Mission) and how amazing it would be if we could get them to come to Budapest. I've done some research and there is not a Christian organization in Budapest dealing specifically with trafficked people. There is one in Romania working with people at risk for trafficking, so in prevention, but not here dealing with people already in it. I am wondering if God really does want to do something big here with this and if I could actually be so blessed as to get to be some small part of it.

Doug told me after the meeting that he has a contact to Gary Haugen who is the president of IJM and I literally jumped up and down. This is a direct answer to my prayer "God, how can we get the attention of IJM to try and bring them to Budapest?" Amazing.

So John Mark is going to lend me his old camera because he got a fancy new one for his birthday (because his mom rocks!) and so I should have more pictures tomorrow.

We are going on an outreach with the super cool kids from Golgota/ Calvary Chapel- our friend Dani is going to translate and is organizing. We are going to do it a bit differently than usual so that should be cool. I'll fill ya in tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers. I think the pot of earl grey team I drank is finally wearing off. :-)

Night, night, Cameron

Girls night

2008-07-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

So, the ladies got together tonight and talked about changing the world. Prayed about changing it. It was pretty cool. It was me, Gabi, Marion and Ness (YWAM) a woman called Eva and a woman called Ildeco (both Hungarian) and Robin Henry from Grace!

Ildeco is a detective in the police force and came tonight armed with tons of information about the legality of prostitution, etc. She had so much amazing information for us. She is not sure yet I think if she wants to get involved with this but she is a Christian and wants to help. The moment I saw her face she looked so familiar to me I was almost sure I met her before. But I think that was a God thing. I think she will be very instrumental in our little organization to stop trafficking in Budapest- whatever it ends up looking like. Amazingly- even though she is in the police- she had little idea about trafficking in Budapest. There are only 153 documented cases over the last 5 years! Though globally there are 800,000! Not to mention that 100% of the prostitutes that our friends at Calvary Church are ministering to are victims of trafficking. It is clear that the police are looking the other way.

Eva is a lovely, deeply spiritual woman who is an intercessor and a good bit prophetic I am sure. She told us that when she's prayed about prostitution on Hungary that the Lord has revealed to her a deep rooted problem going back a thousand years. Basically prostitution in one form another has not only been legal for that long, but in some cases a mandate. For example, she told us that during feudal times the noble had "First Night Rights" with every woman in his fiefdom. So that when a woman married she had to first sleep with the noble who basically owned her, before sleeping with her own husband. She also told us that even up until communism it was the right of employers to sexually exploit household workers! She said that sexual abuse and exploitation is totally common place in Hungary and so prostitution is just one step beyond that. She said it's totally normal for a woman to "sleep her way to the top" , but also, that women expect to be "used" in this way by their bosses. She said she is trying to understand why women in Hungary are such easy victims of sexual abuse and exploitation- and that the Lord is leading her to her country's history. It seems as though there is a spiritual stronghold of adultery over this country at the very least, and tonight we've just begun to pray into that area.

See what I mean about the size of the darkness (from yesterday). It can be quite overwhelming. But what I need to keep telling myself, and you, is that we just put one foot in front of the other and pray that God will use us. And that when he does we will be willing to be used by Him according to his plan, his will. Not ours. Hallelujah!

Love to you all, Cameron

Bean Pudding and a Taste of Home

2008-07-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

"Do the Enchildas come with anything on the side?" asked Matt. "Rice and Bean Pudding," said our waiter, "It's a very nice meal."

I took an amazing picture of Sydney chewing on a lime at Budapest's "best" Mexican restaurant, but shortly thereafter my camera gave up the ghost. I think there may be some kind of spiritual warfare going on against my camera. First no batteries, now "lens error". I have no idea how to remedy this but I am going to trust God that he has a plan for my camera. :-)

Today was amazing. And I am not just saying that. We vascillate daily between not wanting to stay in Budapest another minute, and wanting to live her for the foreseeable future. The greatness of the darkness (if that makes sense) that we are being made aware of- not only darkness or evil happening here- but all over the world- is astounding. And it makes it hard to want to fight against it. Because life can be so exhausting there's just nothing left for ministry.
But then God reminds us that he is made strong in our weakness. We have an encounter with a ministry that is making a tangible difference in people's lives and we are ready to sign up for another tour of duty. On the bus today as Matt and I vented our frustrations to one another I said "What if we just agree that there is a good chance that our frustrations are due to the spiritual contest going on in the heavenlies for our ministry. Perhaps we feel frustrated and inconvenienced because the enemy wants us to quit."

For example, yesterday it was 100 degrees in Budapest. And as you know, there is no air conditioning anywhere - but our house- (Praise God!) So we were leading worship at Danube International Church which was a privilege and a blessing. Only trouble is Sydney was not having the childcare. She wouldn't go for it and I didn't blame her. It was on the top floor of the building and just too hot. So we spent the whole service juggling Sydney and trying to be available mentally and literally to lead. Apparently we weren't the only ones feeling this frustration because Ronnie stopped the service to pray against the spirit of opposition that seemed to be coming against us. This 'spirit of opposition' is loitering around us at different times and now that we recognize it, it's no match for the blood of Jesus.

It's hard to be away from home, and it's easy to be frustrated or annoyed or confused, but whatever creates humility is a gift from the Lord, and this experience is one of those gifts.

We had dinner at Iguana's Tex Mex restaurant (http://www.iguana.hu/rolunk/eindex.php) and it was divine. We walked in to see the chili pepper lights and terracotta interiors- to smell cilantro and jalapeno's. It was a little taste of home that we needed. We've got 5 weeks left and we intend to make them count. Pray that God uses us for His will to be done. Pray for our meeting tomorrow night with a few local political people re: human trafficking issues. Pray for Doug and Chris and Melissa's visit to Budapest.

You are all loved, appreciated and prayed for by the Hammons!

Isten Aldon Meg (God Bless You)- Cameron

Weekend Update

2008-07-13T13:53:00.001-07:00

A week or so back we met this really sweet guy when we were doing our outreach at Nyugati. His t-shirt gave him away for an American and a TEXAN! He and his team are missionaries in Serbia and they were in Budapest for a few days. We prayed for him to be encouraged, and Rosie was so excited to meet a missionary serving her home country. He was telling us that it was really hard, that the language barrier was rough but also that the people seem pretty hard to get to know. I wish I could remember his name! Please pray for him nonetheless. :
This is actually a picture of Jarrod smiling! I decided that he and my brother should be friends. They are the only two people I know who have read Crime and Punishment cover to cover.

Here is a great shot of me, Matt, Marcus and Rosie at the "For Sale" Pub which is now our favorite restaurant. It's a bit touristy and pricy but you can get a huge bowl of Gulash for $6 and they give you huge bowls of peanuts and insist that you throw the shells on the floor. It's kind of like Hungary meets the wild west. It's awesome.

This is Matt, Nick and Lotsi- yesterday- posing on a genuine Soviet motorcycle with sidecar. Lotsi- whose family hosted the baptisms yesterday- is in the antiques business, so he has loads of really cool stuff like this. Matt was in heaven as you can see :-) Except that it was 96 degrees!

Here are a few more shots from the "gyspy excursion." Sydney and Miri pushing the swing together. Matt and Gyula being goofy. The view from an upper bedroom, some old teddy bears.

All in all it's been a great week. We are really looking forward to seeing Doug Ferguson, Chris French and Melissa Brown on Tuesday! Hooray! Pray for safe travels and good weather for their visit. The heat has finally broken and it will be 70 tomorrow. Praise God.

Blessings, Cameron

One drop of Jesus' blood

2008-07-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

...has washed away my sins...

This is what our new friends' t-shirt reads.
He asked us if we knew what it meant. He knew -even in English- and that is what really mattered.

We spent the day with Gabi and Gyula at the home of a wonderful gypsy family who hosted baptisms. I am at a total loss for words and you all know that is rare. I will let the pictures tell the story.

We arrived hot and sweaty (today it was 94 degrees in Houston AND Budapest!) but eager to experience the wonderful people that Gabi and Gyula have been discipling. The next door neighbors were having a big wedding and so the celebration atmosphere was thick.
We followed Gyula along the long driveway until we came to the backyard and porch of the home. Everything was hand carved and rustic feeling- the kids swingset, the tree house, the house itself. Our host, Lotsi, built the house with his own two hands. He and his wife Christine have 7 children, the newest one just 5 days old.

As you can probably guess Sydney's dreams came true when we heard the very near bleeting of two sheep. These two were as docile as house cats. Apparently the family had bought them several years back to slaughter and cook, but didnt' have the heart to and kept them as pets!

Sydney made instant friends with precious little Miri (Miriam) who patiently showed her all around the house and most importantly to the play room loaded with toys. They were SO sweet together. It amazed me to see how children interact without pretense or embaressment. The language barrier dissolved and Sydney was using her Hungarian very well. The girls played as we met the family and waited for the baptisms to begin.
This is the matriarch of the family, the grandmother. She emerged from the water sobbing, lifting her hands and thanking God. It was beautiful.

This is Abram, the oldest son I think. He was a bit of a tough guy! But it was so amazing to see how he prayed with such authority and gentleness. Everyone joked him that he looked like Moses in his baptismal clothes.

These two ladies were so amazing. I believe the darker haired woman is Abram's wife. When the blond haired girl was being baptised I felt as though the Lord gave me a word for her- "Angel" and "Purity" and that he is going to use her purity- somehow to encourage others? I am not sure. I will need to pray before I share that with her. Guys, we are exhausted. It's 1am again and we are leading worship in the morning. Please pray everything goes smoothly for us tomorrow...we are a bit tired and needing all the help we can get. LOVE LOVE LOVE, Cameron

Wideo Killed the Radio Star

2008-07-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

Should've known our outreach to Moskva Ter would be eventful. Last year it was nothing short of a miracle that it all came off- the sound, the weather, etc. This time it was much more laid back but no less awesome.

As soon as we arrived we quickly learned that we would be competing with a Hungarian cover band specializing in 80s and early 90s pop songs. They were playing above the square on the balcony of the "moskva ter" pub. There is a music festival going on this weekend that they seemed to be promoting. There were at least a dozen of them, all in the same yellow t shirt. Those not in the band had set up a sort of faux camp site in front of them. I suppose to mimic fans at the music festival? They were dancing and singing along with the band like 9th grade drama students. The amazing thing is that they only played for 30 minutes, the highlight of course being "Wideo Killed the Radio Star." Some songs just don't work with the Hungarian accent. :-)

The other amazing thing is that they drew a crowd so as soon as they were done, Matt and I started singing our Christian folk songs and were able to get the attention of a good group of people. We really loved playing today. The songs are sounding and feeling good, we're quite well rehearsed at this point, and it's just a joy to play together. Spirtually speaking we thought it may have been a bit of a "bust" in Matt's words, until we learned that the true Evangelist in our group- Teresa- prayed with someone to accept Christ. She is amazing. She talks to anyone who will give her the time of day. She is so gifted at communicating God's love in an encouraging, authentic way. She is really amazing. I did talk to one girl who told me she grew up going to Christian camps and attended Calvary Chapel for a while. I invited her to the coffeehouse. It seemed like she's drifted a little bit from God, but she is longing for Him again. Her name is Rita and she's about 20 I would guess. Please pray for her.

Also, please pray for our precious friend Simona, who is also Sydney's babysitter. She is having a rough time with her mother, Ilona, whom she lives with. She is needing to really trust God to care for her mother. She has her whole life ahead of her and is really struggling with not wanting to abandon her mother who is lonely and unhappy, but also wanting to begin her own life. Her mother also hates all her friends, and her church and so it's hard for Simona who is so passionate about the Lord. She has never met her father and so she has no support there. She is such a sweet, beautiful amazing young woman. Please pray for her to have the Lord's wisdom for her situation. We prayed together tonight and she seemed really encouraged by it. It's amazing that I can feel like a mother toward 19 and 20 year olds. I am really getting old!!

I am waiting for some pics from Jim Weatherall and Rosie, who promised to email a few so I could post them. Thanks to Jim for the correction about "Lenin's boots" from last night's post. It was actually Stalin's boots of course- that were the symbol of the 1956 revolution.

Jim and Ruth Weatherall are here and such a blessing. We just love the whole Johnson clan so much. Everyone here has become like family to us in such a short time. It's amazing. What an incredible God it is that we serve. You can meet a believer from half way around the world and be like brothers in moments. It's breathtaking.

Thanks for your prayers, and I promise pictures soon.....

Love,
Cameron

Back Log

2008-07-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

Since I still have no batteries for my camera (talk to matt about that) I thought I would post some pics that I hadn't gotten to yet. Sound good? This is dusk at Steve and Barbara's. How could anyone look at that sunset and not see clear evidence of a Creator.
It's so inspiring.

JohnMark- on our team- from Houston Via UTSA. Great singer, great guy.

This is Jarrod of course, and this is the face he makes every time I take his picture! When we first arrived I told him how great it was to see how being with YWAM in Budapest has matured him so much! It's really awesome, he's done so well here.

Statue Park. This is basically a grave yard for the statues that the Communists put up all over Budapest. This is a very bizarre place. First of all, it is not cheap to enter. And when you go inside it's basically an acre of gravel and weeds with these massive statues all around. For Hungarians who are obsessive about their gardens, it is clear this place is kept with no love. And it is clear that someone is turning a nice profit off the curiosity of foreign tourists. Most Budapesters I've met have never been there.

Lenin.

This shot is great for scale. Look closely and you can see little Sydney skipping to my lu at the feet of this massive statue. Intimidation seemed to be a big part of the whole Communist thing.

They had an interesting exhibit at the park on the 1956 revolution. It was almost like an art installation. They were screening footage from secret police training films; film used to show new agents how to break into someone's home undetected, how to search for evidence of conspiracy (ie possession of foreign currencies, etc) how to tap phones, etc. It was wild, it was like an Albert Hitchcock movie.

This statue, or what remains of it, just the boots, is a symbol of freedom that was born during the 1956 revolution if I am not mistaken. The revolters were able to pull down the statue of Lenin, until all that remained were his boots. Today they tower over the park, in defiance. It's quite dramatic.

This image, of the hands holding the world, is kind of the masterpiece. Only because I see it as God holding the world in his hand. It's a powerful image. I have no idea what the communists meant by it.

Here is something beautiful to leave you with-
St. Stephen's Basilica. Quite a contrast.

Bless you guys and I am going to get those batteries tomorrow! I promise. We are going on outreach tomorrow....pray for fruit!

Love, Cameron

New Friends

2008-07-08T13:53:00.001-07:00

Something really cool happened today. We met one of our neighbors on the bus a few weeks back. He is 17 and his name is Zoli. He asked us if we were musicians- he must've picked it up from our conversation. He told us he plays guitar and so we invited him to come over and play with Matt. Honestly, I figured he was probably just learning or pretty terrible but wouldn't it bless him to play with the American guy? Wow, am I an idiot. We were so blessed. He is amazing! He played a piece that he wrote and I came up with a vocal melody and a few words. I definitely have the concept for the song. He is coming over Thursday and he and Matt are going to record. We've invited him along to coffeehouse of course and he says he will come.

Wow, wasn't my goal to have a conversation with a neighbor? How about write a song with one. God is so cool.

Night night,
Cameron

Victory

2008-07-07T14:55:00.000-07:00

I lead a devotional this morning for the team on Joshua 24, the renewal of the covenant at Shechem. People, I am not a bible scholar, nor am I that smart that I could've come up with any of it. God totally lead me to and through what I presented and I got such a fantastic response.

We talked about how God does not forget the victories he's won for us, but sometimes we need reminding. We shared stories of victories we've experienced in our lives and ministries. Mine was seeing my friend Ryan come to faith. Another talked about seeing God come through with financial provision. Another was seeing a former transsexual prostitute come to Christ, leave the lifestyle and now sign up for a Discipleship Training School!

The next one (DTS) that Budapest is hosting starts in September. I kinda do wish we could do it, but I don't really feel like that's God's timing for us.

Anyway, the word that I felt the Lord gave me for the study, for the team, was victory!

I can't wait to see how this plays out in all the amazing ministries that are based at YWAM Budapest- book club, english club, coffee house, gypsy ministry, Biksadi house, DTS, School of Worship, School of Biblical Studies, etc....it's awesome.

So tired. Midnight again. Love to all, Cameron

PS. More pictures are coming!

Hope for the Hopeless

2008-07-05T14:33:00.000-07:00

"One of you routs a thousand because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the Lord your God."- Joshua 23:10

I went to a meeting this morning of a few ladies who are passionate about seeing human trafficking stopped. Gabi and Marion are Hungarian and English ladies, respectively, who are a part of the staff at YWAM Budapest and who have a heart to reach the women who are trapped by this trafficking. We had an amazing meeting this morning. It was incredible to hear more about Gabi and her husband Jula's gypsy ministry. Next weekend they are having their "class graduation" and will be doing 7 baptisms! They hosted a class for gypsy students and 7 people accepted Christ. She was telling us that a family of 5, who live in an apartment of 20 square meters, (literally one on top of the other) have all accepted Christ and are living with so much excitement and joy at what God is doing in their lives. Gabi said that the older man is a postman and he proudly tells everyone that he is living for God and God's purpose! She said it's just so amazing to see how they respond to the gospel. In keeping with their culture, they respond with music,celebration and enthusiasm. I will be there to take pictures to share with you.

I mention this because many of the prostitution rings in Budapest consist of and are run by gypsies. Gabi told me that 90% of gypsy women are sexually molested by a family member. She said many of them have no idea that this is even wrong- prostitution and exploitation flows out of this. We talked today about doing street outreaches with some of the gypsy's in Gabi's church. I think they would be really effective in talking and praying with people from their own culture.

I found out something interesting also from Gabi. She said the Catholic church has a really terrible reputation in Hungary for corruptness and power grabbing. She said that the Catholic church is very involved in the government and that they are trying to enforce a quite military style of governing. She said many Hungarians are totally closed to the idea of church b/c of this. Unfortunately, when we have been doing our street outreaches, we've literally been under a banner from the catholic church. We partner with friends who are charismatic Catholics and we've been using their equipment. I hope and pray that this does not turn people off. I am thinking we may be better off sticking with our original vision of playing without amplification in the park and just inviting people into the circle. We'll see.

Back to my point. I am so excited about this "task force" that seems to be starting up here.

About a year ago I read a book called "Terrify No More" by Gary Haugen, who is the director of International Justice Mission. See link below. They are a Christian organization who go into countries where human trafficking is happening and work with local law enforcement and government to not only rescue women and children but to prosecute the offenders who are perpetrating this. They work to dig out this weed from the roots. After I read Gary Haugen's book I thought to myself, "How could I ever help this awful situation. How could I ever have the opportunity to get involved?" God is so amazing because I feel like that question is being answered right now. I am just praying that He will reveal to me how I can help. Haugen makes one of the most profound points I have ever heard, in regard to the role of Christians in fighting evil in the world. He says that when faced with the horrors of child abuse, slavery, forced prostitution- he has stopped asking "Where is God?" and started asking "Where are God's people?"

Gabi tells the story that she was at a missions conference when she saw a woman speak about human trafficking. She thought "This is not my business. I don't want to hear about this. What can I do?" She went to her hotel room that night and complained to her husband about having to sit through this presentation- about how this was not "her problem." That night as she slept the Lord spoke to her. "Gabi, this is your problem" He said. As Christians, this is our problem. As human beings it's our problem. Let's be praying about how we can help.

I am so excited to see how the Lord will use us in this battle. Hallelujah.

Sweet dreams, Cameron

http://www.ijm.org/

quick note

2008-07-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

It is really late so I will just write a little bit and tomorrow upload the photos from today and talk about it in more detail. We did an outreach at Nyugati Square in the underground train station, which is home to major prostitution. We met several girls who told us they are 12 years old, and are out there turning tricks. It looked as though an older lady, possibly even one of their mother's, was "pimping" them. We sang our songs, told our stories, handed out tracks and coffeehouse invitations. I was wishing we had someone with us who knew the "Roma" community better, or who had some sort of a program for girls to get out of prostitution. It's so frustrating. To talk about a life of freedom in Christ, but not have a practical application available to them in that moment. These girls appear to be sold by their own families. Is there any escape possible from that?

I know that through God there is a way, but I am convinced WE must be somehow a part of this way. We are called to be his hands and feet on earth. I am more and more convinced that I have "a heart" for the prostitutes of Budapest and I really want to get involved with a deeper outreach effort to them.

It is so amazing that the police simply look the other way. Members of our team were even approached by some of the girls. They are so brazen. There is no one to stop them. But it's really the pimps that are the scary ones. They were all gypsies, or Roma, and it seemed as though many of them were from the same family. I kept thinking, "How low must a man get to sell his own wife, or daughter, or sister?" I know it must have been the Lord giving me compassion for them b/c my normal reaction would've been disgust, but instead I felt genuinely sorry for them.

Rosie made a keen observation. Though the pimps and prostitutes were not deterred by us Christians preaching the gospel, not one "sale" was transacted while we were there. Each time one of the girls approached a man, they were turned down again and again. We felt as though this was a "God thing." I will write more tomorrow. Pray for the team, for the girls, for Marcus (he is still with us!)...

We love you all, Cameron

Bread of life

2008-07-02T14:18:00.000-07:00

I am trying to upload a picture of the $30, XXL pizza we accidentally bought tonight but apparently even the picture is too big to fit on my blog. Matt said that the person who took his order spoke English. Apparently 'large' in Hungarian can feed a small village. Ha!

We had another great day with Marcus, tagging along like a true team member! He and Matt and Rosie finished the "Emmanuel Labor" on the building in less than two hours today. We found out that he has a background in this kind of work and is actually quite skilled at it. As it turns out his father is a master carpenter and stone worker. God really answered our prayer- for skilled laborers to work on this building. Luckily, Jarrod and JohnMark are taking a much needed rest and not working this week so Marcus came along at the perfect time.

He talked to his Dad tonight on the phone, and his Dad told him for the first time the true circumstances around why he left Hungary. He had been a part of the 1956 Revolution, the uprising in which Hungarians armed themselves and for a few days kicked the Russians out of power. It was the most glorious moment in modern Hungarian history. But sadly, Russian tanks rolled in from Asia and murdered 80,000 Hungarians. Among them, the many young soldiers, like Marcus' father, who had been involved in the revolution. Somehow he escaped by walking to Austria- at the urging of his very scared family who likely thought they would be persecuted or killed for his involvement in the uprising.

His father told him, "Isn't it funny what God does", meaning that Marcus is in Budapest, when his father hasn't been back since he left on foot almost 40 years ago.

We talked tonight about how his journey is quite like the prodigal son, and I told him how I believe the Lord is wanting to bring healing to his father, and is using him to do it. He said his Dad was getting choked up talking about his country.

This photo is funny because it's Marcus examining the deeper issues of life, as he has been doing since we met him on Monday. He seems so open to God. He is truly a seeker. And we know what God says about that; those who seek will find. I think we are meant to just walk along side offering friendship and encouragement during that process. I've told Marcus he must keep in touch with us because we can't wait to hear about the adventures God yet has for him.

Keep praying for him, and for us, as we know you are and will, and we are so thankful.

Love and sweet dreams, Cameron

Hippie Christians

2008-07-01T14:19:00.001-07:00

This is a term that my brother uses to describe me to his friends. It has never felt more true than tonight. In fact, it never has felt true, but tonight we were all hippied out and it was awesome. We had a big communal dinner over at the Biksadi house and we got to meet a couple of the Budapest team members who've been in Vienna the last three weeks. Apparently Vienna was intense. The team spent all day talking to people about Jesus and then slept on the floor of the YMCA. 2 showers for 120 people. Eek. Man, missionaries work hard. I've never seen anything like it. Everyone is doing 14 hour days and working non stop. Working on the coffeehouse building, doing street outreaches, planning the next DTS, praying, cleaning, etc. It's non stop. Tonight we had some dowtime and ate a Polish feast prepared by Edyta, who is going on furlow for a few weeks this Friday.
Matt spent all day doing "Emmanuel Labor" at the base with Rosie, and our new friend Marcus. That's him in the brown t-shirt in the foreground of the shot. We've sort of adopted him. He is an American guy traveling around Europe by himself. All his traveling buddies have gone home and he is the "last man standing." He is not a believer, yet he's been totally drawn into our lives in the last 36 hours. Pray for him. He is a great guy, really sweet and apparently worked really hard and helped Matt alot. His Dad is Hungarian and escaped during communism by hiking through the alps. He defected to Canada and then ended up in California where Marcus is from. We are not sure how long he will be around, but we know that we are making an impact on him, hopefully for Christ.

I am feeling quite convicted that it is not enough to talk about the church, about Jesus, and pray for people's salvation from a distance. It is important to be the church to those people, in real, tangible and practical ways. I know this was a huge part of me becoming a believer. I was drawn into this wonderful community and I wanted the "light" they had shining from within them. I think for young people these days, this is the X factor- it's the power of authentic relationships.

Sydney had a blast, tried on everyone's shoes, and ate dessert twice. I had a great chat with Shannon and Marie. They are such intelligent, wonderful women. It is so fascinating to hear there experiences with Hungarians, and also to hear about their impressions of the country, the food, the language. It's also amazing to learn a little about each of their journeys.
After everyone finished eating we went down to the garden and sang worship songs. Everyone had a turn on the guitar and I even played a song! Ha! I loved it. This is exactly what we do in my family after a big meal- Christmas or Thanksgiving or Easter. The guitar comes out and we sing and play. I love that so much. It was really amazing.

Jarrod and JohnMark are taking a few days off so it looks like Marcus will be helping Matt with the building. Please pray this all continues to go well and pray that Marcus comes to faith. Steve Johnson is on a break with his family in Croatia- please pray for rest and refreshing. The money for the Biksadi house is still needed, we are fasting and praying as a team. The family they are buying from are having a bit of a crisis as the father is in the hospital. Please pray that we can love them somehow through this, though the money they are owed is not yet completely through. The amazing thing is that most of it is through or is coming through this week. Praise God!

Love and goodnight,
Cameron

A Thankful Heart

2008-06-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

This morning we snapped this shot as we waited for the bus on Peterhegyi Utca, as we do almost every day. We've got our routine down and it feels good. This morning we led worship for the YWAM staff meeting which felt pretty great too. Lately, I have been experiencing tremendous freedom in prayer and worship. I'm not sure why, maybe it's just the thought that well, I may never see these people again so I may as well let it rip. So if I fall on my face it's not so bad. We should think this everyday in our normal lives but we don't, or I don't. We care, I care, alot- about what people think. Our pastor here is a guy called Ronnie who is going to call fire down from Heaven one of these days I am convinced. There is something kinda old timey about his style which is both endearing and off putting to me. He is a brilliant man and if what he was saying was any less than brilliant I don't think I would be a fan. But it is and I am. This past Sunday we lead worship and he spoke about "prophetic partnerships" aka, accountability partners. It made me miss mine- Lauren- alot, but it also made me so thankful for her. Her honesty, her discreetness, her friendship. He also talked about the nature of the prophetic voice in the Church. He said we have alot of what we honor and we DO NOT honor prophets, because prophets often say the things that nobody wants to here. As he was talking I was feeling convicted in a way, about what I sense is part of my own gifting, and how I have not cultivated it. He talked about our gifts and how scripture tells us to WORK on them, not to coast in the areas we are gifted by to be deliberate and cultivate them.

I have been having truly prophetic pictures and 'words' since I've been here and I am convicted that I must pay attention to this and cultivate it. It is always, 100% of the time, for someone else's benefit or encouragement anyway. So I should be freely sharing these things.

Today during worship at the YWAM staff meeting Shannon shared a devotion about cultivating a thankful heart. Here are a few things I am thankful for:

1) My marriage. See photo above. It is so awesome I need to pinch myself, seriously.

2) My incredibly amazing, gorgeous, brilliant, kind, loving baby girl.

3) That I get to sing for a living.

4) My new Budapest family.
5) the gospel. that is always makes an impact.

It's late and the pediatrician just
called! Hooray, we are getting some industrial strength diaper rash cream sent over here. Praise God!

One more thing I wanted to share that I am thankful for. You. Each one of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers, your support, your love, your encouragement. I cannot believe how incredible this life if that He has given me. I am, we are, so blessed. Specifically, thank you for praying for Jack, my cousin's son. All is well. His operation went perfectly, his tumor was BENIGN, and he has little to no chance of recurrence. They are just picking up the pieces and getting back to normal life. Amazingly, it seems that this experience has opened their hearts to other families who suffer when a child is sick, and they have counted themselves blessed that this chapter is now closed. God will and is using this experience for them and I will pray that He makes that really clear to them. I hope he will use it to bring comfort to someone else down the road who may go through the same thing.

Here is a picture of the candle I lit and St. Stephen's Basilica where I prayed for Jack, before his operation. Proof that God is listening. Hallelujah.

Pictures

2008-06-28T00:04:00.000-07:00

Making Coffee! Edyta is 24 and from Poland. She is hilarious. And adorable, obviously. She did her DTS at the Budapest base and comes back for a few months at a time to work with the team. Emmanuel- fellow in the green shirt- is from Pakistan and is a coffeehouse regular. Very nice guy.

...Today we are going to the Valenca Lake near Lake Balaton with the "Biksadi girls". These are the young ladies who are YWAM staff members/ missionaries from all over the world who live in the Biksadi house, which is the building the team bought on faith- literally- to house short term mission teams coming to Budapest. Edyta is from Poland, Mirjami is from Finland, Shannon is from America and Rosie is from Serbia. These ladies are amazing...

A word on the Biksadi house...somehow last summer the landlords of this building ( the building that was prayed for and first seen by the Houston team !) allowed them to "rent to own", to buy the building without any money down. Just yesterday a loan came through for them to actually pay for the building but because of the sliding Euro and dollar, 34,000 Euro was lost in the exchange rate! We are praying for a miracle here to make up the difference. Selfishly, if it all works out before August 1st Matt and Syd and I will get to stay in the front apartment of the building for our last two weeks here- which we would love of course. But obviously there are more pressing reasons to pray that God delivers a miracle...pray for the dollar to regain strength!!!! I don't exactly understand all the ins and outs of the situation but
I will share more tonight...lots of love America..sleep tight (it's 2am in Houston!) Love, Cameron

Fruit

2008-06-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

There are so many ways to describe this feeling. Like when the two sides of a ziploc bag come together and gschhh.....it's sealed. When the train locks in on the track. When the last piece of the puzzle is put in it's place and you stand back to see the whole picture.

Tonight was nothing short of amazing. It was coffeehouse night, and it seemed that almost everyone who came was lost, hurting and looking for answers. On the far right is the lovely Zsofi. Rosie met her yesterday while we were doing our outreach at Blaha Luiza Ter. She was crying and saying she wanted to kill herself. She had no hope left. Rosie invited her tonight, she came, we talked, they prayed. Look at her face in this picture. By the end of the night she was talking to others about what "faith" means. She was like a sponge, taking in all the hope she could get, so thirsty for the good news, for God. As the moments passed and she talked with Rosie, her smile came, her face lit up. It was amazing to watch. We sent her home with a good book, an inspirational biography, and a promise to pray for her. She will come again next week hopefully. In the middle is Hiva. He is a Kurdish refugee from Iran who is living in Hungary. He and I talked for an hour. He escaped from Iran as a refugee because he was a computer teacher working for the rights of women and children. He never accepted Islam and his family lived in fear because they all faced death if Hiva denounced Islam. He said it is the duty of a Muslim to kill another Muslim who converts to another religion, and if he doesn't, he will share in the fate of the converted- to be killed.

Hiva immediately wanted to debate the bible, and PRAISE GOD, by a miracle I had answers to his questions. And what's more, he received and accepted my answers. He has been struggling with Christianity a long time it seems. He has many Christian friends. He reads the bible and marks it with notes and questions. He is really seeking. He told me he has twice had vivid dreams of Jesus. In both, Jesus is telling Him, "Why don't you believe Hiva?" "Why don't you believe this book?" And then "Don't worry, Hiva, you will become a Christian." In both dreams while he is in the presence of Jesus- black things are flying out of his body and he is feeling peace like he has never ever known.

He said he grew up in fear of his father who was an abusive heroin addict. He would have to defend his mother and sister against him. Being women, they had no rights of their own in Iranian society. He said this peace he felt in his dream surpassed anything he'd ever experienced.

I was totally flabbergasted. He brought tears to my eyes describing his "encounters" with Jesus. Yet, he still insists that he doesn't believe in God. It's understandable what he struggles with. He's been personally abused by a religious dictatorship. Somehow I was able to communicate to him that Jesus came to destroy "religion" --that he made a way for us to have a personal relationship to God without the need of a priest, or even a church. It seemed that he really heard this. Another amazing thing was I was able to share some knowledge with him that I picked up in my seminary class. He is super intelligent and very bookish. I remembered a few things from the class that really seemed to speak to him. Praise God. How amazing. I find myself in the habit of praising God all the time here. Finally, my heart feels tuned to recognizing that every bit of mercy, every good thing, truly does come from Him.

Here's one more AMAZING thing. Remember yesterday when I said that I'd had the picture of people lined up for Christ and then we saw them lined up for bread in the park. Well during that same prayer time I felt like the Lord said to me "Look out for someone you will meet who has been let down by medicine. Who needs healing." Well as we talked to Zsofi she told us that she was treated for depression 12 years ago and the treatment didn't work for her, she'd been disappointed by it. I almost jumped out of my skin. When she said that it clicked in my head that this was the person that the Lord said needed healing. I tried to explain this to her. I wanted to give her a big hug! "You're the one" I kept saying. I was expecting someone with a physical, not psychological ailment. I didn't see it at first. I am just dumbfounded by all this.

With that, I must sleep, it is 1am! Please pray for the people in Hungary struggling with depresion. As a team we encountered 3 people tonight who are contemplating suicide. There were only about 30 people there tonight. That's 10%. This is a nationwide crisis here. Pray that God uses us to intercede. We are seeing people brought back from the brink of death - into life. This is another thing I prayed for before we went to the outreach yesterday. I am truly awestruck. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR US. IT REALLY WORKS. PRAISE GOD!
Love, Cameron

play date

2008-06-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

Here is Sydney, doing her part yesterday! She likes to dust with this huge feather duster. She had another play date this morning. So cute. She loved Reese, they had a blast. Reese has tons of amazing toys and a "kiki" identical to Sydney's. She was in heaven. However, after we left her with Cinta, apparently she had a bit of a meltdown. She broke a chair and a glass. How will I explain this to our hosts? Argh. My feeling is as long as she wasn't hurt, stuff is replaceable, ya know?
Here she is with Grace and Melody on Tuesday, eating pizza. It was so hot that day. Notice the lace curtains. Everyone has these lace curtains, it's wacky.

Anyway, today we also had a play date of our own, so to speak. We did an outreach at Blaha Luiza Ter. Guys, what I am going to tell you is INSANE, and I am not even sure what it means, but here we go. So when we were praying for the outreach, just before we left, I had a picture of people lined up to pray to receive salvation. Like, so many people wanted to pray that they had to line up. When we arrived at Blaha we saw this:

People lined up. A long line of people. Here they are in line to receive bread and soup from the Hare Krishna's. Who are everywhere in this city. Krishna's have got the food thing down. Feed a hungry man and he will listen to anything you have to say. My brother went to one of their big "evangelistic" meals in NYC many years ago. They cook a magnificent vegetarian feast and offer it for free. I think you have to listen to something, or sign up for something. I am totally not sure what the Lord was saying with this. My vision was exactly what I saw here. I feel like maybe We should be feeding people like this. I think it would be amazing if all the mission agencies in Budapest got together to do a big free meal once a week in one of the parks. I feel like as Christians we have to be feeding the hungry and caring for the poor and widowed, or we are not being who we are called to be. This is so lacking in my own ministry. I really am feeling this here. I need to be doing more. Montrose Street Reach is a wonderful "mercy ministry" in Houston. Being involved a bit there has totally opened my eyes to the need all around me. I can't solve anyone's problems, but at least I can be there. I can serve a meal, pray with someone, offer hope. We've got to get on this better Church, because everyone else has. The Hare Krishna's, The Mormons, The Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. All "competing for the truth in the marketplace of ideas," to quote Matt Hammon :-)
Nonetheless, Jesus is the bread of life. Good as it looked, the veggie soup and bread will satisfy for now, but in a few hours, those folks will be hungry again and go looking for a meal. Jesus completes us in a way that we never hunger in the same way again. The "God shaped hole" has been filled. I am living proof that this is true.

Here we are in the underground at Blaha, having a blast. So many people stopped and listened, lingering for a long time. I was praying for them. Others came and talked to us. An American guy named Ken let me pray for him. Another young "Roma" guy talked with Adam, our friend and translator for 45 minutes! He was so close to accepting Christ. We'll pray for him. There were prostitutes hanging out there too. So many. Some are so young. Everyone who caught my eye I prayed for. It was so easy to see who was being stirred by the spirit and whose heart was totally hardened to it. In that way, it gave me a fresh perspective on reformed theology. Children responded instantly, without pretense. Totally interested, totally engaged, eager to here the music. Scripture is clear on this. Some were moved, some to tears. Others sneared. An older lady yelled at us. Some have ears to here and some just don't. It's crazy. Of course they may here and believe some other place or time, I have no idea. We are in it now, folks, hallelujah, we are in the fray, in the mad mix of it now. Praise God.

A few pics to send you off to sleep with. Thanks for your prayers and posts they are so felt and appreciated. Love, Cameron

the old windows.
babies.
my handsome husband.

Candles at St. Stephen's Basilica...

Americans in Budapest 2

2008-06-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

Today was prayer and intercession at the base (intercession--praying for others, for the Discipleship Training School, for the various ministries happening out of here, etc), and CLEANING! No usually I would not be excited about cleaning, but..Matt Hammon cleaned the men's bathroom! We are really having breakthroughs guys! I have never seen my husband clean a bathroom! This missions thing is good for us...:-) I would post a pic but blogger is being weird right now....

We had a great day, all the practical base work went really well, and quickly. We looked at all the windows and doors that are getting replaced this summer. If I told you - you would not believe how expensive this is. The dollar is getting weaker and weaker...it's making life more and more expensive for those of us who live on American dollars. The Euro is also weakening believe it or not. I will post some more info on the windows if anyone wants to get involved there. I had a word from the Lord today about the "doorways" of the base. I kept getting a picture of a mezzuzah, which is a tiny torah encased in metal and affixed to the inside of a doorway. It's a Jewish tradition and you are meant to kiss it each time you enter. The Lord reminded me that His blood is over the doorways of this building, the way it was at passover. Praying about it, Heidi (a lovely Swiss woman on staff at the base) said she felt it represented the passage from death to life. When people enter this buidling they are entering from death to life. The blood on the doorway at the first passover kept the first born in the household alive. L'Chaim. To Life. People are walking into the building and walking into life in relationship with the author of life. Also, the history of this building, which is located in what was the Jewish Ghetto during WWII, feels like confirmation there. There are mezzuzah's still throughout the building, that have been there forever.

We had a great talk with Steve, who wanted to check in with us and see how we are doing. We are doing much better thanks. It's been good to just be together as a family and do family things. Even just eating dinner all together is wonderful. The weather has cooled down some- PRAISE GOD. We are actually managing with just fans again for the most part, but man are we grateful the AC was here when we needed it. Soccer fans are hooting and hollering all over our neighborhood. Soccer is like baseball or football here, and the Eurocup is on right now- which Matt tells me is like the world cup for European teams. Hungary's team is apparently terrible because there is a lot of corruption- but somehow the country is still obsessed with soccer.

Sydney was adorable today. She wore her pink bathing suit all day and helped me clean the house by dusting with a multi-colored feather duster. Tomorrow I am taking her for a play date in the morning to a family we met at church, and then in the afternoon we are doing a street outreach at Blaha Luiza ter. Phew. It'll be a long day but full- just what I like.

Anyway, soon as blogger get's it's act together I will post more pictures.

Love you all...keep up the comments.....we love it!

Love,
Cameron

Americans in Budapest

2008-06-25T11:23:00.001-07:00

I wanted to get some of these photos up so you have images with names, etc. This is Cinta, looking at me...She's obviously not American but...anyway...I think it's kind of a cool picture we were at the Matt Redman/ Hillsong Concert.

Below, this is probably my favorite shot from the festival. Worship.

Jarrod, doing what he loves. Rocking.

Here is our awesome sound guy. At first he didn't like me. But by the end we were buddies. He showed me pictures of his four daughters! I got the sense that he was into what we were doing. Behind him is Austin, who is a teacher at the Christian school here and a part of our worship/ evangelism posse. He's from Tennessee. He's hilarious.
Bringing the high heat.

Matt and Rosie. Cute! Ok, I've run out of space so I will post again and add more images....Love, Cameron

Day Off

2008-06-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

Thank's y'all, so much for posting and praying! It means so much to me to hear from you guys and to know you are praying. I miss you all so much. We keep thanking God everyday for our amazing church home, our amazing friends. We are totally blown away by you guys. So, thank you.

We had a day off today and I took Sydney for a "play date" with two little girls who's parents are a part of the Budapest base. It was 96 degrees today! Sydney had fun playing with all the new toys. She is so funny. Her words are so few that she uses them at the funniest times. She was holding a toy stroller and trying to put it up on the girl's beds. The oldest girl, Melody, said "Give it to me Sydney." Sydney gave it to her, smiled and waved "hi!" and then...clapped and said..."Yeah!" It's kind of like my Hungarian. I can say "hi", "excuse me", "thank you" and "I would like"..I will often use those words and phrases in odd moments because I know nothing else! Ha! Hooray that God has a sense of humor.
Sydney is hilarious and keeps me seriously on my toes.

I have a ton of pictures to share that I will post tonight. Cinta, our amazing babysitter is coming over tonight and making Hungarian food! Can't wait.

Tomorrow we will pray at the base and do some manual labor. Thursday we will do an outreach. Excited for that.

I was talking with Marion (mom to Melody and Grace) and she was telling me that she has a heart to reach the prostitutes in Budapest and to try and get involved to stop the trafficking of sex workers here- it is huge here and in Romania. In fact, we think that prostitution is legal here. It is so sad. Sex is a commodity here and it is everywhere you look. It's incredible how human beings are so eager to destroy the gifts that God gives us, because of our total unwillingness to live within boundaries. What's crazy also- when you think of it is how the whole human community is adversely affected by this kind of thing, not just those directly involved. Children are born with birth defects b/c mom is on drugs and selling her body. Or children aren't born at all b/c mom can't handle another one and so she gets an abortion. Abortion is huge in this part of the world. It us utterly heart breaking. I definitely want to get involved with this ministry, to reach women in need, but I just hope that I can do something when I am here such a short time. I also know it's important that I learn the language.

Gabi- who is an awesome Hungarian woman who is a part of the YWAM base staff- she is going to be a part of the outreach to prostitutes. She and her husband also host a church service for gypsies on Friday nights! I am dying to go to that! It is at the Christian book store in Buda, close to the Gellert Hotel. Last year I met and prayed with several "gypsies", they are called "Roma" here, and God broke my heart for them. They were so open to the Gospel, it was incredible. One man couldn't believe that I would "tell my story" in public like I did when I gave my testimony. It encouraged him. Another woman ended up praying for me! It was really beautiful. I hope to get away one Friday night to check that out. Friday's are coffeehouse nights, and we are committed to being the "house band" for the month of July, if one is needed.

We played a few songs this past Friday and it was awesome. There was a small crowd, about 30 people, and Emily Johnson sang backing vocals for "God of Peace". She is incredibly talented, and only 14 years old! The people there really responded positively to my songs, it was encouraging.

So much love to you friends, we are praying for you all too....please post, write....etc...

more later,
Cameron

Confession Time

2008-06-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

This is harder than it looks :-)

Being in a foreign country, with a baby, trying to get around and do life is not easy I need to admit here. It really puts the pressure on all your relationships, especially with the people you love the most. I fear that Matt's parents have come in the middle of a hard adjustment period for us and I know it must be worrisome for them. I think being here has brought out the best and worst in us. And that's ok. It's important to let you all know how to pray for us and so here I am, spilling it. :-)

We are totally committed to our mission here, there is no doubt. And we love Budapest with all we've got, no doubt there either. It's just taking a second for us to get our sea legs, and the result has been tempers shorter than usual, frustration higher than normal, etc.

Please pray for a wave of God's peace to wash over us as we start a new week trying our best to serve and follow Him. Love, Cameron

PS. Praise God we have airconditioning in this house! It's 93 degrees here!

Festival Wrap Up

2008-06-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

We played our last set this afternoon. It was 90 degrees today and yesterday. Phew, we are pooped. It's 9:30pm and Matt is sleeping! Matt's folks leave on Monday :-( and our new babysitter moves in for the week. They have been so helpful and awesome...we will miss them...Sounds crazy to have a babysitter live with us but there is no other way for us to be everywhere we need to be. She'll watch Syd 4 days a week and stay with us Mon- Sat. Sydney loves her and we do too. She is a young, Hungarian women who went through the DTS training here in Budapest and is really good friends with Rosie. We feel so blessed to have found her, she is really amazing, is on fire for God and loves our baby! What could be better.

This afternoon after we got back from the outreach we all went to the baths at the Gellert Hotel. It was amazing, refreshing, just what we needed. Literally streams of living water beneath the city bubble up to create these effervescent baths/ pools. It's incredible. Budapest is incredible. The city is blessed with so much natural beauty, and ironically the national 'personality' is one of fatalism and pessimism. I think there is another kind of bubbling under the surface here though. Young people are responding to the holy spirit and we are seeing people taking little babysteps into relationship with God. It's pretty amazing...

I have just been too busy to take pictures and I am so sorry! I will take some next week. Tomorrow is church and hopefully rest!

Love y'all, Cameron

Big time Praise

2008-06-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

Hallelujah! Jack's surgery went great and all is well! Praise God. The family- and Jack- are on the mend. Thank you for your prayers!

We are too exhausted to say much. We'll do a big "festival" wrap up at the end of the weekend. It's going great. Lots of encouragement.....Love, Cameron

Food poisoning, diaper rash and odd beef

2008-06-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

"It's different," said Paula after tasting the over priced beef we bought and tried to grill tonight.

Dear Europe,
1. Please consider selling vaseline otc.
2. Texas cows taste great. Look into it.
3. Broccoli is green, not beige.

Love,
Matt & Cameron

PS. Please let visitors know about the cottage cheese.
PPS. Mullets don't look good on anyone. Ever.

Ok, now that we've gotten that off our chests. Keep praying please...but here are a few other things to pray for:

Jack's surgery is tomorrow morning
Matthew and Lizi Bailey have two kids in the hospital with pneumonia

Tomorrow we are singing again and we practiced a bunch of awesome songs tonight. Excited.

Love y'all,

Matt & Cameron

Found in Translation

2008-06-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

Matt Redman came to town tonight and this song really knocked my socks off, as it always does.

"I'm coming back to the heart of worship, cause it's all about you, it's all about you Jesus. I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it, cause it's all about you, it's all about you Jesus."

"The thing" I've made it. Man that gets me everytime.

We played our first gig of the week this afternoon and just missed the torrential downpour. Lots of folks came and watched. It was a bit awkward to be honest - as these things tend to be- but during my "set", where I was leading songs, it felt really great.

Here's Matt doing something weird with his tuner. :-)

Later I had an amazing talk with a young artist named Mikey, who let me pray for him, and was so interested and open. A real seeker. I invited him to the coffeehouse so hopefully he will come. Talked to another lady who wanted to tell me all about her "guru" and her "transcendental meditation" and her "inner teachers". It was heavy. I told her that the wrong path might look and feel like the right one, but it leads to nothing, to disappointment. The right path leads to Life. To Jesus. Somehow I came up with this story about trying to find your family's house by the sea and getting lost. Smelling the sea air you know you are close so you follow the easiest path you find. You keep getting closer and closer to the ocean and think you've made it to the house, only to realize you are still miles away. Something like that. I invited her to Friday night too. She was really touched when I invited her. Maybe she'll come. If it were up to me we'd just sing Kumbaye in the park all day long and talk to people. All the gear and set up is kind of getting me down to be honest. Maybe Matt and Syd and I will do some of that on our own.

Please pray for Sydney she's got a bad diaper rash. And I can't seem to find the right stuff for it here. Argh.

So tired. Love y'all, Cameron

Emmanuel Labor

2008-06-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

Jack's surgery was canceled today and mom and dad and grandparents are totally wrecked I am sure. I cannot imagine what this is like. They must be totally exhausted. Please keep praying. Thanks all you folks who've told me your praying. Keep it up!

Rough day today y'all. As soon as I was ready to leave the house my camera said "Warning! Battery Exhausted!" It should've said..."Warning Sydney Exhausted!" We dragged Sydney all over town today and she was not really happy about it. Of course she made a 1000 friends anyway and charmed the socks off a bunch of German tourists but at what cost? No naps and to bed, finally, at almost midnight. We left for dinner at 9pm and left her with Roshitza thinking she'd be out but she was still up when we got home at 11:30! Tomorrow is the first concert and it's gonna take a miracle - for me- to bring much to the table. "I need a miracle!' Let me know if you get the reference....

We did have a wonderful meal with Matt's parents at the Citadella overlooking the city. I have a crush on Budapest. I am not sure yet if she returns my feelings. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for your prayers. We are so humbled and grateful. Sorry for the no pictures. More tomorrow.

Love,
Cameron

Rehearsals

2008-06-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we started rehearsals for the gospel festival, which starts Wednesday. Each Monday evening we meet at Steve and Barbara's and bond as a team, pray and eat dinner together. Barbara is a saint for hosting us all. Tonight we had a little taste of Texas- chips and homemade guac and salsa and tacos. Yum. Next week we may host at our adopted house...

Bill and Paula seemed to have a blast getting to know Budapest a bit today. They are great travelers, just so excited and enthusiastic about trying and seeing new things. Tomorrow night Rosie is going to watch Sydney and we are going to take a boat cruise around the Danube. This is the most amazing way to see the city. I had the idea to maybe go to a club and pray for people some night soon. Some friends did that in England for many years and they saw God do amazing things. It seems that the club culture is really huge here. I wonder what that would be like. We will see.

Wednesday our first set is at 1:30pm. The venue is at outdoor at a big shopping center where tons of people will be just going about their day. Pray God uses us. We are pooped. Night, night. Love, Cameron

PS. Click here to keep up with Jack's progress in the hospital. Surgery is tomorrow. http://www.carepages.com/ServeCarePage?cpn=jackisawesome&uniq=358652&ipc=patientupdatebrand

Beautiful Budapest

2008-06-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

Matt's folks arrived today, after a harrowing journey, but were raring to go when they got back from the airport! We went out to a fabulous, authentic Hungarian dinner and celebrated father's day, though it's definitely not observed over here. I felt a little bad for Matt. He did such a great job with Mother's Day but I totally forgot about father's day over here. Opa! I owe him one!

We drove up to the glorious Citadella after dinner. We were all so impressed with Matt's ability to drive around the city like a local. Matt is a true adventurer. I would still be in New York, or worse- New Jersey- if it weren't for him. God has set us on an amazing journey and I will admit- Matt really is the one with no fear, who will heed the call without second thought. I of course do the worrying. But he's taught me to worry less, and that's a good thing.

The Citadella is intense because it's gorgeous and sits atop the highest hill in Budapest, from there you can see the whole panoramic view of the city. It was also put up by the Communists if I'm not mistaken, which makes the beauty of it bittersweet. Here are some weapons the Russians used to liberate Budapest from the Nazi's. The evidence is still in the walls. They are pockmarked with bullet holes, as most of the old buildings around town are. The neighborhood that the YWAM coffeehouse is in, which is now a trendy area with restaurants, hotels and boutiques, was the Jewish Ghetto during WWII. There are bullet holes in the buildings there as well. We are only now really getting a sense of the devastation this city has endured, even just in the last 100 years.

We met a Hungarian with his Canadian wife and son- who was just learning to walk and took a liking to Sydney. We talked a bit about where he grew up in Budapest and how he misses it- but mostly his friends and family. It's very much how I feel about New York. I love and respect the city, but what I really miss are the relationships I had there.

So many young Hungarians leave the country. There is a real sense that you have to leave to make something of yourself. You definitely have to learn another language, as only 14 million people in the world speak Hungarian! I am learning a good bit of the language and it is helping me to talk with locals. I am also learning that I have a love for learning a new language. The Lord is giving me such a heart for these people. And he is giving me courage to try and put myself out there with meeting new people. I am trying to remember to pray for everyone we encounter.

Tomorrow the busiest of all weeks begins for us. Steve Johnson sent us our schedule for the week and I just got it. Phew! Busy, busy. We are leading worship tomorrow at the base. Staff meeting, then rehearsal for the outreaches/ concerts this week- of which there is 3! Can't wait.

Pray that God would give our team courage to tell our stories with conviction and honesty and that he would use the music to touch people with his love.

Thanks for being on this adventure with us. We love you all. Love, Cameron

divine appointments

2008-06-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

This is a great shot because, of course, my gorgeous family, but also because of the young woman in green sitting behind them. Shortly after I snapped this Sydney finished her ice cream (that's it on her face) and started to squirm. Matt and I switched places and Sydney and I sat opposite the girl in green. It took Sydney about 7 seconds to begin communicating with this young woman. It started with smiles and then waves. Her expression, the young woman's, went from totally imperceptible to utter delight. By the time we got off the bus Sydney was handing her bits of chewed up apple. A 2 year old's term of endearment. You're totally in the family if she hands you bits of her chewed up apple. The young woman taught us how to say apple in Hungarian. What's amazing is that in the course of the day, Sydney did this with a dozen people. When they got off the bus, she would wave and say "hi" for blocks as they got smaller and smaller in the distance, and they would be doing the same.

To watch her with the Hungarians is amazing. Their faces transform from total poker face, to joyful, vulnerable, loved. When a child pays attention to you, it makes you feel loved. I think this is what the love of God really feels like. "Me?" you would say. "You really love....me?"
When a toddler shines all their unpredictable attention on you it makes you feel like a million bucks. When "the one" says they love you, and only you, it makes you feel like you could do- be- become- anything. These are all just simple mirrors, aren't they, of the love of God. The Love of God.

Sydney is truly the evangelist in the family. I have taken to praying for these people in the evenings, or whenever, because I know it is not an accident that we encounter them. The punk teenage girl, no more than 14, whose toughness all but evaporated after a few waves and giggles from a 2 year old. The older woman laden down with shopping bags who I was sure would not think our messy, ice cream covered American child was amusing- but who was practically offering recipes for Paprikash before we parted ways at the bus stop. The gaggle of older folks who practiced their English with Sydney, whose vocabulary is quite similar to their own, "hi", "bye bye", "baby".

Lord, bless and transform them. Let them know Hope. Let them know Love. Let them know You. Use us to show them this love that has changed our lives. Forever. For good. In your son's precious name we pray.

$8 Peanut Butter & Coffehouse Tonight

2008-06-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

Here is my artistic photograph of the bustling coffeehouse tonight (that's a joke, sort of). It was absolutely packed and my camera died just after I got the shot. Great music, tons of folks. Saw old friend, Dani Hamar who translated for us last year and runs the youth ministry at Calvary Chapel's church plant here, called Golgota. It was so wonderful to see old friends. Tonight, the hustle and bustle, the energy was just what we needed.

We have been feeling a bit "heavy" all week. I mentioned the jet lag, but talking with some friends here I realized it's more than that. We've been so tired, feeling so physically drained. Jarrod was telling me that many missionaries experience that in Hungary when they are here for longer than a week. Rosie told us that the Mongolians cursed the land here when they left, with "depression" and "hopelessness". We realized tonight that some of this "curse", this heaviness is affecting us and we prayed about it. I've been feeling like I have a heavy wet blanket on my back all the time. Recognizing this and praying about it has been incredible. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted.

Thanks for praying for Jack (see yesterday's post). I will update as I get more info.

Tomorrow we will accompany a short term team from California as they do outreach to the homeless with sandwiches and prayers. Matt's parents are coming on Sunday! We can't wait to see them, and to see the sites of Budapest with them. Tonight, on the way home we saw the city all light up as we crossed the bridge into Buda. It really is breathtaking.

Please comment and email us! We'd love to here from you. Please keep praying! We love you all. xoCameron

PS. Oh yes, the $8 peanut butter. We bought a jar of peanut butter at Tesco and it was "imported" from Shop Rite in NJ! And it was $8! Can you believe it. Crazy.

Please Pray

2008-06-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

Ok. You see what the sign says. Here is a way to do it. Pray.

Get down on your knees at the side of your bed, like you did when you were 8. And pray. Close your eyes. Listen for the blood rushing in your ears and the beating of your heart. Listen for the quiet, and then please, pray.

I have a cousin who is 6 months older than me, with my same name, Cameron, who has always been like a sister to me. She is the Texas Cameron and I am the New York Cameron. Well, we are both Texas Cameron's now but that's beside the point. Cameron has a son named Jack. Jack is amazing. He is brilliant, funny, thoughtful and 8. He has a tumor, they are saying, beside his lung and they will do surgery next Tuesday to remove it.

I won't tell you what to pray for, I think it's obvious; wisdom beyond measure for every doctor that so much as looks at him, peace that surpasses understanding for his parents and grandparents, and whatever will make the rest of us useful to them in this situation. This is hard. Kids and sickness. Kids and any sort of pain or difficulty. This is very hard and the sort of thing that makes us all ask the really hard questions. God? Where are you? Are you listening?

I will leave you for tonight with this, and save my silly pictures and anecdotes for tomorrow. Today was a good day. God made it good. I am thankful. I will be praying. Love, Cameron

Scrubbing for Jesus

2008-06-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

I am sad to say that I forgot my camera today, but I think you know what a toilet looks like. Rosie and I scrubbed and organized, stacked and folded. The boys continued to sand, and right now the sander is smoking and threatening to explode. Today has been absolutely beautiful weather, though this morning it was actually cold, sort of. The weather is amazing. Our team got pizzas at pizza hut and sat in the grass and ate lunch. We were hungry, pizza was great and the cool breeze was awesome.

Cinta is with Sydney and apparently they are loving eachother. They seemed very comfortable and happy with eachother right away! Thank you God. It's a big relief to know that someone wonderful is watching Sydney.

I will head home on the bus now and later tonight post some more. I take the 47-49 to "kostelanyi" and then the 41 or 250 to "Peterhegyi Koz". Just in case you were wondering....
Love,
Cameron

Summer in the City

2008-06-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

God rules.

Amazing news! Our babysitter is coming tomorrow! She is a good friend of Rosie's and was a DTS student at the YWAM base! Pray she loves Syd and us and it works out. Thanks for praying!!!!

Even though this image (left) was taken in the winter, I couldn't resist pasting it here. I found it here: http://budapestdailyreview.com/dailyphotos/?page_id=34.

Some incredible images. This one is in Castle Hill, on the Buda side. It's so incredible to be able to see history in the architecture here. Well, that said, my photos are clearly not as spectacular but they will tell a bit of the story of the day today!

This is the area of the city in Pest which is where the YWAM base is. "Callas" cafe across from the Hungarian State Opera House. I wonder if Maria Callas performed there. Her tragic and artistic life no doubt resonates with Hungarians, as it is sort of a mirror of their own national identity. Some 7 (or more) Nobel prize winners during the 20th century were expatriate Hungarians living abroad- Hungarian nonetheless but a bittersweet victory- as those awards were given during war times.

I shot this image walking back from lunch at "Bombay Express" - kind of like "Masala Wok" on Westheimer. Ben and Brian Mann would appreciate that! :-) Jarrod, Steve and John Mark were covered in "coffeehouse dust" from sanding the ceiling all day with a giant sand blaster.

I am impressed with the all the manual labor the team is doing. There is still a lot of work to be done and I know that Steve is ready to see it completed.
Rosie and I (whom I will exclusively call "Roshitza" which is her name in Serbian, and it makes her laugh when I imitate her accent) went on an adventure to fetch painting and cleaning supplies for the base.
A short term team arrived from California and Steve put them to work cleaning the coffeehouse. I told him I was grateful our team didn't have to clean the coffeehouse first thing, when we came last year. :-) Nonetheless they were eager and got a lot done! We cleaned the base, collecting trash, vacuuming, etc. I felt like I really bonded with Rosie today. She is so amazing. She comes from a country so badly wounded by war, and she is so filled with hope and joy. I will talk more about her later on. About Jarrod (To the left, I know I am a horrible photographer)...Wow, what an amazing transformation in the last year. Always a cool guy- but now- the time spent with YWAM and all over Europe this past year- really following the Lord, he has become so mature and confident. I think he is still only 19! Pray for him. He has a lot of decisions to make about next year.

To back track a minute I traveled from our house in the last district of Buda to the heart of Pest this morning, on 2 buses and a train - and got lost only momentarily, thanks to Steve Johnson. It was great to see the city from the bus. I realized how far it really is from the house to the base, not in Houston terms really but in P.T (public transport) terms. I think I've found a more "express" route which we will try tomorrow. Check this out- http://www.bkv.hu/english/home/index.html

Matt stayed home with Sydney today and had a much needed day of rest. I feel like we should be over the jet lag by now, but we are all taking naps when we can which tells me we are still "sleeping it off." Matt's parents come Sunday and we are looking forward to an awesome time with them.

To say goodnight, here is an image of street artists on Andrassy ut, the cool shopping and eating street near the base. Night night. Love, Cameron

P.S. Opera House.

Keeps getting better

2008-06-10T13:12:00.000-07:00

Amazing news! We've been invited to play 3 gigs at a weeklong gospel music festival in Budapest next week. Matt Redman and Hillsong United are leading the whole thing. How amazing is that! Our little band is going to have to get practicing stat. Yesterday we talked and prayed for opportunities to play around the city. God is FAST. Wow.

This evening the Hammons went on a little adventure in search of Tesco, the "hypermarket", which promises everything from Pampers to Croatian Chocolates, which apparently are very good. This is the church in Budaors (there is an umlout over the O but I have no idea how to type that.) We stopped for Pizza in this awesome little town. It was very postcard-ish, with lots of little shops and restaurants. I was quite proud of us that we actually ordered our pizza and figured out the bill and all of that. I spoke to the proprietor in half English and half Italian (yeah, High School Italian!) He loved Sydney of course, who walked all around the restaurant saying "hi" to everyone.

On that note, today, quite by accident I accomplished one of the goals I've set for myself- to have an actual conversation with a neighbor. Apparently the neighbors here are notorious for being unfriendly- not in all of Budapest but just this block! It seems like a quite well to do area, the family that rents this house got an amazing deal on it from the aforementioned soccer star who was eager to get rid of the house after divorcing his wife.
Sad. You can see the view from our balcony -- check it out. The house is amazing and the area a little intimidating...But- God's put us here in this house for a reason, right, so I am looking for opportunities to chat with the neighbors. Me and Sydney were walking Amber when a gentlemen began speaking to me in Hungarian, probably something about the dog. All last night I was rehearsing "Amerikai vadyok"-- I am American- and "Nem ertem Magyrorul"- I don't understand Hungarian-- in the hopes that my attempt to speak the language would win favor with my sullen neighbors. Well of course, the moment of truth arrived and my courage failed me and I blurted out "I'm sorry, I don't speak Hungarian". "Oh," he laughed, "Where are you from?"

We talked a bit about his visit to San Francisco last year, etc., and I noticed he lingered perhaps wanting to talk more. I thought "Here, God is already answering my prayers and giving me a chance to talk with a neighbor, and all I can think about is getting the dog and Sydney inside before it starts to rain."

I hope to run into him again.

While I was home today with Sydney, Matt went to the YWAM base with Jarrod, John Mark, Steve and Rosie and did some good old manual labour that I admit I am not sorry I missed. He met a few really interesting folks in the missionary community here who also have a heart for music and young adult ministry. They got some work done on the building, which will continue tomorrow- Tuesday and Wednesday are "work on the building days."

We are trying to secure a babysitter for Sydney- probably 3 times a week- so please pray that it works out. There are two potential people but I've only been able to make contact with one. That way I will be able to really dig into the work here - though I have loved my time with Sydney here so far. I cannot believe how amazing she has been. She is eating, sleeping and behaving better than she does at home. She has a ton of new words she says in the last week as well, at least two or three a day. She blows me away. Here she is calling Nana on the "phone" aka shower head.

That's all for now. Thanks for your prayers. Please comment and email...we'd love to hear from home. Love, Cameron

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLY!

2008-06-09T14:51:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Kelly Walker, can't wait to see you here in Budapest! xoxoxoxoxo

We made it!

2008-06-09T14:02:00.001-07:00

WOW. We are here. In Budapest. We made it.

We already feel so totally at home it's scary. The journey from Houston to NYC, to Long Island, then back to NYC then to Budapest with hundreds of pounds of recording studio gear, one toddler and 3 suitcases was intense. But by a true miracle we arrived in one piece, with all the gear and we didn't even have to pay overage for it! Hallelujah!

We arrived bleary eyed and exhausted but were thrilled to see our favorite missionary- Steve Johnson- waiting for us at the airport. Matt wheeled two stacked trollies out while I wheeled a punch drunk Sydney and we all embraced like long lost brothers. We piled into his Suburban (yes, a Texas Cadillac, possibly the only one of it's kind in Budapest, Steve bought it from the American embassy) and headed to our new home in the Buda hills.

When we arrived we were greeted by our dog-for-the-summer, Amber, who we all fell in love with-- especially Sydney. Sydney felt right at home and of course started to call Amber, "Bella", which is her Mimi's dog's name, and proceeded to feed her all kinds of crackers, cookies and snacks.

We looked around a bit while we waited for The Bullocks to come home. The house is magnificent. Apparently it is owned by a Hungarian soccer star who is very particular about his landscaping and will apparently come in the evenings to mow the lawn himself. The "backyard" consists of a concrete basketball court, garden and dog run all surrounded by magnificent cypress trees and beyond those, barbed wire. The house itself is surrounded by stone and iron gates as well. Very Eastern Europe. I immediately got the sense that trust is earned. Neighbors are not necessarily friends. We are trying to break some of those barriers. Sydney is great with that. She talks and waves and is even saying a few Hungarian words! "Cia" which means "Hi" and "Viz" which means water.

We had a great time getting to know the Bullocks before they left for North Carolina and left us in the care of their house. They were so patient with our jetlagged-ness, especially Sydney who I fear kept the whole house up that first night.

We love the house, big as it is, and are feeling quite at home.

Had a great meeting with the YWAM Budapest team this morning, worshipped and prayed for the various ministries that are based here. An AMAZING thing happened....I was talking with one of the team members whose English accent intrigued me. On a lark I asked her where she was from. "England" she said, "yes, but what part?" "Have you been to England?" she said. I told her I'd been to Chichester with the leadership team from my church in NY. Well it turns out she was a part of their very same home church and was close friends with the people whom we consider to be our spiritual role models, Sarah and Kenny Mitchell and Lisa Carter. We couldn't believe it. The Lord has brought me full circle in so many ways.

We feel as though we are really settling into a routine and planned out our weekly schedules this afternoon. There is a handful of us who will be focused on musical outreaches, the coffeehouse and finishing construction on the base. We all brainstormed about other ministry ideas, like a poetry club, playing gigs in other venues around the city, etc. We are so excited.

Syd has a new best friend, Rachel Johnson. Rachel, who is 5, and the youngest of 5, is enjoying being a "big sister" to little Sydney. See above. The girls and their pops. They have pops in "Buda"!

Keep praying for us guys. We are so excited to get to the work of this ministry. Thanks for being the best family and friends anyone could ask for. Love, Cameron