Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Hungary March 25th

Salbus (Hello), it is now Wednesday the 25th at about 9:00 p.m.. But in Hungary it would read 21:00. Cole is getting very good at telling the time and figuring out the weather in Celsius. What an experience for the older Nemeth children. We met some of Tom’s relatives here at the Hotel Angela from Debrecen and they were very kind. I could not believe how much Tom looks like his Grandfather’s (NagyPapa’s) nephew Jozeph Presits. Oh my, he does. Jozeph, his wife and daughter ate with us last night. Christine (Tom’s sister) would feel right at home here as well. Everyone here looks like them.

The youngest Nemeth’s came for a visit to the Hotel today. Tom and Laci Ba’csi went to the foster home and picked them up with Cole, while Gage, Alexa, and I stayed at the hotel. When they came up in the van they were waving and smiling so I was relieved. The three children spent the day with us. We played outside; walked to the store to get ice cream, and painted nails (not the boys oh course). Alexandra is very much the girlie girl. Monika is a tom boy and played with the three boys (Gage, Cole, Laci) well, I should say four boys including Tom. Alexa, Alexandra, and I played dress up in my clothes and Alexa’s hair stuff. Laci Bacsi (the interpreter) exchanged positions with his daughter, Andrea this afternoon. We had dinner with her and the children really enjoyed talking to her because she is the mother of four children in Budapest. She asked the children questions and really let them talk. They loved it. Tom liked it as well because he was able to sit back and let me do the talking. The chef here at the Hotel Angela is very nice and made Tom and I stuffed peppers for dinner. The chef over heard Tom talking about NagyMama’s (grandmother) cooking and wanted to make it special for Tom. It was excellent!!! I seem to be talking a lot about food but, oh my can the Hungarians cook. When the children went back tonight to their foster home they all kissed us and did not want to go. I could not believe it. They really seem to be bonding with us. They tell us they love us and they even started to call us Mommy and Daddy today on their own. They hear our three older kids call us that and so they tried it on for size. I could not believe it when they said it. Monika first and then Alexandra, I tried to not look completely stunned but, it was hard. They watch us like hawks. Every move we make is observed and repeated. They are already learning English even without trying and we the 5 Nemeth’s are learning Hungarian. God is so good to us. I will be forever changed through this experience. My heart will be much more grateful and understanding.

We will be going to the zoo tomorrow – Jozeph Presits, Tunde (Jozeph’s daughter), Andrea (the interpreter) Tom, Gage, Alexandra, Monika, Cole, Laci, Alexa, and me. Pray for us this is the farthest these children have been away from their village. It will be about one hour away. It is to prepare them for the journey back to Budapest. I really appreciate the Hungarian Government because they are trying everything to not traumatize the children. Tom and I had an opportunity to witness once again to Andrea at dinner. She sees something in us that she can not understand, but is really searching. She said that she will go to church with us in Budapest when we return.

Kelly (my sister) we will be praying for Isabel’s ear drum. You all are close to my heart and my mind. Let me know if there is anything that I can be praying for you. One thing I am learning is family and friends are a gift from God and we should pray for each other because I know God is listening and He cares for us. I am living a MIRACLE in Hungary!! The Aunts (Neni’s) let me know if I am miss spelling things. Chucalum! (Hugs and kisses)

Tuesday, March 24th in Hungary

Salbus (Hello), from Foldes, Hungary. We are in our second week already. I can not believe that time is flying by so quickly. Monday, we went to Debrecen to sign paperwork to start the adoption process. We did not hesitate. Then we tried to find a bank, which ended up to be a challenge and turned into a crazy afternoon. Exchanging money can be difficult if you are not in Budapest. It can also be frustrating because some places prefer the Euro, but the forint is accepted everywhere. We are getting very good at watching the whole financial scene unfold around the world and the fluctuation of the Dollar versus the Euro or Forint.

We put our lives once again in the hands of Laci Ba’csi when we road with him into Debrecen. God is really protecting us because the man does not know the difference between a road and a sidewalk!!!!!! I am not kidding. He drives like a crazy man. On the flip side we have grown very fond of the man. He really cares for us and the children we are adopting.

On to the visit yesterday (Monday) with the children. They are becoming very close to us in spirit. They are beginning to wander what is up? They ask us when they are coming with us to Budapest? We are told to say we do not know. It is hard for me because I am a straight forward person who tells the truth and does not hold back very well. Tom is laughing at me now!!!! I enjoy spending time with the children, but I would like to be the Mommy now. It is hard being in the shadows. The foster family is very gracious to us beyond words!!!!! They feed us and feed us and feed us. It must be a Hungarian thing because when we visit Tom’s family, it is the same way! I can not seem to control myself because the food is very different than American, but extremely delicious. The pastries are out of this world. The bread is utterly amazing. The chocolate is divine. We will email again soon. Chuckalum. (Hugs and kisses)

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Sunny Sunday in Hungary

Hi, Everyone from the Hotel Angela in Berettyoujfalu, Hungary,

We just got back from visitation with the newest Nemeths (town of Foldes, Hungary). It is getting a little harder for the foster family and for us as the time is closing in on the big exchange. Pray for us on Friday and Saturday. One of those days will be the day we take them to Budapest. The girls are asking when we will go. Lacika is very concerned and hanging on his foster mother. We were asked to stay the entire day today by the foster family. They are very poor but, made us a wonderful display of food. We were so moved, I almost could not eat. I felt like crying inside. It would have been terribly rude and ungrateful to not eat everything!!!! We had pork, kraut, sweet pickles, noodles, and peach juice. Anna (the foster mother) and Imi (the foster father) are so Godly and hospitable. They try so hard to please us. It is very hard for Tom and I to take all this attention. Imi gave us two shots of plum liquer and peach liquer. We tried to say no but, our interpretor (Laszlo) said to take it. OH, WOW it is sooooooooooooooo strong. I thought Toms Nagypapa's wine was strong, but no this stuff is way stronger!!!!! You can smell it across the room. Tom is not used to drinking and Imi was standing over him waiting for a reply. Toms ears went red and his face became flushed. I said "stop drinking or we will have to carry you out!" That would not have been good.

After lunch the family took us to some property they own - one small plot where they keep 60 or so Bee boxes to make honey. We played some soccer there. Then we went to an area with a stream where we fished. We didn't catch any fish but had fun. Alexandra would not give up. We finally had to pull her away from the stream. She is sooo determined. Once she sets her mind to it, that's it.

Zalton is the foster families second son. He is 22 year old and goes to the University of Budapest. He loves the Lord with all his heart. He is studying to be an Engineer. He has been here the entire weekend. He loves American Praise and Worship so Tom and I sang to him a praise song. He says the praise songs get him through. So Linda, long story short I gave him your ipod. I will buy you one when I get home. He is such a nice young man who works and pays his own way through school. He is so poor he sometimes does not have food to eat, but he would never tell his parents. He is also a musician. He plays guitar and harmonica with true worship. Self taught. He hears a song once and can play it. Wow.

The kids are bonding to us alittle each day. They are calling Tom -Tom Ba'csi and me-Kristin Neni which means an older person whom they respect like an Uncle or Aunt. The children have never been anywhere. They have only been to school, church, and home. Oh my goodness. They have no idea what is in store for them. They think the mini-van is so cool and we took them for a ride today in it and they giggled all the way down the road. I have a picture of them. I will send it to you all. I am concerned about the airplane and how they will react to it. That is 6 six weeks away so we have time to pray God's protection on their little minds.

Okay, on to tomorrow. We (Tom, the the older kids, Laszlo, and I) will be going into Debrecen to see the Child Adoption Authority and sign for the adoption to start. We may also see one of Tom's second cousins. We will rent a car, because we can not all fit into one van. Finally, back to Foldes (the village where the children live) to visit with them in the evening. We plan on going to the zoo on Tuesday in Debrecen for a test run with the three youngest, because they have never been that far. Oh boy, pray for us this is about to get a little interesting. ONE MINUTE AT A TIME is our new motto. We have given up on even trying to stay ahead of the curve, because we can not. We miss you all and our prayers and thoughts are with you. Kelly and the girls who sent us cards, wow what a wonderful idea. I have already opened two. Jane thank you for your encouraging words and Catherine you are such a support. Donna Steenbarger I am so thankful for your advice and love through this whole thing especially the dictionary!!!! Jill you are all that! Bible study gals keep praying we can feel it! To all the Hungarian relatives in Hungary and the USA we love you!

God Bless you all, Kristin
PS: I better not forget, mom and dad you are Jesus in skin to us.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Hi From the Border of Romania






















We are here!!!! What a ride!!!! The last few days have been a lifetime. We arrrived safely. Tom and the boys first and then Alexa and I about 5 hours later. The apartment in Budapest is beautiful. It has a history all its own. The ceilings are 12 feet and higher. The apartment is on Raday St. which is one street from the Duna River which seperates the Buda from the Pest side. Budapest is trying to make its way out of communism and the oppression it brings. The people seem to either love us or dislike (only people on the street)us very much (American's). Tom went into work on Thursday at the Eli Lilly office and everyone was very excited to have him there. The kids and I went walked to McDonald's and then on to the grocery store. We were watched very carefully and people in the entire restaurant were listening to the children and me. Very curious about us Americans. At one point we were sitting at a table and an elderly woman stood right over the top of Gage tying to hear our conversation. It made him so nervous that he was complaining of a stomach ache. We in the USA seem to have a bubble around us that the Hungarians don't have. They get right in your space. Which I fit in quite well here but, is an adjustment for Tom. On to the grocery store WOW!!!!!! Awesome!!!! The food is so different. The BREAD is sooooooooooooo amazing!!!!!!!! We (Tom and I) were hoping to loss some weight here but, I dont think we will with all the pasteries and GOOD FOOD!. It was an education for the children and I to experience the whole currency thing. Security is very high at the grocery stores here. I think there is a lot of theft. The people in Budapest seem very hardened by life. I can see it has not been easy here. A lot of prostitution and grafitti. There are places in Budapest that have not recovered from World War II. There are whole buildings blown apart from the bombs. Communisum was HATED by the Hungarians and they would rebel only to be crussed.

We were meet by Andrea at the airport (Alexa and I) and instantly fell in love with her. Andrea and I didnt take a breath all the way back to the apartment. I was able to present the gospel to her for the first time in her life. She is very open!!!! Pray!!!! Her husband was killed in a bomb about 4 years ago in Turkey right in front of her and her childrens eyes (4 children). She is still mourning his death. She said after spending the day with Tom and the boys she told me that her husband was a lot like Tom. WOW!!!!!

Her father (Laszlo) is our interpretor. He picked us up at 8:00 am on Friday. He was very stand offish. Almost rude at first. He is 70 yrs. old and drives like a mad man!!!! Please pray for our safety. Even the crazy Hungarian drivers are honking at him!!!!! He rides the line. Right down the middle of the road. Well anyway Tom and he have hit it off. He loves Tom. The kids and I just let them talk about 3 1/2 hours out to the border of Romania. He is very bitter about his son-in-laws death. He still works (veternarian) to help support his daughter. Tom presented the gospel to him and he listened but, still not sure, but sees something in us that is like a Light. Of course, to us Christians that is of course the Holy Spirit living in our lives!!!! So pray that he will continue to ask questions. We all pray together and hold hands before each meal and we reach out and hold his hand as well. He weeped this morning (Sat). We have gotton to know Laszlo very well, and he is a very nice man and very helpful. He has been a termendous blessing to us.

Now on to the children!!!!! We went through an interview with the Physicans, therapists, consultants, and the Manistrate of this district in Hungary on Friday. They told us all the info. on the kids. Then they told us that we (the Nemeths) were hand picked for these children. And it is a MIRACLE (Laszlo even said this) that we are getting them, and we agreed!!!

On to the Foster house we go. Another 40 minutes from Debrecen. The kids (my older 3) are getting thirsty and hungary but, the do not complain. They have been wonderful through this whole thing!!!! On a mission we are, oh yes, we are!!!! Before we left Indiana we were under severe spiritual attack up until we got on the plane. I knew then that nothing was going to stop us from God's will, which Satan would just love stop. So on the way to the foster home (Foldes, Hungary) we see a lot of poverty. I have some pictures of the kinds of houses - very neat. OK, so we arrive and Alexandra is standing in the drive with her foster mother. She is elderly. God spoke to Tom before we left and told him this. Some of you know that because I told you. Amazing our heavenly Father speaks directly to us. OK, so she is way cuter in person!!!!! We go in with all the people from the Debrecen office and meet the family. Laci is busy and not wanting to look at us. Shy. Monika is very open and wants to show us her room. We take the tour. Tom, the kids, and I are hooked. We were focused on mostly and really only, the children. We only have eyes for them. In fact, the adoption agency people from Debrecen get into their van and leave while we are still with the kids. They told our intrpetor that they just know it is a fit.

Let me back-up. While we were sitting in the living room with everyone the foster mother asked us about homeschooling. We were both concerned that the people here would not approve of homeschooling. The pschologist is shaking her head and was trying to explain that it was good. I, however, didn't understand the conversation because they were speaking Hungarian. Later my interpretor said that the Pschycologist homeschools and is a Christian. She was telling the Foster mother that we are good people. Later on (next day) Tom found out from the Foster parent's son (who speaks English) that they all approve of us homeschooling. Praise God.

The children are well taken care of. They are well adjusted and very affectionate. The foster father is very attached to the children, especially Laci. His occupation is making honey. He makes bee houses (boxes out of wood) and the bees come in and the honey comes out. He sells the honey and the bee boxes for others to make honey. They (foster parents) also have a huge garden and do a lot of canning - all kinds. They have chickens, dogs (big and ugly), rabbits, out door bathroom (a whole in the ground), big garden, and no grass only mud. My boys are in heaven. They are a wonderful family and we like them a lot.












Alexandra is a little Kristin she climbs trees and is very brave. All the children are self-sufficient and very earthy alot like me three oldest. They are amazing. They look and feel just like us. The Nemeth littles-Kelly. They have taken to us like ducks to water. The language thing is not a problem at all. What Tom does not know Laci-Boche interpretes. Boche(spelling ?) is another word for uncle or elderly man, and he asked Tom to call him that today (Sat). So we have an uncle here in Hungary. God has gone before us in every way even the ways we didn't know to pray for. God is in this 100%. We went to the park today with the children all 6 plus Anna who is the foster parents daughter. She is 15 and Gage and she are very much attracted to eachother. Gage has already asked her to come to see us in the USA. Oh boy!!!! They plan to email eachother. She speaks English well. Tom and little Laci are getting very close and he even fell asleep in Tom's arms. I have a picture. Alexandra and Monika just love Alexa and tell her they love her. Anna is going to have a hard time when the children leave because they have been with the foster family for almost 4 yrs. I told her I understand and I will pray for her.

The foster mother took me aside with her son and talked to me alone. Mother to mother. She asked about our religion and I told her Christian. She told me that they were Charismatic Christians. She told me that she has not lead the children to the Lord, because she wanted them to understand Christianity first and make their own decsion. She wants me to lead Monika to Christ in Budapest, because she thinks she is ready. We were happy to find out that the family was Christian. I was thinking that the Lord would want us to adopt children who would not know the Lord if we had not adopted them, but I know His ways are not mine. Who am I that He is mindful of me. Oh but, He is!!!! The Lord be glorified!!!!!

I forgot to tell you that while in the Detroit airport a man sat down at our table. Yes, right at our table. We presented the gospel to him and prayed with him. He is a marine just out of boot camp and headed for Iraq in 2 weeks. Pray for him his name is Brian and he is not saved yet!!! We prayed with him that God would reveal Himself to Brian. I have to go eat some Hungarian food now. Oh, to bad for me!!! They are fixing special food here at the Hotel Angelia tonight for Tom because he told them that his Nagymama would fix him this certain dish. They LOVE him here in Hungary!!!! They like me ok but, they think my teeth are soooooooooooo white and straight. They ask if they are fake. HAHAHAHA More later I smell the food. We have a wonderful little cottage all to ourselves. Lots of Love to you all!!!!! Kristin and Tom






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Friday, March 6, 2009

Hi Everyone!!!! My neice Ashley is teaching me how to blog!! Well at least set up my own blog. The name we chose for our blog is -Nemeth Family. We used the Hungarian flag as our back ground. We are getting ever so close to that faithfilled day of seeing our little ones. Our prayers and the prayers of our loved ones have finally come to this fork in the road. God has showed up in so many ways and in so many people! The blessings of the Lord are just flowing in through answered prayer. Keep up the prayers though our jouney is just beginning. I would like to invite you to come along!!!!! We are now departing Normalville and on our way to heaven only knows! God bless you all for your love, finacial support, encouragement, and most of all PRAYERS!!!! Tom's family in Hungary is looking forward to meeting and helping is through this amazing journey.

God Bless, Kristin