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






l