Many of the streets front homes with large and metal privacy gates, often revealing green and enticing private gardens when open. Very cool.
Movie title Hungarian style: Charlotte’s Web translates to “Pig in Trouble”…endearing and fun, yes?
…surprises,
Fuel costs are the third highest in the world here, one reason why so many cycle instead. Purchasing a vehicle is expensive in and of itself; maintenance, fueling and insuring one can become a financial hardship.
Everyday simple gestures of generosity and understanding….laundry done by Gabi to bridge the gap between “well worn” and clean, an offer from Levi and his wife to do the same (which I took them up on
All washer instructions in Hungarian, of course, and this small but intrepid device has very unfamiliar pieces and parts. Yet another adventure, and definitely a welcome step up from hand washing in the bidet
…a wee bit of history,
Hungary held its first elections in 1989, and among their freedoms is the opportunity to learn in one’s native language, e.g., there is a Slovakian school in the town center where classes are taught in that language.
Once free of communist rule, the Hungarian people removed the center circle with the hammer and sickle from their flags; in Szarvas, they fly the flag with the circle cut out as a statement of freedom.
Levi says for the Hungarian, their primary dream is to own their own home….how amazing that the building of that dream is what has brought me to this place I might not otherwise have known.
Everyone’s dreaming is different, unique. To have a small part in helping another attain their vision as I live mine is something only God could truly orchestrate in the circumstances given here.
To define this as gratitude is to attempt to confine love to a single definition.
I/we have so much in the relative context of those who ask so little…a place to shelter and nurture family, food on the table, a means of seeing the world around us whether close at hand in the shelter of a small Hungarian community or in the wider context of the world.
…some thoughts from the heart…
A quote came through e-mail recently…” Don't worry about what the world wants from you, worry about what makes you come more alive. Because what the world really needs are people who are more alive..” Laurence Le Shan
I would word it from the perspective I have held for the past three years outside the box…”Live that which makes you come alive, because what the world really needs are people who are more alive”….in another context, a second e-mail and website (www.mayyoubeblessedmovie.com) that expands the thought:
"It has been said that it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. Every time you remind yourself that you are, indeed, blessed---even in those times when you do not see or feel the blessings---you are figuratively lighting a candle in your world. By being reminded that you are blessed and that you are a belssing to others, you succeed in raising your own energy/vibration. You feel lighter, freer and happier. And the better you feel, the better those around you feel. In essence, by raising your own "vibration", you raie it for others, blessing those around you and inproving world conditions far more than you realize....the energy you emit reacts with and changes the behavior of everyone and every thing around you. The more blessed you consider yourself to be, the better those around you feel. essentially, you, in turn, are able to bless the world by being blessed."
...observations re HFH Szarvas....
My role here becomes more defined as Gabi, Levi and I move beyond the “get to know you and the work” phase and into the business truly being an asset here beyond the appointment originally accepted. On the construction side I have officially became a Hungarian Habitat site supervisor, Levi’s right hand, so to speak, coaching/learning GV teams and expanding as we go, assisting Levi in accomplishing each day’s goals or “wishes”, as he calls them. A goal as we go is to coax him into taking at least one day off each week….with two years invested in Habitat thus far, this colorful and incredibly dedicated man sees the importance of building houses for those in his country, and despite the long days and challenges he alternately jokes about and riles at, I believe he feels this to be his vision and his calling.
The same goal holds true in the office. Thus far Gabi is making lists and assigning small tasks that I complete easily and gladly to begin to catch the administrative vibe in the office relative to what she does. Equally dedicated, Gabi gives tirelessly to smooth the way for visiting teams, ensure they are welcomed and well cared for, and at the same time fills all the HFH spaces off site (budgeting, permitting, paperwork, PR and so much more) to complete the team that is HFH Szarvas. I look forward to building systems with her as well, to assist in achieving a solid balance for the affiliate.
The Szarvas and Csurgo “affiliates” are the only two remaining in Hungary as traditionally defined by HFH. Future projects will likely be liaisons with local government, part of a growing wave of creative solutions to continue to support the HFH ethos and widen the organization’s impact in fulfilling THEIR vision to eliminate poverty housing worldwide. Today’s economy, particularly in the European union, is such that creative alternatives may ultimately become the only way to realize these goals….more on that as I go….
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