Budapest? Yes, I am in Hungary. I am spending the day with a friend after a week of ministry in Hungarian high schools. This is my seventh trip to Hungary. My wife and I lived in Eastern Hungary for a year in 97–98. I really love this country and enjoy every opportunity that I get to come back and be part of the Campus Crusade ministry here.

I scheduled some extra time to spend with my friend Laci. I met him 17 years ago when I came to Hungary on a Campus Crusade for Christ Summer Project. Laci is now leading the Campus ministry in Hungary. He and his wife are expecting their third child in April and I brought along several outfits for the baby that our children have outgrown.

I will be sharing more about my trip on my other website after I return to the U.S. and share pictures on Flickr. I fly home on Tuesday with more memories and looking forward to seeing my family after 10 days away from them. Szia Hungary.

I find it ironic that as we approach the 50th anniversary of that event, Budapest is experiencing riots and protests. As I read the reports of what happened earlier this week, it reminded me of the accounts that I read about the first days of the 1956 revolution.

This week, people began demostrating after a tape was leaked in which the prime minister admitted to lying to the public in order to win the election last April. On Tuesday night, the protests became violent as uglier elements of the crowd stormed the state run television station and looted it. Cars were set on fire. There was also a protest in front of the socialist’s headquarters. Today the protesters are not met with tanks and bullets, as in 1956, but by water cannons and tear gas.

The current prime minister made comments at his socialists’ party retreat in May, just after being re-elected. He admitted that the party had not done anything in the government for the previous 4 years and that they had lied about the state of the economy and planned reforms. One of his comments was that, “We lied in the morning, we lied in the evening…” Supposely he made the comments as part of a speech to wake up the party to the economic situation that has been lied about for at least the past four years. A tape of this speech was leaked to the public on Sunday. The prime minister is claiming that his comments did not only include his party but the previous governments of the last 10–15 years.

From what I read, the demonstrations last night were peaceful but there are fears that they could turn violent again over the weekend. I think this current situation highlights the moral crisis in this country. It is a moral crisis with its roots in the communist system and the atheistic philosophies which provide no basis for morality.

One of the reasons that I continue to go back to Hungary is to address this issue with individuals as I explain how the God who created them wants to have a personal relationship with them. Only Christ can transform our corrupt hearts and lives. I just pray that Hungarians will find Christ in the midst of the current turmoil.

• the worst tobacco death rate in the world
• widespread alcholism
• high amounts of pollution
• the 5th highest suicide rate in the world

I think these factors point to the greatest reason, a lack of spiritual hope. Hungary is a hurting nation and this is one of the reasons that my wife and I continue to have a heart to see Hungary reached for Christ.

During my first visit to Hungary in 1990, I rode trains up and down the north shore of Lake Balaton every day of the four weeks I lived in Hungary. Seven years later when my wife and I lived in Debrecen for 9 months, we rode a lot of trains as we visited Budapest at least once a month. So for me, riding on trains is part of my “experience” of Hungary. And being a melacholy, I like to collect physical objects that remind me of a memory or experience.

On my most recent trip to Hungary two weeks ago, I decided to venture over to the transportation museum in Budapest to see if I could find a toy train or small model train in their gift shop. I thought that was as good a place as any to try to find one. I had wanted to venture over there while in Budapest this summer but it did not work out. I ended up having some unexpected free time on my recent trip and decided to go for it.

I did not find what I was looking for but I did have quite an experience. After walking for about 15 minutes across City Park, I made it to the museum. When I entered, they wanted me to pay admission to visit the museum. The lady at the desk did not speak English so I used the Hungarian for gift (ajandek) and gestured. She did not understand me and I was stumped at how to communicate because I have a very limited vocabulary in Hungarian. I was tempted to abandon my search.
But I did not want to give up after venturing all the way over there. I then tried to communicate with a man that had come over to the desk.  After a couple attempts, he was able to figure out that I wanted to see the gift shop. Several different people pointed me in the right direction. I finally made it to the “gift shop.“  They did not have any models or toys. They did have some bigger “models” of engines but they were about $200 and not what I was looking for.

Although I did not find what I was looking for (not sure I ever will), I am glad that I tried and I now think fondly about that adventure and how perseverance paid off.

I enjoyed the ministry, seeing friends in the ministry there and meeting some new ones. My team was really great and we were able to have a significant impact in such a short time. It is always a joy to return to Hungary.

Each day, we will be going to different schools and speaking in 2–3 classrooms. We will be using American culture as a platform to talk about our lives and the difference God has made in them.

We will be working with the local Campus Crusade ministry team of Hungarians and Americans. Our time in Hungary will have a long-term impact as their team continues to follow up on the relationships we build and involve the Hungarian students in the high school ministry in Budapest.

I am planning to blog updates about our trip on our ministry website, bridgforthfamily.com. I will also be posting a prayer guide that you can download and join us in prayer for God’s work in the lives of Hungarian teenagers.

We will be working with the ministry there going into the high schools and talking about American culture, our lives and our faith. It will culminate with an outreach on Friday. Tentatively, we would leave on a Saturday, arrive in Hungary on Sunday and then leave the following Monday.

This is one of the many photos I took this summer in Hungary. God provided a really nice day for me to take some pictures in Budapest.

We are excited because we were a part of this project 9 years ago. We also spent a year in Eastern Hungary helping to launch a campus ministry in Debrecen. This will be my fifth trip to Hungary. I spent my first summer there 15 years ago in 1990 after the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.

Hungary continues to be on our hearts. We just did not expect that we would be going back this summer. We have enjoyed seeing Hungary on the show, “The Amazing Race.” We look forward to going back and getting to spend the summer with many friends, both American and Hungarian. I have been reminded afresh that God does give us the desires of our heart. And I know that it is Him who planted that desire in my heart over 15 years ago.