Thanksgiving

There is nothing like loving Roma students. They are effusive and sullen, jubilant and morose, delighted and furious, . . . They are emotional and responsive, and they relate completely. Therefore, when they say “thank you,” they put their hearts into their thanks! So as we hugged each one and said good-bye, we were overwhelmed by their affection and their gratitude. They left Pécs feeling thankful for you. In fact, we felt guilty accepting all of the thanks when many of you are the reason that this trip happened. In ways they have never communicated before, every student made a special effort to say thank you . . . to us and to you.

You were evident all week. If you had the time to go through the pictures, you would see every mission team t-shirt (FBC Huntsville, Campbell Univ. English camp, Northminster Baptist English camp, FBC Greenville, FBC Augusta) — more than once. You would see our chaperone Eszter (Gandhi graduate and Gandhi Social Worker, now) wearing her “Valássz” necklace every day. So thank you. Thank you for your prayers, your gifts, your money, your encouragement, your interest, your enthusiasm, and your time. Without you, this trip would have been only a dream. For many of these students, it was a life-changing and life-affirming experience. A low-budget choir trip around NE Hungary and into Slovakia may seem inconsequential to modern Americans, like a trip around northern South Carolina and into North Carolina. However, it was a priceless opportunity for these students. You gave them a physical, spiritual, and emotional gift that they will remember and talk about for the rest of their lives. They loved it. They have the stories and pictures to prove it! So, thank you!