Evangéliumi Hírnök, 1984 (76. évfolyam, 1-24. szám)

1984-02-01 / 3. szám

6. oldal 1984. február 1. A VISIT TO HUNGARY AND ROMANIA----------------------------------------------ERNEST J. KISH-----------------------------------------­I. My wife, Ethel, and I have just recently returned from a visit to Hungary and Romania. We both felt that we would like to have a more indepth appraisal of the land of our forefathers. Since this was our fourth visit to this country, we de­cided at this time to spend as much time as possible with the Hungarian people and to visit as many Baptist brethren in their churches as was possible. We feel that after these visits, we now have a much broader picture of what kind of country American Hungarian Baptist Union Receipts for the month of December 1983 Home Mission Bethesda Retirement Home, Palm Bay, FI., $300.00; Bethesda Church, Palm Bay, FI., $100.00; Mr. and Mrs. Kálmán Benko, Cleve­land, Ohio, $50.00; Hungarian Church, New York, NY., $25.00; Silliman Church, Bridgeport, Ct., $28.00;; Rev. and Mrs. Molnár, Naugatuck, Ct., $40.00; Esther Carabalos, Denver, Col. $10.00 — $553.00. Literature Mrs. Mary Lehotay, Quebec, Canada, $15.00; Ju­lia Marshall, Los Angeles, Ca., $100.00; Mary Fancsal, Los Angeles, Ca., $100.00; Lina Zárár, Los Angeles, Ca., $2.00; Bereczky István, Los Angeles, Ca., $50.00; Louis Katona, Los Angeles, Ca., $50.00; Névtelen, Los Angeles, Ca., $5.00; Mr. and Mrs. Ambros Hamula, Los Angeles, Ca., $50.00; Mr. and Mrs. László Veszpeller, Los Angeles, Ca., $20.00; Sipos Imre, Los Angeles, Ca., $50.00; Varga András, Los Angeles Ca., $10.00; Joseph Oláh, Los Angeles, Ca., $20.00; Mr. and Mrs. Colman Mátyás, Los Angeles, Ca., $50.00; Szin György, Los Angeles, Ca., $5.00; Sziics Gyula, Los Angeles, Ca., $10.00; Katalin Reeves, Los Angeles, Ca., $10.00; Juhász Imre, Los Angeles, Ca., $5.00; Baráth Antal, Los An­geles, Ca., $20.00; Mr. and Mrs. Gallai, Los An­geles, Ca., $5.00; Mr. and Mrs. Sándor Müller, Los Angeles, Ca., $20.00; Mr. and Mrs. Kálmán Benko, Cleveland, Ohio $25.00; Mr. and Mrs. László Novák, Londonberry, NH. $150.00; Rev. and Mrs. B. Molnár, Naugatuck, Ct., $20.00; The First Baptist Church, Garfield, NJ., $25.00; High Street Baptist Church, New Brunswick, NJ., $25.00; Irene Nintzel, North Brunswick, NJ., $10.00; István Szász, Monrovia, Ca., $88.00; Garzon Nagy, Lockhaven, Pa. $13.00; Bethesda Church, Palm Bay, FI., $200.00; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Pusztay, Cleveland, Ohio, $15.00 — $1,168.00. Special Mission Hungarian Church, New York, NY., $25.00; Bethesda Church, Palm Bay, FI., $35.00 — $60.00. Thank you for your faithful support. Louis Drescher Hungary really is. I do not wish how­ever, to pass myself off as an expert, but rather as an interested observer of what my roots really were. I would like to share some of these experiences with you. Both Ethel and I were once again pleased with the progress made by the Hungarian people during the past six or seven years. We found that they were experiencing new­found freedoms, even to the extent of having the opportunity now to enter into private business. Those in private businesses are known as “maszeks” and are contributing ap­preciably to the economy and demand of the people. We found quite a few auto repair shops, builders, plumbers and many more businesses which were essential to the well being of their economy. This of course is new to the Hungar­ian people because of the socialistic concept of collectivism under the control of government. They have even given small parcels of land to farmers who can produce their own crops which they then can sell. This helps provide the much needed ag­ricultural goods not only for home consumption, but also for export to other Socialistic States. Of course, the large farms are still in being, and are controlled by the Govern­ment. It is their desire to make Hun­gary the showcase of all the Socialis­tic States. Capitalism however, is once again being introduced into a system which for decades has been under the control of Government. In Romania conditions were completely different. The change is noticeable immediately on reaching the border. There, the guards are surly and the inspection of your car and contents is much more rigorous. They ask if you are carrying firearms electronic equipment and religious materials. Once inside the country, you find that the availability of most basic foods is scarce. Lines of shop­pers begin to form at 6 o’clock in the morning without a knowledge of what will be available for purchase when they reach the head of the line. Gasoline too is at a premium. The natives can fill their tanks every other week and it is a common sight to see gas lines that are miles long. The Romanian people are disillu­sioned and discouraged. Many would just love to leave, even if only to Hungary where the needs of life are much more plentiful. If permission to leave the country is requested, that person is dismissed from his po­sition and is later arrested for vag­rancy. They may however, purchase their exit visas if they repay the go­vernment the cost of their education which can amount to as much as $100,000. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule and at times exit visas are granted to the “right people”. The one thing in Ro­mania however, that is different than in any other part of the world that I have visited is their faith and trust in God. Adversity creates a closer relationship with God. Chris­tian living however, does not come without costs. Christians are often denied the “privileges” that are “en­joyed” by non-christian friends. Such is also the situation with most of our Hungarian brethren in Ro­mania. To be Hungarian and a Christian is therefore subject to double jeopardy. Few Christians and/or Hungarians have the privi­lege of attending a University to study the subjects of their own choice. Every man, woman and child is called upon to donate some of their free time to do such work as picking potatoes, weeding gardens, sweeping sidewalks and to do other menial tasks demanded by the gov­ernment. Much of this type of work is performed on their “free” week­ends. The Romanian Government “allows” Christians to build or re­build their crumbling churches, but not very willingly. Their building inspectors create extreme delays and even fines if a small deviation is made from the original plans. With shortages in building materials how­ever, it is inevitable that some changes must be made. The Hun­garian Baptist Church in Bihar is currently in the process of rebuild­ing, but with many delays and har­­rassments. The members here how­ever, are dogged in their determi­nation to see their new church completed.

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