Fraternity-Testvériség, 1992 (70. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1992-01-01 / 1. szám
Page 14 TESTVÉRISÉG After some time, I was given permission to travel to visit my relatives in the village. When I left after my first trip to Hungary in 1987, I believed that I would never see my relatives again. I could now visit them every weekend for a year. It wasn't long before I became part of the family. I knew this when my dear sweet Margit Néni scolded me for wearing too much black all of the time; she thought I resembled the old village women. The time that I spent in the village is perhaps the most dear to my heart. I am always hoping for the day when I can return. My biggest aspiration for that year was to have both my parents visit me. After all, they were such a part of why I was even there. Much to my great disappointment and heartbreak, my father was unable to make the trip, but my mother joined me in June of 1991. I was deeply moved to watch my mother realize her dream. She has devoted so much of her life to preserving her Hungarian heritage, but she could never fully understand her "Hungarianess", never having been to Hungary. Well, my mother and I share so many special memories about our special vacation and discovering our ethnic roots together. The most memorable occasion was when we attended the opening day festivities of the World Conference of Hungarian Reformed Churches, along with Reverend Imre Bertalan, George and Matilda Dózsa, Tibor Pflum, representing the Federation. After a year of living in Budapest and travelling through the country, I had strongly sensed the religious revitalization of Hungary; but it was an overwhelming experience to take part in it. While sitting in the small church on Kálvin tér surrounded by ethnic Hungarians from Transylvania (dressed in their beautiful folk costumes), I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. When I looked around the church and saw the many faces with tears of utter joy as we sang the Himnusz, I finally understood the essence of freedom. My experience of that day was completed when I wrote a reporting cable on the Conference to the Department of State. At times this past year, it has been somewhat confusing trying to decipher the "Hungarian side" and the "American side" of myself. My work in the Embassy has made me prouder than ever of being an American. And because I am an American, I can joyously exclaim that I am Hungarian, too. I thank God for the opportunity and experience that I had this past year. I will always cherish those memories of living -- even for such a brief period -- in my homeland. Kati Csornán The second "Kossuth House'
