Calvin Synod Herald, 2009 (110. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2009-05-01 / 5-6. szám
6 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Continuedfrom page 5 Hungarian language, culture and history. This included singing, crafts and embroidery and sewing (kézimunka). Many young people learned to swim at “Ligonier Beach” and field trips were taken into the countryside. Children came from virtually every place where there were first and second-generation Hungarians. Many of these young people developed life-long friendships at the same time they were exposed to the culture of their parents. For many, this time in their lives holds the fondest memories. The Summer School program ceased with the closing of the Children’s Home in 1979. Bethlen Home Alumni Association In 1955 Rev. Kecskeméthy organized a reunion of former Children’s Home residents, and on July 2 - 5, 42 alumni and 30 family members gathered in Ligonier. At that time they organized a “Bethlen Home Association” for former residents, but it soon ceased to be active. Most recently, Bethlen Communities sponsored reunions in 2001 and 2003. With over 3,000 alumni throughout the United States who were residents of the Home and hundreds of others who attended Summer School over a period of more than 20 years (an average of 50 each year), there are many who would enjoy a reconnection with their friends from years past. I write as one who experienced all that Bethlen Children’s Home has to offer. I attended Summer School from 1954 - 1957, and learned to swim at Ligonier Beach. My sisters and brother each spent at least one summer there. My friends called me “Charlie”. My little sister lived there during the school year from 1959 - 1960.1 was a school-year resident from 1959 - 1962, worked on the farm, met wonderful kids, had an exceptional education, and experienced some of the best years of my life at Bethlen Home. From the summers I especially remember Mickey and Géza, brothers from South Bend; sisters Csilla and Donna; Gerri and Pinky (and later another sister Esther); Pat and her brother Frankie, and so many others. From my school years I best remember Laci, Esther, Peter, Diana, Kálmán and Steve, and the siblings Lajos, Feri and Marika; Elaine, Eileen and Frank; Salvatore, Ronnie and Lillian; Peter and Tibor. If you were a resident or Summer School participant at the Bethlen Children’s Home please drop me a line. We would again like to get our old friends together - perhaps just by letter, perhaps by email or on this website. Karl Ludwig My email address is kkludwig&.aol. com, my mailing address is 7319 Tapper Avenue, Hammond IN 46321. (My contact information can be found on the inside cover of this publication.) Our New Mission Today as we review the nearly 89 years of history and changes surrounding the Bethlen Communities, we can see that a new and modem facility has replaced the original and obsolete wings of the Old Nursing Home. In fact the original and obsolete wings have been demolished and the more recent wings are currently being renovated for several other purposes. These new plans call for a Hungarian Cultural Center where organizations such as Calvin Synod, The Hungarian Reformed Church in America and other organizations or congregations will be able to meet. With God’s help and the kindness and generosity of the members our congregations (and readers like you) the hope is to have a home for our Hungarian Reformed heritage in America in this very place that has been the center of Hungarian Reformed activity for more than 88 years. This will be a primary “Mission” for our people in the coming years - to ensure that future generations will have access to the history of their ancestors in the place where those ancestors realized the mission to which they had been called by God. While we may face these plans for a Hungarian Cultural Center at Bethlen Communities with challenges, we also face them with confidence and hope as we continue to build upon the foundation that was sown - Jesus Christ - so that we may continue to glorify His name. Rt. Rev. Koloman Karl Ludwig, Bishop Calvin Synod Reflections on Mother’s Day My Mother, My Shepherd I am a lectionary preacher and this year I am working my way through the Gospel. This year the Gospel for May 10 (Mother’s Day) is from John 15 and refers to my Father - who in this case is God. However, I am also someone who tries whenever possible to be inclusive in my language - not because I want to be politically correct but because I am inclusive by nature. So when I think of Mother’s Day, I have seldom found anything one could say about a mother that one couldn’t also say about a father and vice versa. In the home where I grew up, my father was more confident in caring for the babies and he was the more creative cook. However, he didn’t bake and it took him two hours to change a license plate. My mother on the other hand, cooked out of a cookbook and very basically at that. Yet she built bunk beds when we needed them and fixed things easily and quickly. In fact, she had her own tool kit that she wouldn’t let my father touch. She baked beautifully but was terrorized at the thought of bathing a three-week old preemie, as was the baby’s mother - so my dad did it. The Bible teaches us that God takes care of us. We learn from Psalm 23 that “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name ’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 1 will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and / will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. ” The Lord takes care of me. And my mother took care of me.
