Fraternity-Testvériség, 1991 (69. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1991-07-01 / 3-4. szám
Page 12 TESTVÉRISÉG living elsewhere in Hungary. It certainly was a memorable day. Sunday was a special day for the 18 people in our tour group. The conference had set this day aside for the ministers and the people to learn about one another by visiting with each other and getting to know one another. Our group from the Hungarian Reformed Church in Allen Park, Michigan, was to visit the people and church at Hajdubagos which is near Debrecen. We attended their church service that was jointly conducted by their minister, Rev. Gizella Szabó and our minister from Allen Park, Rev. Imre A. Bertalan. A delicious dinner followed the service. Together there was much visiting and good fellowship. We learned about their customs, including some oldtime cooking methods using the big outdoor baking ovens. I had the opportunity to speak with their chief elder, Imre Balogh, and other officers. Sadly it was time to depart. Many good wishes and special gifts from their church were exchanged. Tamás Dénes átadja Jakab Sándor és a maga adományát iskolájuk, a Pápai Református Kollégium főigazgatójának Kövy Zsoltnak. The Hajdubagos Church people were marvelous and beautiful people. We took with us back to America many fond memories and hopes for better communications and unity between the Reformed Churches in America, Hungary and the world. On Monday, June 24th, the Debrecen Program's closing ceremony took place at the Nagytemplom, the large Hungarian Reformed Church in Debrecen. Bertalan Imre elnök, Dózsa György alelnök-titkár adományt visz a pápai és debreceni gimnáziumoknak. Átveszi: Dr. Márkus Mihály püspök és Bíbó István igazgató. The conference was over for our group but the conference did continue until June 30, 1991. There was also much joy in Hungary because on June 19th the last Russian aggressor left Hungarian soil. To commemorate this occasion, on June 30th at 12:00 noon, all the church bells in Hungary were to ring for one hour. Many of the 18 people in our group all left Hungary with the same thoughts in mind. It was a wonderful and beautiful trip. We had all accomplished a great deal. We had visited family loved ones that still lived in Hungary, visited many beautiful places, enjoyed the fabulous and tasteful Hungarian cuisines, tasted the wine and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We departed knowing that accomplishments and hope had been made for more unification and world encompassment of all Hungarian Reformed Churches. All were eager to return home but in the back of our thoughts was a wish that someday we might again return to Hungary." Laura E. Sobodash from Trenton, Michigan: "It all began on June 13, 1991. My first journey to Hungary was starting. As I left the States I was filled with joy, anticipation, and excitement. I couldn't wait to see where my ancestors came from, as well as seeing my Hungarian Heritage up close. When I was younger I always heard stories of how my ancestors left Hungary to start a new life in America. It wasn't until I was actually in Hungary when I could fully understand how my ancestors felt leaving their beloved country. Just imagine leaving your home where you grew up and making a new life thousands of miles away, where you didn't know the language or the culture.
