Thank You, Lord Jesus for Gifts We Don't Deserve But Dearly Treasure!

Little Paxton almost died.

I suppose it was a good thing that our communication wasn't good enough to know this at the time. I'm not sure I could have slept here in Budapest if I'd known..

• Paxton's pediatrician said she'd never seen such a severe case of croup in her 20 years of practice.
• She insisted he be taken from her office to the hospital in an ambulance.
• Paxton started retracting in the ambulance and the paramedics didn't have what was needed to save him.
• They were slow in getting the correct treatment when he arrived at the emergency room.
• My daughter saw fear and alarm on the faces of the nurses and paramedics.
• They discovered his breathing tube had narrowed to the size of a pin.
• For more than a day he was treated with the strongest steroids they use for such problems.

We're thanking God for the gift of Paxton and more time with him here on earth. And we're thanking God for your prayers.

Love,
Paxton's Grammy

Over the Hill and Over the Ocean...

Well, it feels like we're over the hill...We've never had so much trouble adjusting our time clocks. We've had a few regular nights of sleep, but we still aren't to normal yet. 

This is our living room/bedroom/office/dining room. Notice all the IKEA furniture?

But it's good being here in Budapest again...seeing all the familiar sights and sounds...we love this city!   Our tram rode by the Jewish memorial the other day...small sculptures resembling shoes placed along the Danube where Jews were tied together, shot and thrown to their deaths...

The kitchen

We hope to start thinking about ministry next week. I have appointments with several people. On Friday I'll be meeting with a woman to talk about a Hungarian Bible Love Notes. And Michael should start working with Campus Crusade in the public schools this week too.  Please pray for those ventures.

The front door to our building

Smart car parking on our street

We've got our little flat cleaned and set up. It's 49 square meters (a little less than 530 square feet) but nice and modern. The kitchen and frig are bigger than the one we had when we lived here full time... and this kitchen has a dishwasher, which we didn't have when we lived her...well we actually had two dishwashers, but they weren't electric.

Of course, those of you who know me know a kitchen isn't too important to me..."The only reason I have a kitchen is because it came with the house."

My sweet husband carried this carpet home on the tram. It is so much nicer than the wood floors in the flat and it was cheap.

Andy Anderson

On the same floor of our building we are neighbors to Andy Anderson. He and his wife Phyllis started the Budapest Christian library. Phyllis passed away last year, and Andy comes back to Budapest to distribute books to reading rooms throughout Hungary.  Now remember how I was saying Michael and I are feeling we're a little over the hill since we're in our 60's? Well, Andy told me today at lunch that he's 81! He's an amazing guy! 

Chocolate rolls, one of Michael's favorite high-carb treats

PRAYER REQUESTS:
1. Baby Pax. Our first prayer request is for our little grandson, Pax. He's currently in the hospital with croup and a very constricted windpipe. Hard being so far away and knowing he's ill and we can't help.

2. My health.  Please pray for my overall health. thanks.

3. God Opportunities. Please pray that Michael and I will take advantage of every opportunity God has prepared in advance for us (Ephesians 2:10).

4. Please pray for Merrill Davis' eye. Carol and Merrill plan to return to ministry in Budapest in a couple of weeks (they'll also be our floor mates) but  Merrill has again lost his vision despite recent eye surgery.


Praising God for SKYPE so we can keep in touch with Mom and Dad Purath!  We'd love a call from the rest of you as well. Our internet goes in and out, but we've still been able to use it for calls.

Thanks so much all of you who subscribed to keep track of us and pray for us on this 3 month adventure. We miss you and love you all! 

Under the camera (don't tell my nephew) is the tiny suitcase.

OK, for those of you who are still reading...I have to tell you that I had the most FUN morning at the Budapest flea market. Years ago I saw these cute, cute, cute little suitcases made during communism and I tried to find one to own the whole time we lived here. I would see them at craft booths as part of the display, never for sale. But today I found one! Hooray! Plus I got a neat gift for my nephew and a figurine to represent Ansley in my granddaughter figurine collection!  And yesterday I found a stacking doll with 10 dolls in it at a second hand shop for $10.  Little blessings from God : )

If This is Tuesday, It Must Be Budapest!

We're here...but our time clocks are still confused...and yes, I know it's actually Wednesday, not Tuesday. But we lost a day, you see. This is us in our elevator (there's a mirror on one side). OK, I know it's a silly picture, but remember I'm jet lagged!

An Irishman bought the roof of this building and built the sixth floor and put in the elevator...it's quite nice, glass on two sides.

Our friend, Andy Anderson, arrived last month and is staying on the same floor. He put fresh flowers and chocolates in our room as a welcome! Really nice to see him again and we look forward to seeing more of him in the next few months. Andy distributes Christian books throughout Hungary to set up reading rooms, and he may set up a reading room on our floor.

We've done all the routine things thus far:  Got our public Transportation passes--$50 a month for each of us now. It was half that when we got our first ones in 2005, but still a good deal.  Michael is standing in front of one of the main train stations, about a block from our flat.

We went to Auchen, sort of our Walmart here except they are run by the French and I think they have good pastries and breads. That enormous loaf of bread next to Michael's hand costs $4.

We finally got our little flat arranged today. Had to clean things up a bit.  Above is a before picture.

This is a picture looking out of our bedroom/living room window. We're on the fifth floor (which means the sixth floor because Europeans don't count the ground floor).

Here's a picture looking out our bathroom window.  Can you see the pigeons...not my favorite bird.

Sorry, no ministry news...we're still just getting our minds and bodies settled in. Thanks for the prayers. I'm a mixture of feelings--lovin it, wonderin why we're here when we have such a comfortable home in NC, excited for whatever God has in mind, getting used to no car and no Panera : )

But God continually amazes me with His goodness to us!!

What Are the Puraths Doing Anyway?

In front of our apartment building (same one this year)

So many friends have asked how they can keep up with us while we are in Budapest, so I'm inviting you to subscribe to our family blog for the next 3 months...it's easy to unsubscribe after that.


 I hope to post at least once a week while we are in Budapest (September 12-December 6).


So, if you think you'd like weekly updates on our trip, subscribe using the FEEDBURNER tool on the right sidebar.
But be sure to confirm the subscription--you'll get a FEEDBURNER email in your box as soon as you subscribe. If you don't validate that email, it won't go through.


Thanks!
Gail

My 60th Birthday was fun and family

Nicole and the girls decorated

Birthdays are always more fun with the kiddos.

Hand-picked gifts for me!

God is good!