INTRO

Üdvözöljük! (Welcome)

This is my final installment of my YAGM newsletters. I am writing this about a month after leaving Europe and it has been a hectic few months figuring out housing, graduate school logistics, and acclimating back into the U.S. environment. However, I am glad to finally be able to provide a final newsletter to close out this chapter. Included below are more community member highlights, my whereabouts/happenings in May and June, some initial reflection, gratitude, the next phase of my life, and bonus photos! While it's a bit lengthy, I hope you enjoy it!

Just like the last newsletter, I wanted to include a few more community member spotlights. As mentioned in the previous volume, all of the participants have been asked to share as little or as much as they would like and all individuals/guardians have approved the publication of their portions.

First up, Luca. She is a phenomenal student who has always been engaged in class. Her level in English and her experiences traveling around the world at such a young age are impressive! Next, Laci bácsi (bácsi is used as a reference similar to mr. or uncle), who was born in 1919 and just celebrated his 105th birthday! While there is a significant language barrier between the two of us, it hasn’t mattered. A fan favorite in the community, his aura spreads kindness and care to anyone around him. It has been such a privilege to be able to chat with him, and those who can translate for us two, on a few separate occasions! Third, Noel, one of my best friends! From the moment I met him, he has always made sure that I was doing well in Szarvas and that I was included in some fun hang outs with our friend group. Beyond that, his goals of helping his country through his gifts and his apparent academic excellence are just a few traits I deeply admire about him. Fourth, my friend and colleague, Peti. Next to Klára, Peti has been my main touch point for everything relating to Vajda. I have been so incredibly honored that Peti allowed me to teach alone in his classes. His friendship has been so warming to my heart and some of the best memories have been being in the classroom with him and just chatting it up! Fifth is Nóra, a teacher I deeply admire at Benka. Most of my time at Benka was spent with her in her classes. She is one of my closest friends and someone who has been so incredibly gracious with ensuring I felt at home in Szarvas. Her children speak volumes to the parent she is and I am so grateful for having shared meals with them. Last but not least, Viki! She is someone who is so joyful, insightful, and a true pleasure to be around. She is a role model for me in how to treat others, being a parent, and always someone who emulates positivity.

LUCA

Tell me about yourself...

I was raised in Szarvas in a loving and caring family. I came from both Lutheran and Catholic family members but then my mother decided that I should be a Lutheran. I usually go somewhere in Szarvas with my friends, like go to a park or have a sleepover with them at their house or my house. My father just turned 50 on March 4 and my mother will turn 40 on October 29. My mother likes to talk to her friends a lot and My father likes to play with his friends.

I’m going to be 12 years old on September 25. My family and I go on a lot of trips. For example this year I’m going on a trip to Croatia with my Best Friend Lilla or like Last year I went to Florida with my family. I really like cats and dogs and I have got a dog named Charlie and a cat named Odette. I’ve got a brother but I haven’t got a sister. My favorite subject is Religious education.

How has your time in school influenced your dreams and goals?

I didn’t know of folk dance till I started going to school. In grade 2 I joined the school folk dance team and I really started to like folk dance and on May 17th I competed in a Folk Dance competition in Gyula I was really happy when they said one day that I should go to a competition. At the competition I got a bronze rating but it was good for me because it was my first competition and in the future I hope I will become a famous Folk dancer in Tessedik.

What do you enjoy most about your community or town?

What I really enjoy about the community is that it is usually friendly and when you win something they always congratulate you even if it’s a bad score, rating or place. And the thing I like about my town is it’s very small but it has great restaurants, cafés, teams and schools.

LACI BÁCSI (AKA) PAPP LÁSZLÓ

How long have you lived in Szarvas? What is your favorite thing about this town?

I was expelled from the Nagykőrös gymnasium. My last hope was the gymnasium in Szarvas, where I got to know Lutheran education and the wonderful teachers who shaped me into a human being. I still think of them with respect. At the age of 75, I moved back because of my love. I've been living here since then. Now, I reside at the Lutheran Care Service. I love Szarvas. It has been my favorite town since I was 16.

What is something you’d like to tell a broader audience in the U.S. about Hungary or the region that someone who hasn’t been here should know?

I was a refugee when I was born. I saw the light of day on a train because the Romanians occupied Transylvania, and my family had to flee. We became refugees in our own country. Hungary is a wonderful country. It would be great if many people, like my friend Connor, would come and get to know us.

I am curious about your experience during/after World War II and under Soviet occupation. What stories, experiences or opinions would you like to share about the history of Hungary and/or during these crucial moments in history?

There was a lot of suffering in Hungary. The country was torn apart. First, the Germans occupied it, and then the Soviets. But even in the worst circumstances, I experienced God's blessings. I met many people, even among the communists, who helped me. Faith has always been my support.

What is a piece of advice or insight you would offer to me or anyone in their twenties or thirties?

Believe in God! Exercise! And if possible, never overeat. My friend dean Lazar wants you to follow me on Tiktok: @lacibacsi105eves

NOEL

Tell me about yourself...

My name is Noel Nagy-Bobvos, and I’d like to introduce myself briefly. I was born on the 23rd of December, 2003, which is kind of funny considering that my name means “Christmas” or “born on Christmas”. I have always lived here in Szarvas, even now when I’m partly moved away in order to study in Szeged. I went to elementary school in this town, then I finished my high school studies here too. Both schools had such a big influence on my life, I made long-lasting friendships there over the years, and obviously got the education that now makes me able to study what I want to. Speaking of my studies, I’m a second year (hoping that after next week’s physiology final I can say third year) med student at SZTE.

I'va always been very passionate and fanatic about things I like. Sports, music and traveling definitely belong to this category, but the 1st place is quite obviously taken by my daughter. What drives me most is the time I can spend with friends, I can't imagine a weekend without getting together with some of them.

NÓRA KISZELY

Tell me about yourself...

I was raised in Szarvas with my brother. I attended both the primary and the secondary school in this town. After that I studied at the Juhász Gyula Teacher Training College in Szeged, my majors were English and Hungarian. Right after my studies I spent a year in England as an au-pair , I attended a language school and I did the Cambridge English Language Exam at C1 and C2 level. Having moved back to Hungary I started my teaching career as a primary school teacher first in Szarvas, then in Szeged. In 1999, I moved to Budapest where I taught mainly adults at different language schools. In 2013, I moved back to Szarvas with my family, my husband and 2 children. Since then I've been teaching at my earlier Primary School, which is now called Benka Gyula English Bilingual Primary School. I really enjoy teaching all my subjects: English language, Civilization (UK and USA) and Hungarian language and literature. Beside the school I have the opportunity to teach adults as well. I have two children, my son is 22 years old, my daughter is 19, both of them are university students. In my free time I like hiking, gardening and reading.

What is something about Hungary, Szarvas, or the region you would want someone who has never been here to know?

At the end of May, the other Central Europe YAGM’s, our country coordinator Kelly, her husband Aaron, and their dog Winnie all met for our closing retreat in Tard and Miskolc, Hungary. During our time in Tard, we had an incredible opportunity to visit Matyo Designs, a local company that specializes in keeping alive traditional Hungarian wear, as well as supporting local women who craft all of the clothes by hand. Here, they taught us how to embroider and we each received a custom embroidered shirt! We also got to experience the ELCH’s Northern District’s Mission Day in Miskolc, which was great as we got to catch up with Bishop Fabiny and meet many of Braden and Abbie’s friends in the region!

The following week, Madeline and I were once again graciously invited to spend the weekend with Klára’s family in Hajdúszoboszló, which is a city right next to Debrecen in eastern Hungary and has one of the largest waterparks in Europe! Due to the close proximity, Abbie and Braden took a quick train ride from Nyíregyháza to join us on this excursion! While the waterpark day got a bit stormy outside, we still had a phenomenal time in the indoor park, as well as our evenings dancing at party locations in the city.

Right after that, Zsolt invited me to join his team for the Christian Encounter Days event in Frankfurt de Oder, Germany, which is a city right on the border with Poland. This event brings together any and all denominations of the Christian faith and includes amazing events from concerts, worship services, and much more. The Szarvas team had a booth that I assisted with, where we sold handmade crafts and amazing Hungarian sausage! Moreover, on our way to Germany, we spent a day in Prague, Czech, where we toured the city and sipped on some amazing Czech beer.

On June 15th, I attended the Lutheran Annual Ball in a breathtaking hotel in Szarvas! Following an amazing buffet of traditional Hungarian dishes, some of the 8th grade students performed a waltz. The rest of the night was filled with great conversations, dancing to a live band, and a raffle at the end!

One of the things we discussed at our final retreat was things we wanted to make sure we could bring home from our time in Hungary. For me, one of the most important things was learning to cook a traditional Hungarian dish, but most importantly from Klára, who cooks some of the best homemade dishes I have had the chance to eat in Hungary! We spent an afternoon together cooking Paprikás Krumpli and enjoyed it with the whole family.

In the beginning of May, I got to witness the 12th grade graduate. This ceremony differs in most ways from a U.S. highschool. The ceremony is called Ballagás (translated, “slow walk”), where the graduating class walks slowly throughout the whole school with their head teachers. Later, we all gathered in the New Lutheran Church where performances, speeches, and awards were given. Towards the end of May and beginning of June, my teaching duties quickly winded down as most of the students were preparing for exams and/or going on trips with the school. However, a few of the special moments included a pizza party and a unique Jeopardy game I created for and with Peti’s 9th grade class. While all of the classes and students have been so welcoming and special to me, this class I grew especially close with. I hope to come back for their graduation if it's financially viable and I’m not impeding upon a future YAGM’s experience.

Next, at both Benka and Vajda, the schools had closing ceremonies, where students were acknowledged for their work. Towards the end, I was so touched that at each ceremony, they called me up to receive gratitude and many gifts from faculty and students. At Vajda, I received a graduating class satchel that each graduate gets and a yearbook, which included a page on myself and a message I gave to the school. At Benka, I received incredible letters from teachers, a picture book of my time in classes, and most importantly some adorable drawings from the little ones!

How has your time in school influenced your dreams and goals?

Definitely it had a huge impact on it I must say. I had incredible teachers during high school for whom I’m super thankful. I did not have any career ideas going into high school, but the teachers there showed me how exciting some subjects could be. In my first year there, history seemed to be the most fun class for me, then came chemistry and biology, which basically determined my career path.

What do you enjoy most about your community or town?

I have always loved to live here and to come back after some hard uni days. I got a loving and caring family, for what I’m grateful beyond words. We often get together on the weekends with my mothers siblings and their families. I’m in a privileged situation where I managed to stay close with my high school friends and ex teammates, I prefer going out with them too when I’m home.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?

As I said above, in high school these were history, chemistry and biology. Not just because I was interested in them, but the teachers who held these classes for me were just out of this world. They spent a lot of their free time to making me understand more complex connections, inciting me to take part in competitions, and I could turn to them with my non-school related problems too. These facts make their low appreciation even sadder. In the first three semesters anatomy was my favorite subject in university. It was a very practical class, we also had dissection classes and histology linked with it.

PETI

Tell me about yourself…

I'm a 43-year-old high school teacher. I have lived in my hometown since I was born, but I wouldn't be hesitating if I was offered a chance to live abroad. I work at my first workplace, which is the school I attended. As for my family, I've been with my girlfriend for 22 years and we have a 10-year-old daughter. I love music and I'm crazy about sports, both doing and watching. Going to a gig, playing football or watching my fav team can always fill me up. And I enjoy traveling very much, I take pleasure in organizing trips for ourselves or for friends.

What are you passionate about or what drives you?

Szarvas is a beautiful town in the Great Hungarian Plain, it was the center of Historical Hungary. It lies by the backwater of the River Körös, this backwater is the fifth biggest still water in Hungary. It attracts a lot of tourists from all over the country as it is great for swimming, kayaking, boating and fishing. Szarvas has a long history. The Medieval town was ruined due to the Ottoman wars, it was uninhabited until 1720, when Austrian baron Johann Georg von Harruckern (György János Harruckern) invited mainly Slovak settlers from Upper Hungary to the deserted area. They built a new town with the help of the Lutheran priest, Sámuel Tessedik. He also established the first agricultural school in Hungary. The history of Szarvas has been connected to the Bolza family since the late 18th century. They built two castles by the River Körös and established two beautiful gardens: the Anna Grove and the Pepi Garden. The first one is the home of the Animal Park, the castle which is situated here is the center of the Körös-Maros National Park. The second one became the biggest botanical garden of Hungary. Szarvas has four primary, two secondary schools and two universities. It's a great place to live and spend your holiday.

What are you passionate about or what drives you?

I'm passionate about teaching, making children motivated not just about language learning, but also about learning new things about the world. I also like to raise awareness about sustainability and social problems. It also drives me to keep traditions so that children can feel that they have roots. I'm also passionate about reading and persuading students to read as it is a deeper experience than watching films and videos. It is also my aim to persuade them to live their life in 'real world' as well, not just online.

Anything else you would like to share? Could be anything we haven't covered or something you would like others to know!

I'm very glad that I could work with Connor. We could cooperate really well with each other. We had great topics during the English lessons that improved not just our students' language skills but also their worldview, we widened their knowledge a lot. We talked about work experiences, the differences of education systems, child labour, sustainability, etc. Connor was always respectful not just towards us, but also towards the students, and because the students felt it, they really got on well with him.

VIKTÓRIA JANURIK

Tell me about yourself…

I've lived all my life in Szarvas. After university my former school offered a job which I accepted. I've been teaching for 33 years.My father was a university professor all his life, which affected my choosing a career. I'm divorced. I have two wonderful daughters. I have little free time for any passion, I live for my family.

If you are of Lutheran faith, what would you like to say about the church here in Hungary and Szarvas? Maybe what it means to you or how you are involved in it.

I'm Lutheran because of my family. Békés county has the most Lutheran citizens, as the ancestors came from a territory which is now in Slovakia so of Slovak origins. Unfortunately, there are less and less people who keep their faith.

What are you passionate about or what drives you?

I'm passionate about teaching English, coaching them, also singing, traditional Hungarian folk music and singing.

WHEREABOUTS + REFLECTION

My May started with Labour Day in Europe. In Szarvas there was a big fair I attended with Zsolt and his son Dáni. There was a wide range of activities, including a car show, carnival rides, tractor tug of war, and much more! Later, I had the privilege to attend Zsolt’s election and anointing day as Esperes (Dean) of the Szarvas region. Before the official ceremony, Pastor Pál and I had some time to explore the city of Szentes, which is about 30 minutes away from Szarvas by car. Overall, it was a great day getting to spend this special moment with Zsolt, his family, and many from the Hungarian Lutheran church.

This leads me to some initial reflection. Unfortunately, I was unable to express thanks and bid farewell to many individuals who deserved it. In the final classes that I had the opportunity to teach one final lesson and say a personal goodbye, it was surreal and strange. The last two months in Szarvas were so busy that it didn’t feel like it was all coming to a close. I felt a bit numb, which was frustrating because I wanted to authentically express how much the community and the experience meant to me. Just ten months in my community, yet I had the privilege to mutually create such profound relationships in my life that I know will last forever. I consider so many in the Szarvas community to be like family and some of my closest friends.

Moreover, while it meant so much to me to be recognized in my community, there are a few points I keep coming back to. First, while my service, background, and talents hopefully had some impact, they pale in comparison to what the students, faculty, friends, and community members in Szarvas (and greater Hungary) have done for and provided me with. Before giving some final remarks to students, I was reminded of one of my mentors and professors, Dr. Walther. At the end of each term, in all his classes, he would express how much of a privilege and how grateful he was to be a part of our learning. This thinking, along with witnessing and learning from the actions of other mentors at Wartburg, my country coordinator Kelly, her husband Aaron, and leaders in Szarvas have profoundly shaped how I look at education, how I approached my role in teaching, and also now more broadly, impacted how I engaged with members outside the classroom in Szarvas and will engage with communities in the future. It has been an absolute privilege to be able to be embraced and brought into a whole new culture, learn from students, friends, and faculty about how they view the world, their opinions, traditions, food, and so much more.

Second, this really wasn’t about me and what I brought to my community. They didn’t really need me in any capacity. At its core, this was about building mutual relationships and understanding across cultural and societal boundaries by learning from and experiencing one another. In turn, I bring that back with me to share and shape how I engage with the church and new communities.

This brings me to my final two points/takeaways. While I have been wrestling with and exploring my faith and what it means to me, in a positive manner, a common question asked is where I saw God or a beauty of a higher power. From all of this, I can say I see God in the faces of those I engaged with, their passions, hopes, and in the relationships built. In turn, I have seen the power of relationships in fostering hope. There is so much hate, anxiety, worry, and downright atrocities being committed in the world today, and while it is very idealistic to say, it seems to me that fostering hope has to come through mutually breaching the divide between cultures and societies. This is why I am so proud and humbled to have had the opportunity to be in this program!

GRATITUDE & CLOSING

There are truly too many people to thank. First and foremost, I want to thank the ELCA and the entire staff that oversees and makes YAGM run, specifically a huge shout out to the program Director, Mae Helen Jackson and former alum Peter Severson, for whom without, I would have not been exposed to or done this program!

Next, a thank you to all the donors. My heart is so filled looking at the list of my donors, which ranges from family, friends, mentors, professors, and local community members. Without such support, I would have never been able to do something like this and gain international experience! Special thanks to the congregation at Bethany Lutheran Church for an incredibly generous donation to my year!

Third, a MASSIVE thank you to my country coordinator Kelly Schumacher-Fuller and her husband Aaron. These two amazing individuals give me so much hope and I am so lucky to have them as friends and role models!

I’d like to thank the global YAGM cohort, which is filled with incredibly kind, inspirational, and thoughtful young adults. Special shoutout to my CE cohort, Sara, Madeline, Sylvia, Abbie, Braden, and Lindsey, who have become some of my closest friends.

Within my site placement, I cannot thank enough my site mentors, Klára and Zsolt, who have done so much for me and made this chapter of my life a true blessing! Additionally, thank you to each and every teacher at both Benka and Vajda, they are true heroes in my eyes. Thank you to all my friends in Szarvas and most importantly all of the students who inspired me each day!

As this chapter has closed, I am incredibly excited about what is next. I’ll be living with my brother Christian in Denver while I attend the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies for a MA in International Security! While this has come to a close, I am always open to further discussing this enriching experience with anyone interested. Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,

Connor J.L. Moore