Buying breakfast for a homeless man . . .

Lynne and I were eating breakfast at McDonald's in a suburb of Budapest this week. Lynne noticed a homeless man who had come in from the cold. He was rubbing his legs to warm up his legs and to get his circulation going. He cleared one table putting the used napkins and breakfast sandwich papers into the trash can. He seemed to be a nice man. Surely there is a story about his life with its ups and downs.

I gave him a coffee that had been given to me because my breakfast was "late". That was easy to do . . . I absolutely dislike coffee and have no use for the drink. After a few minutes I felt impressed to buy him breakfast. He was grateful and a bit surprised. He was grateful for the hash browns and the orange juice, but, he stared at the scrambled eggs and English muffin . . . it appeared that he had never had this before. But, he gladly ate everything.

Both Lynne and I feel better . . . we hope that he does as well.

This week we go to a nursing home in Szentlorinckata, Hungary, to do a Christmas program and to do outreach. We have been to this senior adult home for the last 11 or 12 years. They tell us that this meeting is the highlight of their year! Can you imagine?! These dear people, about 70 of them, have so little. 8 or more are squeezed into one room and the furniture is very simple, very old and very inadequate. They have great needs both physically and spiritually. Yet, their eyes brighten and they smile when we come.

We will sing some Christmas carols with them and provide some solos and duets. A friend will join us and read a poem. Hungarians love poetry. They enjoy the Bible being read to them. They listen very respectfully as I preach a short message in Hungarian. Then, we will pass out some simple gifts for them for Christmas. I'll update you after we go there on Thursday.

Eric