It's a Small World at the Gulyás Party

First of all, what is gulyás?  You might call it goulash.  And what you call goulash might be nothing like what gulyás actually is.  Gulyás is a meat and vegetable soup or stew, seasoned with the ever-present Hungarian spice, paprika.

Next, a gulyás party?  Apparently, gulyás is traditionally cooked over an open fire all day.  The Calvin students (along with us Boumans) were invited by the family of 2011 Calvin graduate, Christian Gibson, to spend Saturday afternoon at their home in the Budapest suburb of Tőrőkbálint to enjoy their hospitality, learn a little bit about their work in Hungary, and eat gulyás.

The Gibson home was a lovely retreat, which is fitting, because they have just moved into it for their work in providing pastoral care and counseling to missionaries who may be experiencing crisis, burnout, or just the everyday stress that we all need help handling sometimes.  In addition to their own living space, they have a large apartment where missionaries can stay, meeting space, and lots of plans for ways they can use this space to minister.  Hungary is a great place for them to carry out this ministry because of its central location in Europe and the abundance of mission organizations headquartered here.  And as we experienced first-hand, their hospitality is generous and encouraging.

The table(s) are set, and the view is incredible.

But where does the small world element come into this party?  Well, the Gibsons had also invited some other people to gulyás with them, including a family whose daughter is looking at Calvin as a possible school choice.  When we were introduced to Kevin and Wendy Mason, Wendy asked what my last name is.  I told her, and she looked at me, still puzzling, and asked if I had by any chance gone to Grove City College.  Yes, unbelievably I found a long-lost college classmate in Hungary!  (Or more accurately, she had found me.)  We both graduated in 1989 with Elementary Education degrees.  Wendy is shown in the picture below, wearing a teal top and seated across the table from me. 

Students enjoying some of the Gibsons' many musical instruments

Many thanks to the Gibsons for a beautiful afternoon and evening of feasting, good company, and a little serendipity!

We enjoyed the Gibsons' hospitality on into the early evening.