Because our church here in Budapest meets in a college dormitory we have to go to actual churches for anyone to be baptized. Last Sunday was one of those times, and it was very interesting.
One of the guys who wanted to get baptized is Hungarian. He requested the pastor of our church to baptize him at the Baptist church where he grew up in Budapest. So, this guy and 6 others were baptized at this church last week. Several of the people who were baptized were students from our school.
We thought that we were just going to be using the church facility for the baptismal service. Even our pastor told some people that the whole thing should only take about 30 minutes. Well, we showed up, and the church was full, with lots of Hungarians. Our pastor shared from scripture and there was some singing, but their pastor also shared and had some of the teenagers come up front to sing some songs. Gary said that it was similar to some Czech churches, where it seems that they don't know how to end a church service (prayer, singing, prayer, hmmm.... which to end with??). After the service, the Hungarian church had refreshments waiting for everyone outside.
When one family, whose daughters were getting baptized, arrived early, the Hungarian pastor asked them if they wanted to go change into their white clothes. The guy who grew up in the church was wearing white pants and a white shirt. The other 6 people were wearing dark colors. As Americans, we normally wear dark colors to be baptized, so you can't see through the clothing after it gets wet. Evidentally it is a custom, at least at this church, to get baptized in white clothing.
I needed to change Ethan's diaper so asked one of the women where I could go. She told me just to use the chairs in the church. She walked me back in the church and put two chairs together facing each other. I just thought, "Ethan, please don't pee all over the church chairs and floor". The woman didn't speak any English, but stayed with me while I changed his diaper and just gooed and gawed over Ethan. After I changed his diaper, she asked if she could put his pants back on him. Then she asked if she could hold him and take him back outside. I agreed. When I went out, there was a circle of about 4 or 5 Hungarian women standing around Ethan. When I walked up to them, one was insistent that I eat and drink (I'm sure because I'm nursing... the Hungarians want to make sure nursing moms get enough to drink- which is a good thing). One asked me about Ethan not wearing socks (he was in short sleeves and pants). Most Hungarians have hats and socks on their babies even if it's in the 80's outside (which it was over 70 degrees on this particular day). I just tried to explain to the group of women that Hungarians have the babies wear socks and hats, but Americans don't normally do that when it's not cold. I've had many friends get a good scolding from Hungarian women (especially the older ones) for not having a hat on their baby. Gary and I have just been waiting for it to happen to us.
I put this picture in because this is probably something similar to what Ethan was wearing when the Hungarian women were concerned about him getting cold. Also, I should have some more pics of him on here. This BeBe Pod is something that my mom got for Ethan. This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago, just a few days before he turned 3 months old. He's actually almost too big for this thing now.
