Hello To Our Friends & Family in Hungary!!

Hello to all of the many friends we have made in Hungary! On the trains and in the cities and villages we have visited, the people of your country have been so friendly and warm and welcoming to us. We have been privileged to visit Hungary, and meet so many wonderful people. Your country is beautiful, and offers many interesting and historic sites for the traveler to enjoy, from the magnificent basilicas and palaces to the smallest parks, museums, and vineyards. With all of the many sites to see, we believe that your people are your greatest asset, and the reason travelers should visit your country. I am very proud to say that Hungary is the country of my ancestors!

We send a special hello to the citizens of Rabapatona and our Nagy family! What a wonderful week we have spent with you! Mrs. Sandor (Erzsebet) Nagy, Mrs. Tibor (Erzsi) Varga and sons, Tibor and Zoltan, and Mr. and Mrs. Sandor Nagy and daughter, Kitty, we can never thank you enough for everything you have done for us. Your hospitality was much more than the wonderful food you prepared, the beautiful accommodations we called home for a week, and the many places you took us to visit. The sharing of your hearts was overwhelming for us. We love you so very much and miss you terribly, already. Finding and being able to know you was more than I ever thought possible, but finding such a wonderful, caring and loving family is a dream come true. We love you, and we will never forget you.

To the other members of our Nagy family, Josef and Isabella Szabo and daughters; Deszo and Terez Szabo and children; Irenka and husband and son, who welcomed us into your homes, prepared meals for us, took us to such interesting places and made our week so special, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Deszo and Terez even taught us how to prepare traditional Hungarian food! Also, thanks to Deszo for sharing his genealogy information and a brief history of Hungary with us and to Josef and Isabella for sharing their grandchildren with us. We love all of you.

To the three young people who gave of their time to interpret for us while we were in Rabapatona, the words “Thank You” are not adequate to express our feelings. You made it possible for us to know our family, and that is a gift we will never be able to return. Not only did you give us your time, but also, your love, and we fell in love with each of you. Timi, Anett, and Tibi...THANK YOU!!!

Thank you to Anett's parents, Mr. And Mrs. Takacs, for taking us to Gyor to view the wonderful Mukocsy (spelling?) Art Exhibit, and the delicious ice cream!

To the Mayor of Rabapatona, Jutasi Kalman, and his staff, thank you for the honor you bestowed upon us. Your welcome and hospitality meant so much. Thank you for giving your time to accompany us to the school, the church and the museum...places I have waited so many years to see. Some of them, places that were part of my grandparent's lives when they were children and young adults in Rabapatona. I will be forever grateful. Thank you to the director of schools and the ladies who gave their time to open the church and museum for us. Thank you to the Kisalfold Newspaper personnel, who came to Rabapatona to interview us, and who wrote such a wonderful article about my search for my family and Wayne's presentation of the key to our city of Franklinton, LA to Mayor Kalman.

To everyone who honored us with gifts, “Thank You”! We are taking home so many wonderful treasures from Rabapatona and Hungary, but the best will be our memories of you!! We love you all, and welcome each of you to visit us in our home.

Please forgive me if I incorrectly spelled names or left anyone out. There were so many wonderful people who did so many wonderful things for us, that I am afraid I may have omitted someone. If I did, please forgive me. All of my journal notes were packaged and mailed to the U.S., so I don't have them to refer to.