A Dream Come True

by Karen Gambill

Serving at Haus Edelweiss in Austria was a goal I have had for many years. The founder, Gene Dulin, started the original mission in 1957. Originally it was called “Toronto Christian Mission,” and it supported persecuted Russian Christians who found refuge in Canada. In the 1960s, it became known as “Taking Christ to Millions,” helping to plant churches and distribute Bibles, food, clothing, blankets, and Christian literature behind the Iron Curtain. Its mission these days primarily is to provide academic training—educating and uplifting pastors from at least thirty-six countries from across Europe, Central Asia, and Africa, with Haus Edelweiss being the largest training location. Today there are more than twenty-three locations “TRAINING CHRISTIANS for MINISTRY”—equipping Christian leaders to lead in their own country and culture.

My husband, Mark, and I were members at the Plainfield Christian Church in the Indianapolis area for almost ten years. We became good friends with the Dulins in their retirement, and served alongside them at our local church while we were there. I heard many stories about TCM’s mission and service opportunities from our PCC church family as well as our Christ’s Church family here in Mason, Ohio. The seeds for service at TCM Haus Edelweiss were planted in my heart almost thirty years ago. I believe Mr. Dulin would be greatly pleased at the expansion and global reach TCM International Institute now has.

I have always wanted to serve in missions. At the church where I grew up, a missionary family lived on the property while the husband attended medical school. They planned to return to Rhodesia, where they had previously served, so he could work as a medical missionary. Through them, I learned about global missions and about a God who loves all people. As a nurse I have traveled on a few medical-related mission trips. Nearly fifteen years ago, I joined a mission trip to Romania, an Eastern European country deeply affected by communism. When I learned I would be going to TCM, I already had some understanding of the people I would serve. What I didn’t expect was how academic and engaging the service environment would be.

Lessons from Zoli

With months to prepare, I knew from others who had served there that the work could be physically demanding. Service opportunities included kitchen work, facility maintenance, housekeeping, and guest services. I was fortunate—or, more accurately, blessed—to serve in the kitchen. The days were long, but mealtimes and a usual afternoon break helped keep us going. Many days would begin at 6:30 am and go until after 7:00 pm. I have never been a gourmet cook, but thanks to “Zoli,” our Hungarian chef, I have a better sense of what it takes to prepare meals for 90 people.

Every day of our week-and-a-half serving experience Zoli would arrive before his volunteer kitchen crew, and stay later than us. One exception happened when we mustered our team to do mopping at about 9:00 pm so we could be free to attend a local monastery we had all heard about. We served with other Christians from churches in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Our kitchen group melded well as we cut vegetables, bread, meat, and prepared tea and coffee. We also did laundry and cleaned every day.

We learned from each other, had devotions every day, and had an opportunity to share our lives through Zoli’s leadership. Early on, Zoli told us to look up Revelation 8:1. The verse states, “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” (NIV). With a twinkle in his eye, he left us wondering. Our group was comprised of mostly women, and we found out before our session at TCM ended that he thought the silence referenced in Revelation 8:1 was because no women had yet arrived! We all loved Zoli.

Zoli gave us written instructions to start our time with him. They contained usual details of schedule and duties, but he added “Hungarian Language class” and we were always giving him English lessons so he could learn from us also. One day, the only time I witnessed him in frustration, he gave a look which I expected to be followed by Hungarian language. Instead he simply said, “I have no words!” We never got him frustrated again and got a good laugh from that phrase.

He also challenged us to tell his Hungarian friend Ivett, who leads the housekeeping and guest services team at TCM, to “Egyem a zuzad” (literally means, “let me eat your gizzards”), but for their language would mean, “I could just eat you up!” We enjoyed great fellowship in the kitchen, and all got along well.

A Mountaintop Experience

Built in 1890, Haus Edelweissonce hosted royal visitors. Unfortunately, it also housed Nazi soldiers during World War II. Their presence was brief, however, and God is now using this special property in a powerful way. The property has changed significantly since it was purchased in the 1970s, and I would be glad to share photos with anyone interested. The dormitory that we stayed in had a washer and dryer on each floor. A large classroom downstairs also served as our worship space. The main building includes a commercial kitchen, an attached large classroom, public restrooms, a dining room, a self-service breakfast room that students use during scheduled breaks, and a comfortable “green room” for small gatherings. Upstairs, numerous rooms accommodate workers and students. Other transformed buildings include a large former horse barn (now used for offices), a library, classrooms, housing, and the maintenance hub. A remodeled cattle barn also houses students. A gate house is reserved for prayer.

The property is beautiful. One highlight for students and workers was an old-fashioned campfire on the hillside. Accompanied by guitar, we sang songs in many languages. Imagine Heaven hearing all that praise! My favorite was “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” sung in English, Russian, Romanian, Bulgarian, and German. I came to think of this academic environment as also a retreat full of learning, serving, and fellowship. Many of the students were returning. And the short-term workers were not the only ones who were serving. Everyone was expected to pick up their dishes, and after a meal there was always lively conversation in the kitchen as professors, students, and short-term workers dried dishes together.

My only regret is that I did not serve at TCM sooner. This mission trip exceeded my expectations. It was truly a mountaintop experience for me. I went with an open heart and willingness to serve, but as anyone who has ever been on a short-term mission trip will tell you, you are the one who receives blessing. Incorporated into our service was the responsibility of being a table host at several meals. Our job was to mix and mingle with the students. We were to encourage them and learn about their life in their respective countries. Those I met truly serve our Lord and Savior in countries where life is quite different than what we are used to in the U.S.

I am excited to consider another trip to TCM in the not-too-distant future, God willing. Living and working in community is uplifting when everyone desires to live like Jesus.

Want to know more about this mission partner of Christ’s Church? Check out https://tcmi.org

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve . . .” (Mark 10:45, NIV).

Karen Gambill is a retired RN with forty years of experience in five hospital systems in three different states. She has been married to Mark for forty-one years, and they have two grown sons and two adopted female dogs, Sweet Potato (Tater), and Lia.