March update

Cherry tree in blossom next to the utility shed in our back yard

 Evenings are still cool, but days are now lovely and spring-like here in Hungary, with flowers coming up and trees blossoming.  New things are also developing in the work, and we appreciate your prayers very much.

Trees & bushes showing signs of spring at house across the street

*    Please keep praying for our Tiszafüred church plant friend "Z" and her daughter "T."  "T" will be seeing a Budapest doctor on April 22 to make plans for a very serious brain surgery. The doctors are not hopeful of a good result, so pray God will give wisdom, help, healing, and strength to deal with whatever comes.

*    Pray for several of our friends here who we have been sharing with - they have been showing receptiveness to the gospel message.  Ask the Lord to break down any barriers preventing them from coming to Christ.

*    This Wednesday, April 2, will be the first meeting of a new small group Bible study in our home - "Seven Stories of Hope."  Pray for those who will be coming, and for us and Hungarian friend Eduárd as we guide the conversation.  As we discuss these seven stories of hope from the Scripture we will also be challenging the participants to share what they are learning with other friends who need to find hope, too.

*    Last week Gary and Eduárd met with the pastor and youth pastor of Debrecen Baptist Church to cast the vision of Discipleship Multiplication Training.  Pray for wisdom for them as they think and pray about how this could be used in and by their church. Pray for us as we move forward with starting these new groups in the Debrecen area.

*    Volunteer mission teams are coming and going, doing outreach, teaching, and many other things.  Pray that God will direct them to those whose hearts He has prepared to hear the message, and that many hearts will be turned to Christ.

Thank you for joining with us in lifting up these requests!

Day of Remembrance - the 1848 Revolution

Today the nation of Hungary pauses to remember the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, which grew into a war for independence from Habsburg rule.  Pray that as the people of Hungary think of the heroes and martyrs who fought for freedom, that they will also turn their hearts to the One who came to give true freedom--the kind that can never be taken away.

March 15 parade in Debrecen, Hungary to commemorate the 1848 Revolution

For more information about the 1848 Revolution and how it is celebrated here, see http://visitbudapest.travel/budapest-events/march-15th-national-holiday/.

Regaining strength

Gary and I both got hit by the flu over the past two weeks, and it's been like running in slow motion to get anything done.  Thank you to everyone who prayed for us, even if you didn't know we were sick!  PTL, I believe we are both over the actual bug now, and we are trying to regain strength and get caught up on things.  Will try to write more later.

Urgent prayer requests

An unexpected twist has occurred with our teammates' residence paperwork, and some things need to come together by tomorrow.  Please pray that the Lord will open doors and necessary things will be accomplished in time with minimal complications; pray for safety on the road for D as he travels to pick up needed documents. PTL that the weather is good here today and icy roads are not a danger.

Complications have also arisen with the coffeehouse ministry, and we are praying and working through possible solutions.  Pray for wisdom, good communication, and that God will continue to use this great outreach to His glory.  A few photos from our recent "talent night" are below.

Thanks for your prayers!

Please keep praying

Hello, friends. 

I haven't posted in a while, but it's not because life is boring or there's nothing going on....quite the contrary!  Lots on our plates plus some sick days have gotten me behind on things, but I'll try to catch you up on things soon.  Please pray for wisdom for us as we work to stabilize our schedules, to get things back to a more manageable level to maintain health and keep our priorities in place.

We appreciate your prayers very much!

Grain Game takes it to a new level

For several years now the Grain Game foundation has been doing creative, fun Bible camps for the young people in Karcag [KAR tsag]  in partnership with the Hungarian Baptist church there. It has been a joy and blessing to work with them.

As I type this, the foundation president--our good friend Chip Riley--is there doing a follow-up winter party for these kids.  This time he's ramping it up to a new level!  Instead of Bible lessons reinforced with unforgettably crazy games (shaving cream pie in the face, anyone?) they'll be taking a look at some pretty serious, worldview-altering topics.  Slideshows and real-life stories will bring them face-to-face with Grain Game kids like themselves in nations around the world.  Kids with a different skin color, very different backgrounds and life situations, but with the same basic needs.

• Pray for the Karcag kids as they are confronted with the reality of what it's all about--with the lostness of the world, how God is working, and how they can be involved through prayer and missions.  
• Pray for good communication and wisdom for Chip, for Gary, and for Tom, the kid-loving translator who is helping out.
• Pray that God will speak to hearts and birth a new passion for following after Christ as never before.

Thank you for being a part of what is happening in Karcag today through your prayers and support!

Karcag Baptist Church's  photos from last year's Grain Game camp:  http://www.karcag.baptist.hu/index.php?m=22015

The Grain Game website: http://www.thegraingame.org/

From the city of Karcag's website -  tourism info in English

Coffeehouse is back!

Just a few hours from now the soothing strains of live piano music will set the mood for a new semester of weekly coffeehouse events here in Debrecen. Pray that tonight will be a great time of re-connecting after the holidays, and that the Lord will use the conversations to soften hearts and draw people into relationship with Him.

For more information and photos of past events see "Connections Debrecen" on either Facebook or Google+.