I have some pictures I want to post to show you what's going on, but I've got to leave in just a few minutes so I'll have to put them on later. The Scripture distribution went GREAT yesterday--lots of people now have a Bible that didn't before! More on that later.
Today the Püspökladány Baptist Church has been having the first day of their community outreach family fun time, with sports and all kinds of activities. This evening (in a little more than 2 hours from now) there will be a evangelistic service in a tent, with music, preaching, and testimonies. Gary will be preaching, and Levi and I (among others) will be giving short testimonies about how God has worked in our lives. Lots of people have said they'll be coming. Tomorrow will be a continuation of this outreach, so please keep praying specifically on through tomorrow!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Scripture distribution tomorrow
Tomorrow morning at 4:45 AM we'll be leaving to go to Püspökladány to set up a booth in the open market, where we'll be giving away Bibles. 2008 has been declared the Year of the Bible here in Hungary, so we're trying to emphasize the need to actually read the Bible...not just study about it or see museum exhibits of old copies of Scripture. Each person who gets a Bible signs a little statement that they promise to try to read it through during this year. We're also giving away reading plans to help them to stay with it a little each day. Please pray that it will go well, and that the Lord will use this change a lot of lives.
We did a similar project here in Debrecen over the Christmas holidays and was great, so we're excited to see what will happen in Püspökladány. It's a wonderful thing to see people who've always wanted a Bible of their own realize that they can have one, and that they don't have to pay us a thing! We always try to emphasize that it's a gift, not that it's free. It allows us to bring up the subject of grace....what God gives us isn't "free," it's just already been paid for! 8-)
Volunteers from the little Baptist churches there and in Kaba will also be coming to help us, plus they will be providing free blood pressure checks at another booth. This seems like a simple thing to do, but it's a great way to help people and show that we care.
Our thanks again to those whose giving made it possible for us to buy the Bibles to share with these folks. You all are an important part of this project, both through your funds and through your prayers. Thank you!
We did a similar project here in Debrecen over the Christmas holidays and was great, so we're excited to see what will happen in Püspökladány. It's a wonderful thing to see people who've always wanted a Bible of their own realize that they can have one, and that they don't have to pay us a thing! We always try to emphasize that it's a gift, not that it's free. It allows us to bring up the subject of grace....what God gives us isn't "free," it's just already been paid for! 8-)
Volunteers from the little Baptist churches there and in Kaba will also be coming to help us, plus they will be providing free blood pressure checks at another booth. This seems like a simple thing to do, but it's a great way to help people and show that we care.
Our thanks again to those whose giving made it possible for us to buy the Bibles to share with these folks. You all are an important part of this project, both through your funds and through your prayers. Thank you!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Old friend, McDonald's, and Serbia
Yesterday an old friend came by--Chip Riley from Alabama. A really great guy. Writes books and works with young people, and I'm sure a whole lot more I don't know about! It's great to see him again, and such an encouragement to hear what the Lord's been doing since we last talked. Last night he took us all out for supper, which was the first time Levi has ever gotten to experience McDonald's! He really liked it, and asked me to take his picture next to Ronald:
Today Levi's working on memorizing some Bible verses in Hungarian, watching and answering study questions on the Visual Bible's Matthew DVD, things like that. This will help his Hungarian vocabulary and get him to thinking more and more in Hungarian before the outreach projects begin the end of this week.
This morning Gary and Chip left for a quick trip into Serbia. That is, if you consider a 7-hour drive to be quick! They're going to visit another friend of ours, Zoltán Nyúl, who's an ethnic Hungarian bivocational pastor who also serves as president of a foundation that reaches out to disabled children and their families. (If you want to know more, he has an English website at http://www.bethesda.org.yu/English/kezdolap%20angol.htm.) Chip and Zoltán are going to discuss possibly partnering together in the future to provide a Christian camp experience for the young people in that part of Serbia. Chip's been doing this kind of thing in a lot of different countries; his passion is to creatively disciple and mentor young people. Please pray with us for a safe trip for Chip and Gary, and for wisdom for them all as they discuss future possibilities.
This picture is a little old, but here you can see Zoltán Nyúl and his family; please pray for them and the ministry there in Serbia, as life is very difficult and the needs are great.
Today Levi's working on memorizing some Bible verses in Hungarian, watching and answering study questions on the Visual Bible's Matthew DVD, things like that. This will help his Hungarian vocabulary and get him to thinking more and more in Hungarian before the outreach projects begin the end of this week.
This morning Gary and Chip left for a quick trip into Serbia. That is, if you consider a 7-hour drive to be quick! They're going to visit another friend of ours, Zoltán Nyúl, who's an ethnic Hungarian bivocational pastor who also serves as president of a foundation that reaches out to disabled children and their families. (If you want to know more, he has an English website at http://www.bethesda.org.yu/English/kezdolap%20angol.htm.) Chip and Zoltán are going to discuss possibly partnering together in the future to provide a Christian camp experience for the young people in that part of Serbia. Chip's been doing this kind of thing in a lot of different countries; his passion is to creatively disciple and mentor young people. Please pray with us for a safe trip for Chip and Gary, and for wisdom for them all as they discuss future possibilities.
This picture is a little old, but here you can see Zoltán Nyúl and his family; please pray for them and the ministry there in Serbia, as life is very difficult and the needs are great.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Some photos with Levi this morning on the front balcony of our apartment. What a beautiful day!
Gary's been working with Levi on how to share his testimony in Hungarian, since his mother tongue is really Romanian and he doesn't have all the vocabulary he'll need here. Tomorrow (Sunday) we'll be taking him to a couple of different churches, plus we'll be meeting with the Hungarian Baptist leaders who are organizing the upcoming sports camp in Püspökladány [PEWSH-pewk-lŏ-daahñ]. Please pray for good connections and for wisdom in planning.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Levi's here!
Gary and Levi got in around 2 a.m. this morning from the train station in Oradea, Romania. I thought maybe we'd all sleep in this morning, but everybody woke up so we went ahead and started the day. This morning was a little tour of Debrecen, a ride on the tram, that kind of thing. He's been getting to see things that are very different from what he's used to since he's from a small village. We're still trying to get through on the phone to his family back home to let them know he got here OK....we'll try again this evening.
Please continue praying for Levi as he adjusts to life here, and that the Lord will use him to impact the lives of those he meets.
Please continue praying for Levi as he adjusts to life here, and that the Lord will use him to impact the lives of those he meets.
Levi and Gary in front of the Nagy Templom
(Big Church) on the main square in Debrecen.
(Big Church) on the main square in Debrecen.
Levi enjoying the beauty of the day in front of
Debrecen University's main building.
Debrecen University's main building.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
He's got a ticket to ride...
Exciting times! Even as I type this entry, Levi--a young Roma (Gypsy) from Romania--is on the train coming this way! Gary will be crossing over into Romania to pick him up in Oradea tonight a little after 11:30. Levi will be with us here in eastern Hungary for 6 weeks helping with outreach among the Roma of this area. A girl named Camilla was also going to be coming, but we heard just the other day that there's an illness in her family and she's needed at home.
Please pray for Levi's quick adjustment to life here, and that the Lord will lead him to the people who are ready to hear about Jesus. The Roma have a tough life and face a lot of difficulties in society--they really need the hope that Christ gives. We're praying that several new Bible studies will be started among them this summer, and that as those folks repent and are discipled, new churches will form in several different communities.
Please pray for Levi's quick adjustment to life here, and that the Lord will lead him to the people who are ready to hear about Jesus. The Roma have a tough life and face a lot of difficulties in society--they really need the hope that Christ gives. We're praying that several new Bible studies will be started among them this summer, and that as those folks repent and are discipled, new churches will form in several different communities.
Monday, June 30, 2008
A few more pictures from Hajdúszoboszló English camp
My new friend Zizi and I pose in front of the muskátli (geraniums).
Cindy doing sculpting demonstration combined with her testimony.
English camp group picture.
Gary with friends.
Singing "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High."
Deborah W.'s class
Deborah G.'s class
Cindy and David's class with Eddy translating
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)