Goodbye to Hungary for nine months

Chaos has taken over our home as we pack and say our final goodbyes...tomorrow we leave for Budapest, and early the next morning we start the long journey to the US.  This will be the longest Stateside Assignment we have ever taken, and it feels strange to know we'll be gone for so long.  Please pray for the people and the ministries that we leave behind.  We have tried to pass on responsibilities to others, but we know that ultimately all of these friends and ministries belong to God and not us - and they are safe in His hands!

Here are some photos from this past month:

Gary helping young "Sandy" find a Bible passage

 

"Susie" is earnestly seeking. Please keep praying for her and her daughter "Tina"

Some of the church plant group

One of the waitress friends that we will miss very much

Carolyn wanted one more picture with our friends at the restaurant Sunday

Gary and our friend T.B., who keeps saying that one day he will come to Bible study

Passing the baton to Sanyi, who has accepted the challenge of teaching at the church plant

Thank you for your prayers and your support!

Calling all prayer warriors!

Europe is in the midst of extreme change, and people are looking for answers...fearing what tomorrow (or even today) holds.  Now more than ever, Europe needs to be lifted up to the Throne!  Join with us in 40 days of short, strategic prayer in preparation for the upcoming Day of Prayer for Europe on October 18.

Download the 40 Days of Prayer pdf from our Google drive folder.  More information will be coming soon on the IMB European Peoples website regarding the October 18 Day of Prayer.  

Unsettling times call for renewed trust, fervent prayer

The International Mission Board is in the news, as our leaders announced a plan this week to deal with revenue shortfalls and "reset" the organization.  “We must get to a healthy place in the present in order to be in a healthy position for the future,”  IMB President David Platt said. “We want to move forward with innovative vision, wise stewardship, and high accountability to the churches we serve, the peoples we reach, and the God we worship."

The reality of the situation requires that we reduce the number of missionaries and staff by up to 15%.  One part of the plan will be voluntary retirement incentives.  We don't yet know exactly how all of this will affect us and our colleagues, but major changes are in the works.  Pray with us as IMB personnel and for the organization as a whole, that we will be very sensitive and obedient to how the Lord leads in this process, that He will be glorified and the Gospel will go forth stronger than ever.  (More details are in the IMB website article.)

Thank you so much for your support and prayers!

Migrant crisis in Hungary is very real

It was a surreal feeling this Monday as we were passing through the train station and subway areas of Budapest.  These places that are very familiar to us are now like scenes from a refugee camp...we saw men, women and children of all ages lying on blankets packed into every available space.  It was heartbreaking, and we saw before our eyes the enormity of what we've been hearing about in the news.  We realize that there is no quick, easy solution, but we know that God is able to move and to work in this situation as He can in anything that comes up in this world--He is able, and He has a plan. 

Pray for these people, for the governments and leaders involved, and for wisdom from God for all of us as we act in obedience to Him.

The BBC News report on the situation provides a lot of insight into what is happening: Migrant crisis: Hungary station 'feels like a refugee camp'

Here is information in English about an organization of volunteers that was formed to help; some of our colleagues and friends in Budapest are working as volunteers with them:  Migration Aid Website

Heat wave

Fountain in the Püspökladány city center

August is blazing hot here, with heat exhaustion warnings out on the local news; TV stations are showing video of kids playing in city-center fountains around the area.  Normally the police would chase them out of the water, but when the temperature reaches certain levels the rules are relaxed!

Ice cream venders are staying busy

Most people don't have air-conditioning, and many don't even have electric fans, so a lot of people are truly suffering.  Pray for relief, especially for the elderly, the very young, and those with medical conditions. Also pray that tempers will not flare and aggravate family problems and abuse, which are unfortunately common even in cooler weather.

On a more pleasant note, ice cream sales are doing fine!

A lesson in grace

Pray for 14-year-old "K," who recently took part in an English camp.  Good-hearted, with boundless energy and potential leadership qualities, K has unfortunately never learned impulse control.  She was constantly in trouble, interacting with too much enthusiasm.  Once a playful kick resulted in a shattered touch screen on another camper's precious tablet, and later an attempted prank led to a child falling painfully on her back.

After multiple reprimands, K sat alone on the steps trying to hide her face.  Gary went to sit with her, and they talked about life at home and at school.  She said she got good grades but was in trouble because of her behavior.

"I am bad.  I am always so bad..." she said through her tears. 

"Do you know what grace is?"  asked Gary.  He gently explained that we all do bad things, but grace is when someone else pays the price for it so that we don't have to.  She had broken the tablet, but the church said that they would pay to have it repaired.  He went on to say that we have all sinned, but Jesus paid the price for us.

Pray that "K" will soon come to understand and accept this grace that Christ so freely offers, and that in Him she will find the love and acceptance that she is looking for.

Tiszafüred camp update

Thank you for praying for the kids' Bible camp in Tiszafüred last week.  Fewer came than we had hoped (we are discussing how to reach more next year) but nevertheless a great time was had by all; PTL, gospel seeds were sown in the hearts of children and even a few adults, too!  Grain Game worker Luke Higdon did a wonderful job of teaching bite-sized biblical truths, illustrated by hilariously memorable games and activities...lots of shaving cream, water (which was very welcome in the blazing July heat), bubbles, beach balls, etc, etc.

Here are some photos from the week.  As you share in these fun memories with us, pray for each child and the families they represent, asking the Lord to use the truths taught to transform lives and to impact families and the community for Christ.  Pray that the little church plant will be encouraged and continue to grow, glorifying God and spreading the Good News all across the area.

Table "football" (soccer) was a favorite games, generating a lot of competition.

The "one gate" game involved dousing each other with water -- aaah!

Our very helpful translator, Dodi, bonding with a precious new friend

Fun in the sun

Beach balls - you've gotta be filled to be what you were created to be!

Luke and young friends