Weekly Update

WINTER IS UPON US

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Above: Kira taking a short break under the light of the sun after using our bed as a trampoline.

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Above: Elianna and Ben taking advantage of the last days of fall with a game of gigantic chess at our local playground.

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Above: I can still here them giggling together as they ran through the playground.

NEW JOYS IN MINISTRY

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Above: Sharon and Erika (Miki’s wife) top photo and Sharon and Niki in lower photo. We count it a great privilege to be moving towards more mentoring roles in this season of our church planting ministry. We have cut out some of the larger type small groups in favor of smaller groups and even one on one meetings. Just a few weeks ago, Sharon was sensing that God may be calling her to be more involved in some of the women’s lives in our church. Since that conviction, God has opened up clear opportunities for consistent meetings with a few key women.

CONGRATULATIONS
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Above:
It’s official. Gabi and Enikő are engadged to be married next year! We are so thankful that this couple has put their trust in Jesus, the One who first loved us and teaches us how to love others.

HUNGARIAN HIKE

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You have to be careful how you respond when a Hungarian asks you, “wanna go hiking?” Usually, this is not a gentle climb up a steady slope, but a grueling struggle up steep inclines on rock ridden uneven paths smeared with slippery leaves. Needless to say, we survived and it was well worth it! Actually, hiking has proven to be a great tool for connecting with others in the community and opening up doors to share the Gospel. As you can see above, there were plenty that joined us on the hike up Blue Mountain. One family (pictured far left) decided to come after meeting us for the first time in Heréd a few weeks ago. This is the town where we did a children’s concert and an evangelistic craft. Others came who are well connected with us, but who do not attend church. And the remainder were church members.

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Above:
What a beautiful view once we reached the top.

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Above: Dávid, Gyúla and is that Erik under all those layers? All three of these guys attend our teen outreach on Friday nights and out of the three, Erik has come to know Jesus personally. Dávid has attended a few of our English camps and I believe is closer to understanding and making a decision. Gyúla has recently transitioned from just coming Friday nights to attending our church. Pray that God would help Dávid and Gyúla to understand as He helped Erik, that all three of these men could grow up in Him.

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Above: What is that behind the hotdog... a strange looking marshmallow? No, that would be the customary pure fat, heated until literally dripping hot and dripped on bread to eat. After warming up by the fire, I shared a brief message on God’s provision of love, joy and peace through Jesus Christ and encouraged those who were “on the fence” to choose life in Him.

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Above: Peti taking joy in throwing leaves at me. Just last year on a similar hike, Peti was moved by the Spirit and came to understand the Gospel that Miki was sharing with him. Since that time, Peti has been growing in his faith and is also attending Bible school with a few other guys from our church. Praise God!

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Above: Ádám making us laugh as usuall.

FRIDAY TEEN OUTREACH

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Above: Roger turning the teens attention to the fact that we were created by God and He has a purpose for our lives.

SUNDAY WORSHIP

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Above: Church planting partners Dezső (left) and Miki (right). Dezső is a “homegrown” leader and we are currently in prayer in regards to appointing Dezső as an elder in our church.

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Above: On some Sundays, we give church members the opportunity to share a little bit about God's work in their lives over the past week. Here is a recent testimony from Erik who was saved this year and is preparing for baptism in two weeks.

“Hello, I'm Erik and I wanted to talk to you about a recent experience in my high school. You know, I find it really hard to study in school, I'm actually a bit lazy. One day while in class, I just wasn't in the mood to study. I was distracted in class, and I decided to open my Bible and read. I turned to Philippians 4:13 where I read:  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

At that moment, I knew that I just needed to pray and turn to God and that He would give me the strength to study. I prayed and He answered. I ended up doing really well in class after that. I'm learning that in everything, we need to turn to Him and pray and depend on His help.

What do I see in this short and honest testimony. I see a young man with no previous role models or influences that would have built a work ethic into his life. But by God's grace, Erik brought a new Father with Him to school by bringing God's Word to school. By turning to God's Word, Erik is battling laziness and the false belief that he will always be lazy. The Spirit led Erik to a truth about his new identity in Jesus Christ that he would need to begin believing. Praise God for saving Erik and for turning Erik to His truth in the everyday struggles of life.

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Above:
Tamás giving testimony. Tamás recently put His faith in Jesus and the Lord has given him strength to be set free from alcoholism that was destroying his family and his life. Tamás is also began attending Bible school this year with some of the other guys from our church. God is at work!

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Above: Dávid, Betti, Anna, Adrien and Kira having some fun in Sunday school.

PUMPKIN LESSON

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Above: Sharon took one of the kids carved pumpkins to Sunday school and used it to talk about various aspects of God transforming us and using us as lights in the world. With the lights on, she put a candle in the pumpkin relating this sight to being at church with other Christians. Since the light was so bright it was hard to see the contrast. But then she turned out the lights and the kids all ooo-ed and aww-ed. Sharon said that this is what we are like in the midst of darkness when we go out from meeting on Sunday and enter into places that are dark like our schools where there are not many Christians. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16

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Above: Recent family outing to Sás lake in the Matra mountains of Hungary.

PRAISE GOD: TICKETS BOUGHT FOR FURLOUGH

Our family is planning on returning to the US at the end of April. God has graciously provided a vehicle for us to use and a place to stay for our two month return. We are so thankful for His generosity towards us and His faithful provision for our family. We look forward to seeing many of you face to face and sharing what God has been doing in Hungary. We’ll be relaying more information as the time approaches.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Winter is a tough time for many of the poor in our church. Please pray for God’s provision, that they would have the means to heat their homes and have enough food for their families. Pray especially for Érzsi and Béla.

• Our church is holding a “Playhouse” ministry this Saturday where there will be singing, teaching from God’s word, games that re illustrate what was taught and a craft for the parents and kids to take home. Our goal is to share the Gospel through this ministry and to reach out to families in the community. Please pray for families to attend, new relationships to be built and for the Gospel to be proclaimed.

Our support levels dropped off last year and remain below what we need on a monthly basis. Winter doesn’t get any cheaper in Hungary with the high price of gas and heating. We ask that you would please pray for God to provide new supporters and bring our support level out of deficit.
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