Slow Progress

So what do we do between times of training and itinerating? We prepare for itineration and handle all the little details that come up. Here's a picture of our display board in process. Also this week we have been working on learning a few Hungarian words, starting work on getting visas, and helping out a little with VBS at Fort Des Moines Open Bible. There are so many details to handle, sometimes it seems we are getting little done, but progress is being made. Just five months to Hungary!

Learning to Be Missionaries

We have been spending the last three weeks at MTI, Missionary Training Institute, outside of Colorado Springs learning how to be missionaries. Topics covered have included conflict resolution, stress management, cultural adaptation and a host of other related topics including moral purity and dealing with loss. We've participated in a lot of activities like the four-culture game (to help us experience the effect of other cultures on us and our effect on other cultures) and being taken hostage for an hour in a box in the basement (to help us see how we react and interact under stress.) Some days have been tough and some fun, but we expect to be able to use what we have learned as we adapt to life outside the US. The best part may be getting to know and interact with other new missionaries from all over the US who are going to places all around the world. Thanks for praying for all of us. From here we return to Des Moines for a short time to prepare for itineration. Hope to see all of you soon.

Pikes Peak

We have been attending the Missionary Training Institute in Monument, Colorado. We will tell you more of our training experience next week.

When we lived in Colorado Springs 10 years ago, we never made it to the top of Pikes Peak. Therefore, when we had some free time last Saturday, we decided to make the trip. What a great experience! The drive was not only beautiful but exciting (read "scary"). The top was windy and cool but what a view! Our God is so big and powerful! If He can make Pike's Peak, He can do anything!

National Field Director's Congress

June 27-28 was the International Ministries' National Field Director's Congress held in Spokane, WA just prior to Open Bible's National Convention. The purpose of this Congress is to bring together leaders from forty-four nations around the world where Open Bible ministers and to
provide a forum for instruction, inspiration, sharing goals, dreams and vision. Missionaries and leaders from almost all forty-four countries were represented at this Congress.

Oleksandr & Olga Rudnyets with
Lena Kulakova and Tammy Swailes
from Ukraine

We enjoyed getting to know some of the Field Directors from the various countries, fellowshipping with missionary friends, and spending time with pastors from Hungary, Romania and Ukraine whom we will be working with.

Mike & Nancy with Michael Gulyas
in Hungarian costume

John & Nelly Pop in

Romanian Costume

After the Field Director's Congress was the National Convention for Open Bible Churches where we celebrated our 75th anniversary. The day was filled with business, but the evening services were inspiring and fun. The highlight, of course, was the International Ministries service on Sunday evening when we were officially commissioned as missionaries to Hungary.

Mike & Nancy being
commissioned as missionaries