Super Intensive Language Classes Underway!

Our two-week Super Intensive Hungarian classes have begun! Here is a picture of our class. Next to Mike is one of our teachers, Gabi, who teaches us in the morning. Our other teacher, Rita handles the afternoon classes. This week our classes start at 8:15 a.m. and run until 6:30 p.m. We do get coffee and lunch breaks, though. The classes are all taught only in Hungarian, with so much material being given that it feels like we are trying to drink from a fire hose! Talk about relying on the Lord for strength and help! We are learning, though, and we are sure it will be worth it. Special thanks to the ladies of Central Region who are making our attendance at these classes possible. And thank you all for your prayers!

Ukrainian Trip - part 3

If you have been following our blog you will know from Nancy's last two entries that I had my wallet stolen while we were on the subway in Kiev (The picture is the metro/subway station in Kiev).

This was something that you hear stories of happening to other people, but never imagine that it could happen to you: a VERY crowded subway; people pushing and shoving with barely enough room to stand; getting that sense that, even though I put my wallet in my front pocket, I should check it just to make sure; and realizing that it is too late. The wallet is gone and I didn't feel a thing. From that moment on I went through a wide range of emotions. At first, all I felt was shock and panic. Later I felt everything from anger that someone would do something like this; frustration and disappointment that I could allow something like this to happen; to helplessness and despair.

As we went through the rest of the day touring the city I would joke about the incident and Tammy even commented on how calm I appeared. But, the truth be told, if I didn't do this I probably would have just cried. I was even rehearsing in my mind, "If I had only kept my hand on my wallet!" "If I would have just felt even the slightest tug, I would have broken his fingers, pounded his face in, and turned him in to the police!" (This was my anger stage) "If only..." "If only..." "If only..."

Later that night as I was reading my Bible and praying I felt the Lord say to me, "Mike, you have talked about the things you would have liked to have done. Now, here is what I would like for you to do. I want you to forgive them (I know there was more than one person involved) and pray for them." Then God began reminding me of verses like Matt. 5:44 "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..."; Luke 6:27-28 "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."; and Romans 12:14, 21 "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse... do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

So, that evening I began to pray for them and I soon realized that God asked me to do this not just for their benefit but for mine. God can change them as I pray for them but, even if nothing in their lives ever changes, my praying for them will change me. I need to forgive them and pray for them so that I don't become fearful, angry or bitter. I must not let my heart become hardened because of hurt, but continuously allow the Holy Spirit to work in me so that I will always respond to people with compassion even when they do bad things to me. It is also teaching me that there are some things beyond my control and I can't fix everything. Instead, I need to learn how to release those things to God and let Him work them out as He sees best. So, that is what I have been doing.

I also ask that you join me in praying for those individuals who were involved in this theft.

Lord, I pray for each person who took part in stealing my wallet in Kiev. By Your grace and the power of Your Holy Spirit, I forgive them for what they have done. I ask that the Spirit of God would bring to their hearts and minds a revelation of Your love for them. Remove the veil from their eyes and show them the way to knowing You. Minister to their every need and bless them with Your Presence. And, Lord, may this incident bring glory to Your Name. I place it in Your hands.

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Ukrainian Trip Part 2

Well, we've made it back from Ukraine and what a trip it was! It was successful in that we were able to work with Tammy in the Ukrainian INSTE office two days, seeing how things are done there and discussing issues for the Hungarian office. We were able to work with not only Tammy, but her staff including Lena and Olga (top picture).
The train trip was an adventure. I was nervous about our trip, not knowing the language or customs and all and asked God for an angel to help us. My roommate on the trip out was an angel named Lesya (middle picture), a Ukrainian business woman who speaks enough English to help us with some of our questions during the trip. God bless her!
We traveled by sleeping car but didn't get a whole lot of sleep because the train is bumpy, noisy and stops a lot. It also doesn't help that traveling both ways, we were awakened by the border guards in the middle of the night to show our passports and answer a few questions. Ours was the luxury train trip though. To save money we could have got off the train at the border in the middle of the night, buy more tickets, and wait in the cold train station two hours with all our luggage. It would have been almost impossible for us to do this on our own, not knowing the language, so we were happy to pay a bit more and go "luxury."
Our last blog told a little of our trials on our sightseeing trip to Kyiv. Mike's wallet was stolen on the packed subway. God is our help and we thank him that neither his passport nor our train tickets home were stolen.
We went ahead and looked at a few sights in Kyiv after our misadventure. One was St. Michael's Church. Here's a picture of Mike in front of his church.
We made it home early this morning (Saturday). I washed some clothes from our trip and put them on the line to dry. The forecast showed a 20% chance of rain today. That 20% just came down from the sky and made my clothes wetter than when I hung them up! Oh well, I'll try hanging them inside now.
Please pray for us this week, too. We will be in language class, studying 100 Hungarian lessons in 11 days! Pray it sticks in our minds and comes out our mouths!

Ukraine Trip

We are in Ukraine visiting Tammy Swailes and the INSTE Ukraine office. Our train trip was very good. Long, but good. God sent an "angel" who spoke enough English and was kind enough to help us know what to do and where to get off. We didn't get a lot of sleep--it was noisy and moving and stopping a lot--but all in all was a very good trip. Tammy met us at the station and took us to Zhitomir. We are staying at the home of a very kind woman who speaks no English, but we communicate through sign language and French (merci beaucoup, tres bien). :)
Yesterday we spent the day at the INSTE office learning a lot and discussing our needs and plans in Hungary.
Today, Tammy took us to Kiev. We were on the subway, on the way to do some sightseeing when someone stole Mike's wallet out of his front pocket! It was very crowded and we didn't notice it until it was too late. Tammy took Mike to the police and "filed a report." The report the officer filled out was in a notebook about the size of a 3 x 5 card! Praise the Lord, his passport and our tickets back to Hungary weren't taken, too. And thank the Lord Nancy had cash and credit cards with her so we are not without resources right now. We also thank the Lord for Tammy's wonderful help. Please pray God's blessing on the guy who took it and that this will all turn out for God's glory.
We'll post pictures and tell you more about our trip when we get back to Hungary

Making Books

Mike has been busy this week making books to train INSTE leaders. These needed to be finished this week because we will be traveling to Ukraine next week and the following two weeks we'll be taking intensive language classes--no time to make books then! He encountered a snag in making the books, though. The handle on the binding machine broke! But he figured out how to use pliers as a substitute handle. Finally, the books are ready to send out to leaders for their training.

Budapest Trip

What an exciting weekend we had! We took our first trip out of town on our own, traveling by train on Saturday to Budapest. We were able to find the right train, car and seats and, of great importance, get off at the right stop! We were met in Budapest by the leaders of the Örömhir Misszió church. They took us to eat and then to the place where we were to stay, giving us enough time and information to look around in the city. We took a couple of hours and walked to a castle that is now an agricultural museum. That day happened to be a toy fair and exhibition. The entire area was filled with families and children having a great time. The castle was awesome. Mike said, "This has Disney World beat all to pieces." However, if you look closely at the picture here, you can see a Mickey Mouse booth!
Sunday morning Mike preached at Örömhir Misszió through an interpreter. We thank the Lord that He was there, too, and ministered to many people. This is one of the churches interested in beginning INSTE in the fall. We were able to answer many of the questions they had.
Our semester of Hungarian classes ends tomorrow with an exam. Time to study!

Trees and Train Tickets

First the trees. Mike took some pictures this week of the beautiful flowering trees and shrubs in our neighborhood. It seems the entire city is blooming. Hungarians sure know how to grow lovely plants! And it smells wonderful when we step out the front door!
Now for trains. Monday we went down to the train station to buy tickets for our trips to Budapest and Ukraine. First we bought our Budapest tickets with no trouble. The communication was good with the ticket clerk and it looks like we got what we need to go to Budapest this weekend. Mike will preach in the morning service at a church there that is considering starting INSTE.
Next we went to the international ticket window. We started trying to tell the lady what we wanted. She noticed that Mike was referring to some notes he had jotted down with dates and places on it and she asked for the note. From there she started working...and working...and working. It took us what seemed like 45 minutes to get our tickets. Every now and then she would stop and ask a question and we would try to answer her. While we were waiting, other people got in line behind us. When heard them talking in English, we started talking with them. They were two American students along with their English-speaking Hungarian friend. When the ticket agent tried to explain something to us that we couldn't understand, the Hungarian friend kindly stepped in and helped us out. When we finally got our tickets, we stepped away from the counter to examine them so our new friends could get their own tickets. We think we have what we need.
Well, we travel to Ukraine the last week of May to visit Tammy Swailes and get a look at how the INSTE office is set up there. Tammy tells us that our little adventure buying tickets is just the beginning of the bigger adventure of traveling to Ukraine. Pray for us!

May Day Picnic

Yesterday was May Day in Hungary. The Hungarians and most Europeans observe the day as a kind of Labor Day. Since almost everyone is off work, many churches plan picnics for May Day and we were invited to the Debrecen Open Bible Church picnic. We arrived about 10 in the morning, in time to watch some of the preparations. A huge pot of Paprikas Krumpli (Paprika Potatoes) was being prepared. There was a crew who peeled and sliced all the potatoes and two ladies who managed the cooking in the big pot. The men, meanwhile, walked through the surrounding woods looking for dead wood. They brought some back, sawed it into manageable pieces, and put it in a trailer "to use for the next picnic." At lunchtime everyone was served a huge bowl of Paprikas Krumpli and bread. Many people brought cookies to share for dessert. It was a great time of fellowship sitting around, talking, playing games and just enjoying each other and the beautiful weather. Mike even got to talk to another pastor who was there about INSTE.
Today, May 2, many of the shops and workplaces are still closed so people can have a long weekend. We found that out when we went to try to mail some letters and to buy bus passes and both of those office were closed! I guess we just wait until Monday!