First Year Anniversary!

One year ago today we arrived in Hungary. (This is Pastor Misi Gulyas meeting us at the airport.) The year has gone quickly and well. We have made a lot of adjustments, learning Hungarian culture and language, meeting new friends and getting settled in the country. I must admit it has been stressful at times, but not as difficult as I had imagined. God has been so very good to us.

We thank the Lord for...
--the many new friends he has given us. Some speak English, some do not. Many are believers, some are not yet. So many of our friends have helped us in countless ways in getting settled into the country. They have helped us get our paperwork finished, make contacts with other people, find places to shop and get our hair cut and in general just make us feel at home.
--the progress we have made in our Hungarian language learning. We have read that it takes seven years to become fluent in Hungarian and some missionary friends we know told us they could share the gospel on their own only after three years. So, even though we would like to be proficient communicators already, we are very happy that we can communicate on a basic level already.
--INSTE progress. We are so happy to have two INSTE groups in two different churches almost finished with the first book already! And there are leaders trained and being trained next week who may be starting up to five groups in their churches later this winter! How wonderfully God is working! We know it is God at work since our abilities are so limited right now.
--the wonderful support we have from home. Vince McCarty, Delores Winegar and Julie Patton in the Open Bible International Ministries office have been so very helpful. And all of our supporters have been so faithful in donating toward INSTE in Hungary and in praying for us. We thank you all.

Now starts Year Two. We can't wait to see what God has in store for us, for INSTE and for Hungary this year.