Tomor

Yesterday several of us from the Shalom Open Bible Church here in Debrecen went to Tomor, which is a gypsy village in northern Hungary- about 140 kilometers from Debrecen.  Several people in Tomor have given their lives to Jesus this past year, and now 10 of them are wanting to begin studying INSTE. 

Cooking a pot of lecsó

We arrived around 1 pm and had lunch together.  They had prepared a large pot of "lecsó", which is a tomato and pepper stew and is very delicious. While we were visiting several of them grabbed their guitars, one picked up a "jug" and another played the "spoons", and they began to play and sing some gypsy songs.  Music is a very important part of gypsy culture, and we enjoyed listening to them.

Following lunch we met with the new INSTE students, distributed the books and talked about how to study during the week and what to expect in the INSTE class.  I (Mike) will be leading this group so we will be driving to Tomor every Saturday beginning October 8.  And, since the class will be totally in Hungarian, we ask for your prayers that God will help us to understand and communicate effectively.  Our desire is to help these precious new believers grow in their knowledge of God, and to become the servants God needs to reach Tomor and the surrounding villages with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Life Church Update

Élet Gyülekezet (Life Church) invited Mike to preach last Sunday and while we were there, recognized those students who had completed the first three books of Level One INSTE by presenting them with certificates. (Above are just a few of those recognized.)  All of those who completed the first three books are planning to go on to the final book of Level One.  Congratulations, Élet INSTE students and leaders!  We are proud of you and of all the Hungarian INSTE students!

Congratulations, Dr. Hope!

We were privileged on Saturday to be invited by one of our friends to attend the graduation of the medical school of Debrecen University. Hope Nkeiru is a wonderful, godly young lady we met at the International Church (The House) when we first came to Debrecen. 

The graduation was held in the ceremonial court of the main building of the university.  There was room on the main floor for the faculty, graduates, and a few family members.  Everyone else stood around the courtyard and watched from the stairs and upper corridors, or they sat and watched by video feed in another room on the second floor.

Hope is from Nigeria and was among the graduates who took classes offered in English. Debrecen University's medical school is highly respected and many students from Europe, Africa and Asia study here.  When the students received their diplomas, they shook hands with each of the dignitaries at the table on the platform and then bowed to the faculty members seated to the left.  The ceremony was in both Hungarian and English.

Hope's family was represented by her uncle, also a medical doctor, who lives and practices in England.

 Congratulations, Hope!  What a huge accomplishment!  May God continue to bless and guide you!

New Opportunities

It looks like this is the last of these flowers this season.  As the seasons change, though, our work is picking up.  This week we have been able to take advantage of new opportunities. 

On Tuesday we met with Andi and discussed with her the possibility of helping with the translation of Second Level INSTE.  It was great to get to know this young lady and it looks like she will be able to help us beginning in November.

Yesterday, Mike met with our friend Zoli who is doing evangelism in the village of Tomor, about an hour north of us.  He has signed up ten of the new converts for INSTE!  Mike has agreed to help lead the group with Zoli's help.  This will be a stretch for Mike, but he is hoping that he will not only be able to disciple these new believers, but to grow in his language abilities.

We also met with our tutor, Mirjam, yesterday. We will be studying with her again once a week.  The language still tends to be a challenge that gets in the way of doing the work we were sent to do.

Today we are planning a First Level INSTE graduation.  More graduates!  Praise the Lord!

Please continue to pray for us in all these endeavors.  We appreciate it!



Prayer for Nations

 Yesterday we participated in an event that many people told us was a first--a special prayer service with Hungarian and Gypsy churches. The day began with time to greet and visit with each other.  Many churches from the Debrecen area were represented, both Hungarian and Gypsy. (Most of the churches are mixed, but are primarily made up of one group or the other.)

This was followed by a lunch of gulyas soup and more time to connect with one another.  The service included worship led by a Gypsy worship team.  Then pastors and other leaders from both groups led the approximately 400 people in attendance in prayer for each other, for the nation, and for an end to discrimination and hate in the country.

It was particularly touching to hear the confession of sin and the asking of forgiveness from representatives of each group to the other.  God hears prayers like these and answers!

Then today, on the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the US, we were blessed to hear assurances that Hungarians are praying for America, too.  We thank you, friends!

Good News

Technology is great!  We are able to keep in touch with friends and family around the world through email, Facebook and Skype.  Phone calls are even possible and affordable.  We are so blessed to be ministering in this century!

Early this morning we got a call from our son Mark and his wife Nadine, asking if we'd like to Skype with them.  It was 6 a.m. here and 10 p.m. there.  After we got on our computers, they showed us a little t-shirt that said "I Love Grandpa" in pink letters.  The ultrasound they had yesterday showed the child they are expecting (their third) is a girl!  After three sons and three grandsons, a little girl will be a wonderful addition to our family!

New Church in Ibrány

We were able to attend the Open Bible Church in Ibrány on Sunday.  It was a special day since it was their first service in their new building.  The top picture is the outside of the building.  The picture above was taken at the beginning of the service.  Many other people came, too, and crowded into this room or stood in the hallway.

There was much to celebrate on Sunday.  This church was started by INSTE graduates who evangelized in their town and expected much from God.  Just one year ago, they began meeting in a rented room in the community center with just 15 people.  During the past year, many have accepted the Lord, been baptized and become part of the church.  Early this year, they began looking for their own building to meet in.  They had no money, but they knew this was what God wanted and that God would supply.  Then, unexpectedly, they received an anonymous gift of about $10,000 to go toward a building!  In looking around town, they found a house for sale for almost twice that amount, but after some time, the owner decided to sell to them for the money they had!  The papers for the sale were finalized and they were able to move in on September 1.  Just a week before that, the community center gave them notice that the last day they would be able to rent their meeting room would be the last Sunday in August!

Much work had to be done to ready the house for worship, but the Open Bible people worked very hard, tearing down a wall to make two rooms into one large meeting room, leveling the floors, painting, cleaning and much more.  They had no chairs, so a call was going to go out for everyone to bring their own chairs to the service.  However, a church in another town heard of their need and sold them 50 chairs and a pulpit for a nominal amount.  God has supplied in every way.

Many people testified on Sunday of God's healing and supplying power in their lives.  May God bless this new church and may it grow and mature to become a mighty, godly influence in this community!

Families Are Important

I was surprised when I stepped outside this morning and noticed this little tricycle beside the apartment building steps.  There are no children living in our building, so I didn't expect to see toys in the yard.  But, quickly I realized that this little trike must belong to our neighbors' grandson.  He is probably visiting them this weekend.

Families are very important in Hungary.  It is common practice for young people and young families to go home at least for Sunday dinner, if not for the entire weekend.  We often hear children in the neighboring yard having fun with their grandparents over the weekend.  Even one of our older, never-married friends spends her Sundays with relatives, including her elderly cousin who is in a nursing home. 

There is much we can all learn from other cultures.  One of the best things we can learn from Hungarians is how to honor our elders by spending time with them regularly.