Year in Review

Looking back through 2012, we see that it has been a very eventful year for us.  Here are some highlights:

INSTE has had an amazing year.  Five (almost six) Level Two books have been translated.  In October we were able to get the translation team together to meet each other for the first time. We had a fun time getting to know one another better.  We were also able to train several new INSTE leaders which resulted in the current seven Level One INSTE groups now studying with about 50 students.  There are plans in the works for more groups beginning in January.  INSTE was unsuccessful in arranging to receive official papers as a foundation, but work began in September on securing papers for an INSTE association.  That work continues.

We made several trips this year.  The saddest was going back to the US for two weeks in February for Mike's dad's funeral.  Although we knew it would come sometime, we were sad to see him go.  But, all of Mike's brothers and their wives were able to be together for the first time in many years.  We were also able to take two quick vacations, one to Finland for three days and another of the same length to Croatia.  We want to take advantage of living in Europe by visiting as many places as possible as time and money allow.  We traveled almost monthly in the winter and spring to Gherla, Romania to minister in the church there during their transition between pastors.

Our biggest health challenge this year was Mike's bout with shingles.  He toughed out the pain for two months, something no one should have to go through.  We'll be looking into getting the shingles vaccine next time we're in the States.

We had some welcome visitors this year.  Vince McCarty, Open Bible International Ministries Director, arrived in September.  We were able to accompany him to Romania to work with the church in Gherla.  He also met with and ministered to the church leaders here in Hungary and in Ukraine while he was here.  In October, Karl and Francis Dyrie of Fort Myers, Florida, came and ministered at the INSTE Leadership Conference.  We had a wonderful time together with them and their ministry was powerfully effective.

Our biggest challenge at home this year was having the gas turned off.  When we arrived back with Vince from Romania in September, we discovered that the gas had been shut off to our entire building.  We had no central heat, hot water, or gas for cooking for eight weeks while work on the gas pipes was being done!  We got daily practice in learning not to complain and in being thankful for what we did have.

All year we have seen God working in our personal lives and in the lives of many of those around us. The Open Bible Churches here in Hungary saw God's power at work.  We either witnessed or heard first-hand accounts of over 90 people being baptised and many, many people being saved, healed, filled with the Holy Spirit and growing in their faith.  All the Hungarian evangelical churches seem to be giving more emphasis to prayer and seeking God.  This year has brought changes in the legal status of most of the smaller denominations, but that has not stopped God from working in the country.

We thank God for his presence and power with us in 2012. It has been an eventful year and we look forward to what God has for us in 2013. 

Some Christmas Fun

Children's program on Christmas Day

At the Open Bible Church in Debrecen, it is traditional to have a church service at 4 pm on December 25th.  The children give the performance they have been working on for months, and they always do an exceptional job. 

On the Second Day of Christmas, December 26, we were invited to participate in another tradition.  Our missionary friends, Russell and Trudy Chun invited us to their open house.  We ate some delicious food, enjoyed conversation in English and Hungarian, sang "The 12 Days of Christmas" Hawaiian style and Hungarian style, and participated in a fun white elephant gift exchange.  The Hawaiian-style song included "eleven missionaries, six hula lessons and a myna bird in a papaya tree."   We thank God for all our friends, both Hungarian and American.

Russell (who is originally from Hawaii) leads in the Hawaiian-style 12 Days of Christmas. 

Russell and Trudy Chun

A Hungarian Christmas

One Advent Candle is lit for each of the four Sundays before Christmas

It is Christmas Eve afternoon here in Hungary and Christmas has begun!  The streets are becoming deserted as more and more people make it home for Christmas.  This evening most families will set up and decorate their Christmas trees and share good food and conversation and just being together.  Catholics will attend Christmas mass later.  Children will want to be up extra early in the morning to see what Baby Jesus brought for gifts for them.  A Christmas dinner will be sure to include fish, maybe traditional spicy fish soup.  The celebration will continue on the 26th, the "second day of Christmas." Stores will remain closed and visits will be made to extended family members and friends.

Our plans include Christmas with our family members on Skype this evening, attending the Christmas service on the 25th at the Open Bible Church, and attending an open house at an American missionary's home on the 26th. 

We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas.What an honor it is to celebrate the birthday of the One who loved us enough to become one of us, to show us how to live, to die in our place, and to rise from the dead, giving life forever to all who put their faith in him!  Happy birthday, Jesus!

Talking with Neighbors

Mike thought it would be a good idea to do something nice for our neighbors this Christmas.  We have a nodding acquaintance with most of them with the exception of the newest university student renting an apartment in the building.  But, due to the language barrier, we really haven't talked much with any of them.  Mike suggested, though, that I bake some American oatmeal raisin cookie bars and we could wish each of them a merry Christmas.  So, Monday I baked cookies and Tuesday we began to deliver them.

Cookie bars sitting on the kitchen window sill waiting to be delivered to neighbors.

Everyone was pleased to receive the little gifts and most of them invited us in to visit for a while.  They were all very gracious even though we interrupted one family's supper. They offered us tea or juice and were quite happy to find out that we could converse with them in Hungarian.  We started out to be a blessing to those around us and they ended up blessing us!

Ibrány Children's Program

Sunday evening we enjoyed attending church in Ibrány which included their children's Christmas program. As usual, the building was packed full of people.  Many stood for the entire service since there was not room to seat everyone. The children's program began with many of the children praying a prayer.  Some of them said the Lord's prayer, some a simple blessing on the people in attendance, but what was especially touching was the powerful, heart-felt prayers of some of the teenagers.

Next, many of the older children recited poems and read short stories.  Later we learned that one of the main participants was in the hospital and several of the other children had to take her parts at the last minute, but it ran very smoothly and we didn't notice anything out of order.  This was followed by a "Bethlehem," a nativity play.  It was lots of fun to be sitting on the front row where we could see behind the angels singing as "Mary" took the pillow out from under her blouse and placed the Baby Jesus doll in the manger. 

Finally, all the children and teenagers sang some Christmas songs and worship songs.  Hungarian children are not bashful singers.  Even the little ones sang out clearly and well.

Happy St. Nick's Day!

Mikulás candy is sold everywhere this time of year

Boldog Mikulás napja!  That is, Happy St. Nick's Day!  Last night here in Hungary, children put their freshly cleaned and polished boots by the window so Mikulás (St. Nick) would put candy and gifts into them.  If the children have not been good, they get wooden spoons (to be used as switches) instead.  This morning, most kids woke up to both candy (usually a chocolate Mikulás like the one in the picture) and wooden spoons in their boots. Mikulás dresses in a long, red gown with white trimming, more like the English Father Christmas than the American Santa Claus, but they all have a common history.
The real Mikulás, or Szent Miklos (Saint Nicholas) was born in Lycia, which is now in Turkey about 270 AD. He was born into a wealthy family, but his parents died during a plague when he was young.  As a firm believer in Christ, he used his wealth to help many poor and struggling people by giving gifts, most often anonymously.  It is said he would throw needed money through open windows or down chimneys. He became a respected bishop and was well-known for his kindness and generosity. Under Emperor Diocletian, Nicholas was persecuted, imprisoned and exiled for a time.  Nicholas was released when Constantine came to power and participated in the Nicean Council of 325 which established the Nicean Creed.  He died on December 6, AD 343 (which is the reason for the celebration at this time of year).
We celebrated today by enjoying a little bit of chocolate ourselves.  But it is good to remember that the fun today is really in honor of a true Christian believer who practiced what the Bible teaches.  Happy St. Nick's Day!

Youth Conference

Last Friday through Sunday there was youth conference here in Debrecen at the Open Bible Church.  About 60 youth participated, coming from at least 10 different towns including Budapest, Tomor, Gálvavencselő and Ibrány. Youth from the local Salvation Army Church were welcomed as guests on Saturday. The theme was "Walking on God's Path Every Day," and included preaching, teaching and a panel discussion.  Topics touched on included alcohol, drugs and sex and a Christian's responsibility.  Most of the young people are new believers whose parents are not Christians, so it was a very helpful theme.  We participated in the panel discussion on Saturday and Mike preached in the service on Sunday. Between services, we enjoyed being able to visit with friends who came along to chaperone young people from their churches.

The church served the youth meals and several families in the church provided lodging for the out-of-town participants.  We hosted Heti and Penni, two sweet young ladies from the Tomor area.  Heti was one of ten people who were baptized on Sunday morning, a beautiful ending to an encouraging weekend.