Giving Thanks with Friends

For Thanksgiving this year, we were blessed to be guests of Pastors Karl and Dyrie Francis.  We enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal with the added bonus of a couple of special Jamaican treats--rice and beans and goat curry.

Following the meal some of us went out to the back porch to play dominoes.  This is a game very popular in the Caribbean islands, and they even have competitions.  Mike got in on the game and even won a few times!

Yesterday, however, began with a challenge for Dyrie.  She fell and broke her elbow!  But, she was determined not to let her family and guests down and arranged to have some easy-to-prepare dishes bought and with a little help put on the entire feast today.  Thank you, Karl and Dyrie, for your extra special hospitality!

Cooper City and West Palm Beach, Florida

What an awesome Sunday we had!  Yesterday morning we spoke in two services at the Living Word Open Bible Church in Cooper City, Florida.  Pastors Karl and Dyrie Francis and the congregation welcomed us and took very good care of us.  This was Thanksgiving Sunday and they celebrated it with special music and worship dance by the young people.  It was a privilege to be able to share in their giving of thanks and to be able to talk about what God is doing in Hungary, too.  Then for lunch the pastors treated us to Jamaican food again.  Delicious!

From there we drove a little more than an hour to West Palm Beach.  While we were on the interstate, we were hit with a Florida downpour, like the kind we remember from two years of living in Florida.  We had left in plenty of time, though, so we were not late because of the rain.

The service in West Palm Beach was a combined service with people from the New Horizon Worship Center of West Palm Beach, Centro de Rescate de la Biblia Alierta of West Palm Beach, and Calvary Open Bible Church of Port St. Lucie.  The service was delayed a few minutes because the folks coming from Port St. Lucie had car troubles and ran into pouring rain, too.  Thankfully, they all made it safely and we enjoyed a wonderful time together.  West Palm Beach is a special place to us because we were assistant pastors in this church right out of Bible college. 

We have no more church services scheduled until January when we begin our itineration in the Central Region.  We have been blessed everywhere we have been in Florida this month.  May God bless our brothers and sisters here in return!

Iguanas and Ocean Waves

One of the perks of being a missionary on itineration is getting to visit places in your home country that you otherwise might not have a chance to.  We have had no weekday services this week, so we have had time to enjoy some of the sights of southern Florida.  We saw an iguana in the back yard,

drove down to the beach and took some pictures,

and got a flat tire.  The flat tire happened to Nancy as she was driving to a Weight Watcher's meeting.  She heard the thump-thump from the back of the car, but was able to make it to a filling station just a couple blocks away.  God was looking out for her in many ways.  One was that just minutes before she had been on the freeway, but had pulled off onto a street to find her meeting place.  A flat tire at freeway speeds can be dangerous!  Another was that the filling station had a service bay and a very helpful mechanic who replaced her ruined tire (it had been cut, apparently from running over something on the road) with a used one that worked fine until we could get it replaced.  Another way God looked after us was that the flat occurred on a day off, not when we were hurrying to make it to a church to speak.  God is good.  The next day we were able to buy a pair of new tires and have a couple of minor problems fixed on the car at the same time.  Like we say, God is good.

Sunday the 17th

Yesterday was another busy, blessed day for us.  It had a rough start, though.  Saturday evening, we were treated to a lovely hotel room by the folks of the First Church of the Open Bible in Lauderdale Lakes.  About midnight, though, someone's car alarm went off and stayed on until 6 a.m.!  Needless to say, we slept fitfully, if at all.  But we decided not to give in to the attempt of the enemy to disturb our ministry (Isaiah 54:17) and to trust totally in the Holy Spirit.

People responding to the call to recommit their lives to follow Christ

The service in Lauderdale Lakes was powerful.  God ministered to many people who came forward to commit to following Christ in ministry.  After the service, we were treated to a lovely lunch featuring jerk chicken and jerk pork prepared by Pastor Cynthia Baugh.  It was delicious!  We were sorry we had to leave right after the meal, but we were scheduled to speak at another service at 2 p.m.

Pastor Raul Escalante

The afternoon service was at First Hispanic Open Bible Church now meeting in Tamarac.  As we visited with Pastor Raul Escalante, we were delighted to discover that he was one of the first INSTE graduates in the United States.  Then he introduced us to the young man who was going to interpret for us, letting us know it would be his first time to do so.  That sometimes causes us a little concern, but Andres did a great job, especially for a new translator.

Nancy and Andres

Everywhere we go here in Florida, we hear how God has worked and is working through INSTE students and graduates.  It doesn't matter whether it is in America or Hungary or what language is spoken, we are thrilled to know how God is using INSTE to make disciples and train leaders.

We're in Florida!

You know you're in Florida when you see signs like this.

This week has been a busy one for us.  On Wednesday night we were in Pierson, Florida, at the Community Christian Church with Pastor Max Tyus.  We stayed in DeLand, just 18 miles south of Pierson.  Our first pastorate was at the Open Bible Church in DeLand 35 years ago.  As we were leaving town, we drove by our old apartment building, but in its place was a new city hall!  

Pastor Max & Regina Tyus with their daughter Tyla

Friday evening we were with Pastor Armando Dominguez and the people of the First Spanish Open Bible Church in Punta Gorda.  The service ended with a powerful prayer time that we enjoyed very much. Pastor Dominguez said it best when he said, "Other denominations have nice people, but Open Bible people are the best."

Pastors Armando and Miosotis Dominguez

Hungarian Friends

One of the blessings of itinerating is being able to reunite with old friends, and yesterday we were able to do just that.  We had met Frank Ficsori soon after we first arrived in Hungary, and had become good friends.  A couple of years ago, though, he left Hungary and moved to Florida.

Mike & Frank Ficsori

When Frank heard that we were in Florida (and not very far from where he lived) he invited us over to his home for some good Hungarian stuffed cabbage.  It was great being able to visit with Frank again, to find out how he is doing and to hear about the good things God is doing in his life.  We praise God for all the friends we have, both new and old, from around the world.  What a privilege to be part of the wonderful family of God!  We also thank Frank's mom for the delicious Hungarian stuffed cabbage.  It made us feel like we were back home in Hungary.

Stuffed cabbage topped with sour cream

North Miami and Kendall

Open Bible Community Church of N. Miami, FL

 We had one busy day on Sunday.  At 11 a.m., we spoke at the Open Bible Community Church of North Miami.  We arrived at the church at 10 in order to have a few minutes to talk with Pastor Albert Guthrie before the service.  We really enjoy getting acquainted with the pastors and people of the churches we visit.  The presence of the Lord was powerful and exciting and we totally enjoyed worshiping together.  After the service, we had just a few minutes to talk with as many people as possible before we had to leave for the next church, whose service began at 2 p.m.  But before we left, they made sure we had a tasty lunch.

Open Bible Church of Kendall

About 1:45, we breezed into the Open Bible Church of Kendall with just enough time to greet the pastor and set up.  This is a Hispanic congregation, so we spoke through translators.  Missions was the emphasis at this service with the youth presenting an inspiring flag procession.  We were privileged to be invited to speak in their special service.  Afterward, we enjoyed some delicious Cuban food.

Both of these congregations and their pastors showed us awesome hospitality and generosity.  Thank you, North Miami and Kendall!

Beaird Family

R-l Dort Beaird, Jim Beaird, Mike, Kris Beaird, Idella Johansen

Jim and Kris Beaird, Open Bible Churches Southeast Region Directors, have treated us royally this past week as we have stayed in their home.  They have fed us, entertained us, and we have enjoyed wonderful evenings of conversation.  Jim and Kris grew up in the Rapid City Open Bible Church, just as Mike did, so they have many memories to share and have been friends for many years.

Thursday evening, we enjoyed delicious salmon cooked by Jim.  Also there were Jim's mom Dort and Kris' Mom Idella.  Both of these lovely ladies had a great influence on Mike as a boy and young man.  Dort was his youth leader and Sunday School teacher and Idella encouraged him in following the Lord, too.  It is a privilege to spend a little time with these wonderful people.

Central Florida District Meeting

Central Florida District rally at Seminole Christian Fellowship

Pastor Richard Joyner

Jim Beaird- Regional Director for SE Region

 

 Wednesday night the Central Florida Open Bible District Churches organized a rally and invited us to speak about our ministry in Hungary.  Seven churches were represented at the meeting held in Seminole and we were so enthusiastically received that it was a pleasure to talk about what God is doing in Hungary.  After the service, we were able to talk with many people individually over cake and coffee.  Special thanks to Pastor Dwight Rodgers who organized the event and to Pastors Richard and Debbie Joyner and their church who hosted it.

Visiting after the service

Hialeah and Homestead, Florida

First Spanish Church of the Open Bible in Hialeah, FL

It took us three days to drive from Des Moines, Iowa to Hialeah, Florida, but it was worth the trip.  Sunday morning we were at the First Spanish Church of the Open Bible in Hialeah.  We were graciously welcomed by the brothers and sisters there.  Many of the people speak English, so communication was no problem.  During the service, we spoke through a translator and shared about what God is doing in Hungary.

Pastor David Del Valle

This is a missions-minded church and they were generous in their support.  We first met their pastors, David and Bernice Del Valle, in Des Moines when David worked for INSTE Bible College.  It was so good to see them and their family again.

Pastor Jose Castro of Templo de la Biblia Abierta (a graduate of Level Two INSTE)

Sunday evening we were at the Templo de la Biblia Abierta of Homestead.  This church is only five years old and is growing quickly.  They usually meet in a campground chapel owned by the Open Bible Church in West Miami, but last Sunday, the building had been rented out for the evening and so we met in the camp's dining hall.  This church reaches out to the farm workers and others in the Homestead area and have seen many people saved.  Few of these church members speak English, but we were enthusiastically received anyway.  Once again we spoke through an interpreter and really enjoyed the worship and the prayer service afterward.

The congregation worshiping the Lord

Following the service, we joined them for the dinner they have after every Sunday evening service.  Volunteers cook the meals and they serve specialties from their home countries--Nicaragua, Brazil, Mexico, and others.  Sunday night we ate paella made Chilean-style. 

Chef preparing the supper.  They feed the entire congregation every Sunday evening

Chilean Paella- it was delicious

Both the Hialeah and Homestead churches are strong supporters of INSTE and we heard from many students and graduates who were excited to tell us about how INSTE has blessed their lives and their churches, too.

We are really enjoying visiting friends and churches here in Florida.  And the weather is great, too!