The Good-Byes Begin

In a little over two weeks we will be leaving Hungary to change our ministry focus to Romania.  Last Thursday, our home group surprised us with a little going-away party complete with "Subway" sandwiches. 

 Misha and Alexa Tovtin hosted the gathering at their apartment.  We have been part of this home group for several years and each member has been very patient and gracious with us, allowing us to share our insights in the Scripture being discussed in our less-than-perfect Hungarian.

 Seated right to left are Klárika Szabó, Misha Tovtin, Zolika Szabó, Robi Szabó (standing), Judit Szabó and Márika Nagy. 

Sunday, Mike was invited to preach at Ibrány.  After the sermon and prayer time, we were honored to receive several gifts including a beautiful plaque thanking us for our work with Inste in Hungary.  This church is home to the Inste Level Two pilot group. 

After the meeting, the Inste leader shared with us that they really enjoy studying together and appreciated the insights and explanations offered by the material.  We are very thankful for all the people who have worked with us and continue to work with Inste here in Hungary including all the group leaders, the translators, the board members and the new director Vince Varga.  May God bless each of them and every Inste student.

Pentecost Weekend

Pentecost Sunday and Monday are national holidays in Hungary, so yesterday the Debrecen Pastor's Circle (a fellowship of several churches from different denominations in Debrecen) held a special joint service.  The point of the service was to worship the Lord together, pray together, and seek to hear from the Lord.  There was standing room only in the auditorium and people were seated in overflow rooms also.  A worship team composed of musicians from the different churches led in wonderful praise and worship and several of the pastors shared very briefly from time to time what God was speaking to them.  We also prayed together for the "gate keepers" of the community and for revival in our own hearts as well as in the city.  The service was amazing and before we knew it three hours had passed.  The pastors finally had to tell the people to leave since everyone just wanted to keep praising and worshiping the Lord.  We are looking forward to hearing amazing testimonies about what is happening in Debrecen.

The worship team of members from several churches

On Pentecost Sunday, Mike preached at the Open Bible Church in Debrecen in the morning and in Gavavencsellő in the afternoon on changing our focus from the temporary to the eternal, from self to the Kingdom of God.  In both places the sermons were well-received and followed by times of dedication and prayer.  

Mike and his interpreter Misha waiting to speak

We are coming close to the end of our time in Hungary and are treasuring all the time we are able to spend with our Hungarian brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ladies' Meetings

This last weekend I (Nancy) spoke at two ladies' meetings, Friday at the Kemecse Open Bible Church and Saturday at the Ibrány Open Bible Church.  The leaders tried to combine their meetings so that we would need to travel only once, but neither group could arrange for transportation to the other's meeting.  It was no problem, I just planned to give the same talk at both meetings.  Roxi, my interpreter and Mike, who drove the car, were both generous enough to agree to devote two evenings to the meetings.

Friday evening after the meeting started, we were all pleasantly surprised that several ladies from Ibrány arrived. I spoke about nameless women in the crowd and how God knows and loves each one of us individually.  After the meeting, I apologized to the Ibrány ladies that they would hear the same talk the following night.  They were gracious and said they would happily hear it again.  But on the way home, the Lord started prompting me to speak on another subject. 

Nancy, with Roxi on her left interpreting, praying over the Ibrány ladies

Saturday morning God helped me to prepare to speak on the other subject, dying to self.  After we arrived Saturday evening in Ibrány, I told Mara, the leader, that I was prepared to speak on something else.  Her eyes just sparkled.  She said, I was praying that the Lord would share with us something new. Thank you! 

Both meetings were well attended and we all enjoyed the presence of the Lord and the fellowship with each other.  Thank you, Rita and Mara, for the invitation and for your wonderful hospitality.  May God bless each lady who attended.

Changes Ahead

Before we share about our upcoming changes, yesterday was Mother's Day in Hungary and the children at church did a little presentation.  Little Máté was a bit nervous and kept trying to hide behind his friend Veronika's skirt.  Children's programs are enjoyable all around the world.

This was our last Mother's Day in Hungary.  The Inste Hungary work has been handed over to capable Hungarian hands and we are preparing to leave the country.  There are still some details to be finished, but Vince Varga is the new Inste Director for Hungary and we are confident that the Lord has great things in store for the future of Inste here.
We have been appointed by the Open Bible Global Missions board to a two-year term in Romania.  We are looking forward to working closely with our brothers and sisters in Christ in the town of Gherla and the surrounding area.  For several years now, we have visited this church every few months and have come to love and appreciate the people very much.  With God's help, we hope to be able to give support and training to the young leadership there, begin Inste groups in the church, and make plans for planting churches in the surrounding communities.
Before we move to Romania, though, we will be itinerating in the US for six months in the Central Region, reporting about progress in Hungary and informing our supporters about our new assignment. 
Please pray for us as we tackle the many details involved in making an international move and learning a new language.  Please also pray for God's anointing on the Hungarian Inste leadership and on the Open Bible Church in Gherla, Romania.

May Day 2018

We participated in the annual May Day Church Picnic today.  May 1 is Labor Day, a public holiday in Hungary as well as many other countries around the world.  The five Open Bible Churches in Hungary traditionally meet on May 1 in a park in Debrecen to spend time together, eat together and worship together. 

About 75 of us gathered in the park.  The weather was perfect.

Ibolya and Márika prepared babgulyás soup.  It was delicious!

Márika joked with Mike.  She said this pork bone was Mike's portion.

Pastor Misi Gulyás preached a short sermon about God's message to Jeremiah in the potter's house.

One highlight of the day was when a man in a wheel chair joined us for the service.  Imre had been in the hospital for a year and the doctors had given him no hope for leaving the hospital alive.  The church started praying for him a couple months ago.  Today was the first time he had been outside in over a year.  Praise God!