Thursday, September 27, 2012

Have You Missed Me?

  Hooray!!  It has been a long time between 65% and 70% monthly support, but we have finally reached it!  Have you missed our handmade thermometer? Yeah, sure, I bet you have!!!  Do you know that support is essentially our salary for on the field? This is why it is crucial we raise our support. 

Normally, we are more than happy to work to earn our keep, but our wise area leader said "NO!"  You see, most Europeans view all Americans as "filthy rich" - so, if we are working in Hungary, most Hungarians would think, "Why are you stealing MY job (or MY Friend's) job?" Consequently, they would be closed to any further conversation, on any subject.

Less than 2% of Hungarians are evangelical believers - this is why we are going, why God has put them on our hearts.  Will you help fill the rest of the gap? Can you cut out a latte' a week to send that money to further God's Kingdom? Can you commit to investing $100/month for Him?  Click on the link to the right:)

Monday, September 24, 2012

The Goal Changer

   Some friends of ours headed out of their home to attend a local event with excitement and anticipation of what they would see, meeting friends there, marveling at the beauty of outdoors in the summertime.  Closing the house door, finding keys to starting the car, all the normal things we do everyday.

   While they were checking out some of the booths and seeing the activity in the center area, a breeze came up & helped to cool off all the people in the hot, intensive burning sun. The breeze got stronger and a bit gusty. So, the booth owners may have to tighten down some of their lines and weight down items to keep from blowing around a bit.

   Through the sounds of the music and voices of people enjoying a beautiful day in the mountains, some heard a siren in the distance.  Walking around and chatting, another siren was heard. And then another.  Then another.  By this time, people were starting to wonder what some of the sirens were all about, so looking in the direction they were headed, dark black smoke was billowing up in the distance.

"Oh wow, there is a fire over that way. I am so glad the fire department is so close by." This thought probably ran through many people's minds.

  The wind picked up and really started gusting. Hats were flying around, jackets, shirts and skirts were tight against one side of a body and flapping on the other side. Papers flying, dust swirling, backs being turned to the wind so eyes don't get berated by sand.  Most eyes turned towards the smoke in the distance, now roiling blacker, bigger within moments. Mumbles of concern, undoubtably some prayers were being said to keep people safe.

  Our friends were all ready on the way to their car. The smoke was in the direction of their home. Summer had been so dry, and with a drought that has been going on for at least 30 years, no fire is a good one.

  "Probably everything is all right, but I would feel better to just make sure."  Was one thought passing through their minds.

  Traffic is stopped quite a ways from the entrance to the housing development.  Not good - it is police and firemen who are monitoring the roads, meanwhile the smoke continues to pour out & they KNOW it is their housing area, but where?? Identifications shown, with trepidation, they finally enter their "subdivision" (a loose term in the mountain community).
 
  Approaching slowly, mud, soot, debris and smoke permeate all around them and there is..................



 nothing left of the abode they left an hour ago.

Well, no covering to keep out the elements, other than a melted furnace and what used to be a stove..... Later, as Samaritan's Purse helped carefully sift through the ashes, there were laptop batteries and broken dishes found.  "We always find laptop batteries" they said.  Passports, guest books (popular place, it was!), so many memories. Gone.

A neighbor wandered over, also surveying the devastation from her own home across the street.  She told my friend that from inside her home, she saw the fire ignite a tree. As she was dialing 911,  her own curtains on the inside of her home. Not getting a response from the phone (phone lines were down), she grabbed what she could, dashed to her car in the garage, hit the garage door opener (thank Heaven THAT still worked), started the car, backed out & before she could put the car in drive to take off, her entire home was engulfed! Wow - there before the grace of God...! 40 years of memories and life, gone.


Now, what was the problem you were dealing with today? Does it really matter that your co-worker only uses a tissue once before throwing it away?  Life happens - let's live it for God today!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Aches, Apathy & Crazy Americans

  This past Tuesday, we had a  Skype call with our team in Hungary. Oh, how I long to be with them, helping them plant churches in the field!! I was ready to just get on the plane and leave!  I could smell the beginning of Fall over there. I could feel the anticipation of what God is preparing to do for His Kingdom! Bags? Who needs them, just let me GO!! Let me get on with what I am called to do! Send me - your hands and feet- to work for the Kingdom, to love on the Hungarian people, to learn the language, to teach, to forge friendships, to let them know there is a Mighty, Omnipotent Creator who wrote their names on His hands - and He HASN'T forgotten them!  Let me GO!!! Send ME!!!   That is my heart cry, that is Kurt's heart cry.... SEND US!  We are SO close!

  About an hour after the Skype call, as I was packing to move out, I received word that the buyers for our house backed out.  No specific reasons were given (they don't have to).  I admit, I grieved for a while - the closer we get to depart, the further away the goal moves, it seems.  But then, Kurt and I both looked at each other, smiled, and said, "Let's see what God does now!" There is a timeline ticking down... what will happen? Stay tuned!

  Then yesterday I had the privilege to attend a Beth Moore simulcast at our church. People around the world were gathered via the miracles of technology to listen to teaching and to worship together - what a blessing that was! Hungary wasn't mentioned, but my heart thought, "Oh, NEXT year! We will gather together with you next year in Hungary joining you!"

   Later on in this simulcast,  as I was worshipping along, I found my heart breaking further for these Hungarian people...  for their hearts that have given up on finding the hole in their heart filled with something that will last (Jesus Christ), to be given HOPE, LIFE, GOALS.  To dream again...

  You see, when we were there, we were specifically told, "Don't smile as you walk down the street."  When we asked why, we were told, "Because they will either think you are drunk or literally crazy!"  Wow - what re-training we will need to do!  This is the world we are moving to - a world where people are suspicious of each other (the gulag mentality is still there), where we need to remind ourselves to not be so happy.  Yet, in the freedom of Christ there is abundant Joy and Life!

  When we gathered with believers at the Hungarian church, the Joy and Life is flourishing! It's like walking from a desert into a lush garden behind a door. The humidity pours into your parched lungs and skin.

    So many of the people we have only been able to see and know from a distance of 9,000 miles, have come to know the Savior as we have joined with you in praying for them. Lives are changing, the church is growing, new people are being drawn in to be healed, to be changed in a way that only Christ can..... and yet, we still proclaim Christ because we are here.  Trusting to be the fragrance of eternal life and examples of His great mercy.  Jesus has drawn our hearts to another land that is living in great darkness, to a people who are blinded by the god of this world. We are straddled between two continents.  We are here, waiting with bated breath to RUN with them, side by side.  To come alongside and share their hearts, to let them know there are many who care, many who are praying, many in this family they can join. To gently place a hand on their shoulder, lifting off a strap of this enormous load they carry in order to share the burden, taking it to the foot of the cross and leaving it there.... left in His care.   To trust.     Finally.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

An Ending and a Beginning...

  We knew that the changes we are called to do in order to follow God's heart are going to be bittersweet in many ways.  One of the biggest is to be saying good bye to some dreams that we had in using our home for many years of ministry in our community.  Although we have used it for ministry in many ways (housing families in transition, game nights, hospitality, Bible studies, events, etc...), we are now needing to say "good bye" to this dream as we sell our home and move out, selling all we have, closing our business and our vehicles for the sake of sharing the gospel and planting churches in Hungary.

  The joy is knowing that although more of our memories won't be made here, the ones that were made are in our hearts and our minds, as well as the lives that we touched.  

  Now we look to the future, to not knowing where we are going to live here in the states - (rooms and garages have been offered - thank you all!), during this time of transition as we raise the last of our support so we can get onto the field.  

  When do we leave? No clue  - hopefully soon!  It ALL hinges on raising our monthly support. We could leave as early as October. Click to the right & help us get on our way:O.-------------->

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Apologies and grace - Part 1

  Apologies and grace - part 1

  Wow, this season of time is going so quickly - season of time, you ask? Yes! We are in the season of time where the house is getting ready to close, need to pack up or sell the rest of our stuff and move..... to....we have no idea!  Friends have offered some spots - but it could be a bit dicey with timing.    So we invite God into the whole plan, and that is where the grace comes in. His mercies ARE new every morning and He is faithful to the end.

  "He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." - Deuteronomy 32:4

  I am trying to keep up with this blog in the next few weeks - but in case things get a bit crazy with timing through moving, please be patient & pray for us - we WILL be back:)