Ippistle 15

Ippistle 15
Jack and Cindy Ippel

Dear Family and Friends,

We have settled back into life here in Budapest, though not quite into the rhythm of everyday life since our official work doesn’t begin until September 1. We will use this Ippistle to reflect with you on our past month in the U.S. and the anticipation of this next month here in Budapest. We’re so thankful for your interest in our work and would ask that as you read this Ippistle you would pray as the Holy Spirit prompts you.

August began for us in California finishing up our training with TeachOverseas. Most of our time was spent getting to know our new teammates for this coming year. They are both delightful, engaging young women who seem to have a maturity that will allow us to build mutually encouraging relationships with each other. We also began our CA (Country Administrator) training the final days of training. This time was spent with other CAs who will also be based in Central Europe. It was a very valuable time of learning and sharing in preparation for our new roles as CAs. We now have the responsibility of spiritually mentoring five other TeachOverseas teachers based in Budapest and Bratislava. We were challenged at training to realize that our impact is not only on these teachers but the further impact on each of their students. It’s a humbling thought.

The rest of August was a bit of a blur with lots of wonderful meals (lots of beef!) and times of fellowship with a variety of friends and family. We found ourselves in many serendipitous moments bumping into people that we had no plans of seeing, but these were providentially arranged meetings. Earlier in the summer (prior to training) we felt lead to consider putting our house on the market. By the middle of August, after putting in a new furnace and air conditioner, we put our house on the market. The first couple through, she a former student of Jack’s, bought the house! This was one week before we were to be back in Hungary. We had looked at several condos in the area and decided on two that we liked for a price we could afford. We made a low offer on one and it was accepted. The trustees of the property chose to “gift the difference” between what they were asking and what we offered because they knew that we were missionaries. So now our house is sold and we have a condo. The whole deal was so obviously a “God thing”! The last couple of days at home were spent packing up as much as we could in preparation for the move that will happen without us. (Talk to Jon and Joy if you’re willing to help!) We are also looking for a couple who would be interested in renting our condo for the year. If you have any suggestions, let us know.

So now we’ve been back in Budapest for three days. We’ve been able to connect with several of our friends here including Marika, our fruit lady. Her English is no better and our Hungarian even less so than when we left, and yet we were able to communicate through smiles and kisses, hand gestures and a few words. We find that it is refreshing to hear Hungarian again and to walk instead of driving most places. It feels like home to us.

We are excited about the prospect of new relationships. There are four new teachers in the English faculty at Trefort. We have already been able to begin good conversations with each of them. There seems to be a spiritual interest in talking more, and we hope to have opportunities to invite them to church with us soon. Jack anticipates almost all new students, as he most likely will be teaching mostly 9th graders.

We are also looking forward to building on the relationships that were begun last year. Jack’s birthday party with last year’s 9th graders had to be postponed because there seems to be nowhere to use a grill. Hopefully we will be able to figure something out or else we will just do hamburgers in our flat on our stovetop grill. (Not quite the same, but to Hungarians it will still be fun!) We have met several of his former students while visiting school and have been delighted with their response in seeing us. We have already reconnected with several friends and colleagues from last year with affirmation that they are glad that we have returned.

Cindy is also looking forward to returning to her role at the Mission Institute beginning on September 1. Dr. Anne-Marie Kool plans to finally return to her position as professor and director of the Mission Institute after a lengthy recuperation following her back surgery. It will be good to have the full staff working together again. There will be new students to get to know as well as continuing relationships with colleagues at the Reformed University. Cindy plans to continue to use her gifts of hospitality and organization in her work there.

Thank you for your prayers for our work. We would love to hear back from you about how you’ve specifically prayed for us and also about how we can pray for you.

Áldás és békesség! Blessing and peace!

Jack and Cindy