Ippistle 16

Dear Friends,

Our second Budapest autumn is just like the first. It’s warm and sunny every day, with little change from day to day. Because of the drier climate, many trees are beginning to shed their brown leaves. Even the sugar maples, which can be so beautiful in the fall in Michigan, turn yellow and brown here in Hungary. There are many horse chestnut trees in Budapest, and they were losing their leaves and chestnuts already in August.

This Ippistle is being sent out this late in the month, because we wanted to share this wonderful news with you: Sofia Louise In’t Hout was born yesterday to Nick and Julie and big sister Eva. We are so thankful to God for this gift of a healthy (eight pounds, twelve ounces) baby girl.

Cindy arrived in California last Friday to begin her grandma duty with the In’t Houts, and then mid-October she will fly to Indianapolis for the second stage with the Bakers. It really is wonderful that she has this opportunity to help out, and to satisfy that “grandmotherly” urge to hold babies! Janna and Jonathan are anticipating their daughter’s arrival next week. It’s rather exciting to imagine these two cousins, just days apart in age, going through life with this special bond between them. Jack will fly to Indy during the school’s fall break, from October 23 until November 1. Until then he is leading a bachelor’s life and doing quite well. (Except for the ironing.)

Classes at Trefort began typically with many adjustments to the schedule and room assignments in the first three weeks. There are many new faces in the English room, as a lot of teachers came to Trefort in another consolidation with a public school in Buda. Some of these teachers, in order to keep their jobs, are splitting their time with another school, so they have a lot of travel during the week. It has been good getting to know them.

On Mondays after school Jack will be meeting with some of the 10th grade boys for English conversation. These boys had eighteen classes with English speaking teachers last year, and now have zero. So it’s a great opportunity for them to hear and speak English in a more relaxed setting. They met for the first time this week and talked about what they expect to gain from meeting together. Five boys came, which gives them all a good opportunity to practice their English. Please pray that this after-school setting will allow and encourage deeper conversations with the boys, and that Jack will be able to share more of his life and faith with them.

We thank you all for your love and prayers.

Áldás és békesség! Blessing and Peace!

Jack and Cindy