Ippistle 23

Dear family and friends,

This will probably be our last Ippistle before returning to the U.S the end of June. We will take this time to update you on several things that we’ve asked you to pray about in the past, as well as to reflect on our past year.

Since we last shared about Jack’s initial conversation with Chris and his interest in finding out more about being a Christian, Chris has begun reading the Bible Jack gave him and praying regularly. He also joined us at Golgatha, the Budapest Calvary Chapel where we attend. He said that he had never been to a church worship service before. He acknowledged that he had been baptized, but he didn’t know what kind of a church it was, and that his parents didn’t believe in God. He really appreciated the Calvary worship service and excitedly said afterward that he would come back the next week and bring his friend Tamás. Chris and Jack have met for conversation a couple of times after school as well. Through these conversations, Chris is sharing a lot about himself and his background and his desire to know more about what it means to be a Christian. Please continue to keep Chris in your prayers. It’s so exciting to see God working in his life and his enthusiasm to share his discoveries with his friends!

We have exciting news in regards to job developments for Orsi since our April Ippistle. Orsi has signed a contract as a conductive therapist with Sara’s Garden in Wauseon, Ohio. She and Zoli plan to move to the U.S. later this summer after all the paper work and details are worked out. They are very excited about this opportunity. Orsi has a three-year contract with Sara’s Garden with the possibility of renewing at the end of that time. She was also offered a job with a similar organization in Indianapolis who told her they would be very interested in hiring her in the future. She had a hard time dealing with being “fought over” by these two organizations. Zoli will be coming on a spouse visa, similar to what Cindy has here. Hopefully he will be able to find a job and get his visa changed to a work visa at that time. Please pray for Orsi and Zoli as they prepare for this huge move. Pray for a good transition for them. Pray for them to find a community of believers where they will feel welcomed and that will help them in their spiritual growth.

Cindy has announced to both Ecumenical Diaconal Year Network and The Central and Eastern Europe Mission Institute that she is willing to volunteer for both institutions beginning in the fall. She will plan to work two days each week at each organization, and then when there are seminars or other conferences where Cindy will be needed, she will work all week at just that organization. Both organizations appreciate the assistance that Cindy will offer. Cindy looks forward to continuing her relationships with her colleagues at the Mission Institute, as well as developing new relationships with those at EDYN.

We would also encourage your continued prayer for the Pannonia Student Exchange program that we referred to in our last Ippistle. There is still a need for a host family particularly in the South Christian area. If you know of anyone that would consider hosting a Hungarian student for the coming school year, please let us know. Since the last Ippistle, Cindy was a part of the selection team to choose the students from Sarospatak that will come to the U.S. for the upcoming school year. They are excellent students who are eager to learn and have really engaging personalities. This is an opportunity to affect the future of not only one student but also all those that they will have relationship with here in Hungary in the future.

In closing we have a video that we would like to share with you that brought tears to our eyes through the encouragement and hope that it gave us in seeing so many young people excited about God's resurrection message here in Hungary. (I am unable to provide the link here. Please go to YouTube and search for Resurrection Sunday Dance, Budapest) The video is shot at one of our favorite sights here in Budapest, Heroes' Square. There are eight ESI teachers here in Budapest, and we can all attest to seeing the Holy Spirit working in many of our students over this past year. To God be the glory!

In thinking back on this past year of ministry, it has been clear to us that God has truly blessed us for being faithful to His calling. This year has been difficult in many ways because of times of discouragement and frustrations. We have definitely missed our children and grandkids even more than last year. We have mixed emotions about living here...some days we love it and find it so wonderful, and other days we just want to be done and just come home. We really appreciate your prayers and support over the past two years and hope that you will continue on this journey with us for another year. God is faithful...that has been clear especially as we have seen the Holy Spirit's promptings in so many lives. It is clear that it's not up to us to “save” anyone, but just to be faithful in what God has called us to do.

Áldás és békesség! Blessing and peace!

Jack and Cindy