Ippistle 26

Ippistle 26
October 15, 2010


Dear Friends,

We are both enjoying the rhythm that comes with a normal routine. Teaching is going well for Jack at Trefort Agoston, a Hungarian state school, where he teaches 22 classes per week. He sees eight different student groups in grades nine through thirteen, 101 total students, of which seven are girls. Trefort Agoston is a great place for sharing Christ’s love with the students. All of Jack’s classes are conversational English lessons, so there is ample opportunity for discussion. Jack and his two TeachOverseas colleagues have just begun an “English Club” after school on Tuesdays. In this setting it is even easier for the teachers to be transparent and model a Christian life-style. Please pray for “JUBAIP”, the acronym using the ESI teacher’s names for the English club, that students may learn more about Jesus Christ through the teachers’ words and actions. We are also hosting a pizza party here in our apartment for the 9D (beginning bilingual class) students tomorrow afternoon (Saturday). We anticipate having over 28 students and several teachers here for homemade pizza. Jack grated 15 pounds of cheese in preparation. We see these as initial relationship building times and appreciate your prayers for our conversations to be so directed.

Cindy continues to volunteer as a support person to the staff at the Mission Institute of the Reformed University here in Budapest. This fall she was asked to also take on a new volunteer position at EDYN, another ministry headquarters here. This ministry networks with 17 other mission sending organizations in 14 countries around the world. Because of the diversity of languages, English is the commonly used language for all training materials and publications. One of Cindy’s main tasks is to proof read all of the writings so that the communication within the mission network can be clear.

We are both realizing how our relationships with colleagues are continuing to develop more deeply in our third year. Even some of the non-English department teachers are opening up to Jack and carrying on some good conversations. These teachers seem to sense that an American teacher in his third year must be doing something right to want to come back, and they are responding favorably. God continues to bring us into new relationships. We have just begun attending a “house church gathering” during the week. We gather for a meal, Bible reading and discussion. We hope to be able to invite some of our new friends to this gathering. We pray that this will be another avenue to expose our friends to the Hope that we have.

Be sure to check out our blog for additional stories on what has been going on. Participating in a family grape harvest was a highpoint for us a few weekends ago, and last weekend we attended a leadership retreat in Hluboka, Czech Republic. We certainly do find opportunities to discover more of the country around us. We also appreciate your concern and prayers for many people in western Hungary who lost homes and loved ones as a result of the toxic sludge flood; this event continues to dominate our news.

Thanks again for coming alongside us in this adventure!

Blessings,

Jack and Cindy Ippel