Visit to Sarajevo over Spring Break

Here's a picture from our recent visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina. We went up into a valley to a place where the water comes gushing right out of the mountain. There are still signs telling visitors to stay on the paths and beware of land mines.

Parliament building...almost going under.

The water level of the Danube river in Budapest has since dropped several meters and we're driving on the lower roads again.

The pictures have been found....

Maybe I figured out how to upload the pictures....finally.

Confounded Car Alarms and Immobilizers

The devices designed to stop thieves more often confound car owners. Our vehicles are of such an age (10 and 12 years old) that the electronic devices stop us from being able to use them. Inoperative remote control units, worn out components, and hard use rendered our vehicles useless this past week. I'm thinking this is a good reminder of the temporal nature of stuff. It wears out; it degrades, or it just stops working.

I'm thanking God for technicians that know how to fix our stuff. I hot-wired my Ford Transit van and took it to the electrician this afternoon. I told him I wanted the alarm and immobilizer taken out of it because right now the only person they're stopping is the owner of the vehicle--ME. Once the nine-passenger Ford is operational, I'll have to have Kari's car fixed. Never a dull moment. Theives around here are hardly slowed by even the most advanced systems.

Some church representatives who attended the Summit

Family on the road into the Danube

March 2006 Newsletter

Magyar Mullets´ Newsletter 0603

Hungary, March 2006

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ!

Spring is finally in full swing. The spring thaw in Germany
and Austria is contributing to high water conditions along the
Danube River. It's made for even more traffic congestion
in the city of Budapest. We went to check the water
situation out on Sunday afternoon and found it still had
a meter to rise before it starts wreaking havoc.

Jacob and Kari had birthdays in March, so all of them
are teenagers now except me.



We held the second biennial Hungary Summit in Budapest
the first week of March. The time taken to reflect and report
on various ministries together resulted in praise to God.
We had several days to share together with our partner
church representatives and close friends. The Summit served to
renew some old ties, strengthened our relationships, and reminded
us of God's kind determination to connect us to better serve him.
It was a refreshing time for me.

March 20 to 27 the Kelenföld Evangelical Church participated
in ProChrist, the Europe-wide evangelistic simulcast from
Munich, Germany. I helped facilitate all eight nights at the
Olimpia Ministry Center. We picked it up live by satellite
with a ten-minute delay for translation into Hungarian and
projected it into our auditorium. While the turnout averaged
25 each night, several church members shared their own
personal stories of how they came to place their trust in
Christ alone. One man recognized his need to be forgiven
three years ago on the last night of the broadcast. I
remembered in 2003 that he didn't go into the auditorium
with his wife, but sat in the back hallway listening. We were
even debating at that time whether to cancel the last night
and close the doors. We decided if one person could hear the
gospel we should stay for it. He told our visitors how he just
sat there and listened three years ago. He realized his need
for a Savior and came to believe in God's Son with his heart
and confessed with his mouth that Jesus is Lord. He,
his wife, and two small children have attended the church
since then. He and his mom were baptized and these days
he sings with me on one of our worship leading teams. I'm
curious whom God will add from our planting and watering
this time: Perhaps the friend of mine named Laszlo
who came Sunday night. God knows.

Finally, please pray for my English discussion group that
meets Friday mornings. The English language holds an
attraction for many seeking to better themselves. It
provides occasion for us to enter lives and share the
life-giving hope of the gospel. There are numerous
classes held every week now at the Ministry Center.
There will also be two English camps held in
Kelenfold this summer-pray for our preparations.

Easter is just around the corner-praise God for the three
people who will be baptized at our church that Sunday.

Thank you for your faithful support of our labor here-we're grateful.

Richest Blessings in Christ,

Brad for all of us

High water in Budapest

Pictures of Danube River in Budapest

Public domain photo’s from the BBC on the flood here in Hungary. Pictures from the heart of the city along the Duna!

Géza bácsi and Brad

This is the man who taught me how to speak and do things hungarianly. He's one of my best friends here. His name is Géza bácsi.

Magyar Mullets March 06 newsletter

We'll be getting the letter on here in the next few days.