Magyar Mullets´ Newsletter 08-06
Hungary, August 2006












Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings from Budapest!

The month of August seemed to come and go in a flash.
The first week of August saw the conclusion of the
Children’s English Outreach Camp held at the Olimpia
Ministry Center.  A team of eight from Faith EFC,
Manhattan,Kansas, along with our team and others did
a great job!  I preached the second Sunday of the
month and sent Kari to the US to help Whitney get
settled at College of the Ozarks.

















We were blessed to attend the wedding of Eric
(Weddle) and Liz in Kansas.  Then Kari dashed home
to the three we left in Budapest, and I stayed for
a couple of additional weeks. I had a wonderful
time reconnecting with church families, visiting
Whitney, and seeing friends and family.

As is often the case, when Dad is away things start
breaking down.  I didn’t have time for jet lag as computer
problems, car problems, and personnel challenges had to be
addressed as soon as I hit the ground.  I had a chance to
talk with Kari for a couple hours the night I got back
before she dashed over to the Olson’s house to babysit.
Janna gave birth to Samuel Matthew Olson the next morning.
Kelsey and Peter started school that morning; Jacob had
already been in classes for a week.  At the ministry center
I was so glad to see Géza bácsi again—he looked me in the
eye yesterday and asked me if my supporters would keep me
here a few more years.  He seemed relieved when I told him
it seemed that they would.  He then proceeded to show me
his torn bicep muscle and the progress on the guest
apartment in the Olimpia. He really wanted to have it
done before I came back. Orsi Konya will be the first to
use it once it’s finished. She’s the interior designer
who planned the kitchen project a couple years ago.

Thank you for praying last month for our resident permit
process.  We went to pick them up on September 7th and
were granted two-year permits.  Praise God! We’re very
thankful that process won’t interfere now with our home
assignment next summer.

Whitney is well and studying nursing at College of the
Ozarks.  She recently helped mannequins deliver babies:
She excitedly explained that the babies came out in one
of two different colors—pink or blue.  Whitney thought, oh,
“boy or girl”—but no, the coloring actually tells you
if the baby is breathing or not breathing.  Good thing
they have nurses training; I would have been left blue born.

While I was back visiting in the US, several of you
specifically asked about our personal support and
planned ministry expenses.  This has encouraged me
to be forthright with you and to include a summary with
this letter.  In the role of City Team Leader for Budapest,
I have our personal support to raise, as well as a broader
responsibility for raising support for the various
ministries and support personnel entrusted to us.
At times this is an ominous load.  Your inquiries were
providentially timed to help me bear the burden and cast
it on the Lord:  We’ve just received the support-required
amounts for 2007 and where we stand in 2006.

We currently need an additional $916 in monthly support.
This $916 is comprised of our average 2006 monthly
shortfall of $467 plus a $449 per month (6.7%) increase
by the Free Church to cover our health insurance,
cost-of-living adjustment, service allocation, and
retirement. (The 2006 shortfall to date has been covered
by excess support and one-time gifts from 2005.)
As our team has grown and my responsibilities as
City Team Leader have increased, we’ve found our ministry
expenses also climbing.  We have more phone calls to make,
an ADSL line, more coordinating with missionaries from
other agencies, meetings over meals with each of our
couples, and the costs of keeping our technology up.
Brad meets regularly with leaders from other mission
agencies in developing collaborative relationships. We’ve
endeavored to host small groups, guests, and other
missionaries.  I still desire to serve many with the use
of vehicles, moving, fixing things, etc.
We no longer have excess funds to draw from at this time,
but we’re trusting the Lord will provide for us in this
obedience to him in extending His love to others.

I keep thinking it would be the incredible grace of God
toward us to arrive home next summer having finished
strong in 2006 and already fully supported for 2007.
If all our supporters increased their giving by 5%, we’d
be almost half way there.  Would you pray with us that God
would put us in contact with others that He intends to be
investing in Hungary?  We are already so blessed.
We thank the Lord for each of you.

I’ve also attached an overview of ministry needs in
Hungary.  After you’ve read through it, I invite you
to inquire of the Lord concerning how and to what
extent He would have you cheerfully give to support
God’s ministry in Hungary through us.

When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and
enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be
happy in his work—this is a gift of God.  He seldom
reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps
him occupied with gladness of heart. (Eccl. 5:19-20)
May the Lord put gladness in your heart. (Ps.4:7)

Thanks for standing with us.

Warmly in Christ,

Brad, for all of us serving in Hungary