Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings from Budapest! In addition to the normal things a September holds, we packed in what was left over from this summer. Ministries continue and some have restarted after the summer break. In this update, I want to give you a glimpse of what our life ministry looks like going into this fall: leading the City Team in church planting, helping at the Christian school, and operating/renovating more of the ministry center.
Our mission personnel in Budapest fall into three categories: the church planting team, the educators at the Christian school, and the Europe Area Office. As leader of the first two, I help get legal paperwork together to one extent or another for all of them to come, get moved in, and get settled. Getting visas, residence permits, and other legal paperwork for life here is time-intensive every once in awhile, but a much better process than when we came seven years ago. The church planting team is at an exciting stage of development: more of us are getting along in learning Hungarian, relationships with Hungarians are going deeper, and more opportunities are opening up for potential church starts. Team meetings for prayer, planning, and accountability are benefiting us greatly.
At the International Christian School of Budapest, Kelsey (17, senior), Peter (15, sophomore), and Jacob (13, eighth grade) are deep in studies and activities. A variety of obstacles have delayed the occupancy permit for the new building, so many of us have pitched in on weekends and late week nights to speed things along. I built stairs for the stage and helped teachers assemble new science lab stations. Kelsey is the captain of the volleyball team this year; I’m coaching the team three times a week at a sand court nearby. The team is undefeated so far. Peter and Jacob are playing soccer on different teams, playing well, and losing well.
At the Olimpia Ministry Center: I’m leading an English Club discussion group on Friday mornings in the coffee house and so far have had five new students and some returns from last year. Kari continues field book-keeping, English club sub-ing, new staff orienting, and personal discipleship. The English clubs are providing some of the best opportunities for our team to get to know Hungarians in a weekly forum. They’re also great for sharpening our Hungarian language skills. In between official appointments, team meetings, and church ministries, Geza and I have been quite occupied with winterizing the building and finishing up the guest apartment upstairs.
I got to observe Geza in action recently negotiating with a maintenance guy across the street to buy some spare fan coils and parts from a building being upgraded. I observed a classic part of the Hungarian economy at work: great deals are all about who you know. After several mornings of arguments between Geza and this guy, I thought the deal was off. However, later that week Geza told me to drive over and pick up the plunder: he got ten heating units, switch controls, and a new motor for $150, almost their value in salvage metal alone. Despite his wife being in the hospital, he comes in every morning and most evenings. She is quite ill with diabetes, heart and circulation problems. He visits her during allowed hours in the afternoon. Please remember to pray for her.
When I revisit the scope of all our ministry endeavors here, I remind myself that we Christians have a hope that extends beyond ourselves and that exceeds what we could ever do in our own power. My hope is in what God is doing and planned to do from eternity past: reconcile sinful humans to himself through his Son Jesus Christ from all times and places. Thanks for sending us to Hungary!
Warmly in Christ, Brad, for all of us.
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