Dear Family and Friends,
It’s spring time in Budapest. Thank you for mentioning us before God in your prayers! Our last letter found me in the U.S. for a ten day period starting with the Hungary Summit in St. Louis and ending with the mission’s weekend at Arlington Heights EFC. Although it meant missing Kari and Jacob’s official birthdays, the visit afforded me time to shop for special gifts for them, meet with several pastors and give encouragement to partner churches. I was greatly encouraged by the wise counsel of close friends to boldly carry on the work to which we’ve been appointed. As usual while I’m away, bad things happen and things break: this time our dog was taken from our yard. There was great sadness over the loss of our little family member, and I was away. It seems several little dogs in town were taken that weekend. Our neighbors were very sympathetic.
Immediately after returning to Hungary, I began preparations to host the “rhinos”, a construction team from Wisconsin. They had to help me make arrangements and to purchase most of the materials since stores were closed for a four-day holiday weekend just before their arrival. It was amazing how quickly this team came together and how God supplied them for the work. We spent a very packed week together laboring alongside one another unto the Lord. The seven of them slept in the auditorium of the ministry center, bought their own groceries, cleaned up after themselves, and were wonderful house guests. We’re thankful for all that they accomplished and for the encouragement they brought to us. You may visit two websites for a blow by blow account of our activities together:
http://www.jointhejourney07.blogspot.com/ or
http://www.building-for-the-master.blogspot.com/My computer was down for ten days during that period, but life and ministry goes on with or without construction and computer. Five guys borrowed our car to go to a soccer match on the far side of the city late one night and the clutch went out. Two of them got the special experience of being towed through Budapest at midnight behind a big white van on a 6 foot rope. They’ll never be the same. I think the driver moved to Africa the next day. The passenger was a shell of a man, but recovered nicely for a tour of Vienna the next day. Consequently, I got far behind in communication, but was so blessed by working with these guys and accomplishing so much that I hardly missed the laptop.
One man from Kansas, Tim Weddle, remained here and is helping with assorted loose ends and helping us prepare for the next team. Being a roofer by trade, he installed two skylights in Zsuzsa’s roof and has been helping in the ministry center. Jacob celebrated his 14th birthday with friends at the end of the month by pulling an all-nighter in the coffee house. I led an English discussion group the next morning in a semi-comatose state. Then it was an all-hands on-deck affair for our team to host an Easter party the last day of the month for all the English students and their families. Springtime and Easter provide a great context for sharing the gospel: new life in Jesus Christ. We don’t want to miss such opportunities.
Another month has come and gone and God has sustained us.
Thank you for praying, to Him be all glory!
Richest Blessings,
Brad, for all of us
