Magyar Mullets January 2008 Newsletter

Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings from the Mullets in Hungary. Before I tell you about the past month and a few items coming up in February, let me say thank you, thank you, and thank you for your kind generosity to us in December. In a cold, gray winter in eastern Europe, we’re most grateful for your support, for improvement in the exchange rate, and for the sun to appear a little more often.
January started with an all-Europe conference for Reach Global missionaries just an hour down the autobahn and a ferry ride across Lake Balaton to Tihany, Hungary. Our whole family was able to attend. We were greatly encouraged to reconnect with many friends in our mission family, as well as sit under the excellent teaching of Colin Smith, the Senior Pastor of Arlington Heights EFC, IL. Several churches from the U.S. sent teams to teach, serve, and help with the programs. We were all greatly blessed by their servant heartedness. I was especially appreciative of the individual time they spent with us. I lead a tour for several of them around Budapest after the conference to share what God is doing in the ministry here; it is always a highlight for me.
Back in Budapest: our English clubs have started again, both the boys are playing basketball, Kari attended Peter to his ACSI Honors Choir concert in Prague one weekend, and I was summoned as a witness to the Esztergom police department. They were looking for a guy who had defaulted on a car loan. We had bought the car two years ago. The pastor of KEGY went with me and we were able to tell them about ourselves and the hope of salvation while giving an account of the vehicle and what we knew of the man. A collection agency is looking for him. A couple days later, two big guys showed up at my door to collect for his loan or take the vehicle. I invited them in. Their insistence that I assume his loan and pay for his crime was a perfect segue into the gospel. They said they were not religious men, but it didn’t seem right that one man pay for another man’s crime. In the end, they didn’t take the vehicle—but they heard the gospel at our kitchen table.
The name of their company is New Day Security Corp. It was an interesting opportunity thrust upon me. Pray that God would continue to bring those across our path who need to hear the good news. Salvation is found in Christ alone—Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12
In February, we have several visiting laborers coming to complete projects in the ministry center, help with English clubs, and prepare for our Hungary Summit. Pray for us in these efforts and preparations: God is faithful to encourage us through one another and to bring occasions for gospel proclamation at all times. The work on the subway stop outside our door has slowed, but remains an ever present reminder of God’s providence in placing us in Kelenföld for such a time. Pray for us to find where we fit into God’s great mission to this great city and for us to press forward into it.
Finally, please pray for Bjorn and Trisha Olsen and their little girl, Lianna. Lianna has had medical complications that confound doctors, but she seems to be coming through them in this first short year of her life. This family serves with Reach Global at the International Christian School and they are applying to be career missionaries here. Lianna may never have a diagnosis. Pray for God’s direction and man’s obedience in this regard.
For the sake of the Name, Brad, for all of us