Magyar Mullets October 2009 Newsletter

Dear Family and Friends,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are grateful for the occasions we’ve spent with you this last month sharing about God’s work in Hungary enjoying the company of many of you as we visited supporters in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. With just two months remaining, our time is short.
God is teaching us to gladly spend everything and to be spent for souls. For several months I have been having one of those in-my-head conversations with the Lord. I was lamenting about not being wealthier. I reasoned what good and greater things I could do with wealth. I asked, 'What more do I have to offer You, Lord?' When this thought came to me, it dawned on me that the most precious commodity I have as a missionary on home assignment is time, and even more specifically, Sundays in churches. Interestingly, we’ve never been on a six-month home-assignment with such a wealth of Sundays.
A couple of months ago Kari and I were alerted to the possibility of serving with a short-term team in the mountains of Guatemala over Thanksgiving vacation. As we considered going, we realized the time it would take away from our home assignment, support raising, and family. Vacation time is another precious commodity, but even nearer and dearer is time with family, not to mention that support team building is going differently this year than in years past. As we prayed and considered this sacrifice, I was conflicted. It seemed the Lord was compelling us to give ten days of our home assignment, including two Sundays, to a service project in the mountains of Central America. It was as if the Lord was saying, 'Test Me in this.' Our ReachGlobal area leader gave us his blessing and even asked to support us in going. Others encouraged us. It was no coincidence that once the decision was made, everything fell into place—down to the last two spots on the team and the last two plane tickets.
The Apostle Paul wrote these encouraging words in 2 Corinthians 9 (paraphrased): Excel in this grace of giving, with confidence that in God’s economy all grace abounds to us, so that in all things, at all times, having all that we need, we will abound in every good work…. We want this service we perform to overflow in many expressions of thanks to God. I’m learning God does not require of me that which He will not supply, or that which I do not already have in my possession. Perhaps I’ll not receive that which I lack without first surrendering that which I have. The words from an old hymn played in my head: 'Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all,' (When I Survey the Wondrous Cross).
While we are still raising funds to return to Hungary at the end of December, we believe the Lord would have us go and serve in Guatemala November 20th to 30th with Helps International and a local team. Support for this work has come in quite unexpectedly. God has already provided ten days of our time and more than half of the funds. We lack just $1,500. As for the amount we lack to return to Hungary, praise God, another church has committed to support us monthly, and we lack just $850 in regular monthly support. If you have interest, we’d be delighted to discuss both topics at length. See our contact information below. Pray for us to make the most of every opportunity—we have put our hope in the living God.
Our days are not our own,
Brad and Kari