Magyar Mullets August 2011 Prayer Letter

Dear Family and Friends,

Just six weeks left before we return to Hungary. Kari has gotten some grand mothering practice in on great nieces in advance of a granddaughter of her own. Whitney is expecting a baby girl the middle of December. I’ve picked up a few tricks myself from watching my older brother Greg with his grandchildren: horses make great baby sitters, even better if your grand child has a strong survival instinct. While we’ve enjoyed our home assignment, traveling and visiting has a humorous side:

On the travel side: Be vigilant; things change. I had a half tube of expensive sun screen confiscated by TSA for being a half ounce too big. He told me the law had changed four years ago. I made a note to buy everything in the new correct size tube. Tubes of the same size and shape demand a new level of vigilance. Curél hand lotion makes awful toothpaste, as does Head and Shoulders shampoo, and Neutrogena sun screen.

As a house guest: Be vigilant; things change. I lie still for a few minutes upon waking and take inventory before leaping out of bed. Floor plans vary from house to house. That strange bump in the night is your missionary planting his face in a wall that wasn’t there the night before. I rearranged an entire wall of pictures in one house while groping around for a light switch. My wife gets the giggles, she thinks it’s funny, it’s not her face. In one basement, I was vigilant. There was a ceiling fan hung at eye level, so I made a mental note of it. When I got up to use the bathroom, I felt like a blind man navigating the floor of a church nursery. The idea of putting a sleeping bag on the floor of the bathroom crossed my mind. We are grateful for your love and hospitality nonetheless, sorry about the wall. We know we are loved.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1 John 3:14

What a difference love makes. A year ago, the main attraction for teens coming to the ministry center was native English at a teen camp led by a team from the Orchard EFC. A year later, we have another view. As told by one student, for two weeks last summer she heard stories shared, songs sung, truth told, and invitations extended, all the while practicing her English. While all of that was fun, she says it was the deep, genuine, and tender affection that she observed and experienced during those two weeks with that team from Chicago that made the difference in her life. Shortly after camp ended, this young lady was back to the mess her life had always been. She continued to make one bad decision after another until finally in her despair she was reminded of that time when she was loved and where she had observed others in their love for one another. She found the Hungarian/ English New Testament they had given her at the end of camp and began to read it. She surrendered her life to Jesus Christ. She knew then and there that she belonged with those who loved her and loved one another. She found us meeting one Sunday afternoon this spring. Since then, she’s been attending the Kelenfold Evangelical Church, growing in her faith with others, and volunteering as a translator for the Kids English Camp. It was love. God still moves.

We want to be part of more stories like that. We want to live alongside more Hungarians like that. We want to lay down our lives and continue to witness God’s work first hand. We want to continue to facilitate teams like that, steward the ministry center for occasions like that, and expend our lives for the kingdom.

Pray with us that we could return fully supported for another term. Lord willing, we will leave in six weeks.

We currently lack $900/month in regular support. Practically speaking, we are in need of nine new financial supporters to commit to give $100/month for two years, or a one-time gift of $21,600.

With Much Love,

Brad and Kari