WEEKLY UPDATE

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Above: Gyuszi (far right with his wife) is the one who has invited us into his home to study God’s word. Robi (far left) is Gyuszi’s close friend, Robi’s wife is in the center. Babi, Gyuszi’s sister is the one we are praying for. Gyuszi’s son is pictured next to her.

When we arriving this past week in Gyuszi’s house, we were met with the news that Vali the elderly woman I had prayed for last week (and throughout the week) had died. I expressed my condolences and Robi, the young man who had the most heated questions last week said, "Maybe it was God's will so that she could be spared from more suffering." We praise God that there was no anger or blaming God. Because of the custom of spending the day at the deceased’s’ house with family, the majority of those who attended last week were not able to make it.

This gave us opportunity to connect in a smaller setting with Gyüszi and Robi and their wives and kids. We spent time talking about life over hot potato soup and red wine. Robi shared some tough times he had to go through in life including digging through trash to find food to survive with his family. He also shared a vision that instills fear in him to this day. He tried to explain to me the weight of guilt he carries around that he has found no relief for and has wondered how to be forgiven. He wanted to know how one could finally have the confidence to forgive himself for all the evil they did in life. I told him I could not forgive myself until God first forgave me through Jesus Christ. Robi began asking why Jesus Christ had to die and wondered why God couldn't have found another way to protect us and save us. This opened an opportunity to explain the justice and mercy of God.

As we transitioned to our time of Bible study, Robi remained more of a skeptic bombarding the time with questions not much related to the text. However, by God's grace we were able to get back to Scripture and it was clear that God was revealing various truths about Himself and mankind to them through the study. Robi's wife and Babi seemed to be getting what God's word was saying and even spent time defending God's truth as Robi continued asking questions. At one point, Gyüszi's son began reading nearly an entire chapter about the fall of Adam and Eve while everyone payed close attention.

Each one was able to say how God's word personally applied to there lives at the end of the night. I closed with prayer for Babi (bah-bee). Earlier in the day while praying, I sensed that God wanted me to place my hand on her face when I prayed. While doing this, Peti told me that Gyüszi was shocked. God was revealing His love through this act of mercy and prayer. Babi said that others think that she is so strong because of the multiple surgeries she has gone through and her positive attitude. She said, "They think I'm so strong, but I'm not. It is God who has given me strength."

Robi, although the most outspoken and resistant throughout the night says that he feels like he has known me for years and that he has shared things with me that he hasn't shared with others in his life. Before leaving, he began talking about his amazement of I ended up in Bogacs talking to them about God. I encouraged him again saying, “God is seeking you, God loves you, God is giving you an opportunity to know Him, to repent and to be saved by Him.” Although Robi is the toughest with words and questions through these past two meetings, I sense that he is getting the message in his heart.

Please continue to pray for Peti and I as we return again on Tuesday! Please continue to pray for healing for Babi and for God to give them understanding as we read His word together.

praying for Rozsaszentmarton


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Above: The village of Rozsaszentmarton lies in the hills just a five minute drive away from our hometown of Petofibanya. Please join us in praying for this town as our Hungarian partners in ministry plant a church there. On Friday of next week we will re-launch our English club that introduced us to many new people in the town. Tonight, I ran into one of them named Pali at our kid’s school. He was excited about attending English again. Before leaving, I asked if I could pray for him in any specific ways. Pali looked at me and said, “Allen, everything, all of me. There’s not enough grace to forgive me for all the things I’ve done.” Please pray that Pali would come to understand that Jesus’ blood is powerful enough make him clean. Pray that God would draw Pali to Jesus!

Thursday night Bible study


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Above: Fanni spending some time with Ziva before our study began on Thursday night. Because of a tough home situation, we made an agreement with her family’s social worker to have Fanni over for school study time and just general family time. We praise God that her grades have gone up and she has the larger family of the church now caring for her as well.

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Above: Praise God that Peti’s sister Gabi (green sweater) came to our bible study for the first time after being invited by Peti last week. It was clear that she felt welcomed and also learned from our study on Jesus’ parable about “some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.” (Luke 18:9) With her husband being a Romani, she shared how she has personally experienced this contempt toward her and her husband. She said it’s been hard for him to find anywhere where he is accepted and not felt judged. Peti has already had good conversations with Gabi’s husband and we hope that he too may find that love and acceptance from Jesus and our church. We hope that he will also come for the first time soon.

ENGLISH club for kids


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Above: Teammate Roger leading our English Club in Petofibanya’s public school. We already know so many of these kids from past summer VBS camps. We’re grateful for the opportunity to bless them throughout the year.

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Family


In Hungary, the kids had ‘Farsang’ which has similar customs as Halloween in the US (exempt the part of going house to house to ask for candy).

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Above: Elianna in her washing machine costume took away first prize in her class. Her head is buried behind all those clothes in the basket.

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Above: Continuing with the appliance theme, Kira was a refrigerator for Farsang and also scored first prize in her class.

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Above: Ziva excited as she is surrounded by kids in crazy costumes.

Summary of prayer requests:


• Pray for Peti and I as we return to Bogács (boe-gah-ch) on Tuesday! Please continue to pray for healing for Babi and for God to give this household understanding as we study His powerful word together.

• Pray for Gabriella’s boyfriend to be awakened in his soul and come to Bible study (like his wife for the first time) on Thursday. Pray for more opportunity for Peti to talk with him throughout the week about Jesus.

• Pray for the relaunch of our English Club in Rozsaszentmarton on Friday. Pray for students like Pali who don’t yet understand the power of God’s grace and the salvation available to them through Jesus Christ. Pray for open doors of opportunity with students who attend.

Thank you all for joining us in this ministry through financial support and prayer support. We’re thankful for all of you!
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